Persons in impaired state of health should take little more
than a single immersion, and this should be followed by friction
of the surface with towels or dry flannels. Such persons should
avoid bathing on an empty stomach; it is better not to take a
cold bath immediately after a meal.
The answer to questions on the advisability of cold bathing,
whether in the sea or otherwise, is to be found in the state of
the pulse and of the skin. With a feeble pulse and a disposi-
tion to palpitation of the heart, the flow of blood through the
skin is sure to be tardy, as compared with that of health, and
reaction will consequently be slowly established at the risk of
congestion of internal organs. Hence, in persons disposed
MEt)IC!NAL. 40t
towards head, or heart, or lung affections, great caution should
be exercised. Persons who are subject to palpitation of the
heart, giddiness, etc., had better avoid the cold bath.
Generally, it may be laid down as a rule that if cold bathing
be not followed by a glow of warmth on the skin, it should not
be repeated.
About two or three hours after a meal is the best time for
cold bathing.
The Tepid Bath (temperature 70 ® to 80 ° ) is suitable
for those whose health, or sensitiveness to cold, forbid the use
of the cold bath. The same rules, however, apply especially
as regards the delicate in health.
The Hot Bath (temperature 98^ to iio^ ) differs from
the cold or tepid bath, inasmuch as they are preservative of
health, while this is curative of disease.
It opens the pores of the skin, relaxes the muscles, soothes
the nervous system, and (after its first stimulation of the heart's
action is past) is a valuable agent in reducing fever and inflam-
matory action by the profuse perspiration that it induces — so
much so, that it is often an efficacious remedy in the treatment
of inflammation.
In the convulsions of infancy, the hot bath, continued from
five to ten minutes, is an important part of the treatment.
In order to avoid any possible risk of the sudden immer-
sion in hot water, it is a safe plan to have the bath at about
95 ^ to begin with, and gradually raise the temperature to
100^ , or even 105 ^ , if profuse perspiration afterwards be de-
sired; in this case, the bath may be continued by an adult
twenty minutes or half an hour. On coming out of the bath,
after rapidly wiping the surface of the body, a warm blanket
shoujd be wrapped round before getting into a warm bed.
"V^hen it is desirable to give a hot bath to a child for any
febrile malady, or in any case where the child would be fright-
ened at being put into the water, its fears may be disarmed by
covering the bath with a blanket, and letting the little patient
down gently into the bath.
Vapor Bath (temperature 100^ to 120^) is of great use
in exciting perspiration in catarrh, in simple fever, and in rheu-
matism. It may be extemporized by sitting on a chair en-
closed in a blanket, and having a pail of hot water placed
under the chair, adding to the water some red-hot stones, or
brick, or iron chain. If a long pipe can be connected with the
spout of a large kettle, and made to pass within the blanket,
it affords a ready means of making a vapor bath.
Hot-air Bath. — (Temperature 100^ to 120® .) — This acts
in the same way as a vapor bath. It is readily made by burn-
408 MEDICINAL
Page 301
Presented as published in 1883. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Persons in impaired state of health should take little more than a single immersion, and this should be followed by friction of the surface with towels or dry flannels. Such persons should avoid bathing on an empty stomach; it is better not to take a cold bath immediately after a meal.
The answer to questions on the advisability of cold bathing, whether in the sea or otherwise, is to be found in the state of the pulse and of the skin. With a feeble pulse and a disposition to palpitation of the heart, the flow of blood through the skin is sure to be tardy, as compared with that of health, and reaction will consequently be slowly established at the risk of congestion of internal organs. Hence, in persons disposed
MEDICINAL. 401
towards head, or heart, or lung affections, great caution should be exercised. Persons who are subject to palpitation of the heart, giddiness, etc., had better avoid the cold bath.
Generally, it may be laid down as a rule that if cold bathing be not followed by a glow of warmth on the skin, it should not be repeated.
About two or three hours after a meal is the best time for cold bathing.
The Tepid Bath (temperature 70° to 80°) is is suitable for those whose health, or sensitiveness to cold, forbid the use of the cold bath. The same rules, however, apply especially as regards the delicate in health.
The Hot Bath (temperature 98° to 110°) differs from the cold or tepid bath, inasmuch as they are preservative of health, while this is curative of disease.
It opens the pores of the skin, relaxes the muscles, soothes the nervous system, and (after its first stimulation of the heart's action is past) is a valuable agent in reducing fever and inflammatory action by the profuse perspiration that it induces — so much so, that it is often an efficacious remedy in the treatment of inflammation.
In the convulsions of infancy, the hot bath, continued from five to ten minutes, is an important part of the treatment.
In order to avoid any possible risk of the sudden immersion in hot water, it is a safe plan to have the bath at about 95° to begin with, and gradually raise the temperature to 100°, or even 105°, if profuse perspiration afterwards be desired; in this case, the bath may be continued by an adult twenty minutes or half an hour. On coming out of the bath, after rapidly wiping the surface of the body, a warm blanket should be wrapped round before getting into a warm bed.
When it is desirable to give a hot bath to a child for any febrile malady, or in any case where the child would be frightened at being put into the water, its fears may be disarmed by covering the bath with a blanket, and letting the little patient down gently into the bath.
Vapor Bath (temperature 100° to 120°) is of great use in exciting perspiration in catarrh, in simple fever, and in rheumatism. It may be extemporized by sitting on a chair enclosed in a blanket, and having a pail of hot water placed under the chair, adding to the water some red-hot stones, or brick, or iron chain. If a long pipe can be connected with the spout of a large kettle, and made to pass within the blanket, it affords a ready means of making a vapor bath.
Hot-air Bath. — (Temperature 100° to 120°.) — This acts in the same way as a vapor bath. It is readily made by burn-