Volume 2

Health lectures for the people.

Date:
1883-1892
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Health lectures for the people. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    72/600 (page 60)
    usually aided by the friction used in drying. The blood having gained an accession of heat in the deeper organs, flows from them to the skin, and its temperature is comparatively raised. The effect of such a bath, if taken with proper care, is a pleasant glow over the surface so soon as the reaction has taken place, and a feeling of exhilaration. The glands in common with all the other structures of the skin are stimulated to perform their functions more briskly, and a healthy tone is imparted to the whole system. The circulation is quickened, the respiration deepened, the digestion and nutrition are improved, there is an increased production of heat, and the nervous system is braced. The body also becomes more accustomed to variations of tempera- ture, so that those who attend to the daily bath are much less liable to catch cold than those who do not indulge in this luxury. The colder the water the greater the stimulating effect, pro- vided the warm reaction is thoroughly established and persists. Excessive stimulation must, however, be guarded against. When, even although the reaction has been good, the bath is followed by languor and inability for work, the stimulation has been too great for the nervous system, that is to say the bath has been too cold. If the bath have not been properly taken, if it have been too cold for the bather, or if the immersion have been too long, the effect may be very different. The reaction may be imperfect or wanting, and congestions of internal organs may persist, the temperature may continue lowered, and the whole vital functions be depressed. If the bath be very cold and the constitution feeble, the shock may be so great as even to be fatal. What we aim at in taking a cold bath is to stimulate the skin, and through it all the functions of the body. Unless a good glow is produced the bath is useless or worse, and a good wash in warm water with soap would be much better. Tepid and Cool Baths produce the same kind of effects as the cold bath, but less in degree. The Warm Bath.—When moderate heat is applied to the surtace oi the body the nervous system is soothed, the vessels of