COLD BATHS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 November 1928, Page 7

COLD BATHS

FOR REJUVENATION

SAN FRANCISCO, October 15

A dispatch from Chicago says that people will not find their lost fountain of youth in goat or monkey glands, hut they may find it in the hath tub. That at least was the opinion of physicians at the sessions of the American College of Physical Therapy, for they laid great stress on the importance off the morning plunge in cold water, saying they were certain a course of them would restore something, it not all. Dr. Paul Roth and Dr. W. 11. Riley, both of the well-known Battle Creek Sanatorium, rebuilders of persons, were the ones who discussed the subject. Dr. Riley read a treatise on it and many of the physicians who hoard it agreed with him. “ The skin,” said Dr Riley, “ is infinitely related to tho entire body through the nervous system. Thus a short cold bath, lasting from a few seconds to not longer than three minutes, has wonderful > lifting effects. There are definite reactions of tho body, as we have found by experimentation oi* human subjects, and if the plunge becomes habitual lasting effects for good may be obtained.” “I would say,” interposed Dr Roth, ‘‘that a course of cold short baths would do far more to rejuvenate a man than transplantation of glands or the taking Of glandular secretion extracts or serums.”

“Yes,” continued Dr Riley, “the cold plunge does a number of beneficial tilings to the body. First and foremost it increases the circulation of the blood. It improves digestion and increases respiration. It stimulates tho the skin and stimulates kidney action. It improves the heart action and brings up the blood pressure and it increases the hemoglobin, which b the oxygen carrier in the blood. In addition to all this it normalises and brings up the metabolism, which means it stimulates the rate at which the vital processes of energy are produced.”