THE BATH.

Northern Advocate, 29 July 1893, Page 3

THE BATH.

Its Relations to Health, Vigor, Beauty and Complexion. The majority of people bathe with, a view to comfort and cleanliness -without much thought of the relations of regular ablutions to the preservation of health and good looks. In olden times there existed the idea that too frequent bathing of the face and peck injured the skin. Now the general belief is that the beauty of the skin cannot be preserved unless its pores arc kept well open. Proof of this is readily seen by observation among people who bathe infrequently and insufficiently. A good complexion is almost unknown among them, and although improper food and impure air do their share in muddying and thickening the skin its unhealthy appearance is largely due to that clogging of tho nores which prevents their carrying oil! as they should the waste matter of the system. The temperature of tho bath is a mooted question. To some persons there is nothing n\ore bracing and invigorating than a cold piunge, while others do not recover for hours from the chili such a bath gives; Certain physicians recommend a very hot bath' and assert that it is as stimulating in its after effects as is the cold plunge and less likely to produce ill effects. Nearly ull unite- in deolaring immersion in the tepid bath relaxing and thus detrimental to health. Tho question is one that each bather must settle for herself, What suits one may be positively harmful to another. Certaul it is that the hot or warm bath is more oleansing than cold water. The sudden chill of the latter closes the pores and prevents the escape of the effete matter it is the object of the bath to remove. The woman who takes a cold plunge for its after effects should first sponge herself off in warm water and achieve cleanliness before she indulges herself in her "bracer;" saysn writer in Harper's Bazar, who adds: Whoever feels a chilly sensation after a warm plunge and experiences difficulty in regaining a normal temperature should try the experiment of sponging off with cold water when leaving the hot bath and see if the slight shock will not tone up the skin and prevent any subsequent chill. The beneficial effect of a bath is greatly heightened by a hard rubbing after leaving it. A rather coarse or rough Turkish towel should be used, and the friction should not be stopped when the moisture has been removed, but continued until the body is in a glow from head to foot. This operation will only require a few moments, and it 'is well worth the trouble. The best time for taking the bath must, like its temperature, be decided by individual preferences. Some persona find a bath taken late at night most soothing; to others it is provocative of insomnia. Tho early morning bath is sometimes fatiguing to delicate persons, while to others it serves as a tonic and is in its stimulating and refreshing qualities as valuable as an extra hour's sleep.

Treatment of a Bunion. Bathe the affected part in hot water to which a teaspoonful of salt, a tablespoonful of starch and a few drops of arnica have been added. Wipe dry with a soft linen towel and apply iodine with a camel's hair brush. Wear a loose shoe out of doors and While in tho house a shoe which has the leather covering the bunion entirely cut away. Bunions are caused by undue pressure. A good plan, if you have to be out a great deal, is to have the shoemaker cut a niece from your shoe where it presses upon the bunion and replace it with an invisible patch.