ARE COLO BATHS HARMFUL?

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1747, 30 August 1905, Page 65

ARE COLO BATHS HARMFUL?

In the popular estimation a cold bath harden® Hie body and prevents colds. But if any votary is asked how it hardens the body he cannot give an intelligent answer. Nearly every mother puts her children, however fragile, through the terrible ordeal of the cold bath. And most adults to whom the bath is available put themselves through it, be the weather hot or cold, be they in a state of vigour or suffering from lowered vitality. Hence, as some acute medical observer has said, the English tub is answerable for the never-failing supply of English 'colds and rheumatism. The mistake w© commit is in supposing that what is good for one is good for all; and, further, in thinking that the body throws off a large quantity of dirt which must be removed with soap and water. “Keep the pores open,” people say, “or you can’t be healthy.” They ignore the fact that our robustforefathers were little given to keeping the pores open and that the healthiest part of the community at present—the agricultural population—do very little winter bathing. Take the dirt question. The body gives off no dirt and there are no pores as the term is popularly used, meaning holes through the skin into the tissues underneath. What exists in the skin is a multi-

t-ude of microscopic sweat-glands lodged ; under the surface in the form of little j tubes coiled like a worm. These are ' blind at their inner ends, and open on to the surface of die skin. They ab- ! stract water and a little salt from the , blood, which they pour through the,r j open ends—'about *■ pints of it per day. This evaporates, gets into the clothing, and leaves no dirt behind. Even if the openings got/biooked with dirt the perspiration would easily force . its way out. Nothing less than ! A COAT OF VARNISH j could keep it in. But there axe other j glands—the sebaceous or oil glands. These pour out an o.ly fluid which serves several useful purposes. .It keeps the skin pliable, it prevents the skin from getting chilled, and it hinders the entrance of gases. If otie is exposed to much dirt in his occupation—as a | sweep—this oil collects the dirt, and frei quent washing is necessary. Instead I of of bath every morning, it j would be much hotter to rub in a ! little oil—say, a teaspoonful of olive oil. Especially when the skin is harsh and dry would this be a fine preservative from colds and rheumatism. O'f course a weekiv warm hath is to | be advised. - But wasting away Naj ture’s skin oil every morning is certain- ; ly a mistake. Even the weekly bath , is not necessary. There would be fewer i coids without it. This may seem a. 1 hygienic heresy, v but anyone at all delicate who tests it will prove its truth. Take, then, the hardening theory. Very likely the cold bathing of infants hardens the race, for it kills off the weakly ones. But, those who survive would he much healthier if they were treated more considerately and their baths were made tenid. We can see the truth of this by going into the question of the effects of cold water. The body has a certain supply of .! blood, and this is distributed in suitable I proportion to the internal organs, the j muscles, the skin, etc. If blood is j driven out of one part it forces its i way into other parts and incommodes ! them. This is the well-known conges--1 tion. Now, when an organ is congested 'it is in an unhealthy state and onen to the attack of disease. Keep up the congestion for some time and disease becomes inevitable. If by any means the surface of the body becomes chilled, its vessels close up. the blood is forced out, and makes its way to the internal | organs. A draught chills the surface I and drive® the blood into the already fully supplied lung among other organs. The congested lungs are now in a weakened state, and, if the congestion is severe, any GERMS OF BRONCHITIS' OR PNEUMONIA which are in the air take possession. If the draught did not quickly contract the surface vessels, however, the body would suffer in another way by losing heat. i Hero we have the explanation of both the good and evil effects cf the cold bath. It is necessary that the surface vessels should contract quickly

when chilled. A cold bath chills them', and so educates them in the a3*t of contracting. In this way it “hardens” the body. But every time it chills the surface itproduces congestion of the lungs and other organs. The comparatively warm bath of summer causes little congestion, and is th-eretore safe. But as soon as one gets out of the bath the lungs and other organs throw bacii the bioud to the surface, or make the best effort they can. This is the “reaction.” if they succeed quickly, then the hath has done good; it has hardened the body. If they do it only with great effort and slowly t then the hath has done harm. The lungs, brain,, heart, liver, etc., remain congested;, their vitality is lowered, and the body is open to the attack of disease. The lungs are especially exposed to risk, for the air always teems with the organof coids, bronchitis and pneumonia. What many doctors are lately coming to believe is that only a small age of the population—or at least of the cold tub population—is robust enough to achieve this reaction. To all others the cold bath in winter does harm, and brings colds and other more serious troubles. Any reader can iudgo for himself if the cold bath is good for him. If he feels vigorous and in high spirits after it, then it is good. If he feels a bit depressed, dull, or sleepy, then it is bad.—“St. James’s Budget.”