Health.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2053, 8 April 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

Health.

The Morning Bath.

The morning bath, or tub, as it is sometimes called, is eminently suited for the constitution of every one, young and old, unless exceedingly delicate. If you have not been in the habit of indulging in this luxury, I do not advise you to commence the habit of matutinal cold water bathing all at once. The tepid soap bath will in nine cases out of ten suit young girls better, and they will not have taken a dozen morning baths of this kind before they become sensible of an increase in the appetite, in strength and in good spirits, and in the capability of enjoying life and everything of good that is in this life. By the use of the soap bath»tho complexion gradually becomes more clear and delicate, and the skin is rendered as soft and pliant as that of a child. The bath, too, causes the eye to become beautifully clear, and 1 know nothing else that will do this. Now, what is it you require in order to render this bath of mine quite a luxury as well as an invigorator of both mind and body ? Why, the soap bath is simple iu the extreme. In your dressing-room you have cold soft water and a sponge, probably placed there over night, so that in the morning the water is of the same temperature as the air; then you have a nice, soft Turkish washing glove, and a piece of Castile or ivory soap—not scented; that were dangerous to health; then, standing before a basin of hot water, the body is quickly lathered and rubbed thoroughly. This ought not to occupy more than three minutes and after this comes the cold sponge bath, which need not take more than a minute and a half. A moderately coaise towel should bo used, and the skin should be thoroughly dried, llcmembcr that the towel must not bo rough enough to irritate the skin, but only to produce a pleasant glow ; remember, too, that there must he no dawdling over the bath—dawdie as much as you please while dressing, but bathe with judicious celerity ; and remember, thirdly, th-.t, you must never neglect to wot the head with cold water, else disagreeable sensations will be the result.

The bath is to be taken on an empty stomach, amt immediately on getting out of bul. The slight shock caused by the cold water will be succeeded by feelings very delightful indeed, feelings which I might describe if I chose, but will not, as I want you to experience them. There are sponge baths. and plunge baths, and shower baths, all of which may be taken at home ; but for all forms of household bathing commend me to the one I have just tried to describe. In cold weather. I may toll yon, great advantage will be found from drying and dressing in front of a lire. Having dressed and had breakfast eaten, 1 trust leisurely, halt an hour's brief walking will do you more good than von can imagine.

Early Rising- -• More nonsense is talked about geiiiug up early than probably any other subjoin. The proper time to get up is when the sleeper is rested—neither before nor after. There is no more virtue in the air between six and eight, than between eight and ten A. Ji. Of course, i f any one goes to bed at halfpast nine at night, he dues nut want to rise so lute as half-past nine the next day. Fight hours’sleep is, as a rule, sufficient even tor the hardest worker. If people went to bed shortly after sunset, they would naturally get up early ; but it is a great question whether they would feel any better for the font of commencing the toil of the day before, as Lamb says, '■ the world is realiv warmed.

Wise people tell us that so much sleep before midnight is worth double the quantity afterwards ; yet this maxim is merely due to the fuel that, to the ordinary man, sitting up till twelve means over-fatigue, needing, consequently, me,re rest next day. The safest sleeping rules are to leave the bed-room window open two inches at the top in mild weather for the purpose of ventilation, and to get up as soon as the first good wake comes.

After from six to eight hours’ rest, the average man and woman becomes restless. The brain regains its energy, sleep is broken, and for all practical purposes the night’s rest is over. This is the time to rise, and for a man to take, if he can stand it, a cold bath, commencing the work of the world again with the finest and healthiest stimulant which he can enjoy.

Morbid Brooding Over Care— in the first place, it is fi«« 1 policy to be cheerful, tor the world at large slums melancholy people. What cares happy Mrs. Smith, in the enjoyment of full health, for the sufferings of whining Mrs. Jones,a victim to neuralgia? I’oor Mrs. J., with all the egotism of a confirmed invalid, never will understand why her sighs and groans do n it command more sympathy, and pronounces her neighbor hardhearted. Well, that may be so ; but as she is, the world is—the great, busy world, which has no concern with your troubles, and will not thank you for burdening it with them. Bear your illness, your poverty, your losses, bravely. Troubles come to all of us, but they come least heavily to those who meet them with good humor and fight them down. The best way to drive dull care away is with a laugh, for it hates merriment, and vanishes in the sunshine of a smile. If you are worried from overwork, take a rest, read, walk, and try to forget your cares. If yon are gloomy and sad, seek the society of people who are not, and let them charm yoursombre mood away. Life is only hopeless to those who wilfully seal their souls to hope, and the future a blank only to those voluntarily close it to themselves. The worst misfortune that can befall them is to surrender themselves to a morbid brooding over their cares. A few hours spent in pleasant company are bettor antidotes for melancholia than any in the pharmacopeia. The physician may minister to your body, but you must be the physician for your own mind, flood ’friends, good books, and a resolute heart to conquer your own distempered re fleet ions, will effect acurc in the most obstinate cases, and nothing else will.

Diet. —Despite all that has been said and written on the subject of diet, what one eats does not seem to work much mischief except in extraordinary cases. The ruddy, beer-drinking German, with a seemingly unnatural fondness fur sour krout, pretzels, Wieuer-wurst and blood puddings, eats these viands, repulsive to the pampered appetite of an Englishman, and is hale and hearty at three score and ten. Russians devour quantities o£ tallow, washing it down with scalding tea and brandy, and the avviaae age of a Russian is not lets than that of no n in other parts of the world. The french, wilh their highly seasoned dishes, and the Spamdi. who thrive on garlic and red pepper, seem t>. prove that there is little importance to be attached to what might be considered healthful diet. The thousands and thousands in America who live to ripe old age notwithstanding what arc supposed to be the baleful effects of fried meat, pork, saturates biscuits—“ dyspepsia balls," as a friend of mine calls them—and pie, are also a convincing evidence of the triumph of mind over matter. Had there been anything, really, in healthful or unbcalthful food, this country would be comparatively a howling wilderness and the species throughout the entire earth would be rapidly progressing toward extermination.