HINTS UPON BATHING.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 399, 3 December 1880, Page 11

HINTS UPON BATHING.

It is important to recognise that the only virtues of water as used by the bather are two — namely, its value as a eleansiner agent r and as a surface stimulant. In this last capacity it pimply acts as a medium affecting the temperature of the part to which it is applied, or which is)hnmer6ed in it. Right -views of fact in reference to this matter are important, because there can be no question that some persons overrate the uses of cold water, and run considerable risks in their pursuit of them. Every benefical action that can be exerted by a bath is secured by simply dipping in the sea. or a very moderate effasion of cold water ! Except in cases of high fever, when it is desired to reduce the heat of the body by prolonged contact with cold, a bath of any considerable duration is likely to be injurious. Then, again, it is necessary to recognise the risk of suddenly driving the blood from the surface in upon the organs. The " plunge." or " dip," or " shower," or " douche," is intended to produce a -momentary depression of the temperature of the surface in the hope of occasioning a reaction which shall bring the blood back to the surface, with increased vigour, and almost instantly. If this return does not take place ; if, in a word, redness of the skin is not a very rapid consequence of the immersion, it is impossible that the bath can hay been useful, and in nine cases out of ten when the surface is lef white or cold it does harm. The measure of value is the redness which ensues promptly after the bath, and this reaction should be produced without the need of much friction, or the bath is not worth taking. The rubbing employed to recover the circulation lost by the bath would probably have done more good without it. Another effect of the bath when it acts properly is to stimulate the nervous system, through the vast series of its terminal fibres which are distributed in the skin. In this way also the action must be very rapid, or it is not efficacious. Unless the vigour of energy is quickly called out, the agent is useless ; and if it produces either drowsiness or depression it acts mischievously, and lowers the powers it is intended to stimulate and augment. Bathers should hear this fact in mind, and be warned by them not to trifle with an agency which if it ia not of value is worse than useless, and can scarcely fail to do harm. — The Lancet.

Johnny Mullens was an industrious highwayman in Nevada. He saved up 8000dols. from his booty, and retired from business. Going to Colorado, where he was unknown, he married Eleanor Perkins, the daughter of a herder, and settled down for a quiet life. His only fear was that his wife would learn what hp bad been, and leave him in disgust. The fact vas that she had known the source of the fortune, and had married him for the sole purpose of getting it. Having attained this object, she lately hired a man to murder him. Such, at least, is the charge on which she has been put in gaol.