In infancy, bathing or washing at least twice a day is necessary to pre serve the skin in a healthy condition. In so doing, however, care must be taken that the surface of the body be not chilled; a judicious warmth (avoiding too great heat) should be studied. In the early weeks of life the body does not readily maintain its own temperature - hence the reason that the young of animals remain a certain time constantly near their mother. It is the same with our infants; no warmth is so equable or so good for them during the few first days or weeks of life as the warmth of their mother, hence also the necessity for a warm bath as the means of cleanliness.

A fallacy lurks in the notion of hardening children. The argument in favour of the attempt so to do, drawn from the "state of nature," is altogether a dangerous fallacy. All that can really be said in its favour is, that it is not possible to kill all the children submitted to the system. The delicate ones will be sifted out, and the hardy ones will survive in spite of "system." It is an error in reasoning to quote the savage state as that of nature, and therefore worthy of imitation. It may be urged with greater force that the nature of man's mental endowments tends to raise him from the savage to the civilized state. The natural state of man is that of civilization, with its attendant fostering care of infantile existence.

Sponge Bath

In after-life the daily sponge bath contributes greatly to the preservation of health, by the promotion of cleanliness and by the exhilarating influence in stimulating the circulation of the blood on the surface of the body. The warmth of reaction is more sure to follow if the bath be used on rising, while the body is still warm, and before the surface is chilled by exposure in dressing. In using this, a due regard to the feelings should be observed. Some persons are extremely sensitive to cold, while others enjoy its reaction and bracing influence. The temperature of the water should, therefore, be regulated by the climate, weather, and individual susceptibility.

After sponging, the whole body should be briskly dried with a rough towel, and a glow of warmth will follow.

Cold Bath

(Temperature 500 to 60°) A cold bath will vary in its effects according as it is taken in a small bath, or in a river, the sea, or a quantity of water large enough for swimming, and according to the temperature of the air. The benefit to be derived from a cold bath is governed also pretty much by the state of health of the bather, or on the greater or less vigour of the heart's action, and of the circulation in the skin. A cold bath should not be taken with a cold skin; the best preparation is the warm glow of exercise. A plunge (head first) into cold water, even when hot and perspiring after exercise, and a good swim for a few minutes, is more surely followed by healthful reaction than the waiting until the body is dry and cool, or perhaps chilled by evaporation of perspiration. A cold bath without the active exercise of swimming should not be prolonged beyond three or four minutes; even the good swimmer must be warned that prolonged action of cold incurs the risk of cramp.

Persons in impaired state of health should take little more than a single immersion, and this should be followed by friction of the surface with towels or dry flannels. Such persons should avoid bathing on an empty stomach; it is better not to take a cold bath immediately after a meal.

The answer to questions on the advisability of cold bathing, whether in the sea or otherwise, is to be found in the state of the pulse and of the skin. With a feeble pulse and a disposition to palpitation of the heart, the flow of blood through the skin is sure to be tardy, as compared with that of health, and reaction will consequently be slowly established at the risk of congestion of internal organs. Hence, in persons disposed towards head, or heart, or lung affections, great caution should be exercised. Persons who are subject to palpitation of the heart, giddiness, etc., had better avoid the cold bath.

Generally, it may be laid down as a rule that if cold bathing be rot followed by a glow of warmth on the skin, it should not be repeated.

About two or three hours after a meal is the best time for cold bathing.