Modern Degeneracy..

ble pleasures to which no polish of manners, and no refinements of foreign invention can be an equivalent.

You will not therefore consider it a far stretch of presumption in me to predict that ere another race shall have peopled our hills and plains, those traits of character which have so long distinguished us and singled us out as a peculiar people, will no longer exist; and will only be looked back upon as to an irrecoverable simplicity, and be related to their children as lessons which they may not pretend to imitate.

29th May, 1819.

PRISCUS.

The very general practice of Bathing which prevails among all ranks of the inhabitants of this country, shews that the benefits which are derived from it are held in no small degree of estimation. It is indeed a most refreshing and healthful exercise; and in a variety of complaints to which people in all situations are liable, has been found, by repeated experience, of the highest utility. The good effects, however, of the cold bath are often prevented, and injuries sustained, by want of proper attention to the previous state of the body, and by neglecting the rules which ought to regulate the mode of using it. At this season of the year, therefore, when the practice begins to be resumed throughout the country, the following observations and rules, borrowed from an excellent but anonymous treatise of an eminent Physician upon the subject, may be presumed acceptable to the most of our readers. ED.

Proper Time for using the Cold Bath.

In regard to the time proper for bathing, as this must depend on a variety of circumstances, no precise rule can be given. All things considered, however, the earlier part of the day, not immediately after the stomach has been loaded with a full meal, will in general be found the most advantageous.

6

Bathing in cold water at an early hour in the morning should be carefully avoided by those who have been previously exposed to severe fatigue, while the body is yet in an exhausted state

Cold Bathing.

and it should be equally avoided by those who have indulged in any excess or intemperance, until the sensations of debility and languor have gone off. If the cold bath is to be employed at all in such cases, mid-day, when the air and water have reached their highest temperature, will undoubtedly be the most proper time for using it. Here it may be added, that the practice of returning to bed after bathing in the morning, is hurtful. This is not unusual with children; but profuse perspiration is the natural consequence, the debilitating effects of which more than counteract the invigorating effects of the cold bath.

The use of the cold bath in the evening, again, when the body has been exposed to exertion during the day, and is exhausted by fatigue, especially by those who have been in the habit of living generously and full, will in general be found to be prejudicial. If, however, the healthy and the vigorous after the cold bath in the evening, enjoy undisturbed repose, the use of it may be continued; but if copious perspiration in the night shall be the consequence, the practice ought of course to be relinquished.'

Previous condition of the Body proper for cold bathing.

This is a consideration of the most essential importance; and deserves the more particulary to be noticed, as the common prac tice, founded on erroneous opinions of the nature of the animal economy, is the very reverse of what is proper. It is commonly supposed that the cold bath ought only to be used when the body is perfectly cool: whereas the proper condition to enjoy the highest benefit, is when the heat is above the natural medium, whether this has been induced by exercise or otherwise. It is when the heat of the body is at its lowest temperature that cold bathing should be avoided; for when the body is in this state, whether it proceed from exposure to cold, from exertion and fatigue, or any other debilitating cause, its effects, instead of being salutary, will most certainly be injurious; nay, it has sometimes happened that this necessary and prudent precaution being neglected, the consequences have been fatal.'

"The popular opinion," says Dr. Currie, "that it is safest to go perfectly cool into the water, is founded on erroneous notions; and is sometimes productive of injurious consequences. Thus, persons heated and beginning to sweat, often think it necessary to wait on the edge of the bath until they are perfectly cooled, and then plunging into the water, feel a sudden chilli

2

Cold Bathing.

ness that is alarming and dangerous. In such cases the injury is generally imputed to going into water too warm; whereas it arises in truth from going in too cold. But though it be perfectly safe to go into the cold bath in the earlier stages of exercise, nothing is more dangerous than this practice after exercise has produced profuse sweating, and terminated in languor and fatigue; because, in such circumstances, the heat is not only sinking rapidly, but the system parts more easily with the portion that remains."

'It may therefore be adopted as a general rule, that the condition of the body proper for immersion in the cold bath, is that in which, after being for some time in a warm place, or after moderate exercise, the temperature is in the highest extreme. And indeed, though the body be in some degree of perspiration immediately previous to bathing, so far from any danger being apprehended, this state may be regarded as the fittest for enjoying the salutary effects to be expected. It is not, however, to be understood, that immersion in cold water is here recommended when the body is in a profuse sweat. In some cases it is true, even in this state, the good effects of the cold bath might follow; yet as such a practice is not altogether without hazard, it is safer to avoid it entirely, lest the debility and languor that usually succeed should be induced before immersion, and thus all the injurious consequences of exposing the body to cold in this enfeebled state should be produced.'

Proper Mode of using the Cold Bath.

Having by previous moderate exercise, or otherwise, increased the natural temperature, so as to feel warm and comfortable, and having reached the spot for bathing, the clothes should be stripped off as quickly as possible; and the body instantly immersed in the water. To remain for any length of time in a state of half preparation, as it were, with part of the clothes laid aside, must, it is obvious, reduce the temperature of the body, and bring it into that state in which cold bathing should be carefully avoided."

In regard to the time and mode of bathing while actually in the water, the conduct usually observed is most erroneous and hurtful. The bather generally remains a considerable while exposed, and during that time has the greatest part of his body alternately above and below the surface; whereas he ought never unless the water be possessed of considerable warmth, to remain

Cold Bathing.

more than a minute or two, and during the whole time be completely immersed. If there be any doubts existing about this point they may easily be settled by experiment. Let any one take a single immersion in the cold bath, and let the time he remains in it not exceed a minute or two, and let him then observe the effects that follow. Let the same person at another time continue in it for eight or ten minutes, as is the usual practice; let him alternately plunge into the water and expose himself to the air, and he will now experience very different effects. The first trial will be followed by an agreeable sensation of warmth, or a glow of heat over the whole body, which may be regarded as a sure test of the utility and benefit of cold bathing: but in the latter casc, chilliness and shrinking of the skin, diminished vigour of the muscular powers, general lassitude, and not unfrequently headache and depression of spirits, with a variety of unpleasant sensations, which no exertion during the rest of the day can drive off, are the certain consequences of remaining too long in the water.' These bad effects may in some measure be avoided by keeping constantly immersed, so that no part of the heat be carried off by evaporation; they may still farther be obviated by the practice of swimming, for besides the uninterrupted immersion of the body, the requisite muscular exertion in swimming tends greatly to keep up the balance of temperature which is lost by placing the body in a medium so much colder than itself: but the safe and obvious rule is to remain only a very short time in the water; and they who have delicate constitutions, or wish to derive the greatest benefit, will do well to observe it strictly.

Another singular error which often leads to disagreeable and sometimes hurtful consequences, arises from the opinion so generally prevalent, that in bathing the head should be immersed along with the rest of the body, after being thoroughly wetted; and this is a practice most scrupulously adhered to, lest an accumulation of blood in the brain, with all its direful effects should take place. But without entering into any physiological discussion on this point, which is far from our purpose at present, it may be observed in so many words, that no such repulsion to the head, or accumulation of blood ever takes place without exhibiting the terrible symptoms of a violent disease: and with a view to ward off an attack of this disease, no danger from the omission of wetting the head need at all be apprehended. On the contrary, when we consider the stupifying

Cold Bathing.

impression of the water on such delicate organs, it seems extreinely probable that many of the bad effects which are ascribed to cold bathing, and which have forced many to abandon it, who were otherwise anxious to persevere in its use, derive their origin from this very practice which common opinion has sanctioned and recommended. Bathers who use a cap to prevent the water from coming into contact with the head, suffer no inconvenience.'

Upon leaving the water, the body should be dried with a cloth, and the usual dress resumed as speedily as possible. It will also be found useful to take moderate exercise; and, if the body has not been too long in the water, or too much cooled down, a glow of heat will soon diffuse itself over the surface, indicating that the proper and salutary effects have been induced. But, if from delicacy of constitution, or any other cause, chilliness or any disagreeable sensations should still remain, something warm and refreshing should be taken into the stomach, in order to restore the heat, and along with it the vigour of the body.'

Rules founded on the preceding Observations.

"1. Persons of a delicate or feeble constitution should not bathe in cold water early in the morning; by others, any time in the early part of the day may be chosen for this purpose.

2. Cold bathing should never be employed unless the heat of the body is by exercise or otherwise, somewhat increased, or even when a slight perspiration has begun.

3. When the body has been long exposed to exertion or fatigue, or after profuse sweating, when lassitude, debility, or chilliness prevails, the cold bath should be dreaded and shunned.

4. When the body is in a proper degree of heat, undress as quickly as possible, and immerse it in the water.

5. To have the greatest benefit from cold bathing, remain a very short time in the water, not exceeding a minute or two; and during the whole time, keep the body under the surface of

the water.

6. On coming out of the water, wipe the body dry with a cloth, and resume quickly the usual dress.

7. After bathing, use moderate exercise to promote the return of the heat of the body, taking care that it be not violent or too long continued.

8. If chilliness partially, or generally prevail, take breakfast, after bathing in the morning; or, in the forenoon, some warm soup."