The woman's medical companion, and nursery-adviser : containing rules for preserving the health of unmarried females, directions to pregnant and lying-in women, and an account of their diseases together with instructions for the rearing of children from the hour of their birth, and an account of the diseases of infancy / by Henry McMurtrie.

  • McMurtrie, Henry, 1793-1865.
Date:
1871
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The woman's medical companion, and nursery-adviser : containing rules for preserving the health of unmarried females, directions to pregnant and lying-in women, and an account of their diseases together with instructions for the rearing of children from the hour of their birth, and an account of the diseases of infancy / by Henry McMurtrie. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    vhen its functions are impaired or suspended, some internal organ is quickly thrown into disease. If dirt be allowed to accumulate upon the surface, or if the vapour which is constantly issuing from its pores be allowed to condense and remain for any length of time in contact with it, the skin always suffers; and hence fre- quent ablution and frictions are indispensably necessary to preserve unimpaired the integrity of its functions. All women of delicacy and good sense are sufficiently attentive to remove any outward soil or visible dirt from their persons; but, we assure them, something more than this is ne- cessary to insure perfect cleanliness. Not only should the face, neck, hands and feet be washed daily, but those parts of the body also which are the most constantly covered by the clothing. Those who can not conveniently command a suitable bath, should with a sponge apply warm or tepid water to the whole of the trunk and limbs, and then immediately dry them by brisk friction with a coarse towel. The more they accustom themselves to this practice, the more comfortable and invigorated they will find them- selves become. But, after all, the means best adapted to preserve the cleanliness of the sur- face, and promote the functions of the skin, is frequent bathing. And for ordinary use warm, or as it is more generally termed tepid bathing should be preferred. The fi equent use of the Warm Bath is not only