Hydropathy : its principles and practice for home use / by Archibald Hunter.

  • Hunter, Archibald.
Date:
1881
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Hydropathy : its principles and practice for home use / by Archibald Hunter. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    128/392 (page 84)
    HOT BATHS. Hot baths may be taken at from ioo° to 106°; but are suitable only in exceptional cases, and should be taken under advice. Frequent hot bathing is very relaxing, and has often been injurious to children when giving with the intention of making the bath powerful. The head and nervous system generally suffer most from excess of heat, and should always be bathed with cool water before the warm bath is taken. VAPOUR BATHS AND OTHER SWEATING PROCESSES. Perspiration is a natural function of the skin, by means of which any excess of heat or moisture (water) are easily thrown off when under any strain, without injury to the con- stitution. It seems intended by our organism that relief or cure should be sought for through the outlets of the skin in many cases of disease instead of by the stomach and bowels. Hydropathy has fully proved that many diseases are relieved or cured by increasing the emanating action of the skin ; indeed, the skin has a double action, as it receives both heat and moisture through absorption as well as exhaling any excess, the minute tissue of nerves, being acutely sensitive, intimating conditions and requirements under the perpetual variations of temperature—in summer and winter, day and night activity, and rest, etc., etc. Sweating relieves congestion of all the internal organs by increasing the flow of blood in the skin: thus reducing the pressure on the internal organs, and the per- spiration at the same time lessens the quantity in the blood vessels by the evaporation, of the water only, and not by abstracting the red blood as is done in leeching, and bleeding by the lancet. Sweating is of recognised value in dropsical and other com- plaints, and it may be repeated and continued in a modified form with occasional tepid baths and washings, say, once or