Natural Bath

No one need forego the luxury of a bath on account of its expense. Water is the only requisite, and a pair of willing hands. Aside from this an ordinary basin, or tub, is the only other article required. One of the simplest and one of the most natural baths is the natural bath. In this bath the water should be of a temperature most agreeable to the user, is splashed or rubbed on the body with the hands alone, on either the whole or part of the body. The body is dried solely with the hands with vigorous friction, rubbing and slapping. The time required for this is likely to be about twenty minutes. When ended and properly performed, the body is all in a glow from the friction and exercise.

Night Bath

The cleansing or night bath is preferably taken just before retiring. In its nature it is intended to be that of a sedative - provocative of sleep. For this reason it should be a hot bath, finally ending up with a cold sponge, then vigorous rubbing until thoroughly dry.

The cold morning bath acts as a stimulant fitting us for day's work, while the hot bath of the evening is relaxing or soothing in its character, and is especially indicated in cases of sleeplessness.

Sweating by a Hot Compress or Hot Pack. -

To induce a profuse sweat is one of the most rapid, effective and valuable methods extant for breaking up what is termed a heavy cold.

The sweating process may be produced by a vapor bath, or in the absence of this an extemporaneous or home-made method like the following answers : The patient is best put in bed in a room comfortably warm, stripped and wrapped up from head to foot in cloths wrung out of moderately hot water. The cloths should be wrung out as dry as possible, and put quickly on the patient, not allowing them to get cold. These cloths may be in the form of strips about ten inches wide, and made several feet long, of cotton, cheese-cloth, wincey or other goods. In an emergency ordinary white sheets answer, or a number of towels. The hot cloths are covered with rubber tissue, oiled silk or mackintosh; in the absence of these with some thick cloth material. Outside of this flannel wraps must be used to keep in the heat. Hot drinks of lemonade and ginger may be given the patient. The length of time for the use of the compress or hot pack varies according to circumstances, and must be sufficiently long to fill the blood vessels of the skin, and produce profuse perspiration. This may take from one-half to one hour, or more, and may need repetition. The sweating-process may be assisted by putting hot water bottles or hot bricks in the bed. As soon as the sweating process is finished, the patient should be sponged with tepid water, thoroughly dried with towels and brisk friction, then put to bed. There is no danger in taking cold after this, provided the patient is not exposed to outdoors sooner than eight to ten hours after the treatment. A hot compress or hot pack like the above acts practically like a poultice to the whole body.

Exercise

SYSTEMATIZED Exercise or Physical Culture is essentially necessary to every individual who follows an indoor occupation. A system is to be advocated which develops the muscles generally, in contra-distinction to developing one set of muscles to the exclusion of another. Such exercise may be obtained without apparatus of any kind; or by using dumb-bells, clubs, "exercisers," etc.

Unfortunately physical culture has been carried to excess, so that much harm has been done by indiscriminate and excessive muscular development.

The simpler the exercises the better, just enough to be natural. No one wants to be a Hercules or a Samson. Excessive development of the muscles can only be kept up by an un-natural method. As soon as the un-natural exercising ceases, the muscles return to their original condition. In some instances they even deteriorate.

In many instances exercises require to be "individualized." Different classes of individuals require different kinds of exercise. In a general way it may be said for the brain-worker and office man, no exercise surpasses walking. In addition to this deep breathing exercises should be practised at the same time.

Walking, however, lacks interest to many individuals. It is for this reason that golf is so popular, one gets walking with the additional interest of the game. Probably no form of exercise surpasses bicycling in its results. It is particularly adapted for brain-workers and those who sometimes feel almost too weak for exercise. The weight of the body is borne by the wheel, the larger muscles of the body are put into play, so that the circulation of the blood is made active, the exhilaration of motion and the rapidity of the change of scene, all combine to make wheeling par excellence the ideal exercise when taken in moderation. Wheeling gives the greatest amount of exercise with the least possible exertion, hence its great value. After a spin of a few miles, followed up with a sponge or shower bath and a brisk rub, one will have an appetite not to be despised. Of the games, tennis is one of the best as an exercise.

Exercises have an important bearing in relation to baths. After exercising actively, and while the skin is warm and moist, a bath is specially enjoyable. The reaction is complete, quick, and thorough.

Books upon physical culture are to be found in abundance at all book stores.