The airbath as a means of healing and hardening the body / by Dr. Heinrich Lahmann.

  • Heinrich Lahmann
Date:
1901
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The airbath as a means of healing and hardening the body / by Dr. Heinrich Lahmann. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    might will be forgetten, and Rikli, Veldes (Austria) his attention having been apparently drawn by these literary notes to the airbath as a means of health, and, in a manner of speaking, newly proclaimed — took the trouble to express the opinion that in our time it was not necessary for any- body to become enthusiastic over such a common thing as perfectly pure air which to the pride of Science, had been the development of the nineteenth century. When however, Nansen related in his On Snowshoes through Greenland*) how he saw the Esquimaux of the East Coast taking their airbath in their tents which were imperfectly warmed with blubber oil cooking lamps, the people having thrown off their skin clothes, he contributed valuable material to the literature of hygienic research. And here I cannot refrain, after having obtained the kind permission of the Editor to reproduce the illustration, from quoting textually the characteristic description given by Nansen. It will be found on page 330 of the first vo- lame The first thing that attracted my attention was the crowd of naked persons whom 1 saw standing, lying and sitting around me in the tent. They all wore their Natit or housegarment but this is of such small sige that it was hardly worthy the name. It consists of a norrow band round the loins and, especially in the case of the women, was of the smallest proportions. I saw no signs of false shame and the unaffectedness with which they conversed was a matter of no small surprise to us Europeans who, accus- tomed to Western habits, appeared a little out of our element. It will be readily understood that some at least of us could not help blushing as we saw how several girls and young fellows came in to the tent (which was intended for four or five different families) and quite unconcernedly undressed themselves, put on the loin Coth and took their places on the low wooden platform. Our modest confusion will be the more readily understood when one considers how long we had been cut off by sea and ice from association with any but male companions. It made a strong impression on ones mind to see a young mother dissembarrass herself of her clothing and without more ado throw herself on the platform where her baby lay perfectly naked. Then bending on all fours over her little one she gave him the breast. There was some- thing so peaceful and artless, so maternal and teuder in thi *) Auf Schneeschuhen durch GrOnland. Hamburg, Verlags- anstalt vormals J. F. Richter 1891.
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