Observations on mineral waters, and on sea-bathing, with cautions and admonitions on their use and application.

Date:
[1801]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on mineral waters, and on sea-bathing, with cautions and admonitions on their use and application. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    7/10 page 507
    impregnated in the same manner ; but they are prefer- able in many eases, as from their warmth they are more kindly and agreeable to the stomachs of weak people, and promote perspiration. The warm waters are also used as warm baths, and may in general be considered as warm medicated baths. By relaxing the fibres, they arc useful in a variety of dis- orders which arise from rigidity, and spasm, and also from other causes. Hdnce they are of great use in rheu- matisms, inflammations, costiveness, &c. in which the cure is commonly assisted by the internal use of thos* waters. SEA-BATHING. On the subject of bathing, particularly in salt water, much has been wrritten by medical men ; but as no gene- ral rules can apply to individual eases, what has been said in regard to drinkingmineral waters equally applies here too,' that the advice of a physician should always be taken before a valetudinarian commences a course of ba- thing, either in fresh or salt, hot or cold water. The general and indiscriminate use of bathing is al- lowed on all hands, frequently to lay the foundation of a train of maladies, and instead of being a harmless or salutary amusement, is often destructive to health and enjoyment. In order to secure the good effects of cold bathing, a previous immersion or two in a tepid bath, of about eighty-four, will be highly conducive. The body will thus be purified, and the absorbent vessels will have an opportunity of acting with more freedom and force. Bathing early in the morning, is, in many respects, preferable to a late hour, when the constitution is able to bear it. It induces a habit of early rising, and the wa- ter at that period of the day, being most cool, of conse- quence has a more tonic effect, They who bathe every morning, instead of strengthen- ing the habit, take the surest way to weaken it. Twice or thrice in a week is amply sufficient; and instead of continuing long in the water, or taking repeated dips, the first plunge is the only one that can be attended with any utility. At the commencement of a course of bathing, twice a week is enough ; and thrice in the middle. Before its X X 2
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3