places, sea-bathing has become more frequent than it used to be,
and with it has come a better condition of health among the women
who have taken advantage of the facihties afforded them each sum-
mer. We have frequently seen ladies in the water on the Coney
Island beach bathing places, however, who have by their neglect of
the hygienic rules of bathing almost nullified the beneficial effects of
their baths. For instance, how many are there of the lady bathers
at our watering-places in the summer who ever strictly observe the
following code of rules for healthy bathing ?
First — Never take a cold bath directly after a hearty meal, as
the drafts made upon the natural heat of the body by the sudden im-
mersion in the cold water abruptly retard the process of digestion,
even at times stopping it altogether. Going in to bathe, too, on an
empty stomach is almost as trying to the digestive organs. An hour
after a meal is the least time necessary for the stomach to be prepared
for the loss of heat.
Second — While it is not advisable to rush into cold water with a
system overheated to any excess, it is less objectionable than to go
into the water " cooled off," as too many do. It should be borne in
mind that the system wants all its natural heat to bring about that
reactionary circulation of the blood to the surface of the body, after it
has been driven inwardly by the shock of the cold water. To cool
off before bathing is to deprive yourself of the very means required to
induce that healthy reaction, which is such an essential advantage of
the bath. It used to be regarded as necessary to get "cooled off"
before bathing, but that has been proved a dangerous fallacy.
Third — Never remain in the water long enough to experience a
chilly, shivering sensation, as it shows conclusively that you have
lost too much of your natural heat. So long as you exercise in the
water, either by swimming or by the romping and frolicking of the
surf bather's custom, and thereby generate bodily heat as fast as it is
absorbed by the water, your bath can be prolonged at will ; but to
remain in until your lips are blue and your body is chilled to the
marrow, as it were, is to nullify all the good effects of your bath.
I lO THE HEARTHSTONE ; OR, LIFE AT HOME.
Fourth — Avoid, when swimming, going far from the shore, if the
temperature of the water is below the ordinary summer months' range,
as it sometimes is, as one result will be liability to seizure by cramps,
in which case your nether limbs become helpless. Cramps, too, al-
most invariably follow going into the water when the stomach is not
in condition to withstand the shock.
Fifth — When you first go in the water, take a good douse of
water, immersing your body entirely, and then come out and wait
until the reaction sets in, then return and exercise in the water, not
simply lay off and get cool in it. That is not bathing for the benefit
of the bath.
Sixth — Never go beyond the stated boundaries — if you are not a
competent long-distance swimmer — unless there are safety-ropes or
other safeguards on the shore. The best swimmers can be too ven-
turesome.
There are other bathing rules to be attended to by those who bathe
for health alone, but. the above will suffice for this work.
Page 65
Presented as published in 1883. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
places, sea-bathing has become more frequent than it used to be, and with it has come a better condition of health among the women who have taken advantage of the facilities afforded them each summer. We have frequently seen ladies in the water on the Coney Island beach bathing places, however, who have by their neglect of the hygienic rules of bathing almost nullified the beneficial effects of their baths. For instance, how many are there of the lady bathers at our watering-places in the summer who ever strictly observe the following code of rules for healthy bathing ?
First — Never take a cold bath directly after a hearty meal, as the drafts made upon the natural heat of the body by the sudden immersion in the cold water abruptly retard the process of digestion, even at times stopping it altogether. Going in to bathe, too, on an empty stomach is almost as trying to the digestive organs. An hour after a meal is the least time necessary for the stomach to be prepared for the loss of heat.
Second — While it is not advisable to rush into cold water with a system overheated to any excess, it is less objectionable than to go into the water " cooled off," as too many do. It should be borne in mind that the system wants all its natural heat to bring about that reactionary circulation of the blood to the surface of the body, after it has been driven inwardly by the shock of the cold water. To cool off before bathing is to deprive yourself of the very means required to induce that healthy reaction, which is such an essential advantage of the bath. It used to be regarded as necessary to get "cooled off" before bathing, but that has been proved a dangerous fallacy.
Third — Never remain in the water long enough to experience a chilly, shivering sensation, as it shows conclusively that you have lost too much of your natural heat. So long as you exercise in the water, either by swimming or by the romping and frolicking of the surf bather's custom, and thereby generate bodily heat as fast as it is absorbed by the water, your bath can be prolonged at will ; but to remain in until your lips are blue and your body is chilled to the marrow, as it were, is to nullify all the good effects of your bath.
Fourth — Avoid, when swimming, going far from the shore, if the temperature of the water is below the ordinary summer months' range, as it sometimes is, as one result will be liability to seizure by cramps, in which case your nether limbs become helpless. Cramps, too, almost invariably follow going into the water when the stomach is not in condition to withstand the shock.
Fifth — When you first go in the water, take a good douse of water, immersing your body entirely, and then come out and wait until the reaction sets in, then return and exercise in the water, not simply lay off and get cool in it. That is not bathing for the benefit of the bath.
Sixth — Never go beyond the stated boundaries — if you are not a competent long-distance swimmer — unless there are safety-ropes or other safeguards on the shore. The best swimmers can be too venturesome.
There are other bathing rules to be attended to by those who bathe for health alone, but. the above will suffice for this work.