SEA BATHING.
When sea bathing can be obtained, it is even more conducive to the health of the child than the fresh water plunge bath; for the sea water is more tonic, stimulant, and bracing, than fresh. The period of the year best adapted for sea bathing is the summer and autumn. The best time of the day for bathing is two or three hours after breakfast; except in very hot weather, when an earlier hour must be chosen. Exercise is always useful previously to the bath; but it must be gentle, so as not to induce fatigue or much perspiration, Then the bath must be entered suddenly, with a plunge, inasmuch as an instantaneous immersion produces a greater reaction than a gradual immersion.[FN#22] The length of time of remaining in will depend upon circumstances. One dip only is enough at the first bath. Subsequently the time of remaining in the water may be prolonged, but this must be increased gradually; the positive necessity of leaving the bath while there still remains sufficient power of reaction being always kept in mind. Exercise in the water, particularly that of swimming, is highly useful. The body should be speedily and well dried, immediately upon coming out; a rough jack towel is an excellent means of accomplishing this purpose, while at the same time it insures considerable friction of the surface of the skin. If the boy is in sound health, he may bathe daily.
[FN#22] It is a matter of importance in bathing children, that they should not be terrified by the immersion, and every precaution should be taken to prevent this.
As a remedy, sea bathing is highly serviceable. Its employment, however, requires much caution, and great mischief is sometimes committed by its indiscriminate use.
The child of a strumous habit may be greatly benefited by sea bathing, united with a few years' residence on the coast. Indeed, by carefully following up a course of sea bathing, a suitable diet, and a judicious mode of living, the very temperament of the individual may be all but changed, and a power and activity imparted to the system, productive eventually of comparatively strong and robust health. A parent will do wisely, therefore, to send a child of such a habit to a school on the coast. Great caution, however, must be observed when bathing is commenced, lest the shock be too powerful for the energies of the system, and be not followed by the necessary degree of reaction. It will be prudent to begin with the tepid bath (85 degrees to 92 degrees), and gradually reduce the temperature until the open sea can be resorted to without fear. The measures already mentioned for promoting reaction—exercise previous to immersion; the immersion at first only momentary, and followed by strong friction—must be diligently regarded in such a case.
In the child of a delicate and feeble habit, much out of health, whose general debility is dependent on some organic disease, sea bathing is not only improper, but dangerous. Instead of being strengthened, such a child will be rendered more weak and debilitated. On the other hand, when the child is of a weak and relaxed habit, but free from organic disease, the cold bath will be highly useful, provided sufficient power of reaction exist in the system. In this case the skin and flesh of the child is relaxed and flabby; there is a great tendency to warm perspirations in bed, capricious appetite, confined or relaxed bowels, indisposition to exertion, and weariness from the slightest effort.