Personal hygiene and physical training for women

by Anna M. Galbraith

The Tub Bath.—This is much more refreshing, more salutary, and may be used to produce a much greater variety of effects than the simple ablution. Tub baths may be classified according to the amount of water in the tub as half or full tubs; and again, according to the temperature of the water, as warm, tepid, hot, and cold. The half tub contains about 30 gallons of water.

In a general way it may be said that the half tub of warm water is used for the purpose of cleanliness; the hot baths for breaking up colds, for rheumatism, etc.; the tepid bath to allay nervousness; and the full cold tub, for the tonic morning dip.

For cleansing purposes the so-called half tub, that is, the tub contains a sufficient amount of water to reach above the pelvis when one is seated in the tub, is used. The temperature ranges from 98° to 102° F. Five minutes is as long as the bather should remain in the tub, as all hot baths are more or less exhausting. After an initial immersion in the water, the scrub takes place by means of the Turkish bath-towel, or, better, by the use of the flesh brush. If there is a shower attached, the hot bath should always be followed by a brief cold shower; if not, the cold water should be turned on and dashed over the body by means of the wash-towel. This closes up the pores of the skin, prevents the profuse perspiration from taking place that so often follows a hot bath, and greatly diminishes the susceptibility to taking cold. An alcohol rub completes the procedure. This insures a further toning up of the cutaneous vessels. A small quantity of alcohol is poured into the hand and applied to a limited area of the body. It is well rubbed in with friction until the alcohol has wholly evaporated. Beginning with the arms, the legs, chest, and back are successively gone over.

The hot bath is best taken immediately before retiring, and should not be repeated oftener than twice a week. Retiring to bed at once, the bed acts as the cooling chamber of the Turkish bath. The hot bath is most restful, and, except in rare cases, tends to the production of refreshing sleep.

If the bather has a weak heart, suffers from shortness of breath, or is weak from any cause whatever, she should only take a half tub bath, since it has been learned from experience that when the water covers the entire body, there is increased difficulty in the respiration, and the heart’s action often becomes embarrassed, palpitation of the heart is experienced, with a feeling of impending suffocation. There is sometimes also a feeling of faintness. On getting into the tub, the temperature of the room should never be above 68° to 70° F.

The Full Tub or Immersion Bath.—In this form of bath there is a complete submersion of the body in the water, so that the water reaches the under surface of the chin, the head of the bather resting on a cross strap, being the only portion of the body uncovered by the water.

If the bath is tepid, that is, has a temperature of from 80° to 90° F., great care should be taken to have the chest covered, in order to prevent pulmonary congestion. This is best accomplished by placing a Turkish towel, wrung out of hot water, about the chest and shoulders of the bather just after she enters the tub.

If the bath is hot, from 98° to 104° F., before entering the bath the face and neck are rubbed with cold water, in order to relax the vessels of the brain and so prevent cerebral anemia. Except when the hot bath is given for especial therapeutic purposes, as for rheumatism, cystitis, colic, etc., it should always be followed by a cold application.

The Cold Dip.—For the dip, the tub is filled with water at a temperature of from 65° to 55° F. The duration of the dip varies from two or four seconds to one or two minutes. The bather should wet the face and chest before entering the water. It is best to enter the bath suddenly, as the sensation of cold is thus far less noticeable than when the bath is entered gradually. If the stay in the tub is more than momentary, vigorous rubbing must be kept up during the entire time spent in the tub.

For persons in good health a cold dip on rising in the morning is excellent. It creates an appetite, accelerates the circulation, arouses the nervous system, and produces decided exhilarating effects in those who are strong enough to react after it. When employed for this purpose, the immersion should not be more than from three to fifteen seconds. The bather must rub herself vigorously while in the tub, and follow the bath with brisk toweling and plenty of friction. She should then take moderately active exercise for fifteen to twenty minutes.