The surface of the body should be kept clean, as far as possible, and to this end, in summer, should be well bathed at least once a day. In winter, though useful, it is not so indispensable; still no one should neglect the bath more than a week, and all ought to bathe at least twice a week, if not oftener, even in winter.
The bath should be of a temperature that is agreeable, and the room warm, especially for a feeble person. It should be so applied as not to give a general chill, as such shocks are always hurtful.
The teeth should be kept clean and free from tartar. They should be cleaned every morning and after each meal. The feet, legs and arms should be warmly clothed, especially the arms, as an exposure of them to cold is liable to induce affections of the lungs, and to aggravate any existing disease of those organs.
By exposure of the feet and legs to cold, diseases and derangements of the female organs, even in young girls, are induced; and one prolific cause of female weakness is to be found in improper dressing of the feet and legs, while the lung affections of females, now so fearfully prevalent, are traceable in a great degree to the fashion that has prevailed for a few years, of exposing the arms to cold.
Diet.
The diet of the sick should he nutricious, but at all times simple, free from greasy substances, and from all stimulating condiments whatsoever, as well as from vinegar, or food in which vinegar is used.
In short, let the food be nutritious, easily digested, small or moderate in quantity, and free from all "seasoning," except salt or sugar; and if salt is used at all, let the quantity be very small, much less than would be used in health.
Diarrhœa.
This disease consists in a looseness of the bowels, generally accompanied with pain in the abdomen, more or less severe. It sometimes occurs without pain, but is then attended with a sense of weakness, and a general feeling of uneasiness. It prevails mostly in the warm seasons, but may occur at any time. It is not usually considered a very dangerous affection, except during the prevalence of Cholera, or in children during hot weather.