Physiology and Hygiene for Secondary Schools

by Francis M. Walters

Much of the hygiene of the skin is included in the problems of keeping it warm and clean. It is kept warm by clothing; bathing is the method of keeping it clean.

Clothing should be warm and loose-fitting. Woolen fabrics are to be preferred in winter to cotton because, being poorer conductors of heat, they afford better protection from the cold. But wool fails to absorb the perspiration rapidly from the skin and to pass it to the outside where it is evaporated. This, together with its tendency to irritate, makes woolen clothing somewhat objectionable for wearing next to the skin. This objection, however, is obviated by woolen underwear which is lined by a thin weaving of cotton.

Bathing.—The solid material from the perspiration, which is left on the skin, together with the oil from the oil glands and the dirt from the outside, tends to close up the pores and develop offensive odors. Keeping the skin clean is, for these reasons, necessary from both a health and a social standpoint. While one should always keep clean, the frequency of the bath will depend upon the season, the occupation of the individual, and the nature and amount of the perspiration. As to the kind of bath to be taken and the precautions to be observed, no specific rules can be laid down. These must be determined by[pg 273] the facilities at hand and by the health and natural vigor of the bather. Severe chilling of the body should be avoided, especially by those in delicate health. If a hot bath is taken, one should dash cold water over the body on finishing. One should then quickly dry and rub the body with a coarse towel. The dash of cold water closes the pores of the skin and lessens the liability of taking cold.

The Tonic Bath.—The cold bath has been found to have a beneficial effect upon the general health beyond its effect upon the skin. When taken with care as to the length of time and the degree of cold, decided tonic effects are observed on the circulation and on the nervous system. The rapid changes of temperature vigorously exercise the non-striated muscles of the blood vessels (page 57) and the nerves controlling them. The irritability of the nervous system in general is also lessened. For this reason the cold bath is one of the best means of keeping both mind and body in good condition during the warm months. Sponging off the body with cold or tepid water before retiring is also an excellent aid in securing sound sleep during the hot summer nights.

Danger from the cold bath arises through the shock to the nervous system and the loss of heat from the body. It is avoided by using water whose temperature is not too low and by limiting the time spent in the bath. A brisk rubbing with a coarse towel should always follow the cold bath. People past middle age are, as a rule, not benefited by the cold bath; and those in delicate health, especially if inclined toward rheumatism, are likely to be affected injuriously by it.

Care of the Complexion.—A good complexion is a natural accompaniment of good health and depends primarily[pg 274] upon two conditions—a clear skin and an active circulation of the blood through it. Clearness of the skin depends largely upon the elimination of waste material from the body, and where the solid wastes are not effectively removed through the natural channels (the liver, kidneys, and bowels), blotches, sallowness of the skin, and skin eruptions are likely to result. In seeking to clear the complexion, attention must be given to all those agencies that favor the elimination of waste, and especially should there be a free and thorough evacuation of the bowels each day. The general health should also be looked after, attention being given to exercise, fresh air, proper food,[93] sufficient sleep, etc.

Bathing is the chief means employed for increasing the circulation in the skin, although exercise which is sufficiently vigorous to cause one to perspire freely is a valuable aid. A daily bath of warm or hot water, finished off with a dash of cold, followed by a thorough rubbing of the entire surface, and this by a kneading of the skin with the thumbs and fingers, will in most cases bring about the desired results. A little olive oil, thoroughly worked into the skin during the kneading process, is beneficial where one lacks flesh or where the skin is dry and thin. The olive oil is also beneficial where the baths are exhausting or render one susceptible to cold. In rubbing and kneading, the skin should not be bruised or irritated.

The much advertised "complexion beautifiers" which are applied directly to the face frequently have the effect of clogging the pores and of causing eruptions of the skin. [pg 275]On the other hand, certain authorities state that the cold cream preparations may be of advantage in giving the skin a desired softness, and that when judiciously used (the face being cleansed after each application) they do no harm. Of the different kinds of face powder those prepared from rice are considered the least injurious.

Treatment of Skin Wounds.—Skin wounds which may not be serious in themselves frequently become so through getting infected with germs. Blood poisoning often results from such infections, one of the worst forms being tetanus, or lockjaw. A wound should be kept clean, and if it shows signs of infection, it should be washed with some antiseptic solution. Or, it may be cleansed with pure warm water and then covered with some antiseptic ointment,[94] of which there are a number on the market. A weak solution of carbolic acid (one part acid to twenty-five parts of water) makes an excellent antiseptic wash. It may be used not only for cleansing wounds, but also in counteracting the poisonous effects that follow the bites of insects.

A wound resulting from the bite of an animal (cat or dog), even though slight, should receive more serious attention, and as soon as possible after the occurrence. Such wounds should be cauterized, and for this purpose pure carbolic, acid (undiluted with water) may be used. A wooden toothpick is dipped into the acid and this is worked about in the wound. The acid is then washed out with warm water. A deep wound from a rusty nail or[pg 276] a thorn should be treated in the same manner and should be kept open, not being allowed to heal at the surface first. If one has reason to believe he has been bitten by a mad dog, the wound should be cauterized as above, and a physician should be summoned at once. Deep wounds from explosives, or other causes, should also receive the attention of the physician. Many cases of lockjaw result every year from wounds inflicted by the toy pistols, firecrackers, etc., used in our Fourth of July celebrations. These are due to the embedding in the skin or flesh of small solid particles on which are lockjaw germs. Wounds of this nature should, of course, receive the attention of the physician.