How to Determine the Temperature of a Bath without a Thermometer.—It is often necessary to administer a bath when a thermometer cannot be obtained. In such cases it is customary to test the temperature by placing the hand in the water. This is an unreliable method, however; for the hand becomes, by usage, so obtuse to heat that water which would seem only warm to it would be painfully hot to the body of the patient. To avoid this source of error, it is only necessary to plunge the arm to the elbow into the water, by which means its real temperature will be determined. Water which causes redness of the skin is hot; when it feels simply comfortable, with no special sensation of either heat or cold, it is warm. Slightly cooler than this, it is tepid. When it causes the appearance of goose-flesh, it may be for practical purposes called cool, a still lower degree being cold.
Another Method.—The method about to be described is somewhat more accurate than the preceding, and may be found convenient for facilitating the preparation of a bath of proper quantity as well as temperature, a matter which though simple enough is often quite annoying to inexperienced persons. It is a fact of common knowledge that water boils at 212° F. Boiling water, then, is always of this temperature. Well and spring water, and the water of cisterns in winter, does not vary greatly from 53°. The temperature of well and spring water changes very slightly with the seasons. By combining in proper quantities water of these known temperatures, any required temperature may be produced. Not having seen this method suggested before, we have prepared the following table, which may perhaps be used to advantage in the absence of a thermometer; we advise all to obtain and use a thermometer, however, when it is possible to do so:—
| Tem. 53°. | Tem. 212°. | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | qts. | added | to | 1 | qt. | equals | 3 | qts. at | 106° |
| 2½ | „ | „ | 1 | „ | „ | 3½ | „ | 98° | |
| 3 | „ | „ | 1 | „ | „ | 4 | „ | 93° | |
| 4 | „ | „ | 1 | „ | „ | 5 | „ | 85° | |
| 5 | „ | „ | 1 | „ | „ | 6 | „ | 80° | |
| 6 | „ | „ | 1 | „ | „ | 7 | „ | 76° | |
| 8 | „ | „ | 1 | „ | „ | 9 | „ | 71° | |
When larger quantities are needed, it is only necessary to multiply each of the combining quantities by the same number. For instance, if a gallon and a half of water is needed for a foot bath at 106°, pour into a pail or bath-tub four quarts of fresh well water and then add two quarts of boiling water. If four gallons of water are wanted for a sitz bath at 93° (a very common temperature), pour into the bath-tub three gallons of fresh well or spring water, and add one gallon of boiling water. Thus any required quantity can be obtained at the temperatures given. The cold water should be placed in the vessel first, and there should be no delay in adding the hot water, as it would rapidly lose its heat, and thus make a larger quantity necessary. Determinate measurement is not essential. The cold and hot water may be added alternately in proper proportions, being measured by the same vessel until the requisite quantity is prepared.
RULES FOR BATHING.
The following general rules should be carefully studied and thoroughly understood by any one who expects to employ the bath. Much injury to health and most of the discredit cast upon the use of water as a remedy have arisen from a disregard of some of them:—
1. A full bath should never be taken within two or three hours after a meal.
2. Such local baths as fomentations, compresses, foot baths, and even sitz baths, may be taken an hour or two after a meal; indeed, compresses and fomentations may be applied almost immediately after a light meal, without injury.
3. Employ the thermometer to determine the temperature of every bath when possible to do so; if not, employ the other methods described.
4. The temperature of the room during a bath should be 70° to 85°. Invalids require a warmer room than persons in health. Thorough ventilation is an important matter; but draughts must be carefully prevented, by screens of netting placed before openings into the room when necessary.