Any vessel sufficiently large to receive the feet, and enough water to cover them to the ankles, is suitable for this bath. The feet should be rubbed during the bath. If the temperature is cool, only an inch or two of water should be employed.
The walking foot bath is an excellent remedy for cold feet. It consists in walking in shallow water five or ten minutes.
The alternate hot and cold foot bath is another valuable remedy for cold feet, and is a certain remedy for chilblains. It is given thus: Place the feet in hot water—100° to 110°—three or four minutes. Then withdraw them and plunge them quickly into a bath of cold water—60° or less. After two or three minutes, restore them to the hot bath. Thus alternate three or four times, and conclude by dipping the feet quickly into cold water and wiping dry. This bath produces most powerful reaction.
The foot bath is applicable in the treatment of headache, neuralgia, toothache, catarrh, congestion of abdominal and pelvic organs, colds, and cold feet. It is very useful as a preparatory for other baths, and as an accompaniment of other local applications.
HALF PACK.
This bath is given in the same manner as the wet-sheet pack, except that the wet sheet extends only from the armpits to the hips. The blankets are wrapped about the patient in the manner described for the full pack. All the precautions given in connection with the description of that bath are applicable to this.
This bath is frequently employed in cases of patients who are too feeble to bear the full pack, or as a preparatory treatment for that bath. It is much milder than the full pack, and is usually more agreeable to the patient, as it does not confine him so closely. It is a very useful remedy in all inflammations of the abdominal organs, gastralgia, pleurisy, acute bronchitis, croup, and pneumonia. When a hot application is required, it is well to use a woolen sheet instead of a cotton one. It requires the same after-treatment as the full pack.
CHEST PACK.
This application is made in the same manner as the half pack, allowing the wet sheet to extend only from the armpits to the navel. It is especially applicable to diseases of the chest. The general directions for the full and the half pack apply to it. It is a very mild application.