30 May 1812 Bathing to the Editor of the Belfast Chronicle Sir As the season for bathing is now approaching, probably a few observations relating to the management of that operation, partly extracted from the works of a late eminent physician, and partly the result of my own experience, may not unacceptable, or altogether useless, to some of your numerous readers.
They chiefly apply to salt-water bathing - 1. The morning tide is incomparably preferable the evening ; and an empty stomach to a full one, for this healthy operation. 2. The time allotted for stripping, immersion, and resuming the dress, should rarely exceed 20 minutes; if it can be done in 15, so much the better. 3, The blood should be moderately heated, both before and after the bath, by walking or other suitable exercise. 4. Notwithstanding the absurd and silly prejudices to the contrary, the body should, on immersion, be instantly and briskly rubbed with a coarse cloth, till perfectly dry. Let every one who regards his health, attend particularly to this; for, notwithstanding, it is admitted that salt water does not so readily give sensible cold as fresh, yet, it is certain, that the damp absorbed by the linen, on being put on a wet body, and lying against the skin, is attended with the most dangerous consequences, and has often laid the foundation of a consumption or inflammation of the lungs, when the patient is perhaps totally ignorant of the cause of his disorder. This pernicious practice is of the very same nature as sleeping in damp sheets, with the difference, indeed, of air and exercise to assist in counteracting the injurious effects it would otherwise be attended with. Attention to this point is most essentially necessary with children, their tender frames are less able to contend with so hurtful a practice, than those of adults; yet, strange to tell, with these it is most neglected! I have been often filled wth a mixture of grief and indignation, at seeing the clothes of tender infants hurried on their wet bodies after bathing, which cannot fail to give the poor innocents a fit of the cholic, a severe cough, or possibly throw it into convulsions; yet there is no persuading their mothers or nurses of the impropriety and danger of doing so. The notion from whence this practice arose, very probably originated in the supposed fact of the body absorbing the salt water, and the salubrious effects of such absorption upon the system. Not to mention that the doctrine of absorption has been controverted by some very eminent physicians, yet assuredly the proper time and place for receiving such beneficial effects is during immersion, not by the application of wet clothes, which, checking the perspiration, not only counteracts the benefit of bathing, but saps the constiution, and lays a foundation for a numerous train diseases. By a proper attention to the preceding observations, sea-bathing may be used with equal pleasure and advantage. l am, Sir, your obedient servant Benevolus Belfast, May 28, 1812. (In this edition is the following advertisment on the 1st page out of 4) Sea-Bathing Hotel Newtownglens David STEPHEN Begs leave to inform the public that in consequence of the great difficult that he has experienced in procurring hay for the stables - he proposes Bathers in his hotel for the ensuing summer - but again November next, he shall be fully provided to meet the accommodation of traveller's, when he hopes for their countenance and support transcribed by Teena from the Belfast Commercial Chronicle -- www.cotyrone.com http://lists.cotyrone.com/mailman/listinfo/ulsterancestry https://www.facebook.com/groups/CoTyroneIrelandGenealogy/ _______________________________________________ [email protected] UlsterAncestry Mailing List Searchable Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ http://lists.cotyrone.com/mailman/listinfo/ulsterancestry Website: https://cotyrone.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CoTyroneIrelandGenealogy/
