32. Radium and Salt Baths.
(a) Half.
(b) Whole.
NOTE--=The Vinegar= indicated to be used for these treatments, and
in all similar treatments, packs, or ablutions, prescribed, is the
natural, or what is known as "Apple Cider Vinegar." The manufactured
or ordinary table vinegar, as made from chemicals, is not suitable
for the purpose.
From these groups a treatment is usually prescribed in each and every
case of disease.
The importance of ablutions especially packs is so great that it is
necessary to give further explanations concerning them:
In a general way, it is necessary to apply a bath or an ablution (See
Form 23) when the test with the thermometer, usually applied under the
tongue, in arm-pit or in the rectum, shows that the temperature of the
patient exceeds 100 degrees. The patient grows restless, his skin feels
dry and the pulse, which regularly is 70 to 80 with adults, 90 to 100
with children, and about 130 with infants, shows an increased speed. As
soon as these symptoms appear, they indicate that the immediate cooling
off of the body by means of a bath, an ablution or a pack is necessary.
Adults will always show the desire for such instinctively.
In extreme cases baths or ablutions should be administered several times
every day.
Healthy people perspire as soon as they become too hot. This means that
they cool off through the evaporation of the perspiration. This is
supplemented by the bath and its cooling effect; balancing the higher
temperature of the body with the lower temperature of the water, brings
this about. The blood which flows towards the skin during the bath is
cooled off, and returns in this condition to the interior of the body,
and is immediately followed by other quantities of blood.
Since the blood circulates through the body about twice every minute,
the cooling takes place from 20 to 24 times during a bath, lasting from
10 to 12 minutes. This explains the soothing and cooling effect of the
bath on the waves of blood and the nerves, which are irritated by the
increased temperature.
At the same time the bath opens the pores which assist in the excretion
of degenerated matter produced by the disease, and fosters the reception
of oxygen.
It is a natural function of the body that an increased flow of the
warming blood flies always to any region of the body which is assailed
by external cold, so that such parts may not become too cold or, in
common parlance, may not "catch" cold.
This explains why the hands get red and hot after throwing snow-balls,
the feet burn after a cold foot bath.
As soon as the body, which is hot with fever, is put into the cool bath,
the first effect is that the blood-vessels of the skin contract under
the cooling influence. The blood recedes. Soon, however, it streams with
renewed energy to the skin to defeat the cold. The first action,--the
recession of the blood,--is followed by reaction or increased activity
of circulation towards the skin. This removes the pressure of the blood
upon the overburdened internal organs, such as the brain, the lungs and
the heart. The blood is diverted.
For ablutions the water should be cool or lukewarm, the exact
temperature to be determined by the strength of the patient. Some
vinegar should be added to the water, taking two parts water and one
part vinegar.
To accustom children to the use of water and ablutions is one of the
important duties of motherhood.
A healthy child should be washed once every day with water at 59 degrees
to 64 degrees. The best way to wash the child is to put two chairs in
front of its bed. On one of them place the vessel with the necessary
water, on the other place the child, after it has been disrobed in bed,
in a standing position, so that it can be supported with the back of the
chair. The ablution is performed by means of strong application with the
hands, dipped into the water, and is repeated several times. Then the
shirt is put on again, and the child is allowed to stay well covered in
bed for another 15 minutes.
Children must become accustomed to gargling as early as possible, and to
draw water up through the nose, or to remove it from the mouth through
the nose. This is very valuable and facilitates the treatment of
children in case of disease.