NEATNESS AND CLEANLINESS.
Reasons for discussing these topics. Every person should undergo a
thorough ablution once a day. Quotation from Mrs. Farrar. Two important
objects gained by cold bathing. Its value as an exercise. Various forms
of bathing. Philosophy of this subject. Vast amount of dirt
accumulating on the surface. Statement of Mr. Buckingham Bathing
necessary in all employments. Offices of the skin, and evil
consequences of keeping it in an uncleanly condition.
After saying so much of the general importance of obeying the laws of
life and health, it seems, at first view, almost unnecessary to go
farther into particulars than I have already done And yet I feel
somewhat inclined to do so for two reasons. First, because I find
several considerable errors in the advice given to young women in some
of our young women's books, in matters pertaining to their physical
improvement, which I should rejoice to be able to correct. Secondly,
because, that in a work from me, information of this kind will probably
be expected.
And yet it seems quite common-place to advise a young woman on the
subject of cleanliness in general; and still more so, to speak to her
on the subject of personal neatness. A young woman wanting in neatness!
At the first view of the case, such a thing seems almost impossible.
Would that it were so! Would that our daughters and sisters--the
daughters and sisters of America, especially--were so far apprized of
this indispensable requisite, as to need no monitor on the subject!
But, unhappily, it is not so. Very far from it, on the contrary.
No person in tolerable health, male or female, seems to me to be
entitled to be considered as neat--truly so--who does not wash the
surface of the whole body in water, daily. But are there not multitudes
who pass for models of neatness and cleanliness, who do not perform
this work for themselves half a dozen times--nay, once--a year?
That I may not be regarded as wholly ultra on this subject, because
professedly a strong friend and advocate of physical education and
physical improvement, I beg leave to subjoin the following paragraphs
from Mrs. Farrar's Young Ladies' Friend:
"Once, at least, in twenty-four hours, the whole surface of the body
should be washed in soap and water, and receive the friction of a
coarse towel, or flesh brush, or crash mitten. This may be done by warm
or cold bathing; by a plunging or shower bath; by means of a common
wash tub; and even without further preparation than an ordinary
wash-bowl and sponge.
"By washing a small part of the person at a time, rubbing it well, and
then covering what is done, the whole may be washed in cold water, even
in winter time; and a glow may be produced after it, in a young and
healthy person.
"It is common for persons who are in the habit of sponging over with
cold water every morning, or of taking the shower or plunging bath, to
omit it when they have a slight cold, or sore throat, or a touch of
rheumatism; whereas, if it were properly done so as to produce a glow
all over the skin, their habitual ablutions would be the best remedy
for the beginnings of evil. * * * If not sure, in such a case, of
producing a glow after the use of the cold water, it will be better to
use the warm, in order to make the skin do its office freely. But to
cease your customary bathing at such times, is to increase all your
difficulties.
"Many think it impossible to make this thorough washing when the
weather is very cold, and that they must do it in rooms never warmed by
a fire; but in healthy and vigorous persons, the glow after washing
would be so great, as to more than compensate for the momentary chill."
By washing the body in cold water every day, and following it by
friction, according to the recommendation of Mrs. F., you gain, at
once, two important objects. You secure to yourself the benefits of
cleanliness, and of a vast amount of exercise, and consequent vigor. I
say a _vast_ amount; but this depends much on yourself. You may make a
great deal of it, or only a little. I know of one teacher who says his
cold bath and friction are worth two hours of ordinary exercise to him
every day. But two hours of ordinary exercise a day, is much more than
the whole which is taken by some of our young women.
I have spoken of the vigor derived from cold bathing. This is gained in
two ways. First, _directly_, by the action of the muscles or moving
powers, which I have partially described in the chapter on Exercise.
Secondly, _indirectly_, through the medium of sympathy. I know of no
one thing which costs so little time and effort--(for the work may be
done after it has become natural and habitual, in twelve or fifteen
minutes)--which secures, at the same time, such an amount of exercise
and bodily vigor, as daily cold bathing.
The particular forms of bathing are numerous. Among these, are the
simple washing with the hand, spoken of by Mrs. Farrar; sponging;
immersion in a tub or stream; and the shower bath. All these, except,
of course, washing in a stream, may be done with cold, tepid, warm or
hot water; and may be continued for a greater or less time--although,
in general, the cold bath should be a quick operation.
Let me now present the reader with a physiological explanation of the
use and necessity of frequent ablution and bathing; derived, in
substance, from a little tract already before the public. [Footnote:
See "Thoughts on Bathing." page 8.] I use the language of the tract,
because I can use none which is better for my present purpose.
The dust accumulates on the surface of our bodies much more readily,
and adheres much more firmly, and in much larger quantities, than is
usually supposed, and than by many would be credited. Mr. Buckingham,
the Oriental traveller, asserts that from two to three pounds of it are
sometimes removed from the whole surface of a person who has for some
time neglected bathing and washing, in a tropical climate; and this,
under some circumstances, may possibly have been the case. For not only
does the moisture of the skin favor its accumulation, but so also does
the oily substance continually poured out by the small bottle-shaped
glands--sebaceous glands, as they are called--which are found in the
skin in great numbers, with their mouths opening on its surface.
Nothing, indeed, can be more obvious to an enlightened and reflecting
mind, than the indispensable necessity of frequent ablutions of the
body in some form or other. It will, indeed, be said--it is often
said--that much depends, in this respect, upon the nature of our
occupation. The farmer, the smith, the manufacturer--the individual, in
one word, whose employment is most uncleanly--will be thought to need
frequent attentions of this kind, while those whose employments are
quiet and sedentary, will need them less frequently.
But it should not be forgotten, that although frequent bathing and
cleansing are indispensable to those whose employments expose them to a
great deal of dust, yet they are scarcely less necessary to the
sedentary; and for the following reason:--The active nature of the
employments of the former, and their exposure to the open air, break up
the coating of oil and dirt with which they are enveloped, and render
it more pervious to the matter of perspiration, than the thinner, but
not less tenacious varnish which covers the surface of the sedentary.
On the whole, therefore, I regard bathing and thorough cleansing of the
skin, as of nearly equal importance in all the varied circumstances of
age, sex, climate and occupation.
We must not omit to observe, that whatever changes take place in the
lungs, by the action of the air upon the blood in the small vessels of
those organs, to purify and renovate it, take place all over the
surface of the body; that in this respect, therefore, the skin may be
regarded as a sort of appendage to the lungs; and that if the skin he
varnished over with a mixture of oil and dust, so that it cannot
perform its office, an unreasonable burden will be thrown upon the
lungs, which will thereby be weakened, and predisposed to disease. I
have not a doubt, that a universal neglect of cleanliness not only
favors, in this way, the production of lung diseases--especially of
those colds which are so frequent in our climate, and which often pave
the way for other and still more dangerous diseases--but also that it
tends to aggravate such diseases of the lungs as may already exist, or
to whose existence there may be in us, either by inheritance or
otherwise--a predisposition.
This temporary suspension of the offices of the skin is, however,
peculiarly dangerous to those who are of light complexion, slender
form, with a long neck, and narrow shoulders projecting almost like
wings--indicating a chest whose internal organs, as well as external
dimensions, are comparatively small and feeble, and therefore poorly
prepared to do that work which belongs to other parts or organs. Let
all persons beware of compelling the lungs _to work for the skin_; but
above all, those who have the particular structure to which I have
alluded.
It is hardly necessary that I should advert, here, to the repugnance
felt by our sex, to those young women whose external appearance
bespeaks a want of attention to this subject. But it is necessary that
I should allude to the indecency of that neglect--by no means
uncommon--which renders the odor of the perspiration very disagreeable,
or increases its disagreeableness by means of accumulations of grease
and dirt on the skin.
They should also be reminded that there is, somehow or other, (I know
not how, exactly,) a very general connection between external and
internal purity. It is exceedingly uncommon--I had almost said, quite
so--to find an individual who pays a daily close attention to neatness
and cleanliness of person and dress, who does not, at the same time,
possess a reputation which is not only above reproach, but also quite
above suspicion.