Cautions concerning cold bathing, and drinking the mineral waters / by William Buchan, M. D. Being an additional chapter to the ninth edition of his Domestic Medicine.

  • Buchan, William, 1729-1805.
Date:
1786
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Cautions concerning cold bathing, and drinking the mineral waters / by William Buchan, M. D. Being an additional chapter to the ninth edition of his Domestic Medicine. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    10 ON COLD BATHING, AND in ufing the cold bath. Nervous people have often weak bowels, and may, as well as others, be fub* ject to congeftions and obflruftions of the vifcera; and in this cafe they will not be able to bear the effects of the cold water. For them, therefore, and indeed for all delicate people, the bed plan would be to accuftom themfelves to it by the rnofl: pleafing and gentle degrees. They ought to begin with the temperate bath, and gradually ufe it cooler, till at length the coldeft proves quite agreeable. Nature revolts againft all great tranfi- tions; and thole who do violence to her diftates, have often caufe to repent of their temerity. Wherever cold bathing is p raft i fed, there ought likewife to be tepid baths for the purpofe mentioned above. Indeed it is the praftice of fome countries to throw cold water over the.patient as foon as he comes out of the warm bath; but though this may not injure a Ruffian peafant, we dare not recommend it to the inhabitants of this country. The ancient Greeks and Romans, we are told, when covered with fweat and duff, ufed to plunge into rivers, without receiving the fmallefl injury. Though they might often efcape danger from this impru- dent aft, yet their conduct was certainly contrary to all the rules of medicine; as I have known many robuft men throw away their lives by fuch an attempt. I would not however advife patients to go into the cold water when the body is chilly; as much exercife, at lead, ought to be taken, as may excite a gentle glow all over the body, but by no means fo as to overheat it. To