Page:The American improved family physician, or home doctor.djvu/13

Rh won't drop off; then begin to wash in the following manner:— Take one limb at a time, wash and rub it well, and dry with the dry towel, this can be done without exposing the body to the air; so continue to wash the arms, body, legs and feet, every time rubbing the skin well with the dry towel or flannel. This bath is indicated when the patient is too weak for a rub sheet.

Rubbing or Dripping Sheet.—A large linen or cotton sheet, dipped in the Alkaline Solution or water itself, wrung out just so it won't drop off too much; then let the patient get on his feet, and immediately thrown over the patients head and body, so that the patient can rub himself in front, and an attendant his back and extremities; this ought to be continued from two to five minutes, and then the patient completely rubbed off with dry flannel or linen. This all ought to be done in rather a cool than a hot room; there is no danger of taking cold if the patient is himself in motion, but should the patient stand bare and still, he will take cold if the room is ever so hot, and the warmer the apartment the sooner he will take cold and chills. By all means have your rooms well ventilated or aired; and do not be afraid of good pure air, which is always or principally the case in sick apartments.

Foot Bath.—These are indicated cold and warm according to circumstances, warm in acute or inflammatory diseases or when the feet are cold, and a quick remedy is wanted to bring the blood down from the head and other parts to the feet; cold or tepid foot-bath must be shallow of only one or two inches of water, in Chronic diseases, where the blood circulates too freely to the head, chest and abdomen. This daily use of the foot bath is of great value in such cases; (it is also understood that after all baths the parts must be very well rubbed with dry flannel or linen.) This bath must be continued from ten to twenty minutes, also the feet ought to be continually in motion, (rubbing them on top of each other) especially in the cold foot-bath.

Water Drinking.—Water must be freely drank both in Acute and Chronic diseases; but one point should be remembered which some of our Hydropathists do not. We know the less fluid that is taken into the stomach while we are eating, the sooner digestion commences — for all the fluids must be absorbed before digestion can commence, and we know the sooner we can get the stomach to digest after eating the better it is. So remember take as little fluid into your stomach as you well can while eating, but about one or one and a half hours after eating, then is your time to take fluids into the stomach, for digestion has then commenced, and will be promoted by taking water into the stomach then, but sooner it will hinder digestion. I