122

WILDBAD. CHAPT. VII.

betöre six oclock, wlien the dinner has been properly digested.

The patient should not, at first, remain above fifteen minutes in the bath. Five or six minutes however may be added every subsequcnt day, up to thrce quarters of an hour, or an bour. Still the nianner in which this time is to be extended, must cbiefly be left to the judgment of the bather, gouty patients of a healthy complexion, besides, gcnerally are able to bcar the bath for the longest period, and Dr. Fricker has observed cases, wlien patients of this dass did remain in the bath for an hour and a half, daily, without being inconvenienced by it.

The average duration of a morning-bath, is half an hour. The evening-baths, where tlicy are allowed by the physician, should not exceed fifteen minutes; for a longer duration is nuisible to the nights rest. Generally only one bath per dicm is takcn, still obstinate rheumatic and ar- thritic complaints, may sometimes allow two baths a day, during tlie latter period of the season. Very feeble persons will do best to batlic 011 evenings.

Such individuals as are indined to dizzincss, head- aches and congestions of blood to the head, should, during the bath, cover tlicir head witli a wet napkin. Persons of this description ought particularly to guard themselves froni excitement of the body or mind, shortly before the bath. Upon entering the bath-room the patient should first wasli bis forehead and diest witli the water, and then slowly sit down in the basin, until the water rises up to bis neck. In general, calmness is to be recommended in the bath, those however, who are suffering from stiffness of the joints, paralyses, etc., may try some movements, while tliey, whose complaints are, rhcumatisins, gout and gouty tumors, induration of the glands, swellings, etc., ought,