_Health Primers._ [Illustration] Health Primers. EDITORS. J. LANGDON DOWN, M.D., F.R.C.P. HENRY POWER, M.B., F.R.C.S. J. MORTIMER-GRANVILLE, M.D. JOHN TWEEDY, F.R.C.S. BATHS AND BATHING. CONTRIBUTORS TO THE SERIES: _G. W. BALFOUR, M.D., St. And., F.R.C.P. Edin._ _J. CRICHTON-BROWNE, M.D. Edin., F.R.S. Edin._ _SIDNEY COUPLAND, M.D. Lond., M.R.C.P._ _JOHN CURNOW, M.D. Lond., F.R.C.P._ _J. LANGDON DOWN, M.D. Lond., F.R.C.P._ _TILBURY FOX, M.D. Lond., F.R.C.P._ _J. MORTIMER-GRANVILLE, M.D. St. And., F.G.S., F.S.S._ _W. S. GREENFIELD, M.D. Lond., M.R.C.P._ _C. W. HEATON, F.C.S., F.I.C._ _HARRY LEACH, M.R.C.P._ _G. V. POORE, M.D. Lond., F.R.C.P._ _HENRY POWER, M.B. Lond., F.R.C.S._ _W. L. PURVES, M.D. Edin., M.R.C.S._ _J. NETTEN RADCLIFFE, Ex-Pres. Epidl. Soc., &c._ _C. H. RALFE, M.A., M.D., Cantab., F.R.C.P._ _S. RINGER, M.D. Lond., F.R.C.P._ _JOHN TWEEDY, F.R.C.S._ _JOHN WILLIAMS, M.D. Lond., M.R.C.P._ LONDON: HARDWICKE AND BOGUE, 192, PICCADILLY. 1879. LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET AND CHARING CROSS. CONTENTS. PAGE THE PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION OF BATHS 5 THE VARIETIES OF BATHS 20 BATHING LOCALITIES 45 THE USES OF BATHS 68 A VISIT TO A BATH 83 BATHS AND BATHING. CHAPTER I. THE PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION OF BATHS. Since the influence of baths is exerted primarily upon the skin, and through the medium of the skin, upon the deeper-lying tissues and organs of the body, it is an absolute necessity for the reader at the outset to be made aware of the structure of the skin and its functions, as well as the relations which it bears to deeper-lying organs. If the skin, say of the thumb, be looked at with a lens of moderate power, its surface is seen to be arranged in ridges and furrows, like a ploughed field; and at frequent intervals along the ridges are little depressions, which are known as the pores of the skin. These pores are the openings of the sweat ducts, and it is through these pores that the perspiration exudes. They are exceedingly numerous, and it has been calculated that there are as many as 2,800 to every square inch of surface, or about seven millions of them altogether. The ridges are seen to be divided into a series of minute hillocks, or _papillæ_, which are arranged in lines. These papillæ are the organs of touch, and are probably as numerous as the pores. They contain in their interior either loops of blood-vessels or nerve-endings.