But, on
the other hand, if the boy greatly prolong his stay in the water, no
reaction will ensue, and he will become chilly, which will gradually
increase to a strong and general shivering;--his feet and legs will
become benumbed, and the whole body will soon be languid, exhausted,
and powerless. The same result will happen to the young and delicate
infant, if plunged into this bath; the same sensations will be
produced; except that here the shock is scarcely followed by any
reaction, and therefore from the first moment of the immersion, the
shivering and consequent train of sensations occur. This arises from
the infant at birth having less power of producing heat than when
further advanced in age.
From the foregoing remarks, then, it will be seen, that, in early
infancy, the cold bath is inadmissible, and water of a higher
temperature than that which feels cool to the hand of the nurse should
always be used at this age. But that, as the child grows older,--if of
a healthy and vigorous constitution,--the cold bath is unquestionably
most desirable; and, if used in a proper manner, will be found to act
as a most powerful tonic to the system. The summer is of course the
only period of the year when the cold plunging bath can be resorted to
for the child.
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