Every child in health ought to be obliged, every morning of its life
(when other means of bathing cannot be obtained), upon rising, and
while the body still retains all the warmth of the bed, to sponge the
whole body. If too young to do it for himself, it must be done for him.
Salt or vinegar should be added to the water; and if the boy be robust,
cold water may be used throughout the year; if not, in the winter
season it must be made tepid.
As a remedy, cold water sponging, and the application of ice and iced
water, are often ordered under certain states of disease by the medical
attendant, and frequently followed by delightful results. But it is
necessary that they should be properly applied to do good.
Cold water sponging is a convenient and grateful method of moderating
febrile heat of the surface, provided undoubted powers of reaction be
present in the system. It is frequently ordered, therefore, to be
employed in eruptive fevers, as measles, scarlet fever, smallpox, and
other fevers; and also in some local inflammations, particularly of the
brain. Vinegar may be added to the water under these circumstances
with advantage. It should at first be used tepid or cool, but
afterwards cold. As a general rule, the more dry and parched the heat
of the surface, the more urgent the necessity for the application of
the cold, and the more frequently and fearlessly ought it to be
renewed,--every hour or half-hour not being too often.
Pages:
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115