l, dress as quickly as possible, and
then return home, where he should remain until reaction is perfectly
established. When the natural bath is prescribed during the summer
months, viz., from the commencement of June until the end of September or
the first week in October, to those capable of locomotion the best time
for bathing is from 6 to 8 o'clock a.m., but when incapable of walking
from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The bather should invariably (when taking a
natural bath) lave the water over the face, neck, and chest, prior to
plunging into it, and should not remain more than seven or eight minutes
immersed, the two last minutes being occupied in applying the douche to
the parts specially indicated in the doctor's prescription. When a
longer time is indulged in, frequently reaction does not take place, but
chilliness and discomfort ensue, and the rheumatic pains are increased in
severity rather than diminished. Energetic friction of the joints and
surface of the body generally, with the hands beneath the water, should
be resorted to, and gentle rubbing through a hot towel immediately upon
leaving the bath, after which the bather should at once go to the
drinking fountain and take the prescribed quantity of the thermal water.
Instead, however, of at once returning home, if possible, a sharp brisk
walk should be taken, so as to secure a full action upon the skin and
kidneys. The bath may be taken between ten and one o'clock, or four and
six, observing the same rules as to meals as given when speaking of the
hot baths. The latter hours would apply to all cases except the very
mildest during the winter months.

The most favourable time for taking the warm or hot baths is between ten
a.m. and one p.m., provided that breakfast is not taken later than nine,
and luncheon before half-past one, it being of paramount importance that
they should not be used either directly after or before a meal. The hot
baths may be taken either as half, three-quarters, or full baths,
according to the nature of the case and the condition of the bather.

In the first of these (viz., a half-bath), which immerses the body no
higher than the waist, it is well to apply a towel wrung out of cold
water to the head, at the same time (especially in the case of females)
wearing an oilskin bathing cap, to prevent the hair from getting wet.
Cold to the head is of signal advantage when there is persistent
headache, or a tendency of blood to that part. In cas