ary hand. Set the feet to be bathed in this, and have plenty of
hot water at hand. Let the patient be comfortably covered and seated,
and wait two minutes or so. Add then a little hotter water, and every
two minutes add a little more water, hotter every time, gradually
increasing the quantity and temperature of the water. In half an hour a
good strong heat and large deep bath will be reached, and in only a
very few cases will there be any faintness. If the heat is raised too
fast, give a little cold water to drink, and proceed more slowly. This
is in cases where simple stimulus to vital action is required.

If the bathing be for sores, or disease of joints, the sores should be
dressed first with cold cream or vaseline, or covered with a cloth
dipped in olive oil. If the skin becomes irritated from prolonged
bathing, cover before bathing with a cloth dipped in weak vinegar or
very weak ACETIC ACID (_see_). If the patient is too weak for bathing,
a fomentation may be applied as described in article on Angina
Pectoris, only extending, however, over the knees. Such fomentation may
also be used whenever cold cloths applied to a diseased or inflamed
part tend to cause a chill. It will quite prevent this.

Baths for Head.--In many cases of indigestion and brain exhaustion
head-baths are of great value. School teachers, business men, and many
others suffering from these, will find a daily head-bath half an hour
before dinner of the greatest value. This treatment should be given,
however, only to those who are vigorous enough to bear it. Some are too
exhausted, and for these other methods must be employed. The head-bath
is given by rubbing the whole head well with soap lather (_see_ Lather;
Soap); then wash off and treat with cold water poured over the head for
a short time--a few seconds only; then rub vigorously with a dry, warm
towel till the head glows with friction. In the case of ladies, the
hair may be thrown over the front of the head while the back of the
head is treated thus, and then thrown back while the front of the head
is treated also, the bulk of the hair being thus kept dry.

Bedsores.--There are cases in which the outer skin has been taken off
by long lying, or wearing wet compresses for a long time. A large part
of the body is reduced, as some would say, to "red flesh"--in reality
it is reduced to inner skin deprived of its outer layer. We have taken
a few handfuls of finely wrought soap lather (_see_ Lat