njoy
your cold bath. It is only when the cold bath is a pleasure that it is
a benefit. If you dread it, if the mere thought of taking a cold bath
brings a shudder, it will not be of benefit to you. You should
feel sufficiently vigorous and vital really to enjoy it. A friction
bath will put your skin in a condition where the cold water will "feel
good." Exercise that thoroughly warms the body will naturally have the
same effect.

The statement has often been made that to take a cold bath when
overheated is dangerous just as it would be to drink a large amount of
very cold water when overheated. It is said that one should wait until
he cools off before taking the cold drink or cold plunge. To a limited
extent there is wisdom in this advice, especially as it applies to
getting into cold water when overheated and then remaining there until
you have cooled off. Such quick cooling is certainly dangerous, just
as drinking too much very cold water is dangerous. On the other hand, a
short quick cold bath under such circumstances is not dangerous but
highly advisable. The danger in such cases lies in remaining in the
water until chilled. As a matter of fact, when one is overheated he can
thoroughly enjoy the cold water. You will recuperate quickly under such
conditions and you can better afford to take a cold bath when very
hot than when chilled. Do not attempt cold bathing when you have "goose
flesh" or when your hands and feet are cold. Under such circumstances
the hand bath is preferable. It is always best when overheated to cool
off gradually, and after the bath taken under such circumstances to use
a sweater or bath robe or other covering to insure the desired result.
When one is overheated, it is best to drink water lukewarm or hot or
only moderately cool. If you drink lukewarm water when overheated you
can take any quantity desired.

As previously stated, however, I would like to point out that if you are
carrying out the regimen of hot-water-drinking and exercise previously
referred to, a daily cold bath is not at all necessary. It might be
taken with benefit if you are vigorous, but by flushing the body
with a large amount of liquid according to the plan I have suggested
virtually all functions of the body, including that of the skin
itself, are accelerated in their activities. Under such circumstances
less bathing is required, at least for the purpose of maintaining
proper circulati