Air Bath
Sources:
Papers On Health
This may with advantage to the health of the skin and body
in general, be indulged in every morning during some of the toilet
operations, such as shaving, or preferably, dumbell exercise or Swedish
gymnastics. If exercises are done in a nude condition the utmost
freedom for the muscles is obtained. In a short time a notable change
will be observed in the skin, which will lose its pasty appearance, and
become soft flesh
and of a healthy colour. If possible have the bedroom
with windows facing the morning sun, so that the sunlight can also
shine in. There are many sanitaria on the Continent and in America
where this form of "bathing" is practised. Indeed, one of the great
benefits of sea-bathing (overlooked in this country) is the exposure of
the skin to air and light. Consequently if the weather and social
custom permits, as much time as possible should be spent after
immersion, lounging on the sand. A child's natural instinct leads it to
play about after its bath in the sea instead of coming at once to be
dressed.
A young infant will enjoy lying on a rug on the floor without any
clothing and with the window open. Older children will benefit by
running about the garden in summer time in bare feet, and with only one
garment, say a cotton frock.
It is a great mistake to clothe children too warmly, indeed, the same
may be said of adults. Garments should always be loose and porous, so
as to allow of the beneficial action of the air on the skin. One of the
objections to corsets is that they do not fulfil these conditions
(see Tight Lacing, Skin, Care of.)