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Show OUT a f TO HlAL 1 Jri BY UNCLE SAM, M. D. Health Questions Will Be Answered An-swered If Sent to Information Bureau, U. S. Public Health Service, Serv-ice, Washington, D. C. 4 The skin, through millions of little ducts, Is continually discharging waste matter from tho body. The surface of the skin is also supplied "with a scaly layer and a coating of fatty matter which aro being constantly renowed and thrown off. If these subBtances aro not promptly removed from the skin, particularly in warm weather, they decompose and 'tlon of the skin is more or less impaired. im-paired. More important still, if poisonous products formed in tho body are not promptly eliminated through tho kidneys kid-neys and skin, uncomfortable or serious se-rious rosults are sure to follow. The frequency with which a person should bathe to insuro cleanliness dc-ponds dc-ponds largely upon the character of work performed, climatic conditions and other factors. While the old-time weekly bath may in a way answer the purpose of cleanliness during the cold weather, it docs not maintain adequately ade-quately a clean and pleasant condition of the skin during the summer. Even then a daily bath and tho free use of soap and water are not alwa3's sufficient suffi-cient for this purpose, particularly about tho parts which are in close contact. While a tub bath is useful for the weekly scrubbing, it is not as satisfactory satis-factory or stimulating as tho shower bath, and there is no doubt that In the future tho latter will replace the tub for bathing purposes. It is true that not everyone has a tub or shower bath at his disposal, but everyonecan obtain a large sponge at a moderate price, plenty of soap and an ordinary waEh tub or some other simple receptacle. Water is always available, and with this outfit the skin may be kept in good condition. Whatever form of bath is selected, it must be remembered remem-bered that the skin cannot be properly cleaned without the use of soap. j Tho very young, the very old and invalids are not proper subjects for cold baths at any time. The shock which follows the sudden reduction of temperature of the surface of the body is not usually succeeded by a prompt and healthful reaction in these-cases, and not infrequently unpleasant results re-sults ensue. Neither is the practice of plunging into a tub of cold water in the morning, particularly In the winter, to be recommended to anyone. The most valuable, stimulating and pleasurable dally bath for a person in good health Is a very warm shower bath of short duration, followed by a cold shower for the fraction of a minute min-ute only. In this way the surface of the body having been warmed, the cold showers produce less shock than if the warm water had not first been applied. The cold shower alone is not as acceptable, and certainly not as pleasant and stimulating as the combined com-bined shower. This bath should be taken upon rising in the morning and followed by a brisk rub with a coarse towel. Both fresh and salt water open air bathing must be placed in the list of sports and pleasures. It is a mistaken idea that this kind of bathing' is uniformly uni-formly a healthful practice, for it is not. Thoso who enjoy swimming invariably in-variably remain in the water too long. In caso of young persons tho ill effect ef-fect of this is not so apparent, but older persons or very young children are very apt to suffer from exhaustion and extreme coldness of the surface. Q. I cannot sleep without dreaming, dream-ing, and when I wake my head feels heavy. I am always in bed 'by 11 or 11:30. I go to a dance once a week. I get plenty of exercise. Although I am 21 years old, I weigh only 88 pounds and am 5 feet 3 Inches tall. Would yeast be a good thing for me? VIVIAN L. Mc." A. Try going to bed at 10 o'clock, and try drinking a cup of hot milk on retiring. Make sure that you keep your bowels in good condition. Drink no tea or coffee at supper. Take a -U- 1 f 1 J.I 1 il.U cuuib num. uciuio uculiuiu, 11 mis does not help, be sure to consult a physician and .see if he can find anything any-thing wrong. If you will send me your lull name and address, I will be glad to send you a booklet entitled "The Road to Health," which may be of further fur-ther help to you. Q. Is there any permanent cure for the gleet? A. Yes, gleet is curable if treatment treat-ment is given by a competent specialist special-ist or at a clinic. A permanent cure will take from one to two years for completion. If you will send me your name and address, I shall be glad to send you some helpful bulletins dealing deal-ing with venereal diseases. |