Health, or, How to Live

SWEATING

One of the most convenient and efficient methods of inducing sweating is to place the patient in a sitz-bath, with a foot-bath; letting both be as warm as can well be borne. He must be well covered with a comfortable, and as the baths gradually cool, hot water can be added. The head must be kept well wet with cold water, and watch kept that the patient does not grow faint. When perspiration is thoroughly established, he may take a half-bath or dripping-sheet, and go to bed. If it is desired to check the perspiration entirely a good way is to commence the half-bath as high as 90 degrees, and gradually reduce it to 80 degrees, or lower. One of the safest and most effectual modes of breaking up a severe cold for a robust person, is to place him in a hot-bath till he sweats profusely, and then transfer him immediately to a pack at about 80 degrees, and follow this by a dripping-sheet, and send him to bed with but little to eat for two or three days. If there is congestion of the throat or lungs, it is sometimes well to foment the parts while in the hot-bath. Such a course as this is a considerable tax upon the strength, and should be followed by, at least, several hours’ repose in bed. If, after going to bed, the sweating continues too long, it should be checked by a cold bath; or, if it continues at all, it is well to rub off the surface with a wet towel on rising. HHTL 86.1