Essays, Political, Economical, and Philosophical Volume 3 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1802 Excerpt: ... in the theatre: but in none of these severe trials did I receive the smallest: injury: I never too cold, nor did I experience any feverish heats, or restlessness, on going to bed after them. I call them severe trials, and as such they will doubtless be considered, when it is recollected, that when I arrived at Harrogate, I was far from being in a good state of health, (having never recovered from the dangerous illness I had brought on myself six or seven years before in Bavaria, by excessive application to public business) and when it is remembered that at the time when I was exposing myself in this manner to the danger of taking cold, I was using the warm bath every day. But I am firmly pessuaded that it was to the warm bath, that I was indebted for my escape; and it is that persuasion which has induced me to publish this account of my experiment.. I am very far indeed from wishing that my example should be followed in all points.--All the unadvised and imprudent details of the experiment may, and ought to be omitted. It would indeed be more than imprudent; it would be foolish to repeat them. But I do really believe that all those who will be persuaded to adopt the practice of warm bathing, in health and in sickness, will find the greatest and most permanent advantages from it. Were the general and constant use of the warm bath, by persons in health, a new thing, I should have many scruples in recommending it to the Vol. in. G G public. public, whatever my private opinion of its salubrity might be. But so many nations have practised it for ages; and there are so many who now practise it, and--what is very remarkable--one (the Russian) which inhabits the coldest parts of the globe, that there cannot possibly be the smallest reason to doubt of its beneficial...