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. 1912 edition. Excerpt: ...of the superficial layers of the skin, which process can become so intense in some people that the skin looks as though it were covered with flour dust; and in some persons with dry skin such apparel as stockings sometimes gets full of this. These minute scales, which get necrotised in the upper parts of the ...
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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. 1912 edition. Excerpt: ...of the superficial layers of the skin, which process can become so intense in some people that the skin looks as though it were covered with flour dust; and in some persons with dry skin such apparel as stockings sometimes gets full of this. These minute scales, which get necrotised in the upper parts of the skin, are apt to clog the pores, which can also become closed by particles of dust, or by products of the sebaceous glands and by perspiratory residues. As the free entrance of air to the pores is an essential condition for skin respiration, and as the elimination of harmful products is only possible when the pores remain open, we must get rid of the foreign matters which clog them, for which purpose we take a bath. But water alone, even if it be hot, is not able to effect a thorough cleansing of the skin on account of the oily substance which is secreted by the sebaceous glands; so, to obtain the fullest cleansing effects, we add the use of soap and a brush, as already mentioned before. We must rub the soap well in, and then rub it off energetically, if we desire to benefit by a fully hygienic bath. As we are daily getting rid of the above-mentioned skin scales, so it behooves us to take a daily bath. It is not necessary to stay in the bath more than ten to twelve minutes, or at the most fifteen. For the reasons above mentioned the effect of bathing is a rational hygiene of the skin. By the action of the water, soap, and brush friction the skin receives more blood, which is, at the same time, a great advantage to the internal organs, as the blood drawn away from them facilitates the circulation through them should they be congested. When more blood reaches the skin the muscles that contract the pores are also better nourished, and they then...
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This book is written by a European physcian back in the early 1900's. Some of the information is interesting such as regarding the removal of tonsils and the negative consequences. And some of the chapter's topics are a bit outdated regarding personal attire and so forth. This book has a serious tone somewhat like a text book so it can be a bit monotonous. However, if you like delving into the past like I do then you will appreciate the book for the time period it was intended and you will learn some old truths that have been hidden or buried by time.