Baths.

A   hot bath temperature is from   100 to 112 degrees F. or higher. 
A  warm bath temperature is from    90 to 100 degrees F.
A tepid bath temperature is from    70 to  90 degrees F.
A  cool bath temperature is from    65 to  70 degrees F.
A  cold bath temperature is from    33 to  65 degrees F.

The entire bath should not last longer, when given in bed, than fifteen or twenty minutes.  A few drops of water of ammonia or a little borax will help much in getting the patient clean and disguise the bad odor of the perspiration.  A little alcohol or Eau de Cologne will be found refreshing.  Cold damp towels should never be employed here.  The water should be pleasantly warm and changed a few times during the bath.  A glass of hot milk can be taken after the bath is given, if the patient feels exhausted, and if the feet are cool a hot fruit can is applied.

Foot Baths in Bed.—­The patient should lie on her back, with the knees bent and place her feet in the tub, which is placed lengthwise in the bed on a rubber sheet spread across the lower part of the bed for protection.  A mustard foot bath can be given the same way except that the knees and foot bath are enclosed in a blanket.  These are often given for severe colds, with head symptoms (headaches), when it is desired to draw the blood from the head.  Hot water alone will do this, but the mustard hastens the action.  The mustard should be mixed with a small amount of water before being added to the bath.  The amount will depend upon the sensitiveness of the patient.  The feet may remain in the bath for fifteen to twenty minutes, the water kept at the same temperature or made warmer by adding more hot water from time to time.  They are wiped gently afterward and tucked snugly in blankets.

[630 Mothers’ remedies]

Hot Bath, Hot Air, Vapor, and Steam Bath.—­Given for sweating purposes.  Fill the tub half full of water at 100 degrees F. and draw it to the bedside if necessary.  Lift the patient into the tub and gradually increase the temperature by the thermometer to 110 degrees and 112 degrees F. Maintain it at this point for twelve or fifteen minutes.  After this the patient is lifted out into a prepared bed on which a long rubber is spread with three or four hot blankets over it; these are wrapped all around the patient, tucked in closely about the neck and watched continually to see that no air enters.  Give plenty of water to drink, as it promotes perspiration and helps in that way to cast off the impurities.  Keep this up for an hour if possible, and then the patient is gradually uncovered, sponged under a blanket with alcohol and water and the wet blankets removed.  Cloths wrung out of cold water are applied to the head during this bath.  The pulse should be closely watched for any indication of faintness, when the patient should be put to bed, immediately.  This bath should not be given during menstruation or pregnancy.