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about 60° F.: when it is below 50°, it is sometimes termed a very coldbath. The effects of immersion in the cold bath are analogous to thosealready described as being produced by the application of ice or snow tothe body, and, therefore, may be conveniently subdivided into primaryand secondary.

(a.) Primary effects.—(The shock.) —The sudden abstraction of heatfrom the surface, and the pressure of the water, produce a powerful shockon the system : a sensation of cold, (speedily followed by a sensation ofwarmth) contraction of the cutaneous vessels, paleness of the skin, dimi-nution of perspiration, and reduction of the volume of the body, are theimmediate effects. Shivering, and, as the water rises to the chest, a kindof convulsive sobbing, are also experienced. Continued immersion ren-ders the pulse small, and, ultimately, imperceptible—the respiration diffi-cult and irregular; a feeling of inactivity succeeds—the joints becomerigid and inflexible—pain in the head, drowsiness, and cramps, areexperienced—the temperature of the body falls rapidly, and faintness,followed by death, comes on. Many of these symptoms are readilycomprehended: the contracted state of the superficial vessels producedby the cold, together with the pressure of the water, causes the blood toaccumulate in the internal vessels. The heart makes great efforts to getrid of this increased quantity of blood, and hence palpitations occur ; butas the arteries remain contracted, the pulse continues small. The inter-nal veins, therefore, being gorged with blood, the brain necessarily suf-fers:—hence the headache, the drowsiness, the cramps, and, in somecases, apoplexy. The difficult respiration depends on the accumulationof blood in the lungs. The contracted state of the superficial vesselsaccounts for the diminished perspiration ; while the increased secretionof urine is referrible to the blood being driven towards the internalorgans.

(,b.) Secondary effects. —( Re-action or glow) —In general, the immersionbeing only temporary, re-action quickly takes place; a sensation ofwarmth soon returns; the cutaneous circulation is speedily re-esta-blished ; a glow is felt; perspiration comes on; the pulse becomes fulland frequent; and the body feels invigorated. In weakly and debilitatedsubjects, however, this stage of re-action may not occur, or at least maybe imperfectly effected; and usually, in such cases, the cold bath will befound to act injuriously.

The uses of the cold bath may be in part comprehended from theeffects just detailed. It is employed with the view of obtaining one ofthe three following effects : the nervous impression or shock,—the refri-geration,-—the re-action or glow. (Cyclopaedia of Practical Medicine, art.Bathing, by Dr. J. Forbes.) It is evident that it ought not to be ap-plied unless there be a sufficient degree of tone and vigour in thesystem to cause a perfect state of re-action ; and, therefore, in weak sub-jects, its use is to be prohibited. So also, in visceral inflammation, moreespecially peripneumonia, it is a dangerous remedy; since the determina-tion of blood to the internal organs is increased by the cold, and it seemseven within the range of probability that death might be the result.Apoplectic subjects, w'ho are unaccustomed to cold bathing, had also, fora similar reason, better avoid trying it. In some affections of the ner-vous system it has been found highly useful; for example, in tetanus and