A Little Sea Bathing

In 1752, Dr. Richard Russell wrote A Dissertation: Concerning the Use of Sea Water in Diseases of the Glands, people began considering sea-bathing to be a health-restoring practice. In 1780, when George the third chose seaside Weymouth for his recuperation, the practice gained popularity. But what sort of disorders and discomforts were thought to be relieved by sea-bathing?

Dr. Russel’s work

Dr. Russel believed

THE CONSUMPTIONS which are so frequent in our Island, … generally have for their Causes long Fluxions (authors note: the action of process of flowing or moving continuously) upon the trachéal, pulmonary, and other internal Glands. And this Disease is frequently advanced … the Vessels from being burst, or the Texture of the Fluids from a bad unhealthy State, when he finds those Vessels broken, oftentimes eroded, and a Loss of Substance in some Part or other most necessary to the Continuance of Life, …, by Matter’s being absorpt, and carried on in the common Circulation with the Blood. … This has, I suppose, been the Foundation for so generally esteeming these Cases fatal, because the Disease has commonly taken too deep Root, before any Method of Cure is set on Foot.

(pg 19-20)

He uses an illustration of a diseased hog to illustrate the problems. (Remember, dissecting people who died of disease to understand the disease was not much of a thing in the 1750s.)

To combat these problems before they became untreated able, Dr. Russel recommended bathing in some cases drinking sea water which had “… the distinguishing Characteristics to be four; – The first, SALTNESS. — Second, BITTERNESS. – Third, NITROSITY. – Fourth, UNCTUOSITY. (pg 10) … These, and the many other Qualities, which evidently appear in Sea Water, may very justly raise in us the greatest Hopes and Expectations, that from this Part of Nature also some signal Advantages may arise, to the Practice of Physic, and the general Good of Mankind. (pg 17)”

Disorders Assisted by Sea-bathing

As helpful as it might be though, later practitioners, like the Handbook of Bathing noted:

… that sea-bathing is not presented here as a universal panacea. The good effects it may be expected to produce will require co-operating causes, such as attention to diet, proper exercise in the open air, a system of gymnastics suited to the strength and constitution of the patient, begun gently and gradually increased, and, what is of very paramount importance, daily friction of the skin with either flannel or the flesh-brush.

(pg 79)

It is interesting to modern readers the emphasis that was placed on attention to diet and proper exercise even in the 1800s.

Sea-bathing was noted to be of particular help for disorders of the skin and of the stomach.

Disorders of the skin

It is hardly surprising that The Handbook of Bathing noted: “Disorders of the skin are those from which sea-bathers generally obtain the most prompt relief, from the reasons already assigned. In specifying such disorders I do not however pretend to include scrofula, (author’s note: a disease with glandular swellings, probably a form of tuberculosis.) when an hereditary disease; though by attention to diet and proper exercise, in co-operation with sea-bathing and the action of sea-air, I have no doubt that great benefit might be obtained. (pg 80)” In conjunction with the sea bathing, ‘daily friction’ with flannel or a skin brush was recommended for greatest benefit.

The reasoning offered for the effect of sea-bathing are interesting.

… the most minute particles of chlorine exercise an extensive and powerful action upon putrescent and putrid matter. But sea salt contains a very large quantity of chlorine, for it shows by chemical analysis, four parts and half of chlorine to three of sodium. This enormous quantity of chlorine is however quite harmless in the form of chloride of sodium, whilst it preserves its anti – putrescent and stimulating properties. … Hence … most of the cutaneous disorders arising from the dirty condition of the skin before described in this work, will be relieved by sea bathing, and by the use of the warm bath of sea water.

(pg 58)

Disorders of the Stomach

Stomach disorders were considered to be the other major form of disorder most benefited by sea-bathing. According to The Hand Book of Bathing, stomach disorders were rampant in all classes of society, and led to many other problems.

The disorder most generally prevalent in our island among the various classes of society, is dyspepsia. In the affluent, it is usually produced by excess of food, with or without excess in the use of vinous, and spirituous liquors; the evil being often increased either by self-medication, or by an injudicious administration of medicine by a professional man. In the sedentary, it arises from various causes, combined with a want of proper muscular exercise. In those occupied by study, by literary or professional pursuits, all these causes unite with that of an excessive action upon the brain, which operates prejudicially upon the whole body, debilitating the stomach and throwing the nervous system into disorder. In the poor, dyspepsia usually proceeds from the use of unwholesome and badly cooked food; from debility arising from want of proper nourishment; and from excess in the use of malt liquor frequently adulterated with narcotic drugs, and of ardent spirits gene rally of the worst kind, and occasionally falsified with strong, acrid, and deleterious substances.

(pg 65)

All these problems, though, were exacerbated by the unhealthy and unclean condition of the skin, so to truly bring back the body to health, the skin had to be acted upon as well.

Disorders brought on by too much study

It is interesting to note that too much study was lumped in with poor diet and lack of exercise as a cause of bodily ills. Being one who would definitely be accused of too much study, I had to dive in and look a little more closely at what The Handbook of Bathing had to say on the matter.

The student, who applies himself with unremitting labour to acquire knowledge, without taking any muscular exercise, or paying attention to his skin, but usually inhabiting a close room, deprived of the necessary ventilation, if he escape pulmonary consumption (author’s note: usually brought on by compression or the chest during study) or curvature of the spine, is almost invariably troubled with dyspepsia. If …he would relax for a time, take proper exercise, attend to his skin and diet, and go to the sea-side for a month, keeping his mind in a state of recreative relaxation, and his body under a proper discipline of sea-bathing and friction, a man of genius might often be saved…

(pg 70)

Why is reading and study so injurious?

The employment of the brain in producing works of literature and science, diminishes more or less the nervous excitement necessary for the health of the body, which is thereby impeded in the action of its mechanism, the stomach being usually the first organ affected, then every other in succession. Thus, there is a constant reaction upon each other of the stomach and the brain.

And when this labour of the brain is continuous and unrelaxed, the body becomes cold and shrunken, or else bloated; likewise the temper is soured, the merest trifles causing annoyance and vexation, sometimes dangerous paroxysms of anger, succeeded by an absolute prostration of strength. If this goes on during any considerable period, it either wholly breaks up the constitution and causes death, or leads to mental alienation. Sedentary and studious habits, …, are in themselves sufficient to reduce the extent of life to its shortest span.

(pg 71)

With this warning in mind, I think I need to schedule a little sea bathing! What about you?

References

The hand-book of bathing. 1841. London: William S. Orr & Co. Paternoster Row.

Russell, Richard. M.D. A Dissertation Concerning the Use of Sea Water in Diseases of the Glands. 1753. London.