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47
Are the appliances of the right kind, and in the right place ;
and if they are not used, are we justified in assuming absence
of desire to wash ? Do we kill desire by not providing the
right facilities ?
Is the policy of putting up public baths at enormous cost,
and leaving the workman's home without any washing facilities
whatever, the right policy ? Are we justified in allowing the
working man to be defiled by his work and in giving him no
facilities whatever for cleaning himself, even in his own home ?
In dealing with the subject of washing it is necessary to
have a clear idea as to what the process involves. For this
purpose I divide a complete washing operation into three
stages:—
(a) Soaking.—This involves immersion in water in order
to obtain certain effects which may be defined as :
(1) Moistening and maceration of the dirt and debris
adhering to the parts to be washed.
(2) Sudatory or sweating action on the skin.
(3) Restorative or tonic effects through the influence of
temperature on the circulation and nervous system.
(4) Pleasurable sensations.
Soaking may be complete, as immersion of the whole body, or
sectional, as the feet and hands. It may be long, or so brief as
to be merged into the next stage, which in that case has to make
up for any deficiencies.
(b) Rubbing.—This is generally accompanied by the use
of soap in solution, and is always (of necessity) sectional in
character. The soap solution is above lathering point, and the
stronger the solution the more effective the process. When
using a large quantity of water it dilutes the soap solution
below lathering point, and in that case all rubbing has to
be done above water level. In the common bath this
necessitates many gymnastic positions, in which balance