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48
is often very difficult to maintain, while the narrowness of
the bath and the stooping position necessary to reach certain
parts of the utmost importance to be thoroughly washed,
makes the process a difficult one for those who are weak, or
no longer young and agile. In fact, a comparatively flat or
sloping surface so arranged as to support the body in easy and
comfortable positions, for access to the various parts, as each in
turn is rubbed, and holding only sufficient water to give any
desired strength of soap solution, would make a very much more
effective appliance for this process than is the common bath.
(c) Rinsing.—Is the application of clean water.
The effect of rinsing is, firstly, to wash off any loosely adherent
matter, such as lather (in this, warm water is most effective),
and, secondly, to produce tonic effects, such tonic effects being
either physical or moral or a combination of both. Here cold
water produces the best results. The different forms are:—
(1) Riusing by Immersion requires much water, and if it
is done in the polluted soap solution is not effective.
(2) Rinsing by Spraying uses less water, but the water
being clean is much more effective.
(3) Rinsing by Sponging uses least water, and is effective
or otherwise according to the purity of the water
used.
Analysing the efficiency of the two most common washing
appliances used for washing operations, their value seems to be
as follows:—
The Basin :
(1) Soaking, for hands only, very effective, for all other
parts almost useless.
(2) Rubbing, for hands and face only, very effective, for
all other parts almost useless.
(3) Rinsing, for face and hands, if running water, high
efficiency ; if otherwise, very low.