Ablution.  In  medicine,  the  washing  the
body,  externally,  as  by  bathing ;  or  internally,
by  diluting  drinks.  In  ancient  medicine,  ac-
cording to  Galen,  internal  ablution  was  accom-
plished by  the  use  of  profuse  libations  of
milk-whey ;  an  object  now  aimed  at,  by  the
hydropathists,  by  the  copious  administration
of  pure  cold  water.  To  neglect  the  daily
ablution  of  an  infant  is  to  discard  one  of  the
greatest  aids  to  its  healthy  development  and
physical  wellbeing.  That  disregard  of  this
precaution  is  a  fertile  source  of  most  of  the
skin  diseases  that  affect  infants  and  children
there  seems  little  question  about  amongst
medical  men.  Water  at  a  temperature  rang-
ing from  80°  to  90°  P.  should  always  be  used.
Mr  Chevasse,  in  his  '  Counsel  to  a  Mother,'
is  emphatic  in  his  advocacy  of  rain  water.
He  also  advises  the  employment  of  castille
soap,  and  of  glycerine  soap,  should  there  be
any  excoriation  of  the  skin.  Of  course  the  same
remarks  apply  to  children  as  to  infants,  with
this  difference,  that  the  ablution  is  to  be  per-
formed with  water  a  few  degrees  colder;
and  both  infants  and  children  should  be
rubbed  dry  with  a  dry  soft  towel.  There  are
doubtless  many  persons  who  deem  themselves
cleanly  washed,  if  in  addition  to  their  hands
and  arms,  neck  and  face,  undergoing  duly
daily  ablution,  they  wash  their  feet  once  a
week.  These  individuals  cannot  reflect  that,
because  of  their  less  exposure  to  the  depurat-
ing influence  of  the  atmosphere,  the  feet  require
to  be  more  frequently  washed  than  either  the
hands  or  face.  See  BAiHiira,  Baths,  Hydeo-
PATBY,  &c.
