Success in Athletics and how to obtain it

218 SUCCESS IN ATHLETICS BATHS Cold baths are often beneficial for athletes, and usually act with a tonic effect. Whether a cold bath be a cold sponging down, tub, or cold shower, it is 1 very invigorating. A cold bath, however, does not always agree with the athlete, and it is only by experiment that he can discover whether it does him good or harm. If a nice, pleasant reaction, with a glow and feeling of warmth, follows immediately after a cold bath, then, as a rule, the bathing is beneficial. On the other hand, if there be a feeling of chill, with the accompanying "goose skin," persisting for some time after cold bathing, then the athlete is doing himself harm, and he should always, when taking a bath, take the chill off the water. Many athletes who may even experience the sense of warmth and glow following upon cold bathing have a feeling of lassitude and tiredness for the rest of the day; in this case they should discontinue cold bathing altogether, and should only immerse themselves in, or sponge themselves down with, water with the chill taken off. The athlete is foolish if he persists, out of Cl.l.Stom or fashion, in having his "cold tub" every · morning when the signs given .here manifestly show that his tub does not agree with him. The athlete must be specially warned against taking a hot bath after violent exercise, or for the matter of that a fairly warm bath: What happens after such bathing? Free and profuse sweating takes place! Already during his vigorous, muscular exercise he has been perspiring invisibly or visibly sweating, he has lost an enormous amount of water from his system, he loses still more water after his bath, and