DR. FRANKLIN’S ADVICE TO SWIMMERS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 213, 13 January 1865, Page 3

DR. FRANKLIN’S ADVICE TO SWIMMERS.

The only obstacle to improvement in this necessary and life-preserving art,, is fear; and it is only by overcoming this timidity that you can expect to become a master of the' following acquirements. It is very common for novices in the art of swimming to make use of corks or bladders to assist in keeping the body above water ; some have utterly condemned the use of them ; however, they may be of service for supporting tho body while one is learning what is called the stroke, or that manner of drawing in and striking out the hands and feet, that is necessary to produce progressive motion. But you will be no swimmer till you can place confidence in the power of the water to support you.; I would, therefore, advise the acquiring that confidence in the first place, especially as I have known several who, by a little practice necessary for, that purpose, have insensibly acquired the stroke taught as it were by nature. The practice I mean is this: choosing a place where the water deepens gradually, walk cooly into it till it is up to your breast; then turn round your face to the shore, and throw an egg into the water before you; it will sink to the bottom, and be easily seen there ii the water be clear. It must lie in the water so deep that you cannot reach to take it up but by diving for it. To encourage yourself, in order to do this, reflect that your progress will be from deep to shallow water, and that at any time you may, by bringing your legs under you, and standing on the bottom, raise your head far above the water; then plunge under it with your eyes open, which must be kept open before going under, as you cannot open the eyelids for the weight of water above you; throwing yourself toward the egg, and endeavoring by the action of your hands and feet against the water, to get forward till within reach of it. In this attempt you will find that the water buoys you up against your inclination; that it is not so easy to sink as you imagine, and that you cannot but by active force get down to the egg. Thus you feel the power of water to support you, and learn to confide in that power while your endeavors to overcome it and reach the egg teach you the manner of acting on the water with your feet and hands, which action is afterwards used in swimming to support you higher above the water, or to go forward through it, I would the more earnestly press you to the trial of this method, because, I think I shall satisfy you that your body is lighter than water, and that you might float in it a long time with yoar mouth free for breathing, if you would put yourself into a proper posture, and would be still and forbear struggling; yet, till you have obtained this experimental confidence in the water,

I cannot depend upon your haring the presence of mind to recollect the posture, and the directions I give you relating to it. The surprise may put all out of your mind. Though the legs, arms, and head of a human body, being solid parts, are specifically somewhat heavier than fresh water, as the trunk, particularly the upper part, for its hollowness is so much lighter than water, as that the whole of the body taken altogether, is too light to sink wholly under water, but some part will remain above, until the lungs become filled with water, which happens from drawing water to them instead of air, when a person in the fright attempts breathing while the mouth and nostrils are under water.

The legs %nd arras are specifically lighter than salt water, and will be supported hy it, so that a human body cannot sink in salt water, though the lungs were filled as above, but from the greater specific gravity of the bead. Therefore, a person throwing himself on his back into salt water, and extending his arms, may easily lay so as to keep his mouth and nostrils free for breathing; and, by a small motion of his hand, may prevent turning if he should perceive any tendency to it.

In fresh water if a man throws himself on his back, near the surface, he cannot long continue in that situation but by proper action of his hands on the water. If he use no such action, the legs and lower part of the body will gradually sink till he comes into an upright position, in which he will continue suspended, the hollow of his breast keeping the head uppermost. But if, in this erect position, the head be kept upright above the shoulder, as when we stand on the ground, the immersion will, by the weight of that part of the head that is out of water, reach above the mouth and nostrils, perhaps a little above the eyes, so that a man cannot long remain suspended in water with his head in that position.

The body continuing suspended as before, and upright,if the bend be leanedquitebaek,so that the face look upward, all the brick part of the head being under water, and its weight, consequently, in & great measure, supported by it, the face will re* main above water quite free for breathing, will rise an inch higher every inspiration, and sink aa much every expiration, but never so low as that the water mav come over the mouth.

If, therefore, a person unacquainted with swimming, and falling accidentally into the water, could have presence of mind sufficient to avoid struggling and plunging, and to let the body take a natural position, he might continue long safe from drowning, till, perhaps, help should come; for, as to-the clothes, their additional weight when immersed is very inconsiderable, though, when ho comes out of water, he will find them very heavy indeed.

But, as I said before I would not advise you or any one to depend on having this presence of mind on such an occasion, but learn fairly to swim, as I wish all men were taught to do in their youth; they would on many occasions be the safer for having that skill; and on many more, the happier, as free from painful apprehensions of danger, to say nothing of the enjoyment in so delightful and wholesome an exercise. Soldiers particularly, should, methinks, all be taught to swim j it might be of frepuent use to them, either in surprising an enemy or savingthemselves ; and had I now boys to educate, I should prefer those schools (other things being equal) where an opportunity was afforded for acquiring so advantageous an art, which, once learned, is never forgotten.

I know by experience that it is a great comfort to a swimmer, who has a considerable distance to go, to turn himself sometimes on his back, and to vary, in other respects, the means of procuring a progressive motion.

When he is seized with cramp in the leg, the method of driving it away is to give the parts affected a sudden, vigorous, and violent shock; which he may do in the air as he swims on his back.

During the great heats of summer there is no danger in bathing, however warm wc may be, in rivers which have been thoroughly warmed by the sun. But to throw one’s self into cold spring water, when the body has been heated by exercise in the sun, is an imprudence which may prove fatal. I once knew an instance of four young men who, having worked at harvest in the heat of the day, with a view of refreshing themselves, plunged into a spring of cold water, two died on the spot, a third next morning, and the fourth recovered with great difficulty. A copious draught of cold water, in similar circumstances, isfrequently attended with the same effect in North America. The exercise of swimming is one of the most healthy and agreeable in the world. After having swam for an hour or two in the evening, one sleeps coolly the whole night, even during the most ardent heats of summer. Perhaps the pores being cleansed, the insensible perspiration increases and occasions this coolness. It is certain that much swimming is a means of checking diarrhoea, and even of producing a constipation. With respect to those who do not know how to swim, or wbo are affected with a diarrhsca at a season which does not permit them to use that exercise a warm bath, by cleansing and purifying the skin, is found very salutary, and often effects a radical cure. I speak from my own experience, frequently repeated, and that of others to whom I have recommended this.