At the menstrual period especially there is still a superstitious dread of water.
Girls should always be taught that at this period, above all, cleanliness is imperatively necessary.

There should be a tepid hip bath night and morning, and a vaginal douche (which should never be cold) is always advantageous, both for comfort as well as cleanliness.

There is not the slightest reason to dread water during menstruation.

This point was discussed a few years ago in the _British Medical Journal_ with complete unanimity of opinion.

A distinguished American obstetrician, also, Dr.J.
Clifton Edgar, after a careful study of opinion and practice in this matter ("Bathing During the Menstrual Period," _American Journal Obstetrics_, Sept., 1900), concludes that it is possible and beneficial to take cold baths (though not sea-baths) during the period, provided due precautions are observed, and that there are no sudden changes of habits.
Such a course should not be indiscriminately adopted, but there can be no doubt that in sturdy peasant women who are inured to it early in life even prolonged immersion in the sea in fishing has no evil results, and is even beneficial.