300.Liquid Blacking.—Ivory-black, quarter of a pound; treacle, half a pound, well mixed; to which add sweet oil, one pennyworth, and small beer three pints; add after, oil of vitriol, one pennyworth, which will cause it to boil. Fit for use in three days.301.French Polish for Boots and Shoes.—Logwood chips, half a pound; glue, quarter of a pound; indigo, pounded very fine, quarter of an ounce; soft soap, quarter of an ounce; isinglass, quarter of an ounce; boil these ingredients in two pints of vinegar and one of water, during ten minutes after ebullition, then strain the liquid. When cold it is fit for use. To apply the French polish, the dirt must be washed from the boots and shoes; when these are quite dry, the liquid polish is put on with a bit of sponge.302.To clean White Satin Shoes.—Rub them lengthways of the satin, with a piece of new white flannel dipped in spirits of wine. If slightly soiled, you may clean them by rubbing with stale bread.White satin shoes should be kept in blue paper closely wrapped, with coarse brown paper outside.To keep your thin, light slippers in shape, when you put them away, fold them ever lengthways or sideways, and tie the strings round them. You should have a covered box purposely for your shoes.303.To clean Boot-tops Brown.—Mix, in the same quantity of water, one ounce of oxalic acid, half an ounce of muriatic acid, a small vial of spirits of lavender, and two tea-spoonfuls of salt of lemon. Each bottle should be carefully labeled and marked "Poison."304.Directions for using the Liquid.—For the white tops: to be scrubbed well with a clean hard brush, thenspongedwell with cold water, all one way; and allowed to dry gradually in the sun, or by the fire.Brown tops are not to be scrubbed with a brush, but sponged all over with the mixture, till all stains be removed; then sponged well with cold water, and rubbed with flannel till they be highly polished.305.Shoes.—When about being measured for shoes, place the foot firmly on the ground, as the foot is larger in a standing than in a sitting posture.306.Shoes.—One hint about shoes—a most essential and expensive article of family wear. However worn and full of holes the soles may be, if the upper leathers are whole, or soundly mended, and the stitching firm, the soles may be covered with the newly adopted article gutta percha, and at a very small expense the shoes will be rendered as good as new. We have seen shoes which even the eldest daughter of the Smith family despised as not worth carrying home, made quite sound and respectable in appearance, and to serve many months in constant wear, by being thus soled at the cost of only a few pence. Thin shoes that have been worn only in-doors, and which are laid aside on account of the tops becoming shabby, perhaps worn out, while the sewing is sound, may be made very tidy by covering with woollen cloth, or with a bit of thick knitting, or platted list, stitched on as close as possible to the regular seam.307.To prevent Snow-water from penetrating Boots and Shoes.—Take equal quantities of bees'-wax and mutton-suet, and melt them in an earthen pipkin over a slow fire. Lay the mixture, while hot, over the boots and shoes, which ought also to be made warm. Let them stand before the fire a short time, and set them aside till they are cold; then rub them with dry woollen stuff, so that you may not grease the blacking-brushes. If you black the shoes before the mixture be put on, they will afterwards take the blacking much better.Or, boil together for half an hour, a quart of linseed oil, two ounces of resin, and half an ounce of white vitriol, and incorporate with them a quarter of a pint of spirit of turpentine, and two ounces of well-dried oak sawdust. Lay the mixture on the soles of the boots.308.Water-proof Boots.—A pint of boiled linseed oil, half a pound of mutton suet, six ounces of clean bees'-wax, and four ounces of resin, are to be melted and well mixed over a fire. Of this, while warm, but not hot enough to shrink the leather, with a brush lay on plentifully over new boots or shoes, when quite dry and clean. The leather remains pliant. The New England fishermen preserve their boots water-tight by this method, which, it is said, has been in use among them above one hundred years. They can thus stand in water hour after hour without inconvenience.309.Water-proof Boots.—I have had three pairs of boots for the last six years (no shoes), and I think I shall not require any more for the next six years to come. The reason is, that I treat them in the following manner: I put a pound of tallow and half a pound of rosin in a pot on the fire; when melted and mixed, I warm the boots and apply the hot stuff with a painter's brush, until neither the sole or the upper-leather will suck in any more. If it is desired that the boots should immediately take a polish, melt an ounce of wax with a tea-spoonful of lamp-black. A day after the boots have been treated with tallow and rosin, rub over them this wax in turpentine, but not before the fire. The exterior will then have a coat of wax alone, and will shine like a mirror. Tallow, or any other grease, becomes rancid, and rots the stitching as well as the leather; but the rosin gives it an antiseptic quality, which preserves the whole. Boots and shoes should be so large as to admit of wearing cork soles.—Correspondent of Mechanics' Magazine.310.To make Cloth or Outer Clothing of any description Water-proof.—Take a quarter of an ounce ofyelloworCastilesoap, and one gallon of rain water; boil for twenty minutes; skim, and when cold, put in the cloth or garment; let it remain soaking twenty-four hours; take it out, and hang to drain; when half-dry, put it into the following solution:—Alum, half a pound; sugar of lead, quarter of a pound; dissolved in four gallons of rain water. Let the cloth be thoroughly soaked, and then hang to dry. This process entirely destroys the capillary attraction in the fibres and threads of the cloth, and the rain or wet pours off the surface without lodging or penetrating through the cloth. The solution hasno effectinalteringthe texture or appearance of the cloth or article immersed. Great care mustbe taken as regards the sugar of lead, not to leave it where children or any persons ignorant of its qualities can get access to it, as it is a powerful poison.311.To make an Oil-skin Coat or Wrapper.—If a stout coat or wrapper is wanted, let the material be strong unbleached or brown calico. If a light one is preferred, make use of brown holland. Soak it (when made) in hot water, and hang to dry; then boil ten ounces of India-rubber in one quart ofraw linseed oil, until dissolved; (this will require about three hours' boiling,) when cold, mix with the oil so prepared about half a pint of paint of any color which may be preferred, and of the same consistency as that used for painting wood. With a paint-brush lay a thin coat over the outside of the wrapper, brushing it well into the seams. Hang it to dry in a current of air, but sheltered from a powerful sun. Whenthoroughlydry, give it another coat; dry as before, and then give a third and last coat. The wrapper, whenwell dried, will be ready for use.312.To make Gutta Percha Soles.—The gutta percha possesses properties which render it invaluable for winter shoes.It is, compared with leather, a slow conductor of heat; the effect of this is, that the warmth of the feet is retained, however cold the surface may be on which the person stands, and that clammy dampness, so objectionable in the wear of India rubber shoes, is entirely prevented. On first using gutta percha shoes, the wearer is forcibly struck with the superior warmth and comfort which is produced by this non-conducting property; and I confidently predict, that all those who try gutta percha, will be steady consumers.We shall now give the method of fixing the gutta percha soles. Make the sole of the boot perfectly clean and dry, scratch it with an awl or a fork until it becomes rough, warm it before the fire, and spread over it with a hot iron or poker some of the "solution" sold for this purpose, or in the absence of this, place some of the thin parings of the gutta percha on the sole, holding it to the fire, and spreading it as before. When this has been repeated two or three times, and all is well covered, warm the gutta percha sole, and the sole of the boot at the same time, until both become soft and sticky, place the sole on the boot, and press it down carefully, beginning at the toe, so as to press out the air and make it adhere closely;nothing more remains to be done, than as soon as it becomes hard to pare the edges with a sharp knife, and trim off as may be necessary. All the parings and old pieces should be saved, as gutta percha is not injured by use, and may be sold to the manufacturer in order to be restored and made up again.313.Fly Water.—Most of the fly-waters, and other preparations commonly sold for the destruction of flies, are variously disguised poisons, dangerous and even fatal to the human species: such as solutions of mercury, arsenic, &c., mixed with honey or syrup. The following preparation, however, without endangering the lives of children, or other incautious persons, is not less fatal to flies than even a solution of arsenic. Dissolve two drachms of the extract of quassia in half a pint of boiling water; and adding a little sugar or syrup, pour the mixture on plates. To this enticing food the flies are extremely partial, and it never fails to destroy them.A strong infusion of green tea, sweetened, is as effectual in poisoning flies, as the solution of arsenic generally sold for that purpose.314.To destroy Flies.—Ground black pepper and moist sugar, intimately mixed in equal quantities, and diluted with milk, placed in saucers, adding fresh milk, and stirring the mixture as often as necessary, succeeds admirably in occasioning their death.315.Another way to destroy Flies.—Pour a little simple oxymel (an article sold by druggists) into a common tumbler glass, and place in the glass a piece of cap paper, made into the shape of the upper part of a funnel, with a hole at the bottom to admit the flies. Attracted by the smell, they readily enter the trap in swarms, and by the thousands soon collected prove that they have not the wit or the disposition to return.316.To remove Flies.—Flies and other insects may be kept from attacking meat, by dusting it over with pepper, powdered ginger, or any other spice, or by skewering a piece of paper to it on which a drop of creosote has been poured. The spices may be readily washed off with water before dressing the meat.317.To keep off Flies.—Place camphor on or near what you wish to protect from them.318.Wasps and Flies.—These insects may be killed immediately by dipping a feather in a little sweet oil, and touching their backs with it. When intent on fruit this can easily be done. Insects of different kinds are readily killed by oil; it closes up the lateral pores by which they breathe.319.To destroy Ants and Wasps.—Ants are destroyed by opening the nest and putting in quick-lime, and throwing water on it.Wasps may be destroyed in the same way; only it will be requisite that the person who does it should be covered with muslin, or something over the face, hands, &c., so that the wasps shall not be able to sting them.320.To destroy Ants.—Ants that frequent houses or gardens may be destroyed by taking flour of brimstone, half a pound, and potash, four ounces: set them in an iron or earthen pan over the fire till dissolved and united; afterwards beat them to a powder, and infuse a little of this powder in water; and wherever you sprinkle it the ants will die, or fly the place.321.Another Method.—Corrosive sublimate, mixed well with sugar, has proved a mortal poison to them, and is the most effectual way of destroying these insects.322.To destroy Cockroaches, &c.—Stir a small quantity of arsenic with some bread-crumbs, which lay near the insects' haunts; meantime, be careful to keep dogs and cats out of the way. Poisoned wafers are also made for killing cockroaches: a trap is made with a glass well, for the same purpose; but a more simple contrivance is to half-fill a glazed basin, or pie-dish, with sweetened beer or linseed oil, and set in places frequented by cockroaches. They will attack theredwax of sealed bottles, but will not touchblackwax.323.To destroy Crickets.—To destroy crickets at night, set dishes or saucers filled with the grounds of beer or tea, on the kitchen-floor, and, in the morning, the crickets will be found dead from excess of drinking.324.To drive away Fleas.—Sprinkle about the bed a few drops of oil of lavender, and the fleas will soon disappear.Fumigation with brimstone, or fresh leaves of penny-royal sewed in a bag, and laid in the bed, will have the desired effect.325.Liquor for destroying Caterpillars, Ants, and other Insects.—Take a pound and three-quarters of soap, the same quantity of flower of sulphur, two pounds of champignons, or puff-balls, and fifteen gallons of water. When the whole has been well mixed, by the aid of a gentle heat, sprinkle the insects with the liquor, and it will instantly kill them.326.To destroy Rats.—Cut a number of corks or a piece of sponge as thin as sixpences; stew them in grease, and place them in the way of the rats. They will greedily devour this delicacy, and will die of indigestion.327.To kill Rats, another way.—There are two objections to the common mode of killing rats, by laying poison for them; first, the danger to which it exposes other animals and even human beings; second, the possibility that the rats may cause an intolerable stench, by dying in their holes. The following method is free from these objections, and has proved effectual in clearing houses infested with these vermin.Oil of amber and ox-gall in equal parts, add to them oatmeal or flour sufficient to form a paste, which divide into little balls and lay them in the middle of a room which rats are supposed or known to visit. Surround the balls with a number of vessels filled with water. The smell of the oil will be sure to attract the rats, they will greedily devour the balls, and becoming intolerably thirsty, will drink till they die on the spot.328.To expel Rats.—Catch one in a trap; muzzle it, with the assistance of a fellow-servant, and slightly singe some of the hair; then smear the part with turpentine, and set the animal loose; if again caught, leave it still at liberty, as the other rats will shun the place which it inhabits. It is said to be a fact that a toad placed in a cellar will free it from rats.Rats may be expelled from cellars and granaries simply by scattering a few stalks and leaves of mullen in their paths. There is something very annoying in this plant to the rat. It affords, therefore, a very easy method of getting rid of a mostperplexing evil, and much more economical and less troublesome than gunpowder, "rat exterminator," cats, or traps.329.To destroy Fleas and other Vermin on Animals.—To destroy them on dogs, rub the animal, when out of the house, with the common Scotch snuff, except the nose and eyes. Rub the powder well into the roots of the hair. Clear lime-water destroys the flea-worm without injuring the skin or hair.Oil of turpentine, when applied to animals, which were covered with insects, destroyed the insects, without hurting the animal.330.To destroy Bugs.—Mix half a pint of spirits of turpentine and half a pint of best rectified spirits of wine, in a strong bottle, and add in small pieces about half an ounce of camphor, which will dissolve in a few minutes. Shake the mixture well together; and, with a sponge or brush dipped in it, well wet the bed and furniture where the vermin breed. This will infallibly destroy both them and their nits, though they swarm. The dust, however, should be well brushed from the bedstead and furniture, to prevent, from such carelessness, any stain. If that precaution is attended to, there will be no danger of soiling the richest silk or damask. On touching a live bug with only the tip of a pin put into the mixture, the insect will be instantly deprived of existence, and should any bugs happen to appear after using the mixture, it will only be from not wetting the linen, &c., of the bed, the foldings and linings of the curtains near the rings or the joints, or holes in and about the bed or head-board, in which places the vermin nestle and breed; so that those parts being well wetted with more of the mixture, which dries as fast as it is used, and pouring it into the joints and holes, where the sponge and brush cannot reach, it will never fail totally to destroy them. The smell of this mixture, though powerful, is extremely wholesome, and to many persons very agreeable. It exhales, however, in two or three days. Only one caution is necessary; but that is important. The mixture must be well shaken when used;but never applied by candle light, lest the spirits, being attracted by the flare of the candle, might cause a conflagration.331.Kitchen Cloths.—The four kinds of cloths requisite for the kitchen, are knife-cloths, dusters, tea and glass-cloths.Knife-cloths should be made of coarse sheeting. Dusters are generally made of mixed cotton and linen. The best material for tea and glass-cloths, is a sheet which has begun to wear thin.Besides the above cloths, are knife-tray-cloths, house-cloths for cleaning, pudding and cheese-cloths, and towels.332.Clothes' Postssoon decay at the bottom, if left standing in the ground; but, if fitted into sockets so as to be removable, they will last for years. The sockets should be made of one-inch elm, eighteen inches in length, tapering downwards. When finished, they ought to be about three inches square inside, at the upper end. They are to be driven firmly into the earth till just level with the surface. The posts are then made to drop in and stand firm, and can be taken out, and put under shelter when not in use. A cover should be fitted to each socket, to keep litter from falling in when the post is removed. A drying-ground should not be too much exposed to the wind, as the violent flapping tears the corners of table-cloths, sheets, &c., and overblown linen feels flabby after mangling.333.Out-houses and Cellars.—If these have not been recently cleansed, have them thoroughly cleaned out and white-washed. A dirty cellar is an abomination, and the fruitful source of many diseases. Let all your out-buildings have a thorough overhauling and repairing.334.To purify Houses.—An able chemist recommends a mixture of one pound of chloride of lime in ten gallons of water. Throw a quart of this daily down the sink or water-closet. It will not cost five cents a week.One of the best and most pleasant disinfectants is coffee. Pound well-dried raw coffee-beans in a mortar, and strew the powder over a moderately heated iron plate. The simple traversing of the house with a roaster containing freshly roasted coffee will clear it of offensive smells.PART II.HEALTH AND BEAUTY.Rules for the preservation of Health, and simple Recipes found often efficacious in common diseases and slight injuries—Directions for preparing Remedies and ministering to the Sick and Suffering—The Toilet, or hints and suggestions for the preservation of Beauty, with some useful Recipes for those who need them.335.Means of preserving Health.—Light and sunshine are needful for your health. Get all you can; keep your windows clean. Do not block them up with curtains, plants, or bunches of flowers: these last poison the air in small rooms.Fresh air is needful for your health. As often as you can, open all your windows, if only for a short time, in bad weather; in fine weather, keep them open, but never sit in draughts. When you get up, open the windows wide, and throw down the bed-clothes, that they may be exposed to fresh air some hours daily before they are made up. Keep your bed-clothes clean; hang them to the fire when you can. Avoid wearing at night what you wear in the day. Hang up your day clothes at night. Except in the severest weather, in small crowded sleeping-rooms, a little opening at the top of the window-sash is very important; or, you will find one window-pane of perforated zinc very useful. You will not catch cold half so easily by breathing pure air at night. Let not the beds be directly under the windows. Sleeping in exhausted air creates a desire for stimulants.Pure water is needful for your health. Wash your bodies as well as your faces, rubbing them all over with a coarse cloth.If you cannot wash thus every morning, pray do so once a week. Crying and cross children are often pacified by a gentle washing of their little hands and faces—it soothes them. Babies' heads should be washed carefully, every morning, with yellow soap. No scurf should be suffered to remain upon them. Get rid of all slops and dirty water at once, but do not throw them out before your doors; and never suffer dead cabbage-leaves or dirt of any kind to remain there; all these poison the air, and bring fevers. All bad smells arepoison; never rest with them. Keep your back yards clean. Pig-sties are very injurious; slaughter-houses are equally hurtful: the smells from both excite typhus fever, and cause ill health. Frederick the Great said, that one fever was more fatal to him than seven battles. Disease, and even death, is often the consequence of our own negligence. Wash your rooms and passages at least once a week; use plenty of clean water; but do not let your children stay in them while they are wet—it may bring on croup or inflammation of the chest. If you read your Bibles—which it is earnestly hoped you do—you will find how cleanliness, both as to the person and habitation, was taught to the Jews by God himself; and we read in the 4th chapter of Nehemiah, that when they were building their second temple, and defending their lives against their foes, having no time for rest, they contrived to put off their clothes for washing. It is a good old saying, thatCleanliness is next to Godliness. See Heb. x. 22.Wholesome food is needful for your health. Buy the most strengthening. Pieces of fresh beef and mutton go the farthest. Eat plenty of fresh salt with food; it prevents disease. Pray do not let your children waste their pocket-money in tarts, cakes, sugar-plums, sour fruit, &c.; they are very unwholesome, and hurt the digestion. People would often, at twenty years of age, have a nice little sum of money to help them on in the world, if they had put in the savings-bank the money so wasted. Cocoa is cheaper and much more nourishing than tea. None of these liquids should be takenhot, but lukewarm; when hot, they inflame the stomach, and produce indigestion. All kinds of intoxicating drinks are to be avoided, or taken in the utmost moderation. If possible, abstain from them altogether. Money saved from drink, will help to educate your children, and make your homes happier.We are all made to breathe the pure air of heaven, and therefore much illness is caused by being constantly in-doors. Thisis especially the case with mothers of families, young milliners, ironers, shoe-makers, tailors, &c. Let such persons make a point, whenever it is possible, of taking exercise in theopen airfor at least an hour and a half,daily. Time would be saved in the long-run, by the increased energy and strength gained, and by the warding off of disease.Be sure to get your children vaccinated, between the third and sixth month after birth, before teething begins, and when they are in a good state of health for it. This would save a great many lives. On no account give your children laudanum, or any kind of sleeping medicine; numbers are killed by it.336.Directions in severe Sickness.—Whenever any one of your family is taken violently ill, send as soon as possible for the most skilful physician—and follow, carefully, his orders. But, many times, the mother is the best physician, and the only one needed for her children, if she has been trained to take proper care of her own health, as every woman should be. The following recipes and directions may be of great service to young mothers, and those who have not been accustomed to minister to the sick.337.To purify the Chambers of the Sick.—Close the windows and doors of the room to be purified, except one door; close also the chimney aperture, except two or three inches at the bottom, and remove all the iron and brass furniture; then put three table-spoonsful of common salt into a dish or pan, place it upon the floor of the apartment, and pour at once upon the salt a quarter of a pint of oil of vitriol; retire, and close the room for forty-eight hours, during which time vapor will continue to rise and diffuse itself completely through the room, so as to destroy the matter on which infection depends. The room may then be entered, the doors and windows thrown open, and a fire made in the grate, so that the apartment may be perfectly ventilated.338.To prevent Infection.—As a preservative, carry with you and smell occasionally, a handkerchief sprinkled with this mixture; half an ounce of spirits of camphor, half a pint of water, and five ounces of pyroligneous acid.Cascarilla bark is good to smoke, to prevent the effects of malaria, and in sick rooms to correct bad effluvia. It yields afine aromatic odor, and is very wholesome for sedentary and studious people to smoke, if mixed with good tobacco. The proportions for either of these purposes are as follow: one pound of Turkey tobacco, four ounces of Dutch canister tobacco, and one ounce of Cascarilla bark, broken small; mix the above, and smoke a pipe of it every evening, when the house is shut up; it is also a good digester after meals.339.Fumigating Pastilles.—Pound and mix gum benjamin and frankincense in powder, of each two drachms; gum myrrh, storax, cascarilla bark, and nitre, of each, powdered, one ounce and a half; and charcoal powder, one ounce: moisten, and shape into pastilles with gum-water, and a very little turpentine.The stalks of dried lavender, if burnt, have an agreeable scent, and form a substitute for pastilles; they may be cut small, and burnt in little vessels.340.To use Chloride of Lime.—This preventive of contagion may be used as follows: stir one pound of the chloride of lime into four gallons of water; allow it to settle for a short time, pour off the clear solution, and keep it in well-corked bottles.In houses infected, sprinkle the rooms morning and evening with the above liquid; and pour some of it into shallow dishes or basins. Sprinkle it about the room and bed-linen occasionally, and admit fresh air. Infected linen should be dipped in the mixture about five minutes, and then in common water, before it is sent to the wash.A wine-glassful added to the water of a night-chair or bed-pan, will prevent any smell. To destroy the effluvia from drains, sewers, cesspools, &c., pour into them a quart of the mixture, with a pail of water.Meat sprinkled with, or dipped in the mixture, and hung in the air, will not be attacked by flies, nor be tainted, for some time.Water in cisterns may be purified, and its animalcula killed, by putting about a pint of the mixture to one hundred gallons of water.This mixture will also destroy bugs, if the joints and crevices of bedsteads be washed with it. It will likewise remove the smell of paint in a day, if the newly painted room be sprinkled with it, and if some be placed there in dishes or saucers.341.Disinfecting Liquid.—In a wine-bottle full of cold water dissolve two ounces of sugar of lead, and add two ounces of aqua-fortis. Shake the mixture well. A very small quantity of the liquid in its strongest form should be used for cleansing all chamber utensils. To remove offensive odors, dilute the liquid with eight or ten parts of water, moisten clean cloths thoroughly with it, and hang them in various parts of the room. The offensive gases are neutralized by chemical action. Fumigation is merely substituting one odor for another. In all practicable cases,fresh air, and plenty of it, is far the best disinfectant.342.To prevent Abrasions of the Skin in persons confined to their beds; a very valuable recipe.—Apply occasionally to the tender parts of the body, with a feather, this mixture. Beat to a strong froth the white of an egg, then drop in gradually, while beating it, two tea-spoonfuls of spirits of wine. Bottle it for use.343.To prevent Discolorations of the Skin after a blow or fall.—Moisten a little dry starch or arrow-root with cold water, and lay it on the injured part. It should be done immediately, so as to prevent the action of the air upon the skin; however, it may be applied with good effect some hours afterwards. It is a French receipt, and is quite valuable.344.A recipe for Neuralgia in the Face.—Make a lotion with half a pint of rose-water and two tea-spoonfuls of white vinegar. Apply it to the part affected, three or four times a-day, using a fresh linen cloth each time. In two or three days the pain will pass away. This has been an effectual cure with many, but as the disease arises from various causes, there is no specific for it.345.Eye Water for weak eyes.—Infuse in boiling water, till cold, half an ounce of poppy heads, and the same quantity of chamomile flowers. Strain this mixture, and add two table-spoonfuls of vinegar, and one of brandy. Apply it warm, night and morning.346.Another.—Put into a two-ounce phial fifteen drops of laudanum, fill it with two-thirds of rose-water, and one-third of rectified spirits of Mindererus. Use it with a sponge.347.To cure a Bruise in the Eye.—Take conserve of red roses, or a bruised apple, put them in a fold of thin cambric, apply it to the eye, and it will draw the bruise out.348.Cold or Inflammation of the Eyes.—Mix a few bread crumbs with the white of an egg, put it in a bag of soft muslin, and apply it to the eye. It will afford relief in a few minutes, and generally a cure in a day. It is best applied at night, or when lying down. When removed, bathe the eye well with warm water, using a bit of muslin, not a sponge.349.Carvacrol, the new remedy for the Tooth-ache.—Dr. Bushman gives (in theMedical Times) the following account of this new compound, which, though well known in Germany as a quick and effectual cure for one of the most worrying ills "that flesh is heir to," is now for the first time published in England. Carvacrol is an oily liquid, with a strong taste and unpleasant odor. It may be made by the action of iodine on oil of caraway or on camphor. A few drops applied on cotton wool (to a decayed and painful tooth) give immediate relief. Carvacrol much resembles creosote in appearance, and is used in similar cases of tooth-ache, but its effect is much more speedy and certain.350.To cure Tooth-ache.—A remedy, often effectual, is to fill the mouth with warm water, and immediately after with cold.351.Another cure for Tooth-ache.—Powdered alum will not only relieve the tooth-ache, but prevent the decay of the tooth.352.Gum-boils.—A gum-boil is sometimes a primary disease, depending on an inflammation of the gums from accidental and common causes, in which case the lancet, or leaving it to nature, soon restores the gum to a healthy state; but it more generally arises from a carious tooth, in which case extraction is necessary. If there be any constitutional disturbance about the face, leeches and purgatives, and the usual means for subduing inflammation may be resorted to.353.Diseases of the Ear.—Sometimes ear-ache is connected with chronic ulceration in the internal and external part of theear—when injections of warm water and soap are advisable. In this case, there is sometimes a constant fœtid discharge—for which the following mixture has been recommended:—Mix three drachms of ox-gall and one drachm of balsam of Peru. Put a drop on a little cotton in the ear.354.Temporary Deafness.—If the ear be inflamed, inject water into it with a syringe, as warm as the patient can bear it, and foment the part with the decoction of poppy-heads and chamomile flowers. Should this not relieve the pain, a drop of oil of cloves with a little oil of almonds should be dropped into the ear, and cotton wool put into it. If the ear discharge much, inject warm water with Castile soap into it.355.For a Pain in the Ear.—Oil of sweet almonds, two drachms, and oil of amber, four drops. Apply four drops of this mixture, when in pain, to the part affected.356.Another cure for the Ear-ache.—Dip a little cotton into a mixture of oil of sweet almonds and laudanum, and put it into the ear; or, apply a small poultice, in which is put a raw chopped clove of garlic; or, roast a small onion, and put as much of the inside into the ear as you conveniently can.357.To kill Earwigs, or other Insects, which may accidentally have crept into the Ear.—Let the person under this distressing circumstance lay his head upon a table, the side upwards that is afflicted; at the same time, let some friend carefully drop into the ear a little sweet oil or oil of almonds. A drop or two will be sufficient, which will instantly destroy the insect and remove the pain, however violent.358.Bleeding at the Nose.—In obstinate cases, blow a little gum Arabic powder up the nostrils through a quill, which will immediately stop the discharge.359.Another cure for Bleeding at the Nose.—Elevating the patient's armwill often have the desired effect. The explanation is based upon physiological grounds: the greater force required to propel the blood through the vessels of the arm, when elevated, causes the pressure upon the vessels of the head to be diminished, by the increased action which takes place in thecourse of the brachial arteries. If the theory be sound, both arms should be elevated.360.To destroy Corns and Warts.—Put into an earthen pipkin a quarter of a pint of linseed oil, to which add one ounce of resin and a little litharge. Warm them together; spread them upon leather, and apply them to corns or warts.361.To destroy Warts.—Dissolve as much common washing soda as the water will take up; wash the warts with this for a minute or two, and let them dry without wiping. Keep the water in a bottle, and repeat the washing often. It will remove the largest warts.Caustic is an effectual though troublesome application. The juice of the common annual spurge plant is as efficacious a remedy; as is the bark of the willow tree, burnt to ashes, mixed with vinegar, and applied to the warts. The juice of the marigold is another remedy.362.A certain cure for Warts.—Steep in vinegar the inner rind of a lemon for twenty-four hours, and apply it to the wart. The lemon must not remain on more than three hours, and should be applied fresh every day. To apply acetic acid with a camel's hair-brush, is still better.363.Corns on the Feet.—These are usually made by wearing shoes over-tight; but, walking on pavement in very thin shoes will cause corns and bunions, because of bruising the feet on the hard stones.364.To prevent Corns from growing on the Feet.—Easy shoes; frequently bathing the feet in lukewarm water, with a little salt or potashes dissolved in it.365.Sir H. Davy's Corn Solvent.—Potash, two parts; salts of sorrel, one part; each in fine powder. Mix, and lay a small quantity on the corn for four or five successive nights, binding it on with a rag.366.To cure Corns.—An effectual remedy.—The cause of corns, and likewise the torture they occasion, is simply friction; and to lessen the friction, you have only to use your toe as you do in like circumstances a coach wheel—lubricate it with someoily substance. The best and cleanest thing to use, is a little sweet oil rubbed on the affected part (after the corn is carefully pared) with the tip of the finger, which should be done on getting up in the morning, and just before stepping into bed at night. In a few days the pain will diminish, and in a few days more it will cease, when the nightly application may be discontinued.367.Another cure for Corns.—Place the feet for half an hour for two or three nights successively, in a pretty strong solution of common soda. The alkali dissolves the indurated cuticle, and the corn falls out spontaneously, leaving a small excavation, which soon fills up. This is an almost certain remedy.368.To cure soft Corns.—Dip a soft linen rag in turpentine, and place it over the corn night and morning. In a few days the corn will disappear. A little sweet oil rubbed on them is often of great service. Or, a small piece of cotton placed between the toes is sometimes efficacious; or, the juice or pulp of a lemon.369.To cure Bunions in their commencement.—Bind the joint tightly, either with broad tape or adhesive plaster. The strip should be kept on as long as the least uneasiness is felt. It should wrap quite round the foot.370.Lotion for Chilblains.—Mix distilled vinegar and spirit of mindererus, of each four ounces, with half an ounce of borax.In common cases of chilblains, apply pieces of soft linen, moistened with spirits of camphor, soap liniment, camphor liniment, &c. When the swellings break, apply emollient ointments for a few days. Equal quantities of sweet oil, lime water, and spirits of wine, are also an excellent remedy for chilblains.371.Simple remedy for Chilblains.—Soak them in warm bran and water, then rub them well with mustard-seed flour; but it will be better if they are done before they break.372.Another remedy.—Cut an onion in thick slices, and with these rub the chilblains thoroughly, on two or three nights, before a good fire, and they will soon disappear.373.Sir A. Cooper's Chilblain Liniment.—One ounce of camphorated spirit of wine, half an ounce of liquid subacetate of lead; mix, and apply in the usual way three or four times a day. Some persons use vinegar as a preventive; its efficacy might be increased, by the addition to the vinegar of one-fourth of its quantity of camphorated spirit.374.Note.—Those who are most liable to chilblains, should, on the approach of winter, cover the parts most subject to be affected, with woollen gloves or stockings, and not expose the hands or feet too much to wet and cold.375.To stop violent Bleeding from a Cut.—Make a paste, by mixing fine flour with vinegar, and lay it on the cut.376.An excellent Styptic.—The outside woof of silk-worms has been tried with great success by several people, more especially by a lady, who, in mending a pen, cut her thumb to the bone, and through part of the nail; it bled profusely; but, by trying this styptic, and binding up the wound, the hemorrhage stopped, and the wound healed in three days.377.A new and useful Styptic.—Take brandy, or common spirit, two ounces; Castile soap, two drachms; potash, one drachm; scrape the soap fine, and dissolve it in the brandy; then add the potash, and mix it well together, and keep it close stopped from the air in a phial. When you apply it, warm it in a vessel, or dip pledges of lint into it, and the blood will immediately congeal. It operates by coagulating the blood, both a considerable way within the vessels, as well as the extravasated blood without, and restraining, at the same time, the mouths of the vessels.It forms a valuable embrocation, in cases of tumors or swellings from bruises, by being frequently rubbed on the part. It is also used in a similar manner for rheumatic pains.378.To prevent Wounds from mortifying.—Sprinkle sugar on them. The Turks wash fresh wounds with wine, and sprinkle sugar on them. Obstinate ulcers may be cured with sugar dissolved in a strong decoction of walnut leaves.379.To cure Ring-worms.—Dissolve borax in water, and apply it at first, it will produce a burning sensation and redness;it should then be discontinued for a few days, and being resumed, the ring-worm will soon disappear.To sponge the head daily with vinegar and water, in the proportion of half a pint of vinegar to a pint and a half of water, will prevent or cure ring-worms.380.Another cure for Ring-worms.—To one part of sulphuric acid, add about twenty parts of water. Use a brush or feather, and apply it to the part, night and morning. A very few dressings will generally cure. If the solution is too strong, dilute it with more water; and if the irritation is excessive, rub a little oil or other softening applicant; but avoid soap.While the patches are in an inflamed and irritable condition, it is necessary to limit the local applications to regular washing or sponging with warm water, or some softening fomentation.381.Cure for Erysipelas.—A simple poultice made of cranberries, pounded fine, and applied in a raw state, has proved a certain remedy.382.Remedy for fainting.—First place the patient in the horizontal posture, throw cold water over the face, and bathe the hands with vinegar and water; loosen the dress, and admit a free current of fresh, cool air. Pungent salts, ether, oreau de Cologne, should be held occasionally to the nose, and the temples should be rubbed with either of the two latter. When the patient has partly recovered, a small quantity of wine, cold water, or ten or twenty drops of sal-volatile or ether, in water, should be given.383.Remedy for Fits.—If a person fall in a fit, let him remain on the ground, provided his face be pale; for should it be fainting or temporary suspension of the heart's action, you may cause death by raising him upright, or by bleeding; but if the face be red or dark-colored, raise him on his seat, throw cold water on his head immediately; cold water is the best restorative.384.German method of preventing Hysterics.—Caraway seeds, finely pounded, with a small proportion of ginger and salt, spread upon bread and butter, and eaten every day, especiallyearly in the morning, and at night, before going to bed, are successfully used in Germany, as a domestic remedy against hysterics.385.Stomachic Mixture.—Camphor julep, one ounce; sweet spirit of nitre, half an ounce; compound tincture of cardamoms, spirit of anise-seed, of each five drachms; oil of caraway, twelve drops; syrup of ginger, two drachms; peppermint-water, two drachms. Mix. A table-spoonful occasionally in flatulency and dyspepsia.386.Red lavender drops for Nervous Attacks.—Fill a quart bottle with the blossoms of lavender, and pour on it as much brandy as it will contain; let it stand ten days, then strain it, and add of nutmeg bruised, cloves, mace, and cochineal, a quarter of an ounce each, and bottle it for use. In nervous cases, a little may be taken dropped on a bit of sugar; and in the beginning of a bowel complaint, a tea-spoonful, taken in half a glass of peppermint water, will often prove efficacious.387.Eggs in Jaundice.—The yolk of an egg, either eaten raw, or slightly boiled, is perhaps the most salutary of all the animal substances. It is a natural soap, and, in all jaundice cases no food is equal to it. When the gall is either too weak, or, by accidental means, is not permitted to flow in sufficient quantity into the duodenum, our food, which consists of watery and oily parts, cannot unite so as to become chyle. Such is the nature of the yolk of an egg, that it is capable of uniting water and oil into an uniform substance, thereby making up for the deficiency of natural bile.—Dr. A. Hunter.388.Aperient for Children.—Gingerbread made with oatmeal instead of flour, is a very useful aperient for children.389.Cramp.—Cramp in the calves of the legs is a very disagreeable complaint, to which those who have their legs confined in tight boots are subject in travelling. An effectual preventative of this pain, is to stretch out the heel of the leg as far as possible, at the same time drawing up the toes towards the body.A garter applied tightly round the limb affected will, in most cases, speedily remove this complaint. When it is more obstinate,a brick should be heated, wrapped in a flannel bag, and placed at the foot of the bed, against which the person troubled may place his feet.No remedy, however, is equal to that of diligent and long-continued friction.Cramp is apt to attack the calves of the legs and toes soon after retiring to rest. Get out of bed, and exercise the muscles vigorously.390.For Spasms.—Mix four table-spoonsful of camphor julep and twenty drops of sal-volatile, for a dose, to be repeated twice or thrice a day.391.To apply Leeches.—Make the part clean and dry, and dry the leeches in a clean cloth; if this fail, scratch the surface of the skin with a point of a lancet, and apply the leech on the spot, moistened with the blood. To apply a number of leeches, put them into a very small wine-glass, which hold over them till they are fixed. If the skin be much inflamed and heated, pour a little tepid water into the water containing the leeches, before they are taken out to be applied. If sulphur be taken internally, or applied externally, leeches will not bite; neither will they bite if the skin be covered with perspiration; or if there be tobacco smoke or vinegar-vapor in the room.All that is requisite to stop the bleeding, after the leech is taken away, is constant pressure on the spot; a piece of sponge or cotton, the size of a pin's head, is to be put upon the aperture, and kept there by cross slips of adhesive plaster spread upon linen, or the surgeon's strapping: if greater pressure be necessary, some linen may be placed between the stopper and the plaster.392.A useful embrocation for Rheumatism, Lumbago, or Strains.—Half an ounce of strongest camphorated spirit, one ounce spirits of turpentine, one raw egg, half pint best vinegar. Well mix the whole, and keep it closely corked. To be rubbed in three or four times a day. For rheumatism in the head, or face-ache, rub all over the back of the head and neck, as well as the part which is the immediate seat of pain.393.For Gout and Rheumatism.—Mix in one pound of honey one ounce of flour of sulphur, half an ounce of cream of tartar, two drachms of ginger, in powder, and half a nutmeg, grated: for rheumatism, add half a drachm of gum-guaiacum,powdered. The full dose is two tea-spoonsful at bed-time and early in the morning, in a tumbler of hot water. This is "the Chelsea Pensioners' recipe."394.Influenza.—Influenza is an Italian word, and means what we express in English by almost the same word, influence. The word as applied to this disease, originated from the belief held by our ancestors, of the influence of the stars upon human affairs. When a complaint suddenly appeared, and affected great numbers without an obvious cause, the visitation was ascribed to the stars. Whatever might have been the origin of the name, it is an appropriate one, for the Influenza certainly springs from some pervading influence. It may, for anything we can prove to the contrary, be occasioned by some subtle poison diffused throughout the atmosphere, which medical men call amiasm. Bad air, rising from marshy ground, occasions ague; and bad air arising from drains in towns, from cess-pools, and other collections of filth, gives rise to the worst kinds of fever. And it is not a matter of chance: the ague will continue in marshy countries till these are drained; and in the dirty quarters of a large town, there is sure to be typhus fever. If we cannot, in these cases, see, taste, or touch the bad air, or even smell it, we know that fens poison the air with a matter that causes ague, and animal refuse with what causes fever and many other diseases. But, the existence of a peculiar poison in the air in influenza, is very doubtful. It is likely, however, and generally believed by medical men, that influenza arises from certain states or changes in the air connected with heat and moisture. Now, though it appears in hot weather and cold, in dry and wet, it may still depend on certain conditions of the weather, just as a person will sometimes take a cough in a warm moist day, and again in a dry east wind; and just, in fact, as we see a fog, which depends on atmospheric changes, produced under different circumstances. The brisk air of the country often gives town-people a head-cold, and country people sometimes suffer in the same way when they visit town. During every season, certain people have "head-colds," coughs, and "feverish colds." These are produced by certain states of climate acting on certain states of constitution. At particular seasons such complaints abound—at others they abound still more; and again, from some singularity, they prevail so much, that people say, there is anInfluenza.In simple cases, confinement to a pure and temperate air, warm drinks, and a warm bath, or at least a warm foot-bath, with an extra blanket, and a little more rest than usual, keeping to mild food and toast and water, and taking, if necessary, a dose of aperient medicines—is all that is required. In serious cases, the domestic treatment must become professional. Mustard plasters to the back, relieve the head-ache. Squills, and other medicines, "loosen" the outstanding cough. Bark and wine, and even cold baths, are sometimes requisite for the weakness left behind. But these things can only be used with discrimination by a regular professional man.395.For the Breath.—Persons who suffer from difficulty of breathing and oppression on the chest, will find great relief from the following simple contrivance. A tea-kettle is to be kept boiling, either over a fire or over a common night-lamp or nursing-candlestick. A tin tube is to be fitted on to the spout of the tea-kettle, of such length and form as to throw the steam in front of the sick person, who will then breathe in it. This prevents the distressing sensation occasioned by inhaling the cold night air, which will be felt by persons suffering from asthma or water on the chest, and which is not obviated either by clothing or fire.396.To relieve Asthma.—Soak some blotting-paper in a strong solution of saltpetre; dry it, take a piece about the size of your hand, and on going to bed, light it, and lay it upon a plate in your bed-room. By doing so, persons, however badly afflicted with asthma, will find that they can sleep almost as well as when in health. (Many persons have experienced relief from the use of this specific.)397.Relief for Asthma—another way.—Mix two ounces of the best honey with one ounce of castor oil, and take a tea-spoonful, night and morning.398.Gargle for Sore Throat.—On twenty-five or thirty leaves of the common sage, pour a pint of boiling water; let the infusion stand half an hour. Add vinegar enough to make it moderately acid, and honey to the taste. Use it as a gargle, several times a day. This combination of the astringent and emollient principle seldom fails to produce the desired effect.399.To prevent Lamps from being pernicious to Asthmatic persons, or others liable to Complaints of the Chest.—Let a sponge, three or four inches in diameter, be moistened with pure water, and in that state be suspended by a string or wire, exactly over the flame of the lamp, at the distance of a few inches; this substance will absorb all the smoke emitted during the evening or night; after which, it should be rinsed in warm water, by which means it will be again rendered fit for use.
300.Liquid Blacking.—Ivory-black, quarter of a pound; treacle, half a pound, well mixed; to which add sweet oil, one pennyworth, and small beer three pints; add after, oil of vitriol, one pennyworth, which will cause it to boil. Fit for use in three days.301.French Polish for Boots and Shoes.—Logwood chips, half a pound; glue, quarter of a pound; indigo, pounded very fine, quarter of an ounce; soft soap, quarter of an ounce; isinglass, quarter of an ounce; boil these ingredients in two pints of vinegar and one of water, during ten minutes after ebullition, then strain the liquid. When cold it is fit for use. To apply the French polish, the dirt must be washed from the boots and shoes; when these are quite dry, the liquid polish is put on with a bit of sponge.302.To clean White Satin Shoes.—Rub them lengthways of the satin, with a piece of new white flannel dipped in spirits of wine. If slightly soiled, you may clean them by rubbing with stale bread.White satin shoes should be kept in blue paper closely wrapped, with coarse brown paper outside.To keep your thin, light slippers in shape, when you put them away, fold them ever lengthways or sideways, and tie the strings round them. You should have a covered box purposely for your shoes.303.To clean Boot-tops Brown.—Mix, in the same quantity of water, one ounce of oxalic acid, half an ounce of muriatic acid, a small vial of spirits of lavender, and two tea-spoonfuls of salt of lemon. Each bottle should be carefully labeled and marked "Poison."304.Directions for using the Liquid.—For the white tops: to be scrubbed well with a clean hard brush, thenspongedwell with cold water, all one way; and allowed to dry gradually in the sun, or by the fire.Brown tops are not to be scrubbed with a brush, but sponged all over with the mixture, till all stains be removed; then sponged well with cold water, and rubbed with flannel till they be highly polished.305.Shoes.—When about being measured for shoes, place the foot firmly on the ground, as the foot is larger in a standing than in a sitting posture.306.Shoes.—One hint about shoes—a most essential and expensive article of family wear. However worn and full of holes the soles may be, if the upper leathers are whole, or soundly mended, and the stitching firm, the soles may be covered with the newly adopted article gutta percha, and at a very small expense the shoes will be rendered as good as new. We have seen shoes which even the eldest daughter of the Smith family despised as not worth carrying home, made quite sound and respectable in appearance, and to serve many months in constant wear, by being thus soled at the cost of only a few pence. Thin shoes that have been worn only in-doors, and which are laid aside on account of the tops becoming shabby, perhaps worn out, while the sewing is sound, may be made very tidy by covering with woollen cloth, or with a bit of thick knitting, or platted list, stitched on as close as possible to the regular seam.307.To prevent Snow-water from penetrating Boots and Shoes.—Take equal quantities of bees'-wax and mutton-suet, and melt them in an earthen pipkin over a slow fire. Lay the mixture, while hot, over the boots and shoes, which ought also to be made warm. Let them stand before the fire a short time, and set them aside till they are cold; then rub them with dry woollen stuff, so that you may not grease the blacking-brushes. If you black the shoes before the mixture be put on, they will afterwards take the blacking much better.Or, boil together for half an hour, a quart of linseed oil, two ounces of resin, and half an ounce of white vitriol, and incorporate with them a quarter of a pint of spirit of turpentine, and two ounces of well-dried oak sawdust. Lay the mixture on the soles of the boots.308.Water-proof Boots.—A pint of boiled linseed oil, half a pound of mutton suet, six ounces of clean bees'-wax, and four ounces of resin, are to be melted and well mixed over a fire. Of this, while warm, but not hot enough to shrink the leather, with a brush lay on plentifully over new boots or shoes, when quite dry and clean. The leather remains pliant. The New England fishermen preserve their boots water-tight by this method, which, it is said, has been in use among them above one hundred years. They can thus stand in water hour after hour without inconvenience.309.Water-proof Boots.—I have had three pairs of boots for the last six years (no shoes), and I think I shall not require any more for the next six years to come. The reason is, that I treat them in the following manner: I put a pound of tallow and half a pound of rosin in a pot on the fire; when melted and mixed, I warm the boots and apply the hot stuff with a painter's brush, until neither the sole or the upper-leather will suck in any more. If it is desired that the boots should immediately take a polish, melt an ounce of wax with a tea-spoonful of lamp-black. A day after the boots have been treated with tallow and rosin, rub over them this wax in turpentine, but not before the fire. The exterior will then have a coat of wax alone, and will shine like a mirror. Tallow, or any other grease, becomes rancid, and rots the stitching as well as the leather; but the rosin gives it an antiseptic quality, which preserves the whole. Boots and shoes should be so large as to admit of wearing cork soles.—Correspondent of Mechanics' Magazine.310.To make Cloth or Outer Clothing of any description Water-proof.—Take a quarter of an ounce ofyelloworCastilesoap, and one gallon of rain water; boil for twenty minutes; skim, and when cold, put in the cloth or garment; let it remain soaking twenty-four hours; take it out, and hang to drain; when half-dry, put it into the following solution:—Alum, half a pound; sugar of lead, quarter of a pound; dissolved in four gallons of rain water. Let the cloth be thoroughly soaked, and then hang to dry. This process entirely destroys the capillary attraction in the fibres and threads of the cloth, and the rain or wet pours off the surface without lodging or penetrating through the cloth. The solution hasno effectinalteringthe texture or appearance of the cloth or article immersed. Great care mustbe taken as regards the sugar of lead, not to leave it where children or any persons ignorant of its qualities can get access to it, as it is a powerful poison.311.To make an Oil-skin Coat or Wrapper.—If a stout coat or wrapper is wanted, let the material be strong unbleached or brown calico. If a light one is preferred, make use of brown holland. Soak it (when made) in hot water, and hang to dry; then boil ten ounces of India-rubber in one quart ofraw linseed oil, until dissolved; (this will require about three hours' boiling,) when cold, mix with the oil so prepared about half a pint of paint of any color which may be preferred, and of the same consistency as that used for painting wood. With a paint-brush lay a thin coat over the outside of the wrapper, brushing it well into the seams. Hang it to dry in a current of air, but sheltered from a powerful sun. Whenthoroughlydry, give it another coat; dry as before, and then give a third and last coat. The wrapper, whenwell dried, will be ready for use.312.To make Gutta Percha Soles.—The gutta percha possesses properties which render it invaluable for winter shoes.It is, compared with leather, a slow conductor of heat; the effect of this is, that the warmth of the feet is retained, however cold the surface may be on which the person stands, and that clammy dampness, so objectionable in the wear of India rubber shoes, is entirely prevented. On first using gutta percha shoes, the wearer is forcibly struck with the superior warmth and comfort which is produced by this non-conducting property; and I confidently predict, that all those who try gutta percha, will be steady consumers.We shall now give the method of fixing the gutta percha soles. Make the sole of the boot perfectly clean and dry, scratch it with an awl or a fork until it becomes rough, warm it before the fire, and spread over it with a hot iron or poker some of the "solution" sold for this purpose, or in the absence of this, place some of the thin parings of the gutta percha on the sole, holding it to the fire, and spreading it as before. When this has been repeated two or three times, and all is well covered, warm the gutta percha sole, and the sole of the boot at the same time, until both become soft and sticky, place the sole on the boot, and press it down carefully, beginning at the toe, so as to press out the air and make it adhere closely;nothing more remains to be done, than as soon as it becomes hard to pare the edges with a sharp knife, and trim off as may be necessary. All the parings and old pieces should be saved, as gutta percha is not injured by use, and may be sold to the manufacturer in order to be restored and made up again.313.Fly Water.—Most of the fly-waters, and other preparations commonly sold for the destruction of flies, are variously disguised poisons, dangerous and even fatal to the human species: such as solutions of mercury, arsenic, &c., mixed with honey or syrup. The following preparation, however, without endangering the lives of children, or other incautious persons, is not less fatal to flies than even a solution of arsenic. Dissolve two drachms of the extract of quassia in half a pint of boiling water; and adding a little sugar or syrup, pour the mixture on plates. To this enticing food the flies are extremely partial, and it never fails to destroy them.A strong infusion of green tea, sweetened, is as effectual in poisoning flies, as the solution of arsenic generally sold for that purpose.314.To destroy Flies.—Ground black pepper and moist sugar, intimately mixed in equal quantities, and diluted with milk, placed in saucers, adding fresh milk, and stirring the mixture as often as necessary, succeeds admirably in occasioning their death.315.Another way to destroy Flies.—Pour a little simple oxymel (an article sold by druggists) into a common tumbler glass, and place in the glass a piece of cap paper, made into the shape of the upper part of a funnel, with a hole at the bottom to admit the flies. Attracted by the smell, they readily enter the trap in swarms, and by the thousands soon collected prove that they have not the wit or the disposition to return.316.To remove Flies.—Flies and other insects may be kept from attacking meat, by dusting it over with pepper, powdered ginger, or any other spice, or by skewering a piece of paper to it on which a drop of creosote has been poured. The spices may be readily washed off with water before dressing the meat.317.To keep off Flies.—Place camphor on or near what you wish to protect from them.318.Wasps and Flies.—These insects may be killed immediately by dipping a feather in a little sweet oil, and touching their backs with it. When intent on fruit this can easily be done. Insects of different kinds are readily killed by oil; it closes up the lateral pores by which they breathe.319.To destroy Ants and Wasps.—Ants are destroyed by opening the nest and putting in quick-lime, and throwing water on it.Wasps may be destroyed in the same way; only it will be requisite that the person who does it should be covered with muslin, or something over the face, hands, &c., so that the wasps shall not be able to sting them.320.To destroy Ants.—Ants that frequent houses or gardens may be destroyed by taking flour of brimstone, half a pound, and potash, four ounces: set them in an iron or earthen pan over the fire till dissolved and united; afterwards beat them to a powder, and infuse a little of this powder in water; and wherever you sprinkle it the ants will die, or fly the place.321.Another Method.—Corrosive sublimate, mixed well with sugar, has proved a mortal poison to them, and is the most effectual way of destroying these insects.322.To destroy Cockroaches, &c.—Stir a small quantity of arsenic with some bread-crumbs, which lay near the insects' haunts; meantime, be careful to keep dogs and cats out of the way. Poisoned wafers are also made for killing cockroaches: a trap is made with a glass well, for the same purpose; but a more simple contrivance is to half-fill a glazed basin, or pie-dish, with sweetened beer or linseed oil, and set in places frequented by cockroaches. They will attack theredwax of sealed bottles, but will not touchblackwax.323.To destroy Crickets.—To destroy crickets at night, set dishes or saucers filled with the grounds of beer or tea, on the kitchen-floor, and, in the morning, the crickets will be found dead from excess of drinking.324.To drive away Fleas.—Sprinkle about the bed a few drops of oil of lavender, and the fleas will soon disappear.Fumigation with brimstone, or fresh leaves of penny-royal sewed in a bag, and laid in the bed, will have the desired effect.325.Liquor for destroying Caterpillars, Ants, and other Insects.—Take a pound and three-quarters of soap, the same quantity of flower of sulphur, two pounds of champignons, or puff-balls, and fifteen gallons of water. When the whole has been well mixed, by the aid of a gentle heat, sprinkle the insects with the liquor, and it will instantly kill them.326.To destroy Rats.—Cut a number of corks or a piece of sponge as thin as sixpences; stew them in grease, and place them in the way of the rats. They will greedily devour this delicacy, and will die of indigestion.327.To kill Rats, another way.—There are two objections to the common mode of killing rats, by laying poison for them; first, the danger to which it exposes other animals and even human beings; second, the possibility that the rats may cause an intolerable stench, by dying in their holes. The following method is free from these objections, and has proved effectual in clearing houses infested with these vermin.Oil of amber and ox-gall in equal parts, add to them oatmeal or flour sufficient to form a paste, which divide into little balls and lay them in the middle of a room which rats are supposed or known to visit. Surround the balls with a number of vessels filled with water. The smell of the oil will be sure to attract the rats, they will greedily devour the balls, and becoming intolerably thirsty, will drink till they die on the spot.328.To expel Rats.—Catch one in a trap; muzzle it, with the assistance of a fellow-servant, and slightly singe some of the hair; then smear the part with turpentine, and set the animal loose; if again caught, leave it still at liberty, as the other rats will shun the place which it inhabits. It is said to be a fact that a toad placed in a cellar will free it from rats.Rats may be expelled from cellars and granaries simply by scattering a few stalks and leaves of mullen in their paths. There is something very annoying in this plant to the rat. It affords, therefore, a very easy method of getting rid of a mostperplexing evil, and much more economical and less troublesome than gunpowder, "rat exterminator," cats, or traps.329.To destroy Fleas and other Vermin on Animals.—To destroy them on dogs, rub the animal, when out of the house, with the common Scotch snuff, except the nose and eyes. Rub the powder well into the roots of the hair. Clear lime-water destroys the flea-worm without injuring the skin or hair.Oil of turpentine, when applied to animals, which were covered with insects, destroyed the insects, without hurting the animal.330.To destroy Bugs.—Mix half a pint of spirits of turpentine and half a pint of best rectified spirits of wine, in a strong bottle, and add in small pieces about half an ounce of camphor, which will dissolve in a few minutes. Shake the mixture well together; and, with a sponge or brush dipped in it, well wet the bed and furniture where the vermin breed. This will infallibly destroy both them and their nits, though they swarm. The dust, however, should be well brushed from the bedstead and furniture, to prevent, from such carelessness, any stain. If that precaution is attended to, there will be no danger of soiling the richest silk or damask. On touching a live bug with only the tip of a pin put into the mixture, the insect will be instantly deprived of existence, and should any bugs happen to appear after using the mixture, it will only be from not wetting the linen, &c., of the bed, the foldings and linings of the curtains near the rings or the joints, or holes in and about the bed or head-board, in which places the vermin nestle and breed; so that those parts being well wetted with more of the mixture, which dries as fast as it is used, and pouring it into the joints and holes, where the sponge and brush cannot reach, it will never fail totally to destroy them. The smell of this mixture, though powerful, is extremely wholesome, and to many persons very agreeable. It exhales, however, in two or three days. Only one caution is necessary; but that is important. The mixture must be well shaken when used;but never applied by candle light, lest the spirits, being attracted by the flare of the candle, might cause a conflagration.331.Kitchen Cloths.—The four kinds of cloths requisite for the kitchen, are knife-cloths, dusters, tea and glass-cloths.Knife-cloths should be made of coarse sheeting. Dusters are generally made of mixed cotton and linen. The best material for tea and glass-cloths, is a sheet which has begun to wear thin.Besides the above cloths, are knife-tray-cloths, house-cloths for cleaning, pudding and cheese-cloths, and towels.332.Clothes' Postssoon decay at the bottom, if left standing in the ground; but, if fitted into sockets so as to be removable, they will last for years. The sockets should be made of one-inch elm, eighteen inches in length, tapering downwards. When finished, they ought to be about three inches square inside, at the upper end. They are to be driven firmly into the earth till just level with the surface. The posts are then made to drop in and stand firm, and can be taken out, and put under shelter when not in use. A cover should be fitted to each socket, to keep litter from falling in when the post is removed. A drying-ground should not be too much exposed to the wind, as the violent flapping tears the corners of table-cloths, sheets, &c., and overblown linen feels flabby after mangling.333.Out-houses and Cellars.—If these have not been recently cleansed, have them thoroughly cleaned out and white-washed. A dirty cellar is an abomination, and the fruitful source of many diseases. Let all your out-buildings have a thorough overhauling and repairing.334.To purify Houses.—An able chemist recommends a mixture of one pound of chloride of lime in ten gallons of water. Throw a quart of this daily down the sink or water-closet. It will not cost five cents a week.One of the best and most pleasant disinfectants is coffee. Pound well-dried raw coffee-beans in a mortar, and strew the powder over a moderately heated iron plate. The simple traversing of the house with a roaster containing freshly roasted coffee will clear it of offensive smells.
300.Liquid Blacking.—Ivory-black, quarter of a pound; treacle, half a pound, well mixed; to which add sweet oil, one pennyworth, and small beer three pints; add after, oil of vitriol, one pennyworth, which will cause it to boil. Fit for use in three days.
301.French Polish for Boots and Shoes.—Logwood chips, half a pound; glue, quarter of a pound; indigo, pounded very fine, quarter of an ounce; soft soap, quarter of an ounce; isinglass, quarter of an ounce; boil these ingredients in two pints of vinegar and one of water, during ten minutes after ebullition, then strain the liquid. When cold it is fit for use. To apply the French polish, the dirt must be washed from the boots and shoes; when these are quite dry, the liquid polish is put on with a bit of sponge.
302.To clean White Satin Shoes.—Rub them lengthways of the satin, with a piece of new white flannel dipped in spirits of wine. If slightly soiled, you may clean them by rubbing with stale bread.
White satin shoes should be kept in blue paper closely wrapped, with coarse brown paper outside.
To keep your thin, light slippers in shape, when you put them away, fold them ever lengthways or sideways, and tie the strings round them. You should have a covered box purposely for your shoes.
303.To clean Boot-tops Brown.—Mix, in the same quantity of water, one ounce of oxalic acid, half an ounce of muriatic acid, a small vial of spirits of lavender, and two tea-spoonfuls of salt of lemon. Each bottle should be carefully labeled and marked "Poison."
304.Directions for using the Liquid.—For the white tops: to be scrubbed well with a clean hard brush, thenspongedwell with cold water, all one way; and allowed to dry gradually in the sun, or by the fire.
Brown tops are not to be scrubbed with a brush, but sponged all over with the mixture, till all stains be removed; then sponged well with cold water, and rubbed with flannel till they be highly polished.
305.Shoes.—When about being measured for shoes, place the foot firmly on the ground, as the foot is larger in a standing than in a sitting posture.
306.Shoes.—One hint about shoes—a most essential and expensive article of family wear. However worn and full of holes the soles may be, if the upper leathers are whole, or soundly mended, and the stitching firm, the soles may be covered with the newly adopted article gutta percha, and at a very small expense the shoes will be rendered as good as new. We have seen shoes which even the eldest daughter of the Smith family despised as not worth carrying home, made quite sound and respectable in appearance, and to serve many months in constant wear, by being thus soled at the cost of only a few pence. Thin shoes that have been worn only in-doors, and which are laid aside on account of the tops becoming shabby, perhaps worn out, while the sewing is sound, may be made very tidy by covering with woollen cloth, or with a bit of thick knitting, or platted list, stitched on as close as possible to the regular seam.
307.To prevent Snow-water from penetrating Boots and Shoes.—Take equal quantities of bees'-wax and mutton-suet, and melt them in an earthen pipkin over a slow fire. Lay the mixture, while hot, over the boots and shoes, which ought also to be made warm. Let them stand before the fire a short time, and set them aside till they are cold; then rub them with dry woollen stuff, so that you may not grease the blacking-brushes. If you black the shoes before the mixture be put on, they will afterwards take the blacking much better.
Or, boil together for half an hour, a quart of linseed oil, two ounces of resin, and half an ounce of white vitriol, and incorporate with them a quarter of a pint of spirit of turpentine, and two ounces of well-dried oak sawdust. Lay the mixture on the soles of the boots.
308.Water-proof Boots.—A pint of boiled linseed oil, half a pound of mutton suet, six ounces of clean bees'-wax, and four ounces of resin, are to be melted and well mixed over a fire. Of this, while warm, but not hot enough to shrink the leather, with a brush lay on plentifully over new boots or shoes, when quite dry and clean. The leather remains pliant. The New England fishermen preserve their boots water-tight by this method, which, it is said, has been in use among them above one hundred years. They can thus stand in water hour after hour without inconvenience.
309.Water-proof Boots.—I have had three pairs of boots for the last six years (no shoes), and I think I shall not require any more for the next six years to come. The reason is, that I treat them in the following manner: I put a pound of tallow and half a pound of rosin in a pot on the fire; when melted and mixed, I warm the boots and apply the hot stuff with a painter's brush, until neither the sole or the upper-leather will suck in any more. If it is desired that the boots should immediately take a polish, melt an ounce of wax with a tea-spoonful of lamp-black. A day after the boots have been treated with tallow and rosin, rub over them this wax in turpentine, but not before the fire. The exterior will then have a coat of wax alone, and will shine like a mirror. Tallow, or any other grease, becomes rancid, and rots the stitching as well as the leather; but the rosin gives it an antiseptic quality, which preserves the whole. Boots and shoes should be so large as to admit of wearing cork soles.—Correspondent of Mechanics' Magazine.
310.To make Cloth or Outer Clothing of any description Water-proof.—Take a quarter of an ounce ofyelloworCastilesoap, and one gallon of rain water; boil for twenty minutes; skim, and when cold, put in the cloth or garment; let it remain soaking twenty-four hours; take it out, and hang to drain; when half-dry, put it into the following solution:—Alum, half a pound; sugar of lead, quarter of a pound; dissolved in four gallons of rain water. Let the cloth be thoroughly soaked, and then hang to dry. This process entirely destroys the capillary attraction in the fibres and threads of the cloth, and the rain or wet pours off the surface without lodging or penetrating through the cloth. The solution hasno effectinalteringthe texture or appearance of the cloth or article immersed. Great care mustbe taken as regards the sugar of lead, not to leave it where children or any persons ignorant of its qualities can get access to it, as it is a powerful poison.
311.To make an Oil-skin Coat or Wrapper.—If a stout coat or wrapper is wanted, let the material be strong unbleached or brown calico. If a light one is preferred, make use of brown holland. Soak it (when made) in hot water, and hang to dry; then boil ten ounces of India-rubber in one quart ofraw linseed oil, until dissolved; (this will require about three hours' boiling,) when cold, mix with the oil so prepared about half a pint of paint of any color which may be preferred, and of the same consistency as that used for painting wood. With a paint-brush lay a thin coat over the outside of the wrapper, brushing it well into the seams. Hang it to dry in a current of air, but sheltered from a powerful sun. Whenthoroughlydry, give it another coat; dry as before, and then give a third and last coat. The wrapper, whenwell dried, will be ready for use.
312.To make Gutta Percha Soles.—The gutta percha possesses properties which render it invaluable for winter shoes.It is, compared with leather, a slow conductor of heat; the effect of this is, that the warmth of the feet is retained, however cold the surface may be on which the person stands, and that clammy dampness, so objectionable in the wear of India rubber shoes, is entirely prevented. On first using gutta percha shoes, the wearer is forcibly struck with the superior warmth and comfort which is produced by this non-conducting property; and I confidently predict, that all those who try gutta percha, will be steady consumers.
We shall now give the method of fixing the gutta percha soles. Make the sole of the boot perfectly clean and dry, scratch it with an awl or a fork until it becomes rough, warm it before the fire, and spread over it with a hot iron or poker some of the "solution" sold for this purpose, or in the absence of this, place some of the thin parings of the gutta percha on the sole, holding it to the fire, and spreading it as before. When this has been repeated two or three times, and all is well covered, warm the gutta percha sole, and the sole of the boot at the same time, until both become soft and sticky, place the sole on the boot, and press it down carefully, beginning at the toe, so as to press out the air and make it adhere closely;nothing more remains to be done, than as soon as it becomes hard to pare the edges with a sharp knife, and trim off as may be necessary. All the parings and old pieces should be saved, as gutta percha is not injured by use, and may be sold to the manufacturer in order to be restored and made up again.
313.Fly Water.—Most of the fly-waters, and other preparations commonly sold for the destruction of flies, are variously disguised poisons, dangerous and even fatal to the human species: such as solutions of mercury, arsenic, &c., mixed with honey or syrup. The following preparation, however, without endangering the lives of children, or other incautious persons, is not less fatal to flies than even a solution of arsenic. Dissolve two drachms of the extract of quassia in half a pint of boiling water; and adding a little sugar or syrup, pour the mixture on plates. To this enticing food the flies are extremely partial, and it never fails to destroy them.
A strong infusion of green tea, sweetened, is as effectual in poisoning flies, as the solution of arsenic generally sold for that purpose.
314.To destroy Flies.—Ground black pepper and moist sugar, intimately mixed in equal quantities, and diluted with milk, placed in saucers, adding fresh milk, and stirring the mixture as often as necessary, succeeds admirably in occasioning their death.
315.Another way to destroy Flies.—Pour a little simple oxymel (an article sold by druggists) into a common tumbler glass, and place in the glass a piece of cap paper, made into the shape of the upper part of a funnel, with a hole at the bottom to admit the flies. Attracted by the smell, they readily enter the trap in swarms, and by the thousands soon collected prove that they have not the wit or the disposition to return.
316.To remove Flies.—Flies and other insects may be kept from attacking meat, by dusting it over with pepper, powdered ginger, or any other spice, or by skewering a piece of paper to it on which a drop of creosote has been poured. The spices may be readily washed off with water before dressing the meat.
317.To keep off Flies.—Place camphor on or near what you wish to protect from them.
318.Wasps and Flies.—These insects may be killed immediately by dipping a feather in a little sweet oil, and touching their backs with it. When intent on fruit this can easily be done. Insects of different kinds are readily killed by oil; it closes up the lateral pores by which they breathe.
319.To destroy Ants and Wasps.—Ants are destroyed by opening the nest and putting in quick-lime, and throwing water on it.
Wasps may be destroyed in the same way; only it will be requisite that the person who does it should be covered with muslin, or something over the face, hands, &c., so that the wasps shall not be able to sting them.
320.To destroy Ants.—Ants that frequent houses or gardens may be destroyed by taking flour of brimstone, half a pound, and potash, four ounces: set them in an iron or earthen pan over the fire till dissolved and united; afterwards beat them to a powder, and infuse a little of this powder in water; and wherever you sprinkle it the ants will die, or fly the place.
321.Another Method.—Corrosive sublimate, mixed well with sugar, has proved a mortal poison to them, and is the most effectual way of destroying these insects.
322.To destroy Cockroaches, &c.—Stir a small quantity of arsenic with some bread-crumbs, which lay near the insects' haunts; meantime, be careful to keep dogs and cats out of the way. Poisoned wafers are also made for killing cockroaches: a trap is made with a glass well, for the same purpose; but a more simple contrivance is to half-fill a glazed basin, or pie-dish, with sweetened beer or linseed oil, and set in places frequented by cockroaches. They will attack theredwax of sealed bottles, but will not touchblackwax.
323.To destroy Crickets.—To destroy crickets at night, set dishes or saucers filled with the grounds of beer or tea, on the kitchen-floor, and, in the morning, the crickets will be found dead from excess of drinking.
324.To drive away Fleas.—Sprinkle about the bed a few drops of oil of lavender, and the fleas will soon disappear.
Fumigation with brimstone, or fresh leaves of penny-royal sewed in a bag, and laid in the bed, will have the desired effect.
325.Liquor for destroying Caterpillars, Ants, and other Insects.—Take a pound and three-quarters of soap, the same quantity of flower of sulphur, two pounds of champignons, or puff-balls, and fifteen gallons of water. When the whole has been well mixed, by the aid of a gentle heat, sprinkle the insects with the liquor, and it will instantly kill them.
326.To destroy Rats.—Cut a number of corks or a piece of sponge as thin as sixpences; stew them in grease, and place them in the way of the rats. They will greedily devour this delicacy, and will die of indigestion.
327.To kill Rats, another way.—There are two objections to the common mode of killing rats, by laying poison for them; first, the danger to which it exposes other animals and even human beings; second, the possibility that the rats may cause an intolerable stench, by dying in their holes. The following method is free from these objections, and has proved effectual in clearing houses infested with these vermin.
Oil of amber and ox-gall in equal parts, add to them oatmeal or flour sufficient to form a paste, which divide into little balls and lay them in the middle of a room which rats are supposed or known to visit. Surround the balls with a number of vessels filled with water. The smell of the oil will be sure to attract the rats, they will greedily devour the balls, and becoming intolerably thirsty, will drink till they die on the spot.
328.To expel Rats.—Catch one in a trap; muzzle it, with the assistance of a fellow-servant, and slightly singe some of the hair; then smear the part with turpentine, and set the animal loose; if again caught, leave it still at liberty, as the other rats will shun the place which it inhabits. It is said to be a fact that a toad placed in a cellar will free it from rats.
Rats may be expelled from cellars and granaries simply by scattering a few stalks and leaves of mullen in their paths. There is something very annoying in this plant to the rat. It affords, therefore, a very easy method of getting rid of a mostperplexing evil, and much more economical and less troublesome than gunpowder, "rat exterminator," cats, or traps.
329.To destroy Fleas and other Vermin on Animals.—To destroy them on dogs, rub the animal, when out of the house, with the common Scotch snuff, except the nose and eyes. Rub the powder well into the roots of the hair. Clear lime-water destroys the flea-worm without injuring the skin or hair.
Oil of turpentine, when applied to animals, which were covered with insects, destroyed the insects, without hurting the animal.
330.To destroy Bugs.—Mix half a pint of spirits of turpentine and half a pint of best rectified spirits of wine, in a strong bottle, and add in small pieces about half an ounce of camphor, which will dissolve in a few minutes. Shake the mixture well together; and, with a sponge or brush dipped in it, well wet the bed and furniture where the vermin breed. This will infallibly destroy both them and their nits, though they swarm. The dust, however, should be well brushed from the bedstead and furniture, to prevent, from such carelessness, any stain. If that precaution is attended to, there will be no danger of soiling the richest silk or damask. On touching a live bug with only the tip of a pin put into the mixture, the insect will be instantly deprived of existence, and should any bugs happen to appear after using the mixture, it will only be from not wetting the linen, &c., of the bed, the foldings and linings of the curtains near the rings or the joints, or holes in and about the bed or head-board, in which places the vermin nestle and breed; so that those parts being well wetted with more of the mixture, which dries as fast as it is used, and pouring it into the joints and holes, where the sponge and brush cannot reach, it will never fail totally to destroy them. The smell of this mixture, though powerful, is extremely wholesome, and to many persons very agreeable. It exhales, however, in two or three days. Only one caution is necessary; but that is important. The mixture must be well shaken when used;but never applied by candle light, lest the spirits, being attracted by the flare of the candle, might cause a conflagration.
331.Kitchen Cloths.—The four kinds of cloths requisite for the kitchen, are knife-cloths, dusters, tea and glass-cloths.Knife-cloths should be made of coarse sheeting. Dusters are generally made of mixed cotton and linen. The best material for tea and glass-cloths, is a sheet which has begun to wear thin.
Besides the above cloths, are knife-tray-cloths, house-cloths for cleaning, pudding and cheese-cloths, and towels.
332.Clothes' Postssoon decay at the bottom, if left standing in the ground; but, if fitted into sockets so as to be removable, they will last for years. The sockets should be made of one-inch elm, eighteen inches in length, tapering downwards. When finished, they ought to be about three inches square inside, at the upper end. They are to be driven firmly into the earth till just level with the surface. The posts are then made to drop in and stand firm, and can be taken out, and put under shelter when not in use. A cover should be fitted to each socket, to keep litter from falling in when the post is removed. A drying-ground should not be too much exposed to the wind, as the violent flapping tears the corners of table-cloths, sheets, &c., and overblown linen feels flabby after mangling.
333.Out-houses and Cellars.—If these have not been recently cleansed, have them thoroughly cleaned out and white-washed. A dirty cellar is an abomination, and the fruitful source of many diseases. Let all your out-buildings have a thorough overhauling and repairing.
334.To purify Houses.—An able chemist recommends a mixture of one pound of chloride of lime in ten gallons of water. Throw a quart of this daily down the sink or water-closet. It will not cost five cents a week.
One of the best and most pleasant disinfectants is coffee. Pound well-dried raw coffee-beans in a mortar, and strew the powder over a moderately heated iron plate. The simple traversing of the house with a roaster containing freshly roasted coffee will clear it of offensive smells.
PART II.HEALTH AND BEAUTY.Rules for the preservation of Health, and simple Recipes found often efficacious in common diseases and slight injuries—Directions for preparing Remedies and ministering to the Sick and Suffering—The Toilet, or hints and suggestions for the preservation of Beauty, with some useful Recipes for those who need them.335.Means of preserving Health.—Light and sunshine are needful for your health. Get all you can; keep your windows clean. Do not block them up with curtains, plants, or bunches of flowers: these last poison the air in small rooms.Fresh air is needful for your health. As often as you can, open all your windows, if only for a short time, in bad weather; in fine weather, keep them open, but never sit in draughts. When you get up, open the windows wide, and throw down the bed-clothes, that they may be exposed to fresh air some hours daily before they are made up. Keep your bed-clothes clean; hang them to the fire when you can. Avoid wearing at night what you wear in the day. Hang up your day clothes at night. Except in the severest weather, in small crowded sleeping-rooms, a little opening at the top of the window-sash is very important; or, you will find one window-pane of perforated zinc very useful. You will not catch cold half so easily by breathing pure air at night. Let not the beds be directly under the windows. Sleeping in exhausted air creates a desire for stimulants.Pure water is needful for your health. Wash your bodies as well as your faces, rubbing them all over with a coarse cloth.If you cannot wash thus every morning, pray do so once a week. Crying and cross children are often pacified by a gentle washing of their little hands and faces—it soothes them. Babies' heads should be washed carefully, every morning, with yellow soap. No scurf should be suffered to remain upon them. Get rid of all slops and dirty water at once, but do not throw them out before your doors; and never suffer dead cabbage-leaves or dirt of any kind to remain there; all these poison the air, and bring fevers. All bad smells arepoison; never rest with them. Keep your back yards clean. Pig-sties are very injurious; slaughter-houses are equally hurtful: the smells from both excite typhus fever, and cause ill health. Frederick the Great said, that one fever was more fatal to him than seven battles. Disease, and even death, is often the consequence of our own negligence. Wash your rooms and passages at least once a week; use plenty of clean water; but do not let your children stay in them while they are wet—it may bring on croup or inflammation of the chest. If you read your Bibles—which it is earnestly hoped you do—you will find how cleanliness, both as to the person and habitation, was taught to the Jews by God himself; and we read in the 4th chapter of Nehemiah, that when they were building their second temple, and defending their lives against their foes, having no time for rest, they contrived to put off their clothes for washing. It is a good old saying, thatCleanliness is next to Godliness. See Heb. x. 22.Wholesome food is needful for your health. Buy the most strengthening. Pieces of fresh beef and mutton go the farthest. Eat plenty of fresh salt with food; it prevents disease. Pray do not let your children waste their pocket-money in tarts, cakes, sugar-plums, sour fruit, &c.; they are very unwholesome, and hurt the digestion. People would often, at twenty years of age, have a nice little sum of money to help them on in the world, if they had put in the savings-bank the money so wasted. Cocoa is cheaper and much more nourishing than tea. None of these liquids should be takenhot, but lukewarm; when hot, they inflame the stomach, and produce indigestion. All kinds of intoxicating drinks are to be avoided, or taken in the utmost moderation. If possible, abstain from them altogether. Money saved from drink, will help to educate your children, and make your homes happier.We are all made to breathe the pure air of heaven, and therefore much illness is caused by being constantly in-doors. Thisis especially the case with mothers of families, young milliners, ironers, shoe-makers, tailors, &c. Let such persons make a point, whenever it is possible, of taking exercise in theopen airfor at least an hour and a half,daily. Time would be saved in the long-run, by the increased energy and strength gained, and by the warding off of disease.Be sure to get your children vaccinated, between the third and sixth month after birth, before teething begins, and when they are in a good state of health for it. This would save a great many lives. On no account give your children laudanum, or any kind of sleeping medicine; numbers are killed by it.336.Directions in severe Sickness.—Whenever any one of your family is taken violently ill, send as soon as possible for the most skilful physician—and follow, carefully, his orders. But, many times, the mother is the best physician, and the only one needed for her children, if she has been trained to take proper care of her own health, as every woman should be. The following recipes and directions may be of great service to young mothers, and those who have not been accustomed to minister to the sick.337.To purify the Chambers of the Sick.—Close the windows and doors of the room to be purified, except one door; close also the chimney aperture, except two or three inches at the bottom, and remove all the iron and brass furniture; then put three table-spoonsful of common salt into a dish or pan, place it upon the floor of the apartment, and pour at once upon the salt a quarter of a pint of oil of vitriol; retire, and close the room for forty-eight hours, during which time vapor will continue to rise and diffuse itself completely through the room, so as to destroy the matter on which infection depends. The room may then be entered, the doors and windows thrown open, and a fire made in the grate, so that the apartment may be perfectly ventilated.338.To prevent Infection.—As a preservative, carry with you and smell occasionally, a handkerchief sprinkled with this mixture; half an ounce of spirits of camphor, half a pint of water, and five ounces of pyroligneous acid.Cascarilla bark is good to smoke, to prevent the effects of malaria, and in sick rooms to correct bad effluvia. It yields afine aromatic odor, and is very wholesome for sedentary and studious people to smoke, if mixed with good tobacco. The proportions for either of these purposes are as follow: one pound of Turkey tobacco, four ounces of Dutch canister tobacco, and one ounce of Cascarilla bark, broken small; mix the above, and smoke a pipe of it every evening, when the house is shut up; it is also a good digester after meals.339.Fumigating Pastilles.—Pound and mix gum benjamin and frankincense in powder, of each two drachms; gum myrrh, storax, cascarilla bark, and nitre, of each, powdered, one ounce and a half; and charcoal powder, one ounce: moisten, and shape into pastilles with gum-water, and a very little turpentine.The stalks of dried lavender, if burnt, have an agreeable scent, and form a substitute for pastilles; they may be cut small, and burnt in little vessels.340.To use Chloride of Lime.—This preventive of contagion may be used as follows: stir one pound of the chloride of lime into four gallons of water; allow it to settle for a short time, pour off the clear solution, and keep it in well-corked bottles.In houses infected, sprinkle the rooms morning and evening with the above liquid; and pour some of it into shallow dishes or basins. Sprinkle it about the room and bed-linen occasionally, and admit fresh air. Infected linen should be dipped in the mixture about five minutes, and then in common water, before it is sent to the wash.A wine-glassful added to the water of a night-chair or bed-pan, will prevent any smell. To destroy the effluvia from drains, sewers, cesspools, &c., pour into them a quart of the mixture, with a pail of water.Meat sprinkled with, or dipped in the mixture, and hung in the air, will not be attacked by flies, nor be tainted, for some time.Water in cisterns may be purified, and its animalcula killed, by putting about a pint of the mixture to one hundred gallons of water.This mixture will also destroy bugs, if the joints and crevices of bedsteads be washed with it. It will likewise remove the smell of paint in a day, if the newly painted room be sprinkled with it, and if some be placed there in dishes or saucers.341.Disinfecting Liquid.—In a wine-bottle full of cold water dissolve two ounces of sugar of lead, and add two ounces of aqua-fortis. Shake the mixture well. A very small quantity of the liquid in its strongest form should be used for cleansing all chamber utensils. To remove offensive odors, dilute the liquid with eight or ten parts of water, moisten clean cloths thoroughly with it, and hang them in various parts of the room. The offensive gases are neutralized by chemical action. Fumigation is merely substituting one odor for another. In all practicable cases,fresh air, and plenty of it, is far the best disinfectant.342.To prevent Abrasions of the Skin in persons confined to their beds; a very valuable recipe.—Apply occasionally to the tender parts of the body, with a feather, this mixture. Beat to a strong froth the white of an egg, then drop in gradually, while beating it, two tea-spoonfuls of spirits of wine. Bottle it for use.343.To prevent Discolorations of the Skin after a blow or fall.—Moisten a little dry starch or arrow-root with cold water, and lay it on the injured part. It should be done immediately, so as to prevent the action of the air upon the skin; however, it may be applied with good effect some hours afterwards. It is a French receipt, and is quite valuable.344.A recipe for Neuralgia in the Face.—Make a lotion with half a pint of rose-water and two tea-spoonfuls of white vinegar. Apply it to the part affected, three or four times a-day, using a fresh linen cloth each time. In two or three days the pain will pass away. This has been an effectual cure with many, but as the disease arises from various causes, there is no specific for it.345.Eye Water for weak eyes.—Infuse in boiling water, till cold, half an ounce of poppy heads, and the same quantity of chamomile flowers. Strain this mixture, and add two table-spoonfuls of vinegar, and one of brandy. Apply it warm, night and morning.346.Another.—Put into a two-ounce phial fifteen drops of laudanum, fill it with two-thirds of rose-water, and one-third of rectified spirits of Mindererus. Use it with a sponge.347.To cure a Bruise in the Eye.—Take conserve of red roses, or a bruised apple, put them in a fold of thin cambric, apply it to the eye, and it will draw the bruise out.348.Cold or Inflammation of the Eyes.—Mix a few bread crumbs with the white of an egg, put it in a bag of soft muslin, and apply it to the eye. It will afford relief in a few minutes, and generally a cure in a day. It is best applied at night, or when lying down. When removed, bathe the eye well with warm water, using a bit of muslin, not a sponge.349.Carvacrol, the new remedy for the Tooth-ache.—Dr. Bushman gives (in theMedical Times) the following account of this new compound, which, though well known in Germany as a quick and effectual cure for one of the most worrying ills "that flesh is heir to," is now for the first time published in England. Carvacrol is an oily liquid, with a strong taste and unpleasant odor. It may be made by the action of iodine on oil of caraway or on camphor. A few drops applied on cotton wool (to a decayed and painful tooth) give immediate relief. Carvacrol much resembles creosote in appearance, and is used in similar cases of tooth-ache, but its effect is much more speedy and certain.350.To cure Tooth-ache.—A remedy, often effectual, is to fill the mouth with warm water, and immediately after with cold.351.Another cure for Tooth-ache.—Powdered alum will not only relieve the tooth-ache, but prevent the decay of the tooth.352.Gum-boils.—A gum-boil is sometimes a primary disease, depending on an inflammation of the gums from accidental and common causes, in which case the lancet, or leaving it to nature, soon restores the gum to a healthy state; but it more generally arises from a carious tooth, in which case extraction is necessary. If there be any constitutional disturbance about the face, leeches and purgatives, and the usual means for subduing inflammation may be resorted to.353.Diseases of the Ear.—Sometimes ear-ache is connected with chronic ulceration in the internal and external part of theear—when injections of warm water and soap are advisable. In this case, there is sometimes a constant fœtid discharge—for which the following mixture has been recommended:—Mix three drachms of ox-gall and one drachm of balsam of Peru. Put a drop on a little cotton in the ear.354.Temporary Deafness.—If the ear be inflamed, inject water into it with a syringe, as warm as the patient can bear it, and foment the part with the decoction of poppy-heads and chamomile flowers. Should this not relieve the pain, a drop of oil of cloves with a little oil of almonds should be dropped into the ear, and cotton wool put into it. If the ear discharge much, inject warm water with Castile soap into it.355.For a Pain in the Ear.—Oil of sweet almonds, two drachms, and oil of amber, four drops. Apply four drops of this mixture, when in pain, to the part affected.356.Another cure for the Ear-ache.—Dip a little cotton into a mixture of oil of sweet almonds and laudanum, and put it into the ear; or, apply a small poultice, in which is put a raw chopped clove of garlic; or, roast a small onion, and put as much of the inside into the ear as you conveniently can.357.To kill Earwigs, or other Insects, which may accidentally have crept into the Ear.—Let the person under this distressing circumstance lay his head upon a table, the side upwards that is afflicted; at the same time, let some friend carefully drop into the ear a little sweet oil or oil of almonds. A drop or two will be sufficient, which will instantly destroy the insect and remove the pain, however violent.358.Bleeding at the Nose.—In obstinate cases, blow a little gum Arabic powder up the nostrils through a quill, which will immediately stop the discharge.359.Another cure for Bleeding at the Nose.—Elevating the patient's armwill often have the desired effect. The explanation is based upon physiological grounds: the greater force required to propel the blood through the vessels of the arm, when elevated, causes the pressure upon the vessels of the head to be diminished, by the increased action which takes place in thecourse of the brachial arteries. If the theory be sound, both arms should be elevated.360.To destroy Corns and Warts.—Put into an earthen pipkin a quarter of a pint of linseed oil, to which add one ounce of resin and a little litharge. Warm them together; spread them upon leather, and apply them to corns or warts.361.To destroy Warts.—Dissolve as much common washing soda as the water will take up; wash the warts with this for a minute or two, and let them dry without wiping. Keep the water in a bottle, and repeat the washing often. It will remove the largest warts.Caustic is an effectual though troublesome application. The juice of the common annual spurge plant is as efficacious a remedy; as is the bark of the willow tree, burnt to ashes, mixed with vinegar, and applied to the warts. The juice of the marigold is another remedy.362.A certain cure for Warts.—Steep in vinegar the inner rind of a lemon for twenty-four hours, and apply it to the wart. The lemon must not remain on more than three hours, and should be applied fresh every day. To apply acetic acid with a camel's hair-brush, is still better.363.Corns on the Feet.—These are usually made by wearing shoes over-tight; but, walking on pavement in very thin shoes will cause corns and bunions, because of bruising the feet on the hard stones.364.To prevent Corns from growing on the Feet.—Easy shoes; frequently bathing the feet in lukewarm water, with a little salt or potashes dissolved in it.365.Sir H. Davy's Corn Solvent.—Potash, two parts; salts of sorrel, one part; each in fine powder. Mix, and lay a small quantity on the corn for four or five successive nights, binding it on with a rag.366.To cure Corns.—An effectual remedy.—The cause of corns, and likewise the torture they occasion, is simply friction; and to lessen the friction, you have only to use your toe as you do in like circumstances a coach wheel—lubricate it with someoily substance. The best and cleanest thing to use, is a little sweet oil rubbed on the affected part (after the corn is carefully pared) with the tip of the finger, which should be done on getting up in the morning, and just before stepping into bed at night. In a few days the pain will diminish, and in a few days more it will cease, when the nightly application may be discontinued.367.Another cure for Corns.—Place the feet for half an hour for two or three nights successively, in a pretty strong solution of common soda. The alkali dissolves the indurated cuticle, and the corn falls out spontaneously, leaving a small excavation, which soon fills up. This is an almost certain remedy.368.To cure soft Corns.—Dip a soft linen rag in turpentine, and place it over the corn night and morning. In a few days the corn will disappear. A little sweet oil rubbed on them is often of great service. Or, a small piece of cotton placed between the toes is sometimes efficacious; or, the juice or pulp of a lemon.369.To cure Bunions in their commencement.—Bind the joint tightly, either with broad tape or adhesive plaster. The strip should be kept on as long as the least uneasiness is felt. It should wrap quite round the foot.370.Lotion for Chilblains.—Mix distilled vinegar and spirit of mindererus, of each four ounces, with half an ounce of borax.In common cases of chilblains, apply pieces of soft linen, moistened with spirits of camphor, soap liniment, camphor liniment, &c. When the swellings break, apply emollient ointments for a few days. Equal quantities of sweet oil, lime water, and spirits of wine, are also an excellent remedy for chilblains.371.Simple remedy for Chilblains.—Soak them in warm bran and water, then rub them well with mustard-seed flour; but it will be better if they are done before they break.372.Another remedy.—Cut an onion in thick slices, and with these rub the chilblains thoroughly, on two or three nights, before a good fire, and they will soon disappear.373.Sir A. Cooper's Chilblain Liniment.—One ounce of camphorated spirit of wine, half an ounce of liquid subacetate of lead; mix, and apply in the usual way three or four times a day. Some persons use vinegar as a preventive; its efficacy might be increased, by the addition to the vinegar of one-fourth of its quantity of camphorated spirit.374.Note.—Those who are most liable to chilblains, should, on the approach of winter, cover the parts most subject to be affected, with woollen gloves or stockings, and not expose the hands or feet too much to wet and cold.375.To stop violent Bleeding from a Cut.—Make a paste, by mixing fine flour with vinegar, and lay it on the cut.376.An excellent Styptic.—The outside woof of silk-worms has been tried with great success by several people, more especially by a lady, who, in mending a pen, cut her thumb to the bone, and through part of the nail; it bled profusely; but, by trying this styptic, and binding up the wound, the hemorrhage stopped, and the wound healed in three days.377.A new and useful Styptic.—Take brandy, or common spirit, two ounces; Castile soap, two drachms; potash, one drachm; scrape the soap fine, and dissolve it in the brandy; then add the potash, and mix it well together, and keep it close stopped from the air in a phial. When you apply it, warm it in a vessel, or dip pledges of lint into it, and the blood will immediately congeal. It operates by coagulating the blood, both a considerable way within the vessels, as well as the extravasated blood without, and restraining, at the same time, the mouths of the vessels.It forms a valuable embrocation, in cases of tumors or swellings from bruises, by being frequently rubbed on the part. It is also used in a similar manner for rheumatic pains.378.To prevent Wounds from mortifying.—Sprinkle sugar on them. The Turks wash fresh wounds with wine, and sprinkle sugar on them. Obstinate ulcers may be cured with sugar dissolved in a strong decoction of walnut leaves.379.To cure Ring-worms.—Dissolve borax in water, and apply it at first, it will produce a burning sensation and redness;it should then be discontinued for a few days, and being resumed, the ring-worm will soon disappear.To sponge the head daily with vinegar and water, in the proportion of half a pint of vinegar to a pint and a half of water, will prevent or cure ring-worms.380.Another cure for Ring-worms.—To one part of sulphuric acid, add about twenty parts of water. Use a brush or feather, and apply it to the part, night and morning. A very few dressings will generally cure. If the solution is too strong, dilute it with more water; and if the irritation is excessive, rub a little oil or other softening applicant; but avoid soap.While the patches are in an inflamed and irritable condition, it is necessary to limit the local applications to regular washing or sponging with warm water, or some softening fomentation.381.Cure for Erysipelas.—A simple poultice made of cranberries, pounded fine, and applied in a raw state, has proved a certain remedy.382.Remedy for fainting.—First place the patient in the horizontal posture, throw cold water over the face, and bathe the hands with vinegar and water; loosen the dress, and admit a free current of fresh, cool air. Pungent salts, ether, oreau de Cologne, should be held occasionally to the nose, and the temples should be rubbed with either of the two latter. When the patient has partly recovered, a small quantity of wine, cold water, or ten or twenty drops of sal-volatile or ether, in water, should be given.383.Remedy for Fits.—If a person fall in a fit, let him remain on the ground, provided his face be pale; for should it be fainting or temporary suspension of the heart's action, you may cause death by raising him upright, or by bleeding; but if the face be red or dark-colored, raise him on his seat, throw cold water on his head immediately; cold water is the best restorative.384.German method of preventing Hysterics.—Caraway seeds, finely pounded, with a small proportion of ginger and salt, spread upon bread and butter, and eaten every day, especiallyearly in the morning, and at night, before going to bed, are successfully used in Germany, as a domestic remedy against hysterics.385.Stomachic Mixture.—Camphor julep, one ounce; sweet spirit of nitre, half an ounce; compound tincture of cardamoms, spirit of anise-seed, of each five drachms; oil of caraway, twelve drops; syrup of ginger, two drachms; peppermint-water, two drachms. Mix. A table-spoonful occasionally in flatulency and dyspepsia.386.Red lavender drops for Nervous Attacks.—Fill a quart bottle with the blossoms of lavender, and pour on it as much brandy as it will contain; let it stand ten days, then strain it, and add of nutmeg bruised, cloves, mace, and cochineal, a quarter of an ounce each, and bottle it for use. In nervous cases, a little may be taken dropped on a bit of sugar; and in the beginning of a bowel complaint, a tea-spoonful, taken in half a glass of peppermint water, will often prove efficacious.387.Eggs in Jaundice.—The yolk of an egg, either eaten raw, or slightly boiled, is perhaps the most salutary of all the animal substances. It is a natural soap, and, in all jaundice cases no food is equal to it. When the gall is either too weak, or, by accidental means, is not permitted to flow in sufficient quantity into the duodenum, our food, which consists of watery and oily parts, cannot unite so as to become chyle. Such is the nature of the yolk of an egg, that it is capable of uniting water and oil into an uniform substance, thereby making up for the deficiency of natural bile.—Dr. A. Hunter.388.Aperient for Children.—Gingerbread made with oatmeal instead of flour, is a very useful aperient for children.389.Cramp.—Cramp in the calves of the legs is a very disagreeable complaint, to which those who have their legs confined in tight boots are subject in travelling. An effectual preventative of this pain, is to stretch out the heel of the leg as far as possible, at the same time drawing up the toes towards the body.A garter applied tightly round the limb affected will, in most cases, speedily remove this complaint. When it is more obstinate,a brick should be heated, wrapped in a flannel bag, and placed at the foot of the bed, against which the person troubled may place his feet.No remedy, however, is equal to that of diligent and long-continued friction.Cramp is apt to attack the calves of the legs and toes soon after retiring to rest. Get out of bed, and exercise the muscles vigorously.390.For Spasms.—Mix four table-spoonsful of camphor julep and twenty drops of sal-volatile, for a dose, to be repeated twice or thrice a day.391.To apply Leeches.—Make the part clean and dry, and dry the leeches in a clean cloth; if this fail, scratch the surface of the skin with a point of a lancet, and apply the leech on the spot, moistened with the blood. To apply a number of leeches, put them into a very small wine-glass, which hold over them till they are fixed. If the skin be much inflamed and heated, pour a little tepid water into the water containing the leeches, before they are taken out to be applied. If sulphur be taken internally, or applied externally, leeches will not bite; neither will they bite if the skin be covered with perspiration; or if there be tobacco smoke or vinegar-vapor in the room.All that is requisite to stop the bleeding, after the leech is taken away, is constant pressure on the spot; a piece of sponge or cotton, the size of a pin's head, is to be put upon the aperture, and kept there by cross slips of adhesive plaster spread upon linen, or the surgeon's strapping: if greater pressure be necessary, some linen may be placed between the stopper and the plaster.392.A useful embrocation for Rheumatism, Lumbago, or Strains.—Half an ounce of strongest camphorated spirit, one ounce spirits of turpentine, one raw egg, half pint best vinegar. Well mix the whole, and keep it closely corked. To be rubbed in three or four times a day. For rheumatism in the head, or face-ache, rub all over the back of the head and neck, as well as the part which is the immediate seat of pain.393.For Gout and Rheumatism.—Mix in one pound of honey one ounce of flour of sulphur, half an ounce of cream of tartar, two drachms of ginger, in powder, and half a nutmeg, grated: for rheumatism, add half a drachm of gum-guaiacum,powdered. The full dose is two tea-spoonsful at bed-time and early in the morning, in a tumbler of hot water. This is "the Chelsea Pensioners' recipe."394.Influenza.—Influenza is an Italian word, and means what we express in English by almost the same word, influence. The word as applied to this disease, originated from the belief held by our ancestors, of the influence of the stars upon human affairs. When a complaint suddenly appeared, and affected great numbers without an obvious cause, the visitation was ascribed to the stars. Whatever might have been the origin of the name, it is an appropriate one, for the Influenza certainly springs from some pervading influence. It may, for anything we can prove to the contrary, be occasioned by some subtle poison diffused throughout the atmosphere, which medical men call amiasm. Bad air, rising from marshy ground, occasions ague; and bad air arising from drains in towns, from cess-pools, and other collections of filth, gives rise to the worst kinds of fever. And it is not a matter of chance: the ague will continue in marshy countries till these are drained; and in the dirty quarters of a large town, there is sure to be typhus fever. If we cannot, in these cases, see, taste, or touch the bad air, or even smell it, we know that fens poison the air with a matter that causes ague, and animal refuse with what causes fever and many other diseases. But, the existence of a peculiar poison in the air in influenza, is very doubtful. It is likely, however, and generally believed by medical men, that influenza arises from certain states or changes in the air connected with heat and moisture. Now, though it appears in hot weather and cold, in dry and wet, it may still depend on certain conditions of the weather, just as a person will sometimes take a cough in a warm moist day, and again in a dry east wind; and just, in fact, as we see a fog, which depends on atmospheric changes, produced under different circumstances. The brisk air of the country often gives town-people a head-cold, and country people sometimes suffer in the same way when they visit town. During every season, certain people have "head-colds," coughs, and "feverish colds." These are produced by certain states of climate acting on certain states of constitution. At particular seasons such complaints abound—at others they abound still more; and again, from some singularity, they prevail so much, that people say, there is anInfluenza.In simple cases, confinement to a pure and temperate air, warm drinks, and a warm bath, or at least a warm foot-bath, with an extra blanket, and a little more rest than usual, keeping to mild food and toast and water, and taking, if necessary, a dose of aperient medicines—is all that is required. In serious cases, the domestic treatment must become professional. Mustard plasters to the back, relieve the head-ache. Squills, and other medicines, "loosen" the outstanding cough. Bark and wine, and even cold baths, are sometimes requisite for the weakness left behind. But these things can only be used with discrimination by a regular professional man.395.For the Breath.—Persons who suffer from difficulty of breathing and oppression on the chest, will find great relief from the following simple contrivance. A tea-kettle is to be kept boiling, either over a fire or over a common night-lamp or nursing-candlestick. A tin tube is to be fitted on to the spout of the tea-kettle, of such length and form as to throw the steam in front of the sick person, who will then breathe in it. This prevents the distressing sensation occasioned by inhaling the cold night air, which will be felt by persons suffering from asthma or water on the chest, and which is not obviated either by clothing or fire.396.To relieve Asthma.—Soak some blotting-paper in a strong solution of saltpetre; dry it, take a piece about the size of your hand, and on going to bed, light it, and lay it upon a plate in your bed-room. By doing so, persons, however badly afflicted with asthma, will find that they can sleep almost as well as when in health. (Many persons have experienced relief from the use of this specific.)397.Relief for Asthma—another way.—Mix two ounces of the best honey with one ounce of castor oil, and take a tea-spoonful, night and morning.398.Gargle for Sore Throat.—On twenty-five or thirty leaves of the common sage, pour a pint of boiling water; let the infusion stand half an hour. Add vinegar enough to make it moderately acid, and honey to the taste. Use it as a gargle, several times a day. This combination of the astringent and emollient principle seldom fails to produce the desired effect.399.To prevent Lamps from being pernicious to Asthmatic persons, or others liable to Complaints of the Chest.—Let a sponge, three or four inches in diameter, be moistened with pure water, and in that state be suspended by a string or wire, exactly over the flame of the lamp, at the distance of a few inches; this substance will absorb all the smoke emitted during the evening or night; after which, it should be rinsed in warm water, by which means it will be again rendered fit for use.
Rules for the preservation of Health, and simple Recipes found often efficacious in common diseases and slight injuries—Directions for preparing Remedies and ministering to the Sick and Suffering—The Toilet, or hints and suggestions for the preservation of Beauty, with some useful Recipes for those who need them.
335.Means of preserving Health.—Light and sunshine are needful for your health. Get all you can; keep your windows clean. Do not block them up with curtains, plants, or bunches of flowers: these last poison the air in small rooms.
Fresh air is needful for your health. As often as you can, open all your windows, if only for a short time, in bad weather; in fine weather, keep them open, but never sit in draughts. When you get up, open the windows wide, and throw down the bed-clothes, that they may be exposed to fresh air some hours daily before they are made up. Keep your bed-clothes clean; hang them to the fire when you can. Avoid wearing at night what you wear in the day. Hang up your day clothes at night. Except in the severest weather, in small crowded sleeping-rooms, a little opening at the top of the window-sash is very important; or, you will find one window-pane of perforated zinc very useful. You will not catch cold half so easily by breathing pure air at night. Let not the beds be directly under the windows. Sleeping in exhausted air creates a desire for stimulants.
Pure water is needful for your health. Wash your bodies as well as your faces, rubbing them all over with a coarse cloth.If you cannot wash thus every morning, pray do so once a week. Crying and cross children are often pacified by a gentle washing of their little hands and faces—it soothes them. Babies' heads should be washed carefully, every morning, with yellow soap. No scurf should be suffered to remain upon them. Get rid of all slops and dirty water at once, but do not throw them out before your doors; and never suffer dead cabbage-leaves or dirt of any kind to remain there; all these poison the air, and bring fevers. All bad smells arepoison; never rest with them. Keep your back yards clean. Pig-sties are very injurious; slaughter-houses are equally hurtful: the smells from both excite typhus fever, and cause ill health. Frederick the Great said, that one fever was more fatal to him than seven battles. Disease, and even death, is often the consequence of our own negligence. Wash your rooms and passages at least once a week; use plenty of clean water; but do not let your children stay in them while they are wet—it may bring on croup or inflammation of the chest. If you read your Bibles—which it is earnestly hoped you do—you will find how cleanliness, both as to the person and habitation, was taught to the Jews by God himself; and we read in the 4th chapter of Nehemiah, that when they were building their second temple, and defending their lives against their foes, having no time for rest, they contrived to put off their clothes for washing. It is a good old saying, thatCleanliness is next to Godliness. See Heb. x. 22.
Wholesome food is needful for your health. Buy the most strengthening. Pieces of fresh beef and mutton go the farthest. Eat plenty of fresh salt with food; it prevents disease. Pray do not let your children waste their pocket-money in tarts, cakes, sugar-plums, sour fruit, &c.; they are very unwholesome, and hurt the digestion. People would often, at twenty years of age, have a nice little sum of money to help them on in the world, if they had put in the savings-bank the money so wasted. Cocoa is cheaper and much more nourishing than tea. None of these liquids should be takenhot, but lukewarm; when hot, they inflame the stomach, and produce indigestion. All kinds of intoxicating drinks are to be avoided, or taken in the utmost moderation. If possible, abstain from them altogether. Money saved from drink, will help to educate your children, and make your homes happier.
We are all made to breathe the pure air of heaven, and therefore much illness is caused by being constantly in-doors. Thisis especially the case with mothers of families, young milliners, ironers, shoe-makers, tailors, &c. Let such persons make a point, whenever it is possible, of taking exercise in theopen airfor at least an hour and a half,daily. Time would be saved in the long-run, by the increased energy and strength gained, and by the warding off of disease.
Be sure to get your children vaccinated, between the third and sixth month after birth, before teething begins, and when they are in a good state of health for it. This would save a great many lives. On no account give your children laudanum, or any kind of sleeping medicine; numbers are killed by it.
336.Directions in severe Sickness.—Whenever any one of your family is taken violently ill, send as soon as possible for the most skilful physician—and follow, carefully, his orders. But, many times, the mother is the best physician, and the only one needed for her children, if she has been trained to take proper care of her own health, as every woman should be. The following recipes and directions may be of great service to young mothers, and those who have not been accustomed to minister to the sick.
337.To purify the Chambers of the Sick.—Close the windows and doors of the room to be purified, except one door; close also the chimney aperture, except two or three inches at the bottom, and remove all the iron and brass furniture; then put three table-spoonsful of common salt into a dish or pan, place it upon the floor of the apartment, and pour at once upon the salt a quarter of a pint of oil of vitriol; retire, and close the room for forty-eight hours, during which time vapor will continue to rise and diffuse itself completely through the room, so as to destroy the matter on which infection depends. The room may then be entered, the doors and windows thrown open, and a fire made in the grate, so that the apartment may be perfectly ventilated.
338.To prevent Infection.—As a preservative, carry with you and smell occasionally, a handkerchief sprinkled with this mixture; half an ounce of spirits of camphor, half a pint of water, and five ounces of pyroligneous acid.
Cascarilla bark is good to smoke, to prevent the effects of malaria, and in sick rooms to correct bad effluvia. It yields afine aromatic odor, and is very wholesome for sedentary and studious people to smoke, if mixed with good tobacco. The proportions for either of these purposes are as follow: one pound of Turkey tobacco, four ounces of Dutch canister tobacco, and one ounce of Cascarilla bark, broken small; mix the above, and smoke a pipe of it every evening, when the house is shut up; it is also a good digester after meals.
339.Fumigating Pastilles.—Pound and mix gum benjamin and frankincense in powder, of each two drachms; gum myrrh, storax, cascarilla bark, and nitre, of each, powdered, one ounce and a half; and charcoal powder, one ounce: moisten, and shape into pastilles with gum-water, and a very little turpentine.
The stalks of dried lavender, if burnt, have an agreeable scent, and form a substitute for pastilles; they may be cut small, and burnt in little vessels.
340.To use Chloride of Lime.—This preventive of contagion may be used as follows: stir one pound of the chloride of lime into four gallons of water; allow it to settle for a short time, pour off the clear solution, and keep it in well-corked bottles.
In houses infected, sprinkle the rooms morning and evening with the above liquid; and pour some of it into shallow dishes or basins. Sprinkle it about the room and bed-linen occasionally, and admit fresh air. Infected linen should be dipped in the mixture about five minutes, and then in common water, before it is sent to the wash.
A wine-glassful added to the water of a night-chair or bed-pan, will prevent any smell. To destroy the effluvia from drains, sewers, cesspools, &c., pour into them a quart of the mixture, with a pail of water.
Meat sprinkled with, or dipped in the mixture, and hung in the air, will not be attacked by flies, nor be tainted, for some time.
Water in cisterns may be purified, and its animalcula killed, by putting about a pint of the mixture to one hundred gallons of water.
This mixture will also destroy bugs, if the joints and crevices of bedsteads be washed with it. It will likewise remove the smell of paint in a day, if the newly painted room be sprinkled with it, and if some be placed there in dishes or saucers.
341.Disinfecting Liquid.—In a wine-bottle full of cold water dissolve two ounces of sugar of lead, and add two ounces of aqua-fortis. Shake the mixture well. A very small quantity of the liquid in its strongest form should be used for cleansing all chamber utensils. To remove offensive odors, dilute the liquid with eight or ten parts of water, moisten clean cloths thoroughly with it, and hang them in various parts of the room. The offensive gases are neutralized by chemical action. Fumigation is merely substituting one odor for another. In all practicable cases,fresh air, and plenty of it, is far the best disinfectant.
342.To prevent Abrasions of the Skin in persons confined to their beds; a very valuable recipe.—Apply occasionally to the tender parts of the body, with a feather, this mixture. Beat to a strong froth the white of an egg, then drop in gradually, while beating it, two tea-spoonfuls of spirits of wine. Bottle it for use.
343.To prevent Discolorations of the Skin after a blow or fall.—Moisten a little dry starch or arrow-root with cold water, and lay it on the injured part. It should be done immediately, so as to prevent the action of the air upon the skin; however, it may be applied with good effect some hours afterwards. It is a French receipt, and is quite valuable.
344.A recipe for Neuralgia in the Face.—Make a lotion with half a pint of rose-water and two tea-spoonfuls of white vinegar. Apply it to the part affected, three or four times a-day, using a fresh linen cloth each time. In two or three days the pain will pass away. This has been an effectual cure with many, but as the disease arises from various causes, there is no specific for it.
345.Eye Water for weak eyes.—Infuse in boiling water, till cold, half an ounce of poppy heads, and the same quantity of chamomile flowers. Strain this mixture, and add two table-spoonfuls of vinegar, and one of brandy. Apply it warm, night and morning.
346.Another.—Put into a two-ounce phial fifteen drops of laudanum, fill it with two-thirds of rose-water, and one-third of rectified spirits of Mindererus. Use it with a sponge.
347.To cure a Bruise in the Eye.—Take conserve of red roses, or a bruised apple, put them in a fold of thin cambric, apply it to the eye, and it will draw the bruise out.
348.Cold or Inflammation of the Eyes.—Mix a few bread crumbs with the white of an egg, put it in a bag of soft muslin, and apply it to the eye. It will afford relief in a few minutes, and generally a cure in a day. It is best applied at night, or when lying down. When removed, bathe the eye well with warm water, using a bit of muslin, not a sponge.
349.Carvacrol, the new remedy for the Tooth-ache.—Dr. Bushman gives (in theMedical Times) the following account of this new compound, which, though well known in Germany as a quick and effectual cure for one of the most worrying ills "that flesh is heir to," is now for the first time published in England. Carvacrol is an oily liquid, with a strong taste and unpleasant odor. It may be made by the action of iodine on oil of caraway or on camphor. A few drops applied on cotton wool (to a decayed and painful tooth) give immediate relief. Carvacrol much resembles creosote in appearance, and is used in similar cases of tooth-ache, but its effect is much more speedy and certain.
350.To cure Tooth-ache.—A remedy, often effectual, is to fill the mouth with warm water, and immediately after with cold.
351.Another cure for Tooth-ache.—Powdered alum will not only relieve the tooth-ache, but prevent the decay of the tooth.
352.Gum-boils.—A gum-boil is sometimes a primary disease, depending on an inflammation of the gums from accidental and common causes, in which case the lancet, or leaving it to nature, soon restores the gum to a healthy state; but it more generally arises from a carious tooth, in which case extraction is necessary. If there be any constitutional disturbance about the face, leeches and purgatives, and the usual means for subduing inflammation may be resorted to.
353.Diseases of the Ear.—Sometimes ear-ache is connected with chronic ulceration in the internal and external part of theear—when injections of warm water and soap are advisable. In this case, there is sometimes a constant fœtid discharge—for which the following mixture has been recommended:—Mix three drachms of ox-gall and one drachm of balsam of Peru. Put a drop on a little cotton in the ear.
354.Temporary Deafness.—If the ear be inflamed, inject water into it with a syringe, as warm as the patient can bear it, and foment the part with the decoction of poppy-heads and chamomile flowers. Should this not relieve the pain, a drop of oil of cloves with a little oil of almonds should be dropped into the ear, and cotton wool put into it. If the ear discharge much, inject warm water with Castile soap into it.
355.For a Pain in the Ear.—Oil of sweet almonds, two drachms, and oil of amber, four drops. Apply four drops of this mixture, when in pain, to the part affected.
356.Another cure for the Ear-ache.—Dip a little cotton into a mixture of oil of sweet almonds and laudanum, and put it into the ear; or, apply a small poultice, in which is put a raw chopped clove of garlic; or, roast a small onion, and put as much of the inside into the ear as you conveniently can.
357.To kill Earwigs, or other Insects, which may accidentally have crept into the Ear.—Let the person under this distressing circumstance lay his head upon a table, the side upwards that is afflicted; at the same time, let some friend carefully drop into the ear a little sweet oil or oil of almonds. A drop or two will be sufficient, which will instantly destroy the insect and remove the pain, however violent.
358.Bleeding at the Nose.—In obstinate cases, blow a little gum Arabic powder up the nostrils through a quill, which will immediately stop the discharge.
359.Another cure for Bleeding at the Nose.—Elevating the patient's armwill often have the desired effect. The explanation is based upon physiological grounds: the greater force required to propel the blood through the vessels of the arm, when elevated, causes the pressure upon the vessels of the head to be diminished, by the increased action which takes place in thecourse of the brachial arteries. If the theory be sound, both arms should be elevated.
360.To destroy Corns and Warts.—Put into an earthen pipkin a quarter of a pint of linseed oil, to which add one ounce of resin and a little litharge. Warm them together; spread them upon leather, and apply them to corns or warts.
361.To destroy Warts.—Dissolve as much common washing soda as the water will take up; wash the warts with this for a minute or two, and let them dry without wiping. Keep the water in a bottle, and repeat the washing often. It will remove the largest warts.
Caustic is an effectual though troublesome application. The juice of the common annual spurge plant is as efficacious a remedy; as is the bark of the willow tree, burnt to ashes, mixed with vinegar, and applied to the warts. The juice of the marigold is another remedy.
362.A certain cure for Warts.—Steep in vinegar the inner rind of a lemon for twenty-four hours, and apply it to the wart. The lemon must not remain on more than three hours, and should be applied fresh every day. To apply acetic acid with a camel's hair-brush, is still better.
363.Corns on the Feet.—These are usually made by wearing shoes over-tight; but, walking on pavement in very thin shoes will cause corns and bunions, because of bruising the feet on the hard stones.
364.To prevent Corns from growing on the Feet.—Easy shoes; frequently bathing the feet in lukewarm water, with a little salt or potashes dissolved in it.
365.Sir H. Davy's Corn Solvent.—Potash, two parts; salts of sorrel, one part; each in fine powder. Mix, and lay a small quantity on the corn for four or five successive nights, binding it on with a rag.
366.To cure Corns.—An effectual remedy.—The cause of corns, and likewise the torture they occasion, is simply friction; and to lessen the friction, you have only to use your toe as you do in like circumstances a coach wheel—lubricate it with someoily substance. The best and cleanest thing to use, is a little sweet oil rubbed on the affected part (after the corn is carefully pared) with the tip of the finger, which should be done on getting up in the morning, and just before stepping into bed at night. In a few days the pain will diminish, and in a few days more it will cease, when the nightly application may be discontinued.
367.Another cure for Corns.—Place the feet for half an hour for two or three nights successively, in a pretty strong solution of common soda. The alkali dissolves the indurated cuticle, and the corn falls out spontaneously, leaving a small excavation, which soon fills up. This is an almost certain remedy.
368.To cure soft Corns.—Dip a soft linen rag in turpentine, and place it over the corn night and morning. In a few days the corn will disappear. A little sweet oil rubbed on them is often of great service. Or, a small piece of cotton placed between the toes is sometimes efficacious; or, the juice or pulp of a lemon.
369.To cure Bunions in their commencement.—Bind the joint tightly, either with broad tape or adhesive plaster. The strip should be kept on as long as the least uneasiness is felt. It should wrap quite round the foot.
370.Lotion for Chilblains.—Mix distilled vinegar and spirit of mindererus, of each four ounces, with half an ounce of borax.
In common cases of chilblains, apply pieces of soft linen, moistened with spirits of camphor, soap liniment, camphor liniment, &c. When the swellings break, apply emollient ointments for a few days. Equal quantities of sweet oil, lime water, and spirits of wine, are also an excellent remedy for chilblains.
371.Simple remedy for Chilblains.—Soak them in warm bran and water, then rub them well with mustard-seed flour; but it will be better if they are done before they break.
372.Another remedy.—Cut an onion in thick slices, and with these rub the chilblains thoroughly, on two or three nights, before a good fire, and they will soon disappear.
373.Sir A. Cooper's Chilblain Liniment.—One ounce of camphorated spirit of wine, half an ounce of liquid subacetate of lead; mix, and apply in the usual way three or four times a day. Some persons use vinegar as a preventive; its efficacy might be increased, by the addition to the vinegar of one-fourth of its quantity of camphorated spirit.
374.Note.—Those who are most liable to chilblains, should, on the approach of winter, cover the parts most subject to be affected, with woollen gloves or stockings, and not expose the hands or feet too much to wet and cold.
375.To stop violent Bleeding from a Cut.—Make a paste, by mixing fine flour with vinegar, and lay it on the cut.
376.An excellent Styptic.—The outside woof of silk-worms has been tried with great success by several people, more especially by a lady, who, in mending a pen, cut her thumb to the bone, and through part of the nail; it bled profusely; but, by trying this styptic, and binding up the wound, the hemorrhage stopped, and the wound healed in three days.
377.A new and useful Styptic.—Take brandy, or common spirit, two ounces; Castile soap, two drachms; potash, one drachm; scrape the soap fine, and dissolve it in the brandy; then add the potash, and mix it well together, and keep it close stopped from the air in a phial. When you apply it, warm it in a vessel, or dip pledges of lint into it, and the blood will immediately congeal. It operates by coagulating the blood, both a considerable way within the vessels, as well as the extravasated blood without, and restraining, at the same time, the mouths of the vessels.
It forms a valuable embrocation, in cases of tumors or swellings from bruises, by being frequently rubbed on the part. It is also used in a similar manner for rheumatic pains.
378.To prevent Wounds from mortifying.—Sprinkle sugar on them. The Turks wash fresh wounds with wine, and sprinkle sugar on them. Obstinate ulcers may be cured with sugar dissolved in a strong decoction of walnut leaves.
379.To cure Ring-worms.—Dissolve borax in water, and apply it at first, it will produce a burning sensation and redness;it should then be discontinued for a few days, and being resumed, the ring-worm will soon disappear.
To sponge the head daily with vinegar and water, in the proportion of half a pint of vinegar to a pint and a half of water, will prevent or cure ring-worms.
380.Another cure for Ring-worms.—To one part of sulphuric acid, add about twenty parts of water. Use a brush or feather, and apply it to the part, night and morning. A very few dressings will generally cure. If the solution is too strong, dilute it with more water; and if the irritation is excessive, rub a little oil or other softening applicant; but avoid soap.
While the patches are in an inflamed and irritable condition, it is necessary to limit the local applications to regular washing or sponging with warm water, or some softening fomentation.
381.Cure for Erysipelas.—A simple poultice made of cranberries, pounded fine, and applied in a raw state, has proved a certain remedy.
382.Remedy for fainting.—First place the patient in the horizontal posture, throw cold water over the face, and bathe the hands with vinegar and water; loosen the dress, and admit a free current of fresh, cool air. Pungent salts, ether, oreau de Cologne, should be held occasionally to the nose, and the temples should be rubbed with either of the two latter. When the patient has partly recovered, a small quantity of wine, cold water, or ten or twenty drops of sal-volatile or ether, in water, should be given.
383.Remedy for Fits.—If a person fall in a fit, let him remain on the ground, provided his face be pale; for should it be fainting or temporary suspension of the heart's action, you may cause death by raising him upright, or by bleeding; but if the face be red or dark-colored, raise him on his seat, throw cold water on his head immediately; cold water is the best restorative.
384.German method of preventing Hysterics.—Caraway seeds, finely pounded, with a small proportion of ginger and salt, spread upon bread and butter, and eaten every day, especiallyearly in the morning, and at night, before going to bed, are successfully used in Germany, as a domestic remedy against hysterics.
385.Stomachic Mixture.—Camphor julep, one ounce; sweet spirit of nitre, half an ounce; compound tincture of cardamoms, spirit of anise-seed, of each five drachms; oil of caraway, twelve drops; syrup of ginger, two drachms; peppermint-water, two drachms. Mix. A table-spoonful occasionally in flatulency and dyspepsia.
386.Red lavender drops for Nervous Attacks.—Fill a quart bottle with the blossoms of lavender, and pour on it as much brandy as it will contain; let it stand ten days, then strain it, and add of nutmeg bruised, cloves, mace, and cochineal, a quarter of an ounce each, and bottle it for use. In nervous cases, a little may be taken dropped on a bit of sugar; and in the beginning of a bowel complaint, a tea-spoonful, taken in half a glass of peppermint water, will often prove efficacious.
387.Eggs in Jaundice.—The yolk of an egg, either eaten raw, or slightly boiled, is perhaps the most salutary of all the animal substances. It is a natural soap, and, in all jaundice cases no food is equal to it. When the gall is either too weak, or, by accidental means, is not permitted to flow in sufficient quantity into the duodenum, our food, which consists of watery and oily parts, cannot unite so as to become chyle. Such is the nature of the yolk of an egg, that it is capable of uniting water and oil into an uniform substance, thereby making up for the deficiency of natural bile.—Dr. A. Hunter.
388.Aperient for Children.—Gingerbread made with oatmeal instead of flour, is a very useful aperient for children.
389.Cramp.—Cramp in the calves of the legs is a very disagreeable complaint, to which those who have their legs confined in tight boots are subject in travelling. An effectual preventative of this pain, is to stretch out the heel of the leg as far as possible, at the same time drawing up the toes towards the body.
A garter applied tightly round the limb affected will, in most cases, speedily remove this complaint. When it is more obstinate,a brick should be heated, wrapped in a flannel bag, and placed at the foot of the bed, against which the person troubled may place his feet.No remedy, however, is equal to that of diligent and long-continued friction.
Cramp is apt to attack the calves of the legs and toes soon after retiring to rest. Get out of bed, and exercise the muscles vigorously.
390.For Spasms.—Mix four table-spoonsful of camphor julep and twenty drops of sal-volatile, for a dose, to be repeated twice or thrice a day.
391.To apply Leeches.—Make the part clean and dry, and dry the leeches in a clean cloth; if this fail, scratch the surface of the skin with a point of a lancet, and apply the leech on the spot, moistened with the blood. To apply a number of leeches, put them into a very small wine-glass, which hold over them till they are fixed. If the skin be much inflamed and heated, pour a little tepid water into the water containing the leeches, before they are taken out to be applied. If sulphur be taken internally, or applied externally, leeches will not bite; neither will they bite if the skin be covered with perspiration; or if there be tobacco smoke or vinegar-vapor in the room.
All that is requisite to stop the bleeding, after the leech is taken away, is constant pressure on the spot; a piece of sponge or cotton, the size of a pin's head, is to be put upon the aperture, and kept there by cross slips of adhesive plaster spread upon linen, or the surgeon's strapping: if greater pressure be necessary, some linen may be placed between the stopper and the plaster.
392.A useful embrocation for Rheumatism, Lumbago, or Strains.—Half an ounce of strongest camphorated spirit, one ounce spirits of turpentine, one raw egg, half pint best vinegar. Well mix the whole, and keep it closely corked. To be rubbed in three or four times a day. For rheumatism in the head, or face-ache, rub all over the back of the head and neck, as well as the part which is the immediate seat of pain.
393.For Gout and Rheumatism.—Mix in one pound of honey one ounce of flour of sulphur, half an ounce of cream of tartar, two drachms of ginger, in powder, and half a nutmeg, grated: for rheumatism, add half a drachm of gum-guaiacum,powdered. The full dose is two tea-spoonsful at bed-time and early in the morning, in a tumbler of hot water. This is "the Chelsea Pensioners' recipe."
394.Influenza.—Influenza is an Italian word, and means what we express in English by almost the same word, influence. The word as applied to this disease, originated from the belief held by our ancestors, of the influence of the stars upon human affairs. When a complaint suddenly appeared, and affected great numbers without an obvious cause, the visitation was ascribed to the stars. Whatever might have been the origin of the name, it is an appropriate one, for the Influenza certainly springs from some pervading influence. It may, for anything we can prove to the contrary, be occasioned by some subtle poison diffused throughout the atmosphere, which medical men call amiasm. Bad air, rising from marshy ground, occasions ague; and bad air arising from drains in towns, from cess-pools, and other collections of filth, gives rise to the worst kinds of fever. And it is not a matter of chance: the ague will continue in marshy countries till these are drained; and in the dirty quarters of a large town, there is sure to be typhus fever. If we cannot, in these cases, see, taste, or touch the bad air, or even smell it, we know that fens poison the air with a matter that causes ague, and animal refuse with what causes fever and many other diseases. But, the existence of a peculiar poison in the air in influenza, is very doubtful. It is likely, however, and generally believed by medical men, that influenza arises from certain states or changes in the air connected with heat and moisture. Now, though it appears in hot weather and cold, in dry and wet, it may still depend on certain conditions of the weather, just as a person will sometimes take a cough in a warm moist day, and again in a dry east wind; and just, in fact, as we see a fog, which depends on atmospheric changes, produced under different circumstances. The brisk air of the country often gives town-people a head-cold, and country people sometimes suffer in the same way when they visit town. During every season, certain people have "head-colds," coughs, and "feverish colds." These are produced by certain states of climate acting on certain states of constitution. At particular seasons such complaints abound—at others they abound still more; and again, from some singularity, they prevail so much, that people say, there is anInfluenza.
In simple cases, confinement to a pure and temperate air, warm drinks, and a warm bath, or at least a warm foot-bath, with an extra blanket, and a little more rest than usual, keeping to mild food and toast and water, and taking, if necessary, a dose of aperient medicines—is all that is required. In serious cases, the domestic treatment must become professional. Mustard plasters to the back, relieve the head-ache. Squills, and other medicines, "loosen" the outstanding cough. Bark and wine, and even cold baths, are sometimes requisite for the weakness left behind. But these things can only be used with discrimination by a regular professional man.
395.For the Breath.—Persons who suffer from difficulty of breathing and oppression on the chest, will find great relief from the following simple contrivance. A tea-kettle is to be kept boiling, either over a fire or over a common night-lamp or nursing-candlestick. A tin tube is to be fitted on to the spout of the tea-kettle, of such length and form as to throw the steam in front of the sick person, who will then breathe in it. This prevents the distressing sensation occasioned by inhaling the cold night air, which will be felt by persons suffering from asthma or water on the chest, and which is not obviated either by clothing or fire.
396.To relieve Asthma.—Soak some blotting-paper in a strong solution of saltpetre; dry it, take a piece about the size of your hand, and on going to bed, light it, and lay it upon a plate in your bed-room. By doing so, persons, however badly afflicted with asthma, will find that they can sleep almost as well as when in health. (Many persons have experienced relief from the use of this specific.)
397.Relief for Asthma—another way.—Mix two ounces of the best honey with one ounce of castor oil, and take a tea-spoonful, night and morning.
398.Gargle for Sore Throat.—On twenty-five or thirty leaves of the common sage, pour a pint of boiling water; let the infusion stand half an hour. Add vinegar enough to make it moderately acid, and honey to the taste. Use it as a gargle, several times a day. This combination of the astringent and emollient principle seldom fails to produce the desired effect.
399.To prevent Lamps from being pernicious to Asthmatic persons, or others liable to Complaints of the Chest.—Let a sponge, three or four inches in diameter, be moistened with pure water, and in that state be suspended by a string or wire, exactly over the flame of the lamp, at the distance of a few inches; this substance will absorb all the smoke emitted during the evening or night; after which, it should be rinsed in warm water, by which means it will be again rendered fit for use.