Page:Australian enquiry book of household and general information.djvu/165

 the pain, and is not injurious if not used too cold. The blisters should never be opened or cut; if left the water under them will absorb, and leave little or no scar; if broken they will be sore. Lime water and sweet oil well beaten to a cream is a splendid cure. Spread the cream thickly on a piece of wadding (cotton wool) and bind round the part affected.

A Black Eye or Bruise.—Wring out a flannel in water as hot as possible and apply it to the part affected and the bruised blood will dissolve away. Hot water should be used for bruises too. Or, rub gently with salid oil for ten minutes and then with spirits of turpentine.

Blows and Bruises.—Fresh butter is one of the very best ointments to apply to a severe blow to prevent discolouration. It must be applied directly, or as soon as possible. Vaseline is also good, but not equal to fresh unsalted butter. In some instances, when put on at once, the bruise does not turn colour in the very least, and at the end of an hour or two there will be no trace of the injury.

How to Brush the Teeth.—Most people brush across the teeth from right to left, but this manner of brushing will not dislodge the accumulations from between them. The brush should be placed against the teeth at the gums and then rotated towards the masticating surfaces of the double teeth, and the mouth should be rinsed with tepid water. Lime water is excellent for rinsing the teeth, and for those who suffer with acidity soda and water is best. Common salt is one of the best tooth powders one can use.

Sarsaparilla.—A good blood mixture.—Take four or five ounces of the root, slice it down and put into four parts of water, simmer for four hours. Take out the roots and beat them or pound them to a mash, put them into the liquor again and another pint of water and boil it down to two pints. When cool strain and bottle for use. The dose is a wineglassful three times a day.

Cure for Chilblains.—Tincture of iodine two drachms, chlorinated solution of soda six dachms. Paint on with a small brush two or three times a day, drying in before the fire.

Another.—Get from the chemist three penny worth of spirits of camphor, and the same of acitate of lead. Mix together and paint the affected parts three or four times a day.

To Remove Surplus Hairs from the Face or Body.—Take as much sulphide of sodium (crystalised) as will lie on a three penny piece, one teaspoonful of powdered quick lime, one teaspoonful of starch. Mix while dry and then make into a paste with water. Apply to the parts and scrape off after two or three minutes with a blunt knife or razor. For delicate skins two minutes is quite long enough to leave the paste on.

Cure for Sleeplessness.—A wellknown medical authority advises those troubled with wakefulness to try hot water. I had reason to test his advice lately and with most satisfactory results. After drinking or sipping a glass of hot, not warm, water, I fell into the most peaceful and restful sleep. The water can be heated over the gas or a kerosene lamp, it need not boil only just become quite hot.

Another cure.—To people troubled with insomnia a cold bandage across the eyes and temples will nearly always afford relief and induce sleep.

Another cure.—A hop pillow will often produce sleep when young children suffer. A wet bandage round the wrist, over the pulse, often has the desired effect. If wakefulness comes from over study, or brain work, a cold bandage on the back of the head at the base of the skull, will have a soothing effect. One of the most disagreeable remedies is a fresh bruised onion tied round the neck.

To Cure a .—Some people despise what they call old women's cures and medicines, though in many instances they have saved lives where medical skill has failed. I do not know that the remedy I am about to