Page:Australian enquiry book of household and general information.djvu/168

 gold or silver ornaments from the person, or the sulphur in the soap will turn them black.

Tender Feet—Those people whose feet become blistered, chafed, or sore from long walking, or from being constantly upon them, can do away with the discomfort and pain by sifting into their stockings or shoes a powder made from powdered soapstone; or they can make a compound of soapstone with a little salicylic acid and a little starch, and use it in the same way. This is what is used by the soldiers of the German army. It is most efficacious in its healing powers.

Another very good application for tender feet is a powder made of subnitrate bismuth one teaspoonful, the same of powdered starch, two teaspoonsful of eucalyptus powder. Bathe the feet nightly in salt water, adding a little alum.

Another.—When the feet are tender and tired from long standing and walking, relief may be obtained by bathing them in warm salt and water,—a large handful of salt to a gallon of water as hot as can be borne. When the water becomes cool, dry them on a rough towel, always rubbing upwards. Neuralgia of the feet has been cured by this treatment night and morning.

To Take Away Warts.—If on the hands soak well in hot water till the warts have become quite soft and open, then apply aqua ammonia, strong enough to cause it to smart a little. Repeat daily till the warts disappear, which they should in about one week.

Another.—Take one drachm and a half of magnesia daily (internally).

Another.—Dissolve as much washing soda as the water will take up. Wash the warts with the solution for a minute or two, and let them dry without wiping. Repeat three or four times a day. Cactus juice applied frequently is also a cure.

Corns.—A poultice of bread and vinegar may be put on at bedtime and left all night. For an obstinate corn bind a small piece of raw potato on it over night, and next morning cut away what is soft. Repeat for three or four nights, or till all the corn is removed. Care must be taken not to make it bleed, or a very painful sore may be the result.

Bunions.—These very painful enlargements are caused by pressure on the parts, and until that is removed no treatment will avail. In some cases there is a predisposition to bunions, and in such cases the least tightness in the boot or shoe across the ball of the toe will cause swelling and painful inflammation. A few leeches applied will reduce it, and when the inflammation has been subdued the toe should be well fomented with a camomile poultice, and rubbed with mercurial ointment and camphor, in the proportion of one ounce of the ointment to two drachms of the camphor. Where the bunion is long standing, the parts should be softened with hot fomentations, and then rub on lunar caustic. As soon as one skin peels off apply more caustic, and so on, several times; but from the very first the pressure must be removed. This can be done by wearing a small adhesive plaster spread on the thickest buckskin, with a hole cut out large enough to admit the bunion to pass through. Those who suffer from chronic bunions should have their boots and shoes made with special respect to the enlargements; then the feet do not look unsightly.

Cure for Mild Typhoid.—Take eight to ten drops of rectified spirits of turpentine in a little water every second night. Rectified spirits of turpentine for children between the ages of three and twelve years, four to eight drops, in half a teaspoonful of sugar; above twelve years, eight to ten drops. If a child shows decided symptoms of the disease, repeat the dose four or five times a day, and give no solids or meat in any form whatever.

Stammering.—In children this can often be cured entirely, but it requires great patience and perseverance on the part of the parent or teacher. Begin by making the child whisper