Part 80

Burns or Scalds, Grated Onions for.--"Grate onions and mix two parts pulp with one part salt; apply twice or three times a day, changing as soon as onions are wilted." The onions are very soothing and keep the air from the affected parts.

Burns, an Easily Prepared Remedy for.--"Spread pure lard, or any unsalted grease over burned surface: cover thickly with flour and wrap with soft cloth after pain has ceased. Remove the flour and spread again with lard or vaselin. Sprinkle over with boracic acid powder and wrap up." This is an old tried remedy and one we all know to be good. The grease helps to lessen the smarting, while the boracic acid is a good antiseptic and keeps the air out.

Bunions, Pulverized Salt Petre for.--"Five cents worth of pulverized saltpeter put into a bottle with sufficient olive oil to nearly dissolve it. Shake well and apply to parts night and morning."

Blisters from Burns or Scalds, White of Egg for.--"Apply immediately the white of an egg. Keep the part from being exposed as much as possible to the air." White of egg is soothing and forms a coating while blistered part is healing, also protects it from air.

Bites from Insects, Simple Remedies for.--"Tolerably strong solution carbolic acid and water. An onion cut in two and rubbed on will also do." Carbolic acid is an antiseptic; onion is soothing and helps to draw out poison by acting as a poultice.

Catarrh, Burnt Alum for.--"Burn alum and power finely or buy prepared burnt alum at the drug store and use as a snuff eight or ten times daily. Ten cents' worth will last a long time. My mother used this remedy and believes that she has cured her catarrh entirely with it." Alum is an antiseptic, is cleansing, as well as an astringent remedy.

Catarrh, Bad Case Cured by the following: "Inhale fumes of iodine crystals. This was given me by a friend, who claimed it cured a bad case of catarrh." Use moderately.

[UNCLASSIFIED MOTHERS' REMEDIES 675]

Catarrh, Borax and Camphor for.--"Inhale three times daily equal parts of borax, camphor and salt." These ingredients should be powdered very finely and a pinch of the powder snuffed carefully several times a day. This is a very simple but effective remedy.

Catarrh, Pure Lard for.--"Take a bit of pure lard size of a pea and draw it up each nostril every evening. It will require about a year of constant use." The grease helps to keep the affected parts moist and relieves any congestion present. Anyone suffering with this disease should make it a point to use grease in some form every night. It gives great relief.

Cancer, Yellow Dock Root for.--Scrape narrow leaf yellow dock roots and steep in cream to make a salve and apply externally. Add a little alcohol if you wish to keep it for sometime."

Colds.--

"Dover's Powders 20 grains Capsicum 15 grains Camphor 10 grains Quinine 25 grains"

Mix. Make up into about 20 capsules or powders. Take one every 2 or 3 hours. This is recommended as a sure cure for colds. Keep bowels open with small doses of salts or oil.

Coughs and Colds, Mullein Remedy.--"Steep Mullein leaves in fresh milk. Drink of it just before going to bed. This makes a soothing drink."

Cough Syrup, an Easily Prepared Remedy for.--

"Fluid Wild Cherry Bark 1/2 ounce Compound Essence Cordial 1 ounce White Pine Compound 3 ounces"

Dose: Take twenty drops every half hour for four hours and then from one-half to one teaspoonful three or four times a day, children less according to age.

Constipation, Bran as a Cure for.--"Take each night two dessertspoonfuls of bran. Take a spoonful at a time and chew it slowly and thoroughly and swallow." This simple remedy has been known to cure cases of long standing if kept up faithfully for a while.

Constipation, an Old Tried Remedy for.--"One ounce of cream of tartar and two ounces of salts; pour quart of boiling water over mixture and stir till dissolved; drain off and take a wineglassful every morning." The cream of tartar is a good blood purifier and the salts carry off all impurities in the system and in that way relieve the constipation.

Constipation, an Effective Remedy for.--"Chop fine a half-pound seeded raisins and one ounce of senna leaves together; mix with a half ounce powdered sulphur in air-tight jar. Chew a piece the size of a walnut every night."

Constipation, Baby, Juice from Prunes for.--"Give baby a teaspoonful of juice from cooked dried prunes whenever a laxative is needed." This remedy will be found useful, not only for infants, but older children as well. When old enough let them eat the pulp as well as the juice.

[676 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

Cramps, Turpentine for.--"A cloth dipped in turpentine and applied will relieve cramps in the limbs," Any one suffering with this difficulty will find the above treatment very beneficial.

Croup, Quick Cure for.--"A quantity of raw linseed oil should always be at hand in a family where the children are subject to croup. It is an unfailing remedy, and for quick results it beats anything else which can be given for that dread disease. Half a teaspoonful is a dose, unless the child is choking very badly; then give a teaspoonful. It acts two ways. In the first stage of croup, where there is not much mucus, it is loosened and carried off through the bowels. In the second stage it causes vomiting, but, unlike ipecac, it leaves no soreness of the throat as an after difficulty. It is rarely necessary to give more than one dose, when the child will get relief and go to sleep again. This simple remedy is one that is within the reach of every mother, and one that can be kept on hand at all times; and, while it is in the house the dreaded croup need cause no terrors."

Croup, Salt Water for.--"A handful of salt in a basin of cold water. Wring towel out of this solution and apply over the throat. Cover with warm flannel, keep patient warm." This simple but effective remedy has been known to give relief many times and has been thoroughly tried by a great many mothers.

Chapped Hands, an Inexpensive Remedy for.--"One-fourth ounce gum tragacanth, one-fourth ounce boracic acid, one ounce glycerin, one and one-half ounce alcohol, five cents' worth best white rose perfume. Soak gum in pint of rain water for thirty-six hours; let warm slowly until heated. Remove from the stove, strain through a cheese cloth, add the other ingredients, stir well and bottle."

Cholera Infantum, Chickweed For.--"Chickweed boiled and sweetened in milk. This cured my daughter when an infant. This recipe has been used by me and my mother and proved effectual." The above remedy is an inexpensive one and easily prepared. It will be found excellent for this trouble.

Dog Bite, Home Treatment for.--"Apply common salt." Salt eats and draws poison out. Use it freely.

Drunkenness, Chocolate for.--"Give patient all the chocolate he can or will eat. This cured one man I know."

Diphtheria, a Marine City Mother Gives the Following Cure For.--"One-fourth pound loaf sugar, one-fourth pound gum kino, one-fourth ounce alum; put in a covered porcelain dish on stove in a quart of soft water. Simmer down to one pint, gargle the throat every fifteen minutes, or for small children use a swab. Bandage the throat with onion poultices; this recipe has relieved when used as directed; was used by my mother and proved effectual."

[UNCLASSIFIED MOTHERS' REMEDIES 677]

Dropsy, Chestnut Leaves for.--"A tea made of chestnut leaves taken freely instead of water." These leaves can be purchased at any drug store in five-cent packages. Prepare the same as ordinary tea, only stronger.

Eczema, Lard and Sulphur for.--"Melt lard and sulphur. When cool add a little alcohol to keep sweet." This combination is very soothing to the parts affected.

Eczema, Gasoline for.--"Bathe the affected parts in gasoline; be careful not to use the liquid where there is fire or lamps."

Erysipelas, Antiseptic Wash for.--

"Hyposulphite of Soda 8 ounces Carbolic Acid (200 drops) 3-1/3 drams Soft Water 1 pint"

The above wash has very strong recommendations as a local application. It was secured from a family that had used it at different times for twenty years. The family seemed to be susceptible to erysipelas and this medicine had been used for three generations, grandfather, son and grandson. In fact, it was the only remedy that helped their case, although many others had been tried. The entire prescription would cost about fifteen cents.

Fishbone, Choking from.--"Raw egg, taken soon as possible." It helps to carry bone out of throat and is a remedy ready at hand.

Goitre, a Good Remedy for.--

"Iodine 1 dram Iodide of Potassium 4 drams Soft Water 4 ounces

Apply night and morning. Rub on with feather or soft brush all around, as well as immediately on the lump." This is a counterirritant and often used for goitre.

Goitre, Iodine for.--"Blister with iodine. Heal with sweet cream, paint and blister again. This wore my sister's goitre away. It took time but was worth it." It should produce redness instead of a blister.

Headache, Lemon Juice and Coffee for.--"A teaspoonful of lemon juice in a small cup of black coffee will relieve." This is an old tried remedy and one that will be found beneficial.

Inflammatory Rheumatism, Salt Petre and Sweet Oil for.--"One ounce salt petre pulverized, one pint sweet oil. Rub parts affected."

Ingrowing Toenail, Home Treatment for.--"Cut a notch in the top of the nail with a penknife, scrape the nail from base to top."

Ingrowing Toenail, a Good Canadian Remedy for.--"Paint part under flesh with four parts caustic potash, six parts warm water. Paint part and scrape with piece of glass or sharp knife. Repeat till thin enough to break off." The caustic potash makes parts soft.

[678 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

Ingrowing Toenail, Camphor for.--"Cut part growing in with sharp knife and put camphor on intruding part. This eases the pain and prevents second growth."

Indigestion, Egg Shells for.--"Brown egg shells in oven and crush till very fine with a rolling pin, then take a teaspoonful at meal times three times a day."

Inflammation of the Bowels, a Grandmother's Remedy for.--"Raw linseed oil and bean poultice. Use as hot as can be borne; keep repeating until relieved. This recipe has been used by my mother."

Kidney Trouble, an Easily Prepared Remedy for.--"Steep plantain leaves into strong tea. Take half cup every night. This has been found good for kidney trouble." Also good for ivy poisoning, burns, scalds, bruises, and to check bleeding; pound leaves to a paste and apply to parts.

La Grippe, Red Pepper Treatment from a Canadian Mother for.--"Take a bottle of alcohol, put enough red pepper in it so that when four drops are put in a half cup of water it is strong. This is what I always break up my grippe with." Peppers thus prepared stimulate and warm up the stomach and bowels and increase the circulation.

Rheumatism, Liniment Sent Us from Gentleman in Canada (says he paid $7.00 for it).--

"Capsicum Powdered 1 ounce Camphor 1/2 ounce Oil Hemlock 1/2 ounce Spirits Ammonia 1/2 ounce Chloroform 1/2 ounce Oil Turpentine 1/2 ounce Oil Wormwood 1 dram Potassium Nitrate 1 dram Add Alcohol to make 12 ounces

Good Liniment.--"Sweet oil, turpentine, hartshorn, equal parts. Keep corked."

Liniment, Sprains, Etc.--English Black Oil.

"Tanner's Oil 1 pint Oil Vitriol 1 ounce Spirits of Turpentine 1 ounce Beef 's Gall, contents of 1 gall

Put oil vitriol in tanner's oil, let stand twelve hours and not cork tightly, then add balance."

Lumbago, Ointment for.--

Vaselin 1 ounce Belladonna 15 grains Salicylic Acid 1 dram Sodium Salicylate 1 dram

Apply. Also good to rub on bunions."

[UNCLASSIFIED MOTHERS' REMEDIES 679]

Neuralgia, Soothing Ointment for.--"One ounce of laudanum, baking soda to make paste." Apply to parts and cover with flannel." Its virtue is in its soothing and quieting action.

Pain or Rheumatism, Tansy and Smartweed for.--"Boil handful each of tansy and smartweed together till strong tea is made. Dip cloths in the hot tea and apply." Good local and quieting application.

Pain, Horseradish Poultice for.--"Grate and make poultice. Apply to part where pain is." Makes a good drawing poultice and a counterirritant.

Pains, Liniment to Relieve.--

"Peppermint 1 ounce Oil of Mustard 1/2 ounce Vinegar 1 pint White of one egg.

Beat egg and stir all together."

Pain, Vinegar and Pepper for.--"Hot flannel cloths wrung from vinegar, to which a pinch of cayenne pepper has been added, applied hot to any part of the body, will relieve pain." This is very good. This remedy is always at hand and can be prepared quickly. It will most always give relief.

Palpitation of the Heart, Salt Baths for.--"Stop drinking tea and coffee. Add sea salt to water when bathing. This cured me and I have not been bothered for four or five years." Good when palpitation is due to nervousness.

Piles.-

"Extract Belladonna 15 grain Acetate Lead 1/2 dram Gum Camphor 1 dram Gallic Acid 15 grains Acetanilid 20 grains Vaselin 1 ounce Mix.

In protruding, itching and blind piles this ointment will give almost instant relief; if kept up several days it will promote a cure."

Poison Ivy, Buttermilk and Salt Heals.--"Add considerable salt to buttermilk and bathe poisoned parts in it frequently."

Poison Ivy, Lead Water and Laudanum Relieves.--"Application of cold lead water, made in proportions of two drams of sugar of lead, half an ounce of landanum to half a pint of water and applied by means of cloths. The patient should eat a cooling, light diet and use a good saline cathartic, such as rochelle salts, etc."

Poison Ivy, Excellent Cure for.--"Copperas mixed with sour milk; put in all the copperas the milk will dissolve. I knew of a very bad case to be cured by this after a few applications. Care should be taken not to let it get on the clothing, as it burns badly."

[680 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

Poisonous Wounds, Ammonia Application for.--"Strong spirits of ammonia applied to the wounds of snake bite or rabid animals is better than caustic. It neutralizes the poison and is an excellent remedy."

Oak Poison, Gunpowder and Lard for.--"Mix small quantity of gunpowder and lard and apply. One application cured me." This is an old, tried, standard remedy.

Milk Poison, Popular Remedy for.--

Yellow Poplar Bark 4 ounces Wild Gooseberry Roots 4 ounces Slippery Elm Bark 4 ounces

Put in an earthern vessel with two quarts of water; put over a slow fire and simmer to one pint, then strain and add it to one gallon of the best rye whisky and give one wineglassful for the first dose, and thereafter give two tablespoonfuls every two hours. Move the bowels by pink and senna tea. Poultice the bottom of the feet with blue flag swamp root mashed fine to the consistency of a poultice. For the vomiting associated with the disease give one teaspoonful wild deer horn in a little water obtained by filing or grinding the horn of a wild deer. As this is not always to be obtained, a tablespoonful of pulverized chalk is good, or a little cold tea may be given. This recipe has been known to save many persons' lives, when the doctors had given up in despair. When the patient becomes sufficiently improved to warrant it, the dose may be decreased, but it should be taken quite a long time to kill the poison or counteract the poison in the system."

Poor Circulation, Alcohol Rub for.--"Rub vigorously night and morning with good whisky. Don't stop for a week or so after patient looks and feels well." Rubbing with alcohol would probably be preferred.

Ruptures, Herb Remedy for.--"Make a poultice of lobelia and stramonium leaves, equal parts, and apply to part, renewing as often as necessary." This poultice acts by relaxing the muscles, but in severe cases no application will do any good and the doctor should be consulted.

Rheumatism, Mountain Leaf Tea for.--"Tea made of mountain leaf taken frequently cures rheumatism." Rheumatism, Beef Gall for.--"Two beef galls in pint bottle, fill bottle with whisky. Apply often."

Salt Rheum, a Well-Tried Remedy for.--"Teaspoonful of red precipitate to two tablespoonfuls of lard. Anoint the parts affected." This recipe has been used by my mother and myself and proved effectual.

[UNCLASSIFIED MOTHERS' REMEDIES 681]

Snake Bites, Simple Poultice for.--"Poultice of hops or salt and grease; grease is to keep salt together. Hops are always kept to be used in berry season." As a poultice it draws the poison out.

Snake Bites, Onions and Salt for.--"Good drawing poultice for snake bites is an onion and a handful of salt pounded together. We also use this for a common poultice."

Stings, an Old, Tried Canadian Remedy for.--"For the bee sting I put soda on and dampen it with honey." An old-time remedy and seems to do the work. Soda is an antiseptic and cleansing remedy. If no honey at hand, dampen soda with water.

Stings from Nettles, an Inexpensive Remedy for.--"Rub the affected parts, if of nettles, with berry juice and let dry. This is what I always do during the berry season." Berry juice is quieting and soothing; it contains tannin. It would be handy to use and is recommended.

Stye, Common Tea Leaves for.--" After steeping tea gather out a small handful of the steeped leaves, lay them in a cloth as you would any poultice, and apply warm over the stye." It is the tannin in the tea that cures the stye, although clear tannin bought at the drug store does not seem to do the work as well. Black tea may be preferable.

Splendid General Salve.--

"Resin 4 ounces Beeswax 4 ounces Lard 8 ounces Honey 2 ounces

Boil slowly until melted, then remove and stir until cold."

Scrofulous Difficulties, a Good Remedy for.--"A tea made of ripe dried whortleberries and drank in place of water is an excellent remedy."

Sore Eyes, Camphor and Breast Milk for.--"When a tiny baby has sore eyes, add one-half drop of camphor to a teaspoonful of breast milk; bathe the eyes several times a day." Breast milk alone applied to the eyes of an infant is very healing, but the addition of camphor improves it.

Sore Throat, Mustard Plaster for.--"Mustard plaster applied on outside of the throat. I know it is good--have tried it." Care should be taken not to allow the plaster to remain on too long as it will blister.

Stammering, a Canadian Mother's Treatment for.--"I always stop my boy when I hear him stammering and make him say the words by syllables. I find he is getting much better." The above is one of the best plans and should be tried.

Sweating, to Cause.--"Wet flannel cloth in vinegar, lay it on a hot soapstone and wrap in cloth. Take it to bed and you will sweat." This creates a steam and of course will produce sweating very quickly.

[682 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

Sweating, to Cause.--"Hot cornmeal mush applied as a poultice to parts, will cause sweating."

Splinter, to Extract.--"When a splinter has been driven deep into the hand, it can be extracted without pain by steam. Nearly fill a wide-mouthed bottle with hot water, place mouth of the bottle over splinter and press tightly. The suction will draw the flesh down, and in a minute or two the steam will extricate the splinter and the inflammation will disappear."

Toothache, Benzoin for.--"Compound tincture of benzoin applied on batting to tooth,"

Toothache, Oil of Cinnamon for.--"Oil of cinnamon rubbed on gum and on cotton batting and put in hollow tooth."

Weak Back, Turpentine and Sweet Oil for.--"Take one part of turpentine to two parts of sweet oil, mix together and apply to back several times a day. It is well to massage the back at night with this mixture just before retiring. Always apply warm."

Weak Back, Liniment for.--

"Tincture of Cayenne Pepper 1/2 ounce Spirits of Camphor 2 ounces Tincture of Arnica 1-1/2 ounce

No better liniment; is an excellent remedy to bathe the back with; will not blister."

[MANNERS AND SOCIAL CUSTOMS 685]

MANNERS AND SOCIAL CUSTOMS FOR OUR GREAT MIDDLE CLASS AS WELL AS OUR BEST SOCIETY

Correspondence, Cards and Introductions, Dress for Different Occasions, Weddings, Christenings, Funerals, Etc., Social Functions, Dinners, Luncheons.

Gifts, "Showers," Calls, and Hundreds of Other Essential Subjects so Vital to Culture and Refinement of Men, Women, School-Girls and Boys at Home and in Public.

By MRS. ELIZABETH JOHNSTONE

"The small courtesies sweeten life, the greater ennoble it."

The social code which we call etiquette is no senseless formula. It has a meaning and a purpose. It is the expression of good manners, and good manners have been rightly called the minor morals. This is true in the sense that they are the expression of the innate kindness and good will that sum up what we call good breeding. As to its importance, Sir Walter Scott once said that a man might with more impunity be guilty of an actual breach of good morals than appear ignorant of the points of etiquette.

[684 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

Every social custom has a foundation established by usage as a recognition of social needs, and intended to prevent rudeness and confusion; intended also to make polite society polite. We must conform, according to our circle, to social conventions as thus established, since they are the ripened results of long and varied experience in what is most suitable and becoming. Not to observe them is to advertise our ignorance and expose ourselves to criticism.

Importance of Knowledge.--That the importance of a knowledge of social customs is widely felt is proved by the pathetic letters addressed to the editors of women's magazines and departments, asking for information to enlighten ignorance. Such letters range from the naive inquiry of the unsophisticated girl as to whether it is "proper" to allow her "gentleman friend" to kiss her good night, up to the plaint of the novice who doesn't know how to make her spoons and forks come out even at a dinner-party. Here in America, where circumstances may lift a family from poverty and obscurity to wealth, with a position to win in a few brief years, the first great anxiety of those not "to the manor born" is to learn how to comport themselves in their new situation, and educate their children in correct behavior.

Good manners are a necessary equipment of both men and women. In many circles, success is impossible without such equipment. An agreeable manner, a knowledge of what to do and when to do it, is indispensable to the woman in society, and any man who meets other men in a business way will willingly bear testimony to the reluctance with which he approaches the gruff, brusque man, whose manners are patterned after those of Ursa Major. The man whose manners are agreeable may be as ugly as Caliban, yet please everybody.

Moreover, there is no weapon so effective against the rude and ill-mannered as a calm politeness--a courtesy which marks the person who can practise it as superior to the one who cannot. For one's own peace of mind, one should learn the art of good manners.