Chapter 105

332. Moths in Carpets.--If moths have attacked the carpet try putting gasoline on the edges, soaking the nap of the carpet. Also work powdered borax into the carpet wherever there is a sign of moths or under heavy pieces of furniture, which cannot easily be moved in the weekly sweeping.

333. A Serviceable Furniture Brush.--A serviceable furniture brush is made of turkey tail feathers. Take a stout twine and needle, sew the quills tightly together and cover the handle with a piece of oilcloth, smoothly stitched into place, or wrap the handle with cloth and stitch. A brush of this kind is very soft and may be used to dust any highly polished piece of furniture.

334. Uses of a Wooden Spoon.--Never use any but a wooden or silver spoon to stir anything with in cooking. Many a dish is spoiled by the cook stirring it with an iron or metal spoon. Wood is the best when any acid, such as vinegar, is used in the ingredients to be stirred.

335. Boiling Vegetables.--Boil parsnips and such vegetables with thin skins; then peel when cold. The flavor is preserved and your hands are not stained.

336. To Wash Furniture.--Furniture washed with castile soap and tepid water and rubbed with a piece of old silk will look like new.

[MISCELLANEOUS RECIPES 891]

337. Old Suitcases and Purses.--When suitcases and purses begin to show wear, coat all the spots with tan water color paint, and when perfectly dry rub over with a little sweet oil. Let stand for an hour, then rub with woolen cloth. Tan and brown shoes which have become scuffed may be treated in the same way.

338. Putting up Lunches.--Those who find the putting up of lunches a part of the daily routine may take comfort in the suggestion of one resourceful woman. When using eggs she sees to it that only a small piece of the shell is broken off from the end of one egg. The egg shell from which the piece has been cut is then washed and kept as a receptacle for jelly or jam for the noon lunch basket. The open end being protected by a piece of paper dipped in paraffin.

339. Paint Wicker Furniture.--If you must paint wicker furniture see that you buy paint that is well mixed and thinned to the proper consistency. If too thick it gets lumpy and the paint is apt to rub off on the clothes. Porch chairs which are exposed to weather should be finished with a coat of enamel to make them last longer. The coat of enamel is also more easily dusted.

340. Bureau Drawers that Stick.--Wax is better to use on the bureau drawers that stick than soap. It works better and will not catch dirt so much.

341.--Uses for Old Envelopes.--Cut out the corners from all heavy envelopes, for they are excellent for holding coins sent by mail. They always make good corner protection.

342. To Prevent Fruit from Moulding.--A layer of absorbent cotton laid over the fruit in the mouth of the fruit cans is an excellent preventive against the mould. If mould should form, it will cling to the cotton and leave the fruit clean.

343. Linoleum or Oilcloth That is Cracked.--Linoleum that is badly cracked may be improved by a filler made of ochre and boiled flour paste. After the filling is dry the linoleum may be painted.

344. Borax as a Purifier for Ice Box.--Borax is an invaluable aid to the woman who wishes to keep her ice box immaculate. It is especially desirable for use in small refrigerators where little food is kept, and where ice is kept more for the purpose of preserving butter and milk and keeping bottled water cool. Cold water with plenty of pure borax, is preferable to hot water to use in wiping off the walls of the refrigerator. It does not heat the box and, being a germ killer, it purifies everything it touches. It may also he put in the corners of the refrigerator. Its best use of all is perhaps in keeping the receptacle for the ice itself and the outside tube in pure and sanitary condition. It may be sprinkled freely over the bottom of the ice box proper and on the rack holding the ice.

345. To Clean Gilded Surfaces.--To clean gilded surfaces, dip a soft brush in alcohol to which a few drops of ammonia water have been added, and with it go over the surface. Do not rub roughly or harshly. In about five minutes the dirt will have become soft and easy of removal. Then go over the surface again gently with the same or similar brush dipped in rain water. Now lay the damp article in the sunlight to dry. If there is no sunlight place it near a warm (but not hot) stove, and let dry completely in order to avoid streaks, taking care that the position of the article, during the drying is not exactly vertical.

[892 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

346. Hints for the Housewife.--Every housewife should have plenty of waxed paper or paraffin paper about the house. It is of the greatest value in preserving eatables from the air and keeping them properly moist. In the sandwich basket it is indispensable. Cake wrapped in it will keep moist and fresh for a much longer time than if put directly into the box. When the paper has become sticky run cold water on it, and it may be used again. Cheese wrapped up in it and put in the refrigerator will keep fresh for a week.

347. Excessive Gas Light Weakens the Eyes.--When the excessive light of the gas light or the electric bulb tires weak eyes, resort to the tallow candle. For the sick room wax candles are preferred, as they never produce smoke or smell. They seem to soothe the nerves of the invalid and in this way help to produce a restful night.

348. Handy Disinfectant for the Household.--Chlorate of lime moistened with vinegar and water, equal parts, is a handy disinfectant for the household. It can be kept in the cellar, and in case of sickness a few drops scattered around the house will purify the air.

349. For Closing Windows.--A piece of bamboo, an old blind roller, or any strong smoothly rounded stick about three feet long, with a small flat piece of wood about the same thickness, twelve inches long and covered with flannel, nailed across the ends, makes an admirable and useful article for closing top windows without either going outside or standing on a stool or a chair to reach, or straining one's self with the weight to be raised upward.

[ MEDICAL DICTIONARY 893]

MEDICAL DICTIONARY SIMPLE and PLAIN DEFINITIONS of MEDICAL TERMS For Reference in your Newspaper and General Reading and Throughout this Work.

Abdomen (ab-do'men). That portion of the body, lying between the thorax and the pelvis, or "belly."

Ablution (ab-lu'shun). The act of washing or cleansing.

Abnormal (ab-nor'mal). Contrary to the usual structure or condition. Not normal.

Abortion (ab-or'shun). The expulsion of the fetus before the sixteenth week.

Abrasion (ab-ra-zhun). A spot rubbed bare of the skin or mucous membrane.

Abscess (ab'ses). A localized collection of pus in a cavity formed by the disintegration of tissues.

Absorbent (ab-sor'bent). Taking up by suction. A medicine or dressing that promotes absorption.

Acid (as'id). Sour, having properties opposed to those of the alkalies.

Acidity (as-id'it-e). The quality of being acid or sour.

Acrid (ak'rid). Pungent; producing an irritation.

Acetabulum (as-et-ab'u-lum). The rounded cavity in the innominate (hip) bone which receives the head of the femur.

Accoucheur (ah-kosh'er). An obstetrician. One who attends a woman in confinement.

Actual Cautery (kaw'tere). Fire, a red hot iron, or the moxa, used as a cauterizing agent.

Acholia (ah-ko'leah). Lack or absence of the secretion of bile.

Acupuncture (ak-u-punk-tur). The insertion of needles into a part for the production of counter-irritation.

Adhesive (ad-he'siv). Sticking or adhering closely.

Adipose (ad'ip-os). Of a fatty nature; fat.

Adjuvant (ad'ju-vant). An auxiliary remedy.

Adult (a-dult'). A person grown to full size and strength or to the years of manhood.

Affection (af-ek'shun). A morbid condition or diseased state.

Affusion (af-u'shun). The pouring of water upon a part or upon the body for reducing fever or correcting nervous symptoms.

Ailment (al'ment). Any disease or affection of the body.

Albuminose (al-bumin-os). A primary production of the digestion of a proteid, not coagulable by heat.

Aliment (al'im-ent). Food, or nutritive material.

Alimentary Canal (al-imen'ta-re). The portion of the digestive apparatus through which the food passes after mastication. The canal from the mouth to the anus; gullet, stomach, bowel, anus.

Alkali (al'kal-i). A compound which forms salts with acids and soaps with fats. Potash, soda, lithia, ammonia.

Alterative (awl-ter-at-iv). A medicine that produces a favorable change in the processes of nutrition and repair.

[894 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

Alveolar (al-ve'o-lar). Pertaining to an alveolus.

Alveolus (al-ve-olus). Bone socket of a tooth; air sac of the lungs, etc.

Amaurosis (am-aw-ro'sis). Blindness without any visible defect in the eye, from disease of the optic nerve, retina, brain.

Amenorrhea (am-en-or-re'ah). Absence or abnormal stoppage of the monthly sickness.

Amniotic Liquid (am-ne-ot'ik). A fluid enclosed within the amnion which nourishes and protects the foetus (unborn child).

Amputation (am-pu-ta'shun). The surgical cutting off of a limb or other part.

Amylaceous (am-il-a'she-us). Starchy.

Analysis (an-al'is-is). Separation. into compound parts or elements.

Anchylosis (Ankylosis) (ang-kil-o'sis). Abnormal immobility and consolidation of a joint (stiff joint).

Anemia (an-e'me-ah). A condition in which the blood is deficient either in quantity or quality.

Anastomose (an-as'to-moz). Communicating with one another, as arteries and veins.

Anastomosis (an-as-to-mo'sis). The surgical or pathological formation of a passage between any two normally distinct spaces or organs.

Anasarca (an-ah-sar'kah). An accumulation of serum in the cellular tissues of the body. General dropsy.

Anesthesia (an-is-the-zhe-ah). Loss of feeling or sensation of a part or whole body.

Anesthetic (an-es-thet-ic). A drug that produces anesthesia, without the sense of touch or pain.

Aneurism (an'u-rizm). A pulsating tumor consisting of a sac or pouch into which blood flows through an opening in an artery.

Animalcule (anim-al'kul). Any minute animal organism.

Anodyne (an'o-din). A medicine that relieves pain.

Antacid (an-tas'id). A substance that counteracts or neutralizes acidity.

Antiphrodisiac (ant'af-ro-diz-e-ak). An agent that allays sexual impulses.

Anthelmintic (an-thel-min'tik). Destruction to worms.

Anthrax (an'thrax). A carbuncle.

Antibilious (an-te-bil'yus). Good against bilious conditions.

Antidote (an'te-dot). A remedy for counteracting a poison.

Antidysenteric (an'te-dis-en-ter'ik). Relieving, curing or preventing dysentery.

Antiemetic (an'te-e-met'ik). Arresting or preventing emesis or vomiting.

Antilithic (an-te-lith'ik). Preventing the formation of stone or calculus.

Antimorbific (anti-mor-bif 'ic). Preventing disease.

Antiperiodic (an'te-pe-re-od'ik). Serviceable against malarial or periodic recurrence.

Antiscorbutic (an'te-skor-bu'tik). Correcting or curing scurvy.

Antiseptic (an-te-sep'tik). A substance destructive to poisonous germs.

Antispasmodic (an'te-spaz-mod'ik). An agent that relieves spasms.

Antisyphilitic (an'te-sif-il-it'ik). Useful in cases of syphilis.

Anus (a'nus). The distal end and outlet of the rectum.

Apathy (ap'ath-e). Lack of feeling or emotion; indifference.

Apparatus (ap-ar-a'tus). A number of parts acting together in the performance of some special function.

Aphasia (ah-fa'ze-ah). Defect or loss of the power of expression by speech, writing, or signs.

Aphthous (af'thus). Pertaining to, characterized by, affected with aphthae (thrush).

Apex (a'pex). The top or pointed extremity of any conical part.

Apnea (ap-ne'ah). The transient cessation of breathing that follows a forced respiration.

Aperient (ap-e're-nt). A gentle purgative or laxative.

Appetite (ap'et-it). A natural longing or desire, especially that for food.

Areola (ar-e'o-lah). The colored circle round the nipple or round a pustule. A minute space or interstice in a tissue.

Aromatic (ar-o-mat'ik). A medicinal substance with a spicy fragrance and stimulating qualities.

Aroma (ah-ro'mah). The fragrance or odor, especially that of spice or medicine, or of articles of food or drink.

Arthrodia (ar-thro'de-ah). An articulation or joint which allows a gliding motion of the surfaces.

[MEDICAL DICTIONARY 895]

Articulation (ar-tik'u-la'shun). A connection between two or more bones whether allowing motion between them or not.

Articulated (ar-tik'u-la-ted). Connected by joints.

Arthritic (ar-thrit'ik). Pertaining to or affected with gout or arthritis. Relating to inflammation of a joint.

Ascaris (as'kar-is). A worm found in the intestines.

Ascites (as-si'tez). Dropsy of the abdominal cavity.

Aspirate (as'pi-rat). To treat by aspiration. To pronounce with full emission of breath.

Assimilation (as-sim-il-a'shun). The transformation of food into living tissue.

Asthenic (as-then'ik). Characterized by weakness or feebleness.

Asthmatic (az-mat'ik). Affected with asthma.

Astringent (as-trin'gent). An agent that arrests discharges by causing contraction, such as tannic acid, alum, zinc, etc.

Attenuant (at-ten'u-ant). Causing thinness, as of the blood.

Atony (at'on-e). Lack of normal tone or strength.

Atrophy (at'ro-fe). A wasting or diminution in the size of a part.

Auricle (au'rik-l). The pinna or flap of the ear. The chambers of the heart on either side above the ventricles.

Auscultation (aus-kul-ta'shun). Listening with the ear or an instrument to organs, such as the lungs, heart, etc.

Autopsy (au-top-se). The post-mortem examination of a body.

Axilla (ak-sil'lah). The arm-pit.

Axillary Glands. Lymphatic glands situated in the arm-pit.

Balsamic (bawl-sam'ik). Of the nature of balsam.

Biennial (bi-en'ni-al). Happening Once in two years.

Bifurcation (bi-fur-ka'shun). Division into two branches.

Bile or Gall (Bil). The golden brown or greenish yellow substance secreted by the liver.

Bilious (bil'yus). Characterized by bile. Full of bile.

Blister (blis'ter). A collection of serous, bloddy or watery fluid beneath the epidermis (outer skin).

Bonchioles. A minute bronchial tube.

Bronchia (brong'ke-ah). Bronchial tubes smaller than the bronchi, and larger than the bronchioles.

Bougie (boo-zhe'). A slender instrument for introduction into the urethra or a large one for the rectum or other opening.

Bronchial (brong'ke-al). Pertaining to the bronchi.

Bronchitis (brong-ki'tis). Inflammation of the bronchial tubes.

Bright's Disease (britz). Inflammation of the kidneys. Any disease of the kidneys associated with albumen in the urine.

Bulbous (bul'bus). A bulb.

Cachexia (kak-ek'seah). A profound and marked state of constitutional disorder. A depraved condition of general nutrition due to some serious disease such as cancer, tuberculosis (cancerous cachexia).

Cacumen (kak-u'men). The top or apex of an organ.

Callous (kal'us). Hard.

Calcareous (kal-ka'reus). Chalky. Pertaining to or having the nature of limestone.

Callus (kal'lus). The new growth of bony matter between the extremities of broken bone serving to unite them.

Capillary (kap'il-la-ri). Pertaining to or resembling a hair. A minute blood vessel connecting the arterioles with the venules; very minute blood vessels.

Capsicum (kap'si-kum). Cayenne pepper.

Capsule (kap'sul). A soluble case for enclosing a dose of medicine. A fibrous or membraneous covering as of the spleen or kidneys.

Carbon (kar'bon). Charcoal.

Carbonic Acid Gas (kar-bon'ik). An acidulous liquid made by dissolving carbon dioxide in water.

Cardiac (kar'de-ak). Pertaining to the heart.

Carminative (kar-min'-a-tiv). A medicine to relieve flatulence, such as anise, cinnamon, cloves, peppermint, soda.

Caries (ka're-ez). Rottenness. The molecular decay or death of a bone. It becomes soft, porous and discolored.

Carotid Artery (kah-ro-tid'). The large artery in the neck.

Carpus (kar'pus). The wrist.

[896 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

Cartilage (kar'til-ej). Gristle. The gristle attached to joint surfaces and forming certain parts of the skeleton.

Catamenia (kat-ah-me'ne-ah). Monthly sickness.

Cataplasm (kat'ap-lazm). A poultice.

Catarrh (kat-ahr'). Inflammation of a mucous membrane with a free discharge.

Cathartic (kath-ar'tik). A medicine that produces free movements of the bowels.

Catheter (kath'it-er). A hollow tube for introduction into a cavity through a narrow canal or channel.

Caustic (kaws'tik). Burning; destructive to living tissues.

Cautery (kaw'ter-e). Application of a caustic substance or hot iron.

Cauterize (kaw'ter-iz). To scar or burn with a caustic or cautery.

Cell (sel). A small hollow cavity in any one of the minute protoplasmic masses which form organized tissues.

Cellular (sel'u-lar). Relating to or composed of cells.

Cerebellum (ser-e-bel'um). The inferior part of the brain lying below the cerebrum and above the pons and medulla.

Cerebro Spinal (ser'e-bro-spi'nal). Pertaining to the brain and spinal cord.

Cerebral (ser'e-bral). Relating to the cerebrum.

Cerebrum (ser'-e-brum). The main portion of the brain occupying the upper part of the cranium, and consisting of two equal portions, called hemispheres.

Cerumen (se-ru'men). Ear-wax.

Chalybeate (kal-ib'e-at). Containing or charged with iron.

Chancre (shang'ker). The primary lesion (or sore) of syphilis.

Cholagogues (ko'ia-gog). A medicine causing an increased flow of bile.

Choleraic (kol-er-a'ik). Of the nature of cholera.

Chorea (ko-re'ah). St. Vitus' dance.

Chordee (kor-dee'). Painful deflection of the penis in gonorrhea.

Chronic (kron'ik). Long continued; not acute.

Chyle (kile). The milky juice taken up by the lacteals from the food in the intestines after digestion.

Chyme (kim). The thick grayish liquid mass into which the food is converted by stomach (gastric) digestion.

Circulation (sir-ku-la'shun). Passing in a circle, as the circulation of the blood.

Cicatrix (sik-a'trix). A scar; the mark left by a sore or a wound.

Clavicle (klav'ik-l). Collar-bone.

Climacteric (kli-mak-ter'ik). A period of the lifetime at which the system was believed to undergo marked changes. Now generally applied to the "change of life."

Clinical (klin'ic-al). Pertaining to bedside treatment or to a clinic.

Clonic (klon'ik). Applied to spasms where the parts are rigid and relaxed in succession.

Clyster (kli'ster). An injection into the rectum; an enema.

Coagulation (ko-ag-u-la-shun). The process of changing into a clot.

Coagulum (ko-ag'u-lum). A clot or curd.

Coagulate (ko-ag'u-Iat). To cause a clot.

Coalesce (ko-al-es'). The union of two or more parts or things.

Collapse (kol-laps'). A state of extreme prostration and depression with failure of circulation.

Colon (ko'lon). That part of the large intestine which extends from the caecum to the rectum.

Colostrum (ko-los'trum). The first fluid secreted by the "breast" (mammary gland) after confinement.

Colliquative (kol-liq'wah-tuv). Characterized bv an excessive fluid discharge.

Collyrium (kol-lir'e-um). An eye-wash.

Coma (ko'mah). Profound stupor occurring during a disease or after a severe injury.

Comatose (ko'mat-os). Pertaining to or affected with coma.

Combustion (kom-bust'yun). Burning; rapid oxidation with emission of heat.

Concussion (kon-kush'un). A violent jar or shock, or a condition resulting from it.

Concretion (kon-kre'shun). A calculus or inorganic mass in a natural cavity or in the tissues of an organism.

Condiment (kon'di-ment). A seasoner.

Condyle (kon'dil). The rounded eminence at the joint (articular) end of a bone.

Confluent (kon-flu'ent). Becoming merged together.

Congenital (kon-jen'it-al). Existing at or before birth.

[MEDICAL DICTIONARY 897]

Congestion (kon-gest'jun). Excessive or abnormal accumulation of blood in a part.

Conjunctiva (kon-junk-ti'vah). The delicate membrane that lines the eyelids and covers the eyeball.

Constipation (kon-stip-a'shun). Infrequent or difficult evacuation of feces (bowel material).

Constriction (kon-strik'shun). A constricted part or place. Tight feeling.

Contagious (kon-ta'jus). Propagated by contagion or by immediate contact or effluvia.

Contusion (kon-tu-zhun). A bruise.

Contamination (kon-tam-in-a'shun.) Infection of the person or of matter by contact.

Convalescence (kon-val-es'ens). Getting well after an illness.

Convoluted (kon'va-lut-cd). Rolled together or coiled.

Convulsion (kon-vul'shun). A violent involuntary contraction or series of contractions of the voluntary muscles.

Cordial (kord'yel). Stimulating the heart; invigorating.

Cornea (kor'neah). The transparent anterior portion of the eyeball.

Corpse (korps). The dead body of a human being.

Corrective (kor-ek'tiv). Modifying or changing favorably.

Corroborants (kor-ob'er-ants). Aiding in proving.

Corrosive (kor-ro'siv). Eating away. A substance that destroys organic tissue either by direct chemical means or by causing inflammation and suppuration.

Counter Irritation (kown'ter-ir-rit-a'shun). A superficial irritation.

Cosmetics (koz-met'ik). Beautifying substances.

Costiveness (kos'tiv-nes). Constipated bowels.

Cranium (kra'neum). The skull or brain-pan.

Crassamentum (kras-sam-en'tum). A clot, as of blood.

Crepitus (krep'it-us). The grating of broken bones.

Crisis (kri'sis). Turning point of a disease for better or worse.

Cutaneous (ku-ta'ne-us). Pertaining to the skin.

Cuticle (ku'tik-l). The epidermis, outer or scarf skin.