Page:Australian enquiry book of household and general information.djvu/166

give would come under the title of an "old wife's cure", but it was certainly given to me by an old wife, and I saw her apply it with truly marvellous effect. A whitlow is one of the most painful of gatherings, and as this recipe is so simple any one can try it. Make a strong lye with wood ashes and water. Stir the ashes and water together, let them settle and then with some of the lye mix a linseed poultice and apply to the whitlow, continuing the treatment till the long thread or core is drawn out of the gathering. These poultices have a very soothing effect.

To Cure Whitlow. No. 2.—A poultice of sulphur and water applied at the first symptom of heat and pain will often dispurse the gathering, particularly if a course of sulphur taken internally is persevered with for a week or more. To begin with, half a teaspoonful is a good dose, gradually increasing it to a whole spoonful, every second morning. Care must be taken not to get cold while the sulphur is in the system.

Linseed Tea.—This is one of the best remedies for colds, particularly for children who cough a good deal at night. To prepare it put three tablespoonsful of fresh bruised linseed into a jug with some liquorice, also broken up small, and pour over it about one pint and a half of boiling water. Cover the jug and let it stand for some hours. Then strain and add the juice of two lemons and sugar to taste. Let the patient drink freely of it on going to bed, and through the night if the cough is troublesome. It has a soothing effect and is considered nourishing.

Earache.—A few drops of chloroform on a piece of cotton wool put into the bowl of a clay pipe and the vapour blown through the stem into the ear will generally cure the most severe earache.

Salt and Water.—Salt and water is an excellent medicine for children, or, indeed, for adults. It is good for indigestion, biliousness, flatulency and many other simple disorders. Half .

a teaspoonful dissolved and taken in a glass of cold water, and taken before meals will do good in indigestion. For biliousness it should be taken directly you wake in the morning. It is also good for clearing the complexion.

To Strengthen the Voice.—Many people who sing are subject to frequent soreness of the throat, or rather a tenderness. An excellent remedy for this is to gargle the throat with salt and water. One good teaspoonful to a teacupful of cold water, and use night and morning, or oftener if necessary.

To Purify the Air in Newly-painted Rooms.—Place a bucket of cold water in the centre of the room, the colder it is the better. In the case of any foul air in a room, the bucket of water will purify it, absorbing all the expired gases. In bedrooms the water jug, in a smaller degree, absorbs the gases and bad air. Hence all water for drinking should be covered.

Milk as a Stimulant.—After hours of bodily exertion, after hours of immersion in cold water, or when suffering from great bodily fatigue, or even mental exhaustion, there is nothing that will restore one so quickly or thoroughly as a cup of hot milk. Brandy or any other spirit will have effect at once, and revive tired nature no doubt, but the after effect is by no means good or pleasant, the body becomes hot and feverish, the brain clouded and heavy, while after a cup of hot milk the energy is restored, the intellect brightened, and one's strength renewed. Try it.

Remedy for Sea Sickness.—About a week before going on board begin taking bromide of sodium in doses of 25 grains in water, three times a day, after meals. Unless taken before hand it is useless, as to prevent the sickness it must impregnate the system, and it must be continued as long as rough water is experienced. By taking this the worst sailors have avoided the horrors and discomforts of sea sickness.