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diff --git a/26368-8.txt b/26368-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2e17c59 --- /dev/null +++ b/26368-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10030 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Ladies Book of Useful Information, by Anonymous + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Ladies Book of Useful Information + Compiled from many sources + +Author: Anonymous + +Release Date: August 20, 2008 [EBook #26368] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LADIES BOOK OF USEFUL INFORMATION *** + + + + +Produced by Robert Cicconetti, Irma Spehar and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by the Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions +(www.canadiana.org)) + + + + + + THE LADIES' BOOK + OF + USEFUL INFORMATION. + + + COMPILED FROM MANY SOURCES. + + + London, Ont.: + LONDON PRINTING & LITHOGRAPHING CO. (LTD.) + 1896. + +Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year +1897, on behalf of the unnamed author, by P. J. Edmunds, at the +Department of Agriculture. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. + + + + + Preface. + + +To the ladies of America is this little work, "THE LADIES' BOOK OF +USEFUL INFORMATION," dedicated. It is a book written expressly for +women. This book is full from cover to cover of useful and necessary +information for women. Never before has so much knowledge with which +women should be acquainted been printed in one book. It is a perfect +storehouse of useful facts. Almost every lady spends many dollars +every year for cosmetics, medicines, household articles, etc., which +this book would save her. + +This is a book which every lady should have, and which every mother +should place in the hands of her daughters as they come to years of +understanding. Every girl of twelve and upwards should read this +valuable work. + +Many books costing from three to five dollars do not contain half the +information contained in this work. Everything described in this +preface is taught in this book. + +It teaches ladies the secret of Youth, Beauty, Health. + +The first chapter teaches all about Personal Beauty. + +Every lady desires to be beautiful, and it is the duty of every woman +to be as attractive as possible. All may enhance their charms and be +lovely by following the directions of this book. Few persons know how +to improve their natural looks so as to captivate, charm, and win the +admiration of those whom they meet. This book tells the wonderful +secret--all the ancients ever knew, and all that has been discovered +since. It teaches how to wonderfully improve the person in loveliness. +The real secret of changing an ordinary looking person into one of +great beauty makes this book of great value. Nature does something for +us, but art must make the perfect man or woman. + +If you desire bright, melting eyes, a clear, soft, rose-tinted +complexion, beautiful hands and graceful figure, well-developed and +perfect, use the knowledge which you will find in this book. + +It teaches how to acquire a beautiful, delicate loveliness which +cannot be surpassed, and which can be retained to a very late age. By +means of this teaching a woman of thirty-five or forty can easily pass +for a girl of twenty-five. + +It teaches how to conceal the evidence of age, and how to make the +most stubbornly red and rough hands beautifully soft and white. +Remember that "THE LADIES' BOOK OF USEFUL INFORMATION" does not teach +the use of paint and powder, which is injurious to the skin, but how +to make the _cheek glow_ with health, and the _neck_, _arms_ and +_hands_ to rival the lily in whiteness. It teaches how to cure Greasy +Skin, Freckles, Pimples, Wrinkles, Blackheads, Crow's-feet, Blotches, +Face Grubs, Tan, Sunburn, Chapped Hands, Sore Lips, etc. + +It teaches how to cure and prevent redness and roughness, and to make +the skin soft, smooth, white and delicate, producing a perfectly +natural appearance. It teaches how to cure and refine a coarse skin, +so that it will be clear and white. + +It tells what has never before been published: How to restore a fair, +rosy complexion to its original freshness, after it has become sallow +and faded. This is a wonderful secret, and is sure in its results. It +will also cause those who have always been pale to have beautiful, +bright, rosy cheeks, and the eyes to be brilliant and sparkling. + +It teaches how to have soft, white and attractive hands, even though +compelled to do housework. Every lady desires to have nice hands, and +all may do so by following the directions of this book. The most +coarse, rough, red hands will, by following this teaching, become +beautifully delicate and white, and it causes very little trouble to +care for them. + +It teaches how to care for the hair so as to improve the growth and to +have a beautiful and luxuriant head of hair; how to keep the skin of +the scalp healthy, to cure Dandruff, to prevent the hair falling, and +to have it of a nice glossy hue. + +It teaches how to have clear and brilliant eyes, with beautiful, long, +drooping lashes; also, how to cure sore and weak eyes. + +It teaches how to care for the teeth so as to have them white and +sound, telling how to treat those that are decayed, and how to prevent +the decay of sound ones. + +It teaches how to have beautiful ripe red lips, and how to cure sore +and chapped lips. + +It teaches how to cure Warts, Corns, Bruises, Sprains, Cold Feet, Bad +Breath, etc. + +It teaches how to bleach, purify and whiten the most stubbornly red, +rough skin, so that it will be beautifully clear and white; and a +complexion that is naturally passable will be admired by all who see +it after being treated as here described. + +The second chapter teaches: The different human temperaments; how to +tell to which temperament you belong yourself, and also the +temperaments of those whom you meet; + +The fortunate and unfortunate days of the month, and their importance +at the hour of birth; + +Important advice to females regarding their thirty-first year; + +How to know whom you will marry; + +The signs of a good genius; + +All about Electrical Psychology, or Psychological +Fascination--Mesmerism; + +How to make persons at a distance think of you (this is a purely +natural phenomenon); + +How to win the affection of the person of the opposite sex whom you +sincerely love. There is no black art about this, but merely +psychological attraction, and by its use you can win the love of the +person whose affection you desire. + +When you desire the "love" of any one whom you meet, you can very +readily reach him if you observe the directions here given. + +Chapter three is a special chapter for young women, on a special +subject, and contains advice which every young lady should study. + +It teaches them: What marriage is, and explains how highly injurious +it is to entertain low ideas regarding it; + +How a young lady should act in the presence of young men; + +What a girl should do when a prospect of marriage occurs. + +It tells some of the most prolific sources of matrimonial +difficulties, and how to remedy them; + +What ladies should do who desire that their husbands should be amiable +and kind; + +What attentions are due to you _as a lady_. + +Cautions against the failing of young ladies making themselves too +cheap. + +Tells what "woman" is formed to be. + +Warns against indiscretions before marriage, and teaches that under +all circumstance a lady will be looked to to resist any advances, and +maintain her purity and virtue. + +Tells what is the nature, naturally, of young women; + +How a young woman should act when receiving the attentions of a young +man; + +How you will know when the young man whom you _should marry_ presents +himself to you; + +What a man needs a wife for, and how to qualify yourself for the +position; + +About misunderstandings in early married life; + +How a young mother feels towards her first-born. + +Tells the good influence of virtuous love; + +What young people should know before they become engaged. + +Chapter four teaches about Love and Marriage; the attraction of the +sexes for each other; what love is; what causes it; individual loves; +fondness for cousins; different kinds of love; flirtation; the object +of marriage; should marriage be for life. + +Chapter five: When to Marry--How to Select a Partner on Right +Principles. + +Treats of the proper age to marry; which marriages are the most happy; +which are the most productive of handsome children; how nature assists +art in the choice of partners; the attributes of a handsome couple, +etc. + +Chapter six: Sexual Intercourse--Its Laws and Conditions--Its Use and +Abuse. + +There is an alarming and increasing prevalence of nervous ailments and +complicated disorders that could be traced to have their sole origin +in the ignorance, which is so universal, of the laws of these organs. + +This chapter teaches all about sexual morality; how men and women +should live; the law from the age of puberty to marriage; the law of +marriage; what a man who truly loves a woman will do; a true union; +how women are protected; the false and the true sense of duty; what is +the most powerful restraint from evil. + +The above is discussed in a chaste, simple, manner, and should be read +by every lady. There is nothing impure in this book from beginning to +end, but subjects in which women are woefully ignorant are discussed +in a plain, moral manner to which no objection can be raised. + +Chapter seven: Marriage. + +What marriage is; how far back the marriage tie has existed; polygamy, +what it is; monogamy, what it is; polyandry, and what it is; marriage +customs; the basis of a happy marriage, etc. + +Chapter eight: Pregnancy--Labor--Parturition. + +Perhaps there is no more eventful period in the history of woman than +that in which she first becomes conscious that the existence of +another being is dependent upon her own, and that she carries about +with her the first tiny rudiments of an immortal soul. + +This chapter explains all the signs of pregnancy; the changes that +take place in the face and neck; the suppression of the monthly flow; +changes in the breast, etc. + +Then it gives a sure test for the detection of pregnancy. It tells how +a pregnant woman should live during the period of gestation. + +Childbirth is not necessarily either painful or dangerous. It can be +accomplished easily and safely and with comparatively no pain by +following the directions given in "THE LADIES' BOOK OF USEFUL +INFORMATION." + +Numerous instances are known where ladies who had previously suffered +with severe labor in childbirth have, by attending to the directions +here given, been delivered of fine, healthy children with comparative +ease. + +No mother who has attended to the teaching here given but has blessed +the knowledge of it, and it has saved many a young mother much +needless terror. + +It tells all about the ailments that almost always torment women +during the trying time of pregnancy, making life itself seem a burden. + +These troubles are: Morning Sickness, Toothache, Palpitation of the +Heart, etc. It shows that there is no necessity for women suffering as +they almost invariably do during this time; but that these troubles +may be overcome by simple, safe remedies which are described in this +book, and which may be safely taken by the patient. + +It tells all about the medicine which is taken by the Indian women of +North America during the period of gestation. It is well known that +the women of these tribes suffer very little during childbirth, and it +is almost all due to the effects of this wonderful medicine. + +The recipe for this medicine, "Parturient Balm," was obtained from an +Indian doctor, and is given in this book, together with instructions +as to how it is to be taken. + +This chapter alone is worth the price of the book to any lady. Every +mother, and everyone who ever expects to become a mother, should +carefully study the above chapter, as it may be the means of saving +her much pain and suffering. + +The same chapter explains all about a case of labor; the signs that +show when labor has commenced; what to give to help the patient; the +different kinds of pains; the length of time between the pains; the +length of time the pains should last, etc.; the taking of the child +from the mother; how to care for the child; the taking away of the +afterbirth; what to do in case of flooding; how to relieve afterpains, +etc. + +It also explains what "Abortion" is; what causes abortion; what causes +premature labor; the difference between the two; symptoms of +threatened abortion, and how to prevent the same if possible; what to +do for miscarriage, and to try and prevent it, etc. + +The ninth chapter teaches all about: Menstruation--Change of +Life--Falling of the Womb, etc. Tells the time of life at which the +menses should appear. + +Every mother should watch her young daughter as she nears this +critical time. The health for many years to come depends to a great +extent on how a girl passes this period. This chapter tells all the +symptoms of the near approach of the monthly flow. It shows a mother +how to care for her daughter, and to see that she has proper attention +during this time. + +It tells the age at which the periodical flow should commence; the +symptoms of its approach; how a girl should be treated at this time; +how to cure Chlorosis, or Green Sickness; how to relieve and cure +painful and suppressed menstruation, etc. + +If the instructions of this book are followed in cases like the above, +it will save many young girls much needless suffering. + +This chapter also treats on: Whites, or Flour Albus, and Falling of +the Womb. + +Many delicate women suffer great agony through these two distressing +complaints. This chapter describes all the symptoms of these +complaints, and gives simple, safe remedies for them. A lady can +easily attend to herself and avoid exposure. + +It also treats on Change of Life. + +By the phrase "Change of Life," or "The Critical Period," we +understand the final cessation or stoppage of the menses. This chapter +explains all about this trying time, the symptoms of its appearance, +and the ages at which it usually occurs. + +With proper care this period may be safely passed, and a happy and +comfortable old age be spent. All the dangers incident to this period +are described, and how to successfully combat them. + +Chapter ten: Collection of valuable Medical Compounds. + +Any of the formulas in this chapter will be readily filled by your +druggist. Each recipe will give an article which is the _very best_ +thing that can be used for the disease which it is recommended to +cure. + +The first is "Magic Kidney and Liver Restorer." + +Most people are afflicted to some extent with Kidney and Liver +trouble. This medicine is a sure cure. + +Do you have: A frequent headache over the eyes; + A susceptibility to chills and fever; + A bitter or oily taste in the mouth; + A sour stomach; + A complexion inclined to be yellow; + A great depression of spirits; + Specks before the eyes, and flushed face; + A done-out, tired feeling; + +besides many other symptoms too numerous to mention? If you have, you +are afflicted with Kidney and Liver complaint, and should use "Magic +Kidney and Liver Restorer." This great remedy will do away with all +these disagreeable symptoms, and will make you feel like a new person. +It is a splendid spring medicine, cleansing the blood and purifying +and toning up the system. + +Another formula given is "Dyspeptic Ley." + +This is a _sure, certain_ cure for dyspepsia. It never fails. + +The symptoms of dyspepsia are: + Feeling of weight in the stomach; + Bloated condition after eating; + Belching of wind; + Nausea; + Vomiting of food; + Water brash; + Pain in the stomach; + Heartburn; + Bad taste in the mouth in the morning; + Palpitation of the heart; + Cankered mouth; loss of flesh; + Fickle appetite; depression of spirits; + Lack of energy; headache and constipation. + +If you have _any or all_ of the above symptoms, then you are afflicted +with Dyspepsia, and should endeavor to obtain relief. "Dyspeptic Ley" +is a certain cure. It is easily prepared, and should be taken by +everyone who is afflicted with any of the above distressing symptoms. + +The same chapter tells how to cure Ague, Intermittent Fever, +Neuralgia, Sick Headache, Neuralgic Headache, Rheumatism, Dysentery, +Epileptic Fits, Hysteria, Bleeding of the Lungs, Coughs, Bowel +Complaint, Scrofula, Worms, Sore Eyes, Cholera, Piles, Warts, Corns, +Deafness, Inverted Toe-nail, etc. + +All these diseases are described, together with the best method of +treating them. + +Chapter eleven teaches how to Prepare Nourishment for the Sick Room. +Very few people know how to prepare nourishment for the sick. This +chapter teaches how to prepare a great number of nourishing dishes. +Every lady should know how to prepare food for the sick, as at some +time or other there is almost certain to be sickness in every family. +There are over forty recipes given in this chapter for food for the +sick and convalescent. + +Chapter twelve describes things Curious and Useful. + +It tells: How to get clear of mosquitoes; how to get rid of bedbugs; +to obtain fresh-blown flowers in winter. By this process the buds of +flowers can be gathered in summer and autumn and kept until the +winter, when they can be used as required. The flowers open and are as +beautiful as though fresh plucked from the garden. Any one can +understand the process, as it is very simple. + +Also: How to transfer all kinds of pictures on to glass--a very pretty +art; how to prevent horses being teased by flies; how to prevent flies +lighting on to windows, pictures, mirrors, etc.; to render paper +fireproof; to render boots waterproof; how to extract the essential +oil from any flower; how to take leaf photographs; to cure +drunkenness; to make different kinds of perfumes; to write secret +letters, etc.; + +To prepare flowers so that their beauty will remain unimpaired for +years. Roses and other flowers can be had to last for years by this +beautiful art. The process is very easy, and the directions are so +simple that a child may follow them. + +Chapter thirteen treats of Home Decoration. + +It teaches how to arrange a house so as to furnish it cheaply and +harmoniously. It gives complete instructions for every room--Hall, +Parlor, Library, Dining-room, Bedrooms, etc., and attends to every +detail. This is a splendid guide to all who wish to make their home +attractive. + +Chapter fourteen teaches all about caring for House Plants. It tells +the right temperature to keep them in; the proper soil for potting; +how to make plants grow luxuriantly; how to have plenty of blossoms; +to keep plants without a fire at night; to destroy bugs and +rose-slugs; to raise plants with the least trouble; the best varieties +of plants to raise, etc. + +It tells how to preserve autumn leaves so that they can be bent in any +form desired, and so that they will retain their color. + +It tells how to prepare skeleton leaves--a very pretty amusement. + +Chapter fifteen is devoted to The Laundry. + +It tells: How to make washing fluid; to take out scorch; to make +plain, fine, and coffee starch; to make enamel for shirt bosoms, so +that any housekeeper can do them up as nicely as they do at the +laundry; to clean velvets and ribbons; to take grease out of silks, +woolens, paper, floors, etc.; to take out fruit stains; to take out +iron rust and mildew; to wash woolen goods and blankets so that they +will not shrink, etc. + +The sixteenth chapter teaches how to do all kinds of Stamping. + +In this chapter are given full instructions for wet and dry stamping; +for making stamping powder; how to mix white paint for dark goods, and +dark paint for light goods; it tells how to prepare all the necessary +articles for stamping; how to prepare transfer paper; how to transfer +any pattern you may see; how to make a distributor; how to enlarge +designs; how to prepare all kinds of stamping powder; how to do French +indelible stamping; what kind of a brush to use; and how to care for +patterns. If the directions here given are followed the stamping will +always be satisfactory. + +Chapter seventeen teaches how to do Bronze Work. + +Bronzing is the latest improvement in wax work, and if properly made +cannot be detected from the most expensive, artistic bronze. It is +used for table, mantel and bracket ornaments, and may be exposed to +dust and air without sustaining the slightest injury. It can be dusted +like any piece of furniture, and makes a very desirable, inexpensive +ornament. The colors it is made in are Gold, Silver, Copper, Fire, and +Green Bronze. Among the articles described are a vase in bronze, a +motto in bronze, a floral basket in bronze, animals and birds in +bronze, statuary in bronze, flowers and leaves in bronze. + +The art of making each of the above articles is carefully described so +that any one can follow the directions. + +The art of Decalcomania is also taught in this chapter. This is used +upon almost everything for which ornamentation is required, such as +Crockery, China, Porcelain, Vases, Glass, Bookcases, Folios, Boxes, +Lap desks, Ribbons, etc. It is a very pretty art, and is much admired. + +Chapter eighteen gives twelve recipes for articles needed in every +household. It will tell you how to save a large percentage of +household expenses, and also how to have a great many of the articles +you use in your daily housework of a superior quality, vastly better +than the ones you are using at the present time. + +It is a fact not generally known, that a great many of the articles +used in daily household work cost little more than one-tenth of the +price the consumer pays. We purpose to show the readers of this book +how to have, in most instances, better articles than those they buy, +for a small percentage of the cost. To do this, we have, by our own +personal investigation, gathered a number of valuable recipes +together, and have paid for the privilege of using them. + +We give in "The Ladies' Book of Useful Information" twelve recipes +which have never before been published, and which, if you once +possess, you will never wish to be without, as they are truly valuable +secrets. + +The list is as follows: Healing salve; Magnetic croup cure; Worm +elixir; Brilliant self-shining stove polish; Wonderful starch enamel; +Royal washing powder; Magic annihilator; I X L baking powder; Electric +powder; French polish or dressing for leather; Artificial honey. + +It also contains a list of all the poisons and their antidotes. It +describes the symptoms of poisoning and how to proceed in each case. + + + + + CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER I. + +Teaches all about Personal Beauty. Every woman desires to be +beautiful, and every woman may enhance her charms and be lovely by +following the directions of this book. Few persons know how to improve +their natural looks so as to captivate, charm, and win the admiration +of those whom they meet. This book tells this wonderful secret--all +the ancients ever knew, and all that has been discovered since. It +teaches how to wonderfully improve the person in loveliness. The real +_secret_ of changing an ordinary looking person into one of great +beauty makes this book of great value. Nature does something for us, +but art must make the perfect man or woman. If you desire bright, +melting eyes; a clear, soft, rosy-tinted complexion; beautiful hands; +and graceful figure, well-developed and perfect, use the knowledge +which you will find in this book. + +It teaches how to conceal the evidence of age; how to make the most +stubbornly red and rough hands beautifully soft and white. Remember +that "The Ladies' Book of Useful Information" does not teach the use +of paint and powder, which is injurious to the skin, but how to make +the cheek glow with health, and the neck, arms, and hands to rival the +lily in whiteness. It teaches how to cure Greasy Skin, Freckles, +Wrinkles, Pimples, Blackheads, Crow's-feet, Blotches, Face Grubs, Tan, +Sunburn, Chapped Hands, Sore Lips, etc. It teaches how to cure and +prevent redness and roughness, and to make the skin soft, smooth, +white and delicate, producing a perfectly healthy and natural +appearance. It teaches how to cure and refine a coarse skin, so that +it will be clear and white. + +It teaches how to have soft, white and attractive hands, even though +compelled to do housework. Every lady desires to have nice hands, and +all may do so by following the directions of this chapter. + +It teaches how to care for the hair so as to improve the growth and to +have a beautiful and luxuriant head of hair; how to keep the skin of +the scalp healthy; to cure dandruff; to prevent the hair falling, and +to have it of a nice color. + +It teaches how to have clear and brilliant eyes, with beautiful, long, +drooping lashes. Also, how to cure sore and weak eyes. + +It teaches how to care for the teeth so as to have them white and +sound, telling how to treat those that are decayed, and how to prevent +the decay of sound ones. + +It teaches how to have beautiful ripe red lips, and how to cure sore +and chapped lips. + +It teaches how to cure Warts, Corns, Bruises, Sprains, Cold Feet, Bad +Breath, etc. + +The following formulas for Toilet Preparations are all given in this +book. They are vastly superior to the much-advertised cosmetics which +flood the market. Your druggist will fill any of these recipes for a +very small sum, and you will always have a superior article. Each of +these preparations will do exactly what is claimed for it. + +The following is a list of what is given in the first chapter: Lotion +to remove freckles and tan; To expel freckles; Cleopatra's Freckle +Balm; Lemon Cream, for sunburn and freckles; Wash to prevent sunburn; +Grape lotion, for sunburn; Pate Axerasive of Bozin, to soften and +whiten the skin; To remove red pimples; To remove black specks or +flesh-grubs; Preparation for whitening the face and neck (bleaches and +whitens the skin); To cure profuse perspiration; Cleopatra's Enamel +for whitening the hands and arms; To cure freckles, and parched, rough +skin; To purify the breath; To bleach and purify the skin of the face +and neck; To permanently remove black specks or flesh-worms; French +face-wash (purifies and brightens the complexion); To remove pimples; +Kalydor for the complexion--for pimples, freckle-tanned skin, or scurf +on the skin; To improve the skin; Wash a la Marie Antoinette (gives a +beautiful brilliancy to the complexion); Liquid Rouge (harmless), a +perfect imitation of nature; Milk of Roses, a cosmetic; Circassian +Cream; Toilet Vinegar; Bloom Rose; Certain cure for eruptions, +pimples, etc.; To clear the complexion and reduce the size of the +face; To cure and refine a stippled or blotched skin; To cure and +prevent wrinkles; Wash for wrinkles; To remove wrinkles; How to have +brilliant, beautiful eyes; To cure weak eyes; To improve the +eyelashes; To cure weakness of eyes; How to have beautiful eyelashes; +To cure watery and inflamed eyes; To strengthen the sight; What to do +for nearsightedness; How to have a beautiful mouth and lips; To make +lip salve; French lip salve; German lip salve; To care for the teeth; +To cure toothache; Premium tooth powder; Feuchtwanger's tooth paste; +Fine tooth powder; Rye tooth powder; To cure foul breath; To have +white and beautiful teeth; For decayed teeth; To remove yellow color +from teeth; Camphor paste; Powerfully cleansing dentifrice; +Infallible cure for toothache; Mixture for decayed teeth; To whiten +and beautify the teeth. + +How to have soft, white and beautiful hands; How to care for the +hands; Bleaching lotion for the hands (renders them beautifully +white); To remove stains from hands; To make the hands white and +delicate; Remedy for chapped hands; To whiten coarse and dark-skinned +hands; To cure red hands; Almond paste for the hands; To care for the +nails. + +To cause the skin to become satin-smooth and to smell like violets. + +To cause those who have lost the bloom and fairness of early youth to +regain them. + +How to care for the hair; How often to wash the hair; To improve the +growth and luxuriance of the hair; To make the hair glossy; To impart +curliness or waviness to the hair when it is naturally straight; On +changing the color of the hair; To have elegant hair; Wild Rose +curling fluid; To cause the hair to grow very thick; Lola Montez hair +coloring; Hair Restorative; For bald heads; Excellent hair wash; To +cure baldness; Stimulants for the hair; The golden hair secret; For +keeping the hair crimped or curled in summer; To bleach the hair; For +improving the hair; Pomade for preserving the hair; To make the hair +grow and to prevent it from falling; To make the hair grow quick; Wash +for scald heads, etc. + +Powders and their use: Boston Burnet powder for the face; Queen Bess +complexion wash. + + + CHAPTER II. + +Treats of miscellaneous matters: The human temperaments--How many +there are--What they are; How to tell to which temperament you belong. + +The fortunate and unfortunate days of the month; Days of the week, and +their importance at the natal hour. + +Important advice to females. + +To know whom you will marry. + +The signs of a good genius. + +Electrical Psychology, or Psychological Fascination. + +Mesmerism. + +How to make persons at a distance think of you. + +How to win the love of the person whom you love. + + + CHAPTER III. + +A special chapter for young women: On marriage; What young women look +forward to; What it is best to do when a prospect of marrying occurs; +What a husband looks for; What marriage affords; On making yourself +cheap; How to protect yourself; About courtship; Care of your +character; How easily men are led astray, and how cautious you should +be; What state of life is most honorable; Important points for your +consideration; To make a husband happy; Nature of young women; On +attracting the attention of young men; Young man's part; Young woman's +part; Parents' wishes; How young men act in female company; Modesty; +Courtship; On near relations marrying; On dress; What men need wives +for; A mother's pleasure at the birth of her first child; How +differently girls and boys are constituted; What young people should +study before they become engaged. + + + CHAPTER IV. + +Love and marriage; The attraction of the sexes for each other; What +love is; What causes love; Individual loves; Fondness for cousins; +Different kinds of love; Flirtation; Monogamy; Polygamy; The special +object of marriage; Should marriage be for life. + + + CHAPTER V. + +When to marry; How to select a partner on right principles; Very early +marriages; The best age to marry; When marriages are most happy; The +attributes of a handsome couple. + + + CHAPTER VI. + +Sexual Intercourse--Its laws and conditions--Its use and abuse: A +prevalent error; The law of sexual morality; What men expect; How men +and women should live; Age of puberty to marriage; The law of +marriage; What a man who truly loves a woman will do; A true union; +Seduction; How women are protected; The false and the true sense of +duty. What is the most powerful restraint from evil. + + + CHAPTER VII. + +Marriage: What marriage is; How far back the marriage tie has existed; +Polygamy--What it is; Monogamy--What it is; Polyandry--What it is; +Marriage customs; The basis of a happy marriage. + + + CHAPTER VIII. + +Pregnancy--Labor--Parturition: The signs of pregnancy; The changes +that take place in the appearance; How soon after conception these +changes take place; The period of gestation; Changes in the breasts; +What causes labor; How labor may be rendered safe and easy; What the +diet should consist of; The period of quickening; How to relieve the +toothache, cramping of the legs, palpitation of the heart, morning +sickness, etc., with which pregnant women are liable to be troubled; +Sure test for the detection of pregnancy; Parturient Balm, a very +important medicine; Abortion; Premature labor; The cause of abortion; +Symptoms of threatened abortion; What to do for a threatened abortion; +What to do for miscarriage; To prevent miscarriage. + + + CHAPTER IX. + +Menstruation: The time of life at which it should appear; Signs of +approaching puberty; Duty of mothers; Delayed and obstructed +menstruation--What to do for it; Chlorosis, or green sickness--What to +do for it--What it is caused by; Too profuse menstruation--How to +treat it; Painful menstruation, or menstrual colic--How to treat it; +Amenorrhoea, or suppressed menstruation--What causes this, and how +to treat it. + +Cessation of the menses, or change of life: Very important advice is +given as to the way in which the patient should treat herself, which, +if followed, will be of great benefit. + +Falling of the Womb: What causes it, and how the patient should be +treated. + +Leucorrhoea--Whites--Flour Albus: What this disease is; What causes +it; How to relieve and cure it. + + + CHAPTER X. + +Collection of valuable Medical Compounds: Magic kidney and liver +restorer; Hop bitters; Alterative or liver powders; Anti-dyspeptic +pills; Dyspeptic ley (sure cure for dyspepsia); Ague pills; Certain +remedy for ague or intermittent fever; Fever powders; Ague drops; +Pills for neuralgia; Sick headache pills; Anodyne headache pills; +Rheumatic pills; Pills for dysentery; Epileptic pills; Pills for +asthma; Hysteric pills; Pills for neuralgia; Cure for bleeding of the +lungs; Cure for consumption; Cough syrup; Soothing cough mixture; +Expectorant tincture; Sure remedy for bowel complaints; Cordial for +summer complaint; Scrofulous syrup; Eyewater; Tincture for rheumatism; +Worm elixir; Dr. Jordan's cholera remedy; Pile ointment (sure cure); +To cure warts and corns; Cure for deafness; Cure for inverted +toe-nail. + + + CHAPTER XI. + +Things for the Sick Room. Tells how to prepare the following articles +for the sick and convalescent: Barley water; Sage tea; Refreshing +drink for fevers; Arrowroot jelly; Irish moss jelly; Isinglass jelly; +Tapioca jelly; Toast; Rice; Bread jelly; Rice gruel; Water gruel; +Arrowroot gruel; Beef liquid; Beef tea; Panado; French milk porridge; +Coffee milk; Drink for dysentery; Crust coffee; Cranberry water; Wine +whey; Mustard whey; Chicken broth; Calves'-foot jelly; Slippery elm +jelly; Nutritive fluids; Gum acacia restorative; Soups for the +convalescent; Eggs; Milk for infants; Water gruel. + + + CHAPTER XII. + +Things Curious and Useful: To get clear of mosquitoes; To get rid of +bedbugs; To obtain fresh-blown flowers in winter; To increase the +laying of eggs in hens; The art of transferring on to glass; To +prevent horses being teased by flies; To prevent flies lighting on +windows, pictures, mirrors, etc.; To make leather wear forever; To +prepare waterproof boots; To render paper fireproof; To cure +drunkenness; To cure laziness; To take leaf photographs; To make lamp +wicks indestructible; To make different kinds of perfumes; To write +secret letters; To preserve flowers. + + + CHAPTER XIII. + +Home Decoration: On furnishing a house; How to furnish the Parlor, +Library, Dining-room, Hall, Chambers, and Kitchen; Telling the proper +way of arranging each room tastefully and economically. + + + CHAPTER XIV. + +How to Care for House Plants: How to succeed with plants; A good +collection of plants; To kill the spider; To start slips; To keep +plants without a fire at night; To kill rose-slugs; On watering +plants. + +To prepare autumn leaves and ferns; To prepare skeleton leaves; Pretty +hanging baskets. + + + CHAPTER XV. + +The Laundry: To make washing fluid; Gall soap; For washing woolens and +fine prints; To take out scorch; To make bluing; To make coffee +starch; To make flour starch; To make fine starch; Enamel for shirt +bosoms; To clean articles made of white zephyr; To clean velvet; To +clean ribbons; To take out paint; To remove ink stain; To take out +fruit stains; To remove iron rust; To take out mildew; To wash +flannels in tepid water. + + + CHAPTER XVI. + +How to do your own Stamping and make your own Patterns: The articles +needed for stamping; To make perforated patterns; To enlarge designs; +To stamp; To make blue powder; To do French indelible stamping; To +make paint for stamping; The proper brush to use; To make a +distributor; To care for patterns. + + + CHAPTER XVII. + +Bronze Work: What bronze work is; The articles required for doing +bronze work; The art of making a vase in bronze; A motto; A floral +basket; Copper bronze statuary; The art of making exotic leaves; To +make leaves and flowers, etc.; Decalcomania--The uses to which it may +be put. + + + CHAPTER XVIII. + +A chapter of useful things to know. How to prepare: Healing salve; +Magnetic croup cure; Worm elixir; Brilliant self-shining stove polish; +Wonderful starch enamel; Royal washing powder; Magic annihilator; I X +L baking powder; Electric powder; French polish, or dressing for +leather; Artificial honey. Table of poisons and their antidotes. + + + + + THE LADIES' BOOK + OF + USEFUL INFORMATION. + + + + + CHAPTER I. + + PERSONAL BEAUTY. + + Treating of the Care of the Skin, Hair, Teeth, and Eyes, + so as to have each arrive at the highest degree + of beauty of which each is capable. + + +A great object of importance, of care to every lady, is the care of +her complexion. There is nothing more pleasing to the eye than a +delicate, smooth skin; and besides being pleasing to the eye, is an +evidence of health, and gives additional grace to the most regular +features. The choice of soaps has considerable influence in promoting +and maintaining this desideratum. These should invariably be selected +of the finest kinds, and used sparingly, and never with cold water, +for the alkali which, more or less, mingles in the composition of all +soaps has an undoubted tendency to irritate a delicate skin; warm +water excites a gentle perspiration, thereby assisting the skin to +throw off those natural secretions which, if allowed to remain, are +likely to accumulate below the skin and produce roughness, pimples, +and even eruptions of an obstinate and unpleasant character. Those +soaps which ensure a moderate fairness and flexibility of the skin are +the most desirable for regular use. + +Pomades, when properly prepared, contribute in an especial manner to +preserve the softness and elasticity of the skin, their effect being +of an emollient and congenial nature; and, moreover, they can be +applied on retiring to rest, when their effects are not liable to be +disturbed by the action of the atmosphere, muscular exertions or +nervous influences. + +The use of paints has been very correctly characterized as "a species +of corporeal hypocrisy as subversive of delicacy of mind as it is of +the natural complexion," and has been, of late years, discarded at the +toilette of every lady. + +The use of cosmetics has been common in all ages and in every land. +Scripture itself records the painting of Jezebel; and Ezekiel, the +prophet, speaks of the eye-painting common among the women; and +Jeremiah, of rending the face with painting--a most expressive term +for the destruction of beauty by such means. For the surest destroyers +of real beauty are its simulators. The usurper destroys the rightful +sovereign. + +That paint can ever deceive people, or really add beauty for more than +the duration of an acted charade or play, when "distance lends +enchantment to the view," is a delusion; but it is one into which +women of all times and nations have fallen--from the painted Indian +squaw to the rouged and powdered denizen of London or Paris. + +Milk was the favorite cosmetic of the ladies of ancient Rome. They +applied plasters of bread and ass's milk to their faces at night, and +washed them off with milk in the morning. + +As a cosmetic, milk would be harmless, but we doubt its power of +improving the skin. As a beverage, no doubt, it whitens the complexion +more than any other food. + +But before we speak of improving the complexion, it will be well to +explain to our readers the nature and properties of the skin. + +This is what an American physician has recently told us about it:-- + + + THE SKIN--ITS BEAUTY, USES, CONSTRUCTION, MANAGEMENT, ETC. + +Every person knows what the skin is, its external appearance, and its +general properties; but there are many of my readers who may not be +aware of its peculiar and wonderful construction, its compound +character, and its manifold uses. It not merely acts as an organ of +sense, and a protection to the surface of the body, but it clothes it, +as it were, in a garment of the most delicate texture and of the most +surpassing loveliness. In perfect health it is gifted with exquisite +sensibility, and while it possesses the softness of velvet, and +exhibits the delicate hues of the lily, the carnation, and the rose, +it is nevertheless gifted with extraordinary strength and power of +resisting external injury, and is not only capable of repairing, but +of actually renewing itself. Though unprotected with hair, wool or +fur, or with feathers or scales, as with the brute creation, the human +skin is furnished with innumerable nerves, which endow it with extreme +susceptibility to all the various changes of climate and of weather, +and prompt the mind to provide suitable materials, in the shape of +clothing, to shield it under all the circumstances in which it can be +placed. + +The importance of the due exposure of the body to daylight or sunlight +cannot be too strongly insisted on. Light and warmth are powerful +agents in the economy of our being. The former especially is an +operative agent on which health, vigor, and even beauty itself, +depend. Withdraw the light of the sun from the organic world, and all +its various beings and objects would languish and gradually lose those +charms which are now their characteristics. In its absence, the +carnation tint leaves the cheek of beauty, the cherry hue of the lips +changes to a leaden-purple, the eyes become glassy and expressionless, +and the complexion assumes an unnatural, cadaverous appearance that +speaks of sickness, night and death. So powerful is daylight, so +necessary to our well-being, that even its partial exclusion, or its +insufficient admission to our apartments, soon tells its tale in the +feeble health, the liability to the attacks of disease, and the pallid +features (vacant and sunken, or flabby, pendent and uninviting) of +their inmates. Even the aspect of the rooms in which we pass most of +our time, and the number and extent of their windows, is perceptible, +by the trained eye, in the complexion and features of those that +occupy them. So in the vegetable world--the bright and endlessly +varied hues of flowers, and their sweet perfumes--even their very +production--depend on sunlight. In obscure light plants grow lanky and +become pale and feeble. They seldom produce flowers, and uniformly +fail to ripen their seeds. In even partial darkness the green hue of +their foliage gradually pales and disappears, and new growths, when +they appear, are blanched or colorless. + +The best method of keeping the skin clean and healthy, by ablution and +baths, may here be alluded to. The use of these, and the washing of +the skin that forms part of the daily duties of the toilet, appear to +be very simple matters, but writers on the subject differ in opinion +as to the methods to be followed to render them perfect cleansers of +the skin. Some of them regard the use of soap and water applied in the +form of lather with the hands, and afterwards thoroughly removed from +the skin by copious affusions, rinsing or sluicing with water, or +immersion in it, as the best method. This is probably the case when +the skin is not materially dirty, or its pores or surface obstructed +or loaded with the residual solid matter of the perspiration or its +own unctuous exudation and exuviæ. To remove these completely and +readily, something more than simple friction with the smooth hand is +generally required. In such cases the use of a piece of flannel or +serge, doubled and spread across the hand, or of a mitten of the same +material, will be most ready and effective. Friction with this--first +with soap, and afterwards with water to wash the soap off--will be +found to cleanse the skin more thoroughly and quickly than any other +method, and, by removing the worn-out portion of its surface, to +impart to it a healthy glow and hue that is most refreshing and +agreeable. This effect will be increased by wiping and rubbing the +surface thoroughly dry with a coarse and moderately rough, but not a +stiff, towel, instead of with the fine, smooth diapers which are now +so commonly employed. At the bath, the fleshbrush usually provided +there will supersede the necessity of using the flannel. + +The small black spots and marks frequently observed on the skin in hot +weather, particularly on the face, generally arise from the +accumulation of the indurated solid matter of the perspiration in its +pores. When they assume the form of small pimples (_acne punctata_), +and often when otherwise, they may be removed by strong pressure +between the fingers, or between the nails of the opposite fingers, +followed by the use of hot, soapy water. + +The subsequent daily application of a weak solution of bichloride of +mercury--as in the form commonly known as Gowland's lotion--or of +sulphate of zinc, will completely remove the swelling, and generally +prevent their re-formation. + +=Eruptions= are too well known to need any lengthy description here. +They are usually classified, by writers on the subject, into: +animalcular eruptions, or those due to the presence of animalcula +(minute acari) in the scarfskin, which occasion much irritation, and +of which the itch furnishes a well-marked example; papular eruptions, +or dry pimples; pustular eruptions, or mattery pimples, of which some +forms are popularly known as crusted tetters; scaly eruptions, or dry +tetters; and vesicular eruptions, or watery pimples. + +The treatment of all of the above, except the first, in simple cases, +where there is not much constitutional disarrangement, consists mainly +in attention to the general principles of health, cleanliness, +exercise, food, ventilation, and clothing. Occasional doses of mild +saline aperients (Epsom salts, cream of tartar, or phosphate of soda, +or of sulphur combined with cream of tartar) should be taken, and warm +or tepid bathing, preferably in sea-water, or, if not convenient, rain +water, frequently had recourse to. Stimulants of all kinds should be +avoided, and the red meats, ripe fruits, and the antiscorbutic +vegetables should form a considerable portion of the diet. Lemonade, +made by squeezing the juice of a lemon into a half-pint tumbler full +of water, and sweetening with a little sugar, should be frequently and +liberally taken as one of the best beverages in such cases. To relieve +the itching and irritation (except in the pustular, crusted, and +vesicular varieties), brisk friction with a fleshbrush or a fleshglove +may be employed. The parts should also be wetted with an appropriate +lotion after each friction or bath, or the use of soap and water. + +In all the scaly eruptions, iodide of potassium internally, and +ioduretted or sulphuretted lotions or baths are invaluable. In many of +them of a malignant or obstinate character, as _Lepra Psoriasis_, +_Lupus_, etc., small doses of solution of arsenite of potassa (liquor +arsenicalis; the dose, from 3 to 5 drops, gradually and cautiously +increased to 7 to 9 drops, twice a day, after a meal) prove highly +serviceable. In the forms of psoriasis popularly called baker's itch, +grocer's itch, and washer-woman's itch, the application of ointment of +nitrate of mercury, diluted with ten or twelve times its weight of +lard, has been highly recommended. A course of sarsaparilla is also in +most cases advantageous. + +The small, hard, distinct pimples--"acne, or acne simplex" of medical +writers--that occur on the forehead, and occasionally on the temples +and chin, generally yield to stimulating lotions, consisting of equal +parts of strong vinegar, or spirit, and water, or to weak lotions of +sulphate of zinc, assisted by occasional doses of cooling laxatives, +as the salines, or a mixture of sulphur or cream of tartar. + +=Freckles=, or the round or oval-shaped yellowish or brownish-yellow +spots, resembling stains, common on the face and the backs of the +hands of persons with a fair and delicate skin who are much exposed to +the direct rays of the sun in hot weather, are of little importance in +themselves, and have nothing to do with the general health. Ladies who +desire to remove them may have recourse to the frequent application of +dilute spirit, or lemon juice, or a lotion formed by adding acetic, +hydrochloric, nitric, or sulphuric acid, or liquor of potassa, to +water, until it is just strong enough to slightly prick the tongue. +One part of good Jamaica rum to two parts of lemon juice or weak +vinegar is a good form of lotion for the purpose. The effect of all +these lotions is increased by the addition of a little glycerine. + +The preceding are also occasionally called "common freckles," "summer +freckles," and "sun freckles." In some cases they are very persistent, +and resist all attempts to remove them while the exposure that +produces them is continued. Their appearance may be prevented by the +greater use of the veil, parasol or sunshade, or avoidance of exposure +to the sun during the heat of the day. + +Another variety, popularly known as cold freckles, occur at all +seasons of the year, and usually depend on disordered health or some +disturbance of the natural functions of the skin. Here the only +external application that proves useful is the solution of bichloride +of mercury and glycerine, or Gowland's lotion. + +=The Itch=--"psora" and "scabies," of medical authors; the "gale" of the +French,--already referred to, in its common forms is an eruption of +minute vesicles, generally containing animalcula (acari), and of which +the principal seats are between the fingers, bend of the wrist, etc. +It is, accompanied by intense itching of the parts affected, which is +only aggravated by scratching. The usual treatment is with sulphur +ointment (simple or compound) well rubbed in once or twice a day; a +spoonful (more or less) of flowers of sulphur, mixed with treacle or +milk, being taken at the same time, night and morning. Where the +external use of sulphur is objectionable, on account of its smell, a +sulphuretten bath or lotion, or one of chloride of lime, may be used +instead. In all cases extreme cleanliness, with the free use of soap +and water, must be strictly adhered to. + +The small, soft discolorations and excrescences of the skin, popularly +called moles, may be removed by touching them every second or third +day with strong acetic or nitric acid, or with lunar caustic. If +covered with hair they should be shaved first. + +=Extreme paleness= of the skin, when not symptomatic of any primary +disease, generally arises from debility, or from the languid +circulation of the blood at the surface of the body; often, also, from +insufficient or improper food, want of outdoor exercise, and the like. +The main treatment is evident. Warm baths, friction, and stimulating +lotions and cosmetics may be here employed, together with a course of +some mild chalbeate (as the lactate, protophosphate, or +ammonia-citrate of iron) and hypophosphate of soda. + +=Roughness and Coarseness= of the skin, when not depending on any +particular disease, may be removed or greatly lessened by daily +friction with mild unguents or oil, or by moistening the parts, night +and morning, with a weak solution of bichloride of mercury containing +a little glycerine. + +=Rashes and redness= of the skin, of a common character, often arise +from very trifling causes, among which indigestion, suppressed +perspiration, irritation, and the like, are the most frequent. Nettle +rash or urticaria, so called from the appearance and tingling +sensations resembling those caused by the sting of nettles, in some +people, is very apt to follow the use of indigestible and unwholesome +food. It is usually of short duration and recurrent. The treatment +consists in the administration of mild saline aperients, and, in +severe cases, of an emetic, particularly when the stomach is still +loaded with indigestible matter. These should be followed by copious +use of lemonade made from the fresh expressed juice. The patient +should be lightly but warmly clothed during the attack, and exposure +to the cold, or to draughts of cold air, should be carefully avoided. +The further treatment may be similar to that noticed under +"eruptions." To prevent the recurrence of the attack, the +objectionable articles of food, and any other known exciting causes, +must be avoided. Red rash, red blotch, or fiery spot, a common +consequence of disordered health, a sudden fit of dyspepsia, and, in +females, of tight lacing, and rose rash, false measles, or roseola, +having commonly a similar origin to the preceding, for the most part +require the same treatment. + +=Scurf=--"furfur or furfura"--is a formation depending on the natural +and healthy exfoliation of the skin on every part of the body on which +hair or down grows, but most extensive and observable on the scalp, on +account of the abundance and darker color of the hair there. +Scurfiness, or excessive scurfiness, is the result of morbid action, +and may be treated by the frequent use of the fleshbrush or hairbrush, +ablution with soap and water, and the use of mild stimulating, +astringent, or detergent lotions. + +=Scurvy=--"scorbutus" of medical writers--is a disease which, even in +its incipient and early stages, when its presence is often +unsuspected, is most injurious to the skin and complexion. It usually +commences with unnatural sallowness, debility, and low spirits. As it +proceeds, the gums become sore, spongy, and apt to bleed on the +slightest pressure or friction; the teeth loosen, and the breath +acquires a foetid odor; the legs swell, eruptions appear on +different parts of the body, and at length the patient sinks under +general emaciation, diarrhoea, and hemorrhages. Its chief cause is +improper food, or, rather, the absence or insufficient supply of fresh +meat and vegetables in the diet; to which cold, humidity, want of +exercise and fresh air may be added as secondary ones. Hence its +frequent, fatal visitations formerly on shipboard, and its still +occasional occurrence in ill-victualled ships during long voyages. The +treatment mainly consists in adopting a liberal diet of fresh animal +food and green vegetables, with ripe food and an ample allowance of +mild ale or beer, or lemonade made from the fresh expressed juice, as +beverages. In serious cases, tonics, as quinine and steel, should also +be administered. + +=Wrinkles= and looseness of the skin depend chiefly on the attenuation +of the cutis or true skin and the reduction in the bulk of the +underlying surfacial portions of the body. They cannot be regarded as +a disease of the skin; but are the result of long continued bad +health, anxiety and study, and of general emaciation and old age. +Cleanliness, nutritious food, vigorous outdoor exercise, agreeable +occupation of the mind, and an equable and happy temper, retard their +formation. Whatever tends to promote the general health and to +increase the bulk of the body, and particularly the disposition of fat +in the cellular tissues, also tends to remove them and to increase the +smoothness and beauty of the skin. The free and frequent use of warm +water and soap, followed by the daily use of mild, stimulating, +cosmetic lotions or fomentations, or friction with warm oil of a like +character, and cod-liver oil internally, is all that art can do for +the purpose. + +=Excoriations=, in popular language, are those cases of soreness +produced by chafing under the arms, behind the ears, and in the +wrinkles and folds of the skin generally. They occur chiefly in +infancy, and in stout persons with a delicate skin, who perspire +excessively. Extreme cleanliness, and carefully wiping the parts dry +after washing, with the subsequent use of a little violet powder, or +finely powdered starch, or French chalk scraped or grated very fine, +dusted over the parts once or twice a day, will generally remove them +and prevent their recurrence. + + + WASHES FOR THE FACE. + +We do not approve of face washes, but as some ladies will use them, we +recommend the following as harmless: Dampen with glycerine tempered +with rose-water, then powder with the finest magnesia. It imparts a +charming whiteness. + +Less harmless, but more frequently used, is to procure five cents' +worth of bismuth, of flake white, and of powdered chalk; mix with five +cents' worth of rose-water. Great care must be taken to wash off this +preparation before retiring to rest, as the bismuth is of a hurtful +nature. + +=To Remove Freckles.=--Freckles are of two kinds: Those occasioned by +exposure to the sunshine, and consequently evanescent, are denominated +"summer freckles"; those which are constitutional and permanent are +called "cold freckles." With regard to the latter, it is impossible to +give any advice which will be of value. They result from causes not to +be affected by mere external applications. Summer freckles are not +difficult to deal with, and with a little care the skin may be kept +free from this cause of disfigurement by using either of the following +lotions:-- + +First: Scrape horse-radish into a cup of sour milk, let it stand +twelve hours, strain, and apply two or three times a day. + +Second: Into half a pint of milk squeeze the juice of a lemon, with a +spoonful of brandy, and boil, skimming well; add a dram of rock alum. +Apply freely. + +=Magic Lotion for Removing Freckles.=--Dissolve three grains of borax in +five drams each of rose-water and orange-flower water. A splendid and +harmless remedy is equal parts of pure glycerine and rose-water, +applied every night and allowed to dry on the skin. + +=To Remove Freckles and Tan.=--Tincture of benzoin, one pint; tincture +of tolu, one-half pint; oil rosemary, one-half ounce. Put one +teaspoonful of the above mixture in one-quarter pint of water, and +then with a towel thoroughly bathe the face. Do this every night and +morning. + +=To Expel Freckles.=--Finely powdered nitre is excellent. Apply it to +the face with the finger moistened with water and dipped in the +powder. + +=Cleopatra's Freckle Balm.=--A splendid article. Venice soap, one ounce; +lemon juice, half ounce; oil of bitter almonds, quarter ounce; +deliquidated oil of tartar, quarter ounce; oil of rhodium, three +drops. Dissolve the soap in the lemon juice, then add the two oils, +and put the whole in the sun till it acquires the consistency of +ointment, and then add the oil rhodium. Anoint the freckly face at +night with this balm, and wash in the morning with pure water. + +=Lemon Cream for Sunburn and Freckles.=--Put two spoonfuls of sweet +cream into half a pint of new milk, squeeze into it the juice of a +lemon, add half a glass of genuine French brandy, a little alum and +loaf sugar; boil the whole, skim it well, and when cool it is fit for +use. + +=Wash to Prevent Sunburn.=--Take two drams of borax, one dram of Roman +alum, one dram of camphor, half an ounce of sugar candy, one pound of +ox-gall. Mix and stir well together, and repeat the stirring three or +four times a day until it becomes transparent; then strain it through +filtering or blotting paper, and it will be fit for use. Wash the face +with the mixture before you go into the sun. + +=Grape Lotion for Sunburn.=--Dip a bunch of green grapes in a basin of +water; sprinkle it with powdered alum and salt mixed; wrap the grapes +in paper, and bake them under hot ashes; then express the juice, and +wash the face with the liquid, which will remove either freckles, tan +or sunburn. + +=To Soften and Whiten the Skin--Pate Axerasive of Bozin.=--This +celebrated perfume has the distinction of being highly commended by +the French Royal Academy of Medicine. It is better for toilet use than +soaps, which contain alkali. + +Take powder of bitter almonds, eight ounces; oil of the same, twelve +ounces; savon vert of the perfumes, eight ounces; spermaceti, four +ounces; soap powder, four ounces; cinnabar, two drams; essence of +rose, one dram. Melt the soap and spermaceti with the oil in a bath +water; add the powder, and mix the whole in a marble mortar. It forms +a paste which softens and whitens the skin better than any soap. + +=To Remove Red Pimples.=--Sulphur water, one ounce; acetated liquor of +ammonia, quarter ounce; liquor of potassa, one grain; white wine +vinegar, two ounces; distilled water, two ounces. + +=To Remove Black Specks or Flesh-worms.=--Squeeze them by pressing the +skin, and then wash with warm water and rub well with a towel. Then +apply the following lotion: Liquor of potassa, one ounce; cologne, two +ounces. + +=Preparation for Whitening the Face and Neck.=--For bleaching and +purifying the skin of the face and neck, making them beautifully +smooth and white: Terebinth of Mecca, three grains; oil of sweet +almonds, four ounces; spermaceti, two drams; flour of zinc, one dram; +white wax, two drams; rose-water, six drams. Mix in a bath water, and +melt together. After washing, before retiring (use water as hot as can +be borne), anoint the face and neck freely with this preparation. + +=To Cure Profuse Perspiration.=--Bathe the hands, feet, and parts of the +body where the perspiration is greatest, with a cold infusion of +rosemary and sage, and afterwards dust the stockings and +under-garments with a mixture of two drams of camphor, four ounces of +orris root, and sixteen ounces of starch, the whole reduced to a fine +powder. Put the mixture in a coarse muslin bag, and shake it over the +clothes. + +=Cleopatra's Enamel for Whitening the Hands and Arms.=--One ounce of +myrrh, four ounces of honey, two ounces of yellow wax, six ounces of +rose-water. Mix well together the wax, honey and rose-water in a dish +held over boiling water, and add the myrrh while hot. Rub this thickly +over the skin before going to bed. + +=To Cure Freckles and Parched or Rough Skin.=--Take one ounce of sweet +almonds, or of pistachia nuts, half a pint of elder or rose-water, and +one ounce of pure glycerine; grate the nuts and put the powder in a +little linen or cotton bag, and squeeze it for several minutes in the +rose-water; then add the glycerine and a little perfume. Use it by +wetting the face two or three times a day. This is a grateful +application for a parched, rough skin, and is good for the removal of +freckles. It should be allowed to dry thoroughly. When it feels pasty +or sticky it may be washed off with a little warm water without soap. + + + TO PURIFY THE BREATH. + +There is nothing more disagreeable to people with whom we associate +than for them to be able to detect a bad odor from our breath when in +their company. Yet a great many are afflicted in this way. The +following will purify and sweeten the breath: Chlorate of lime, seven +drams; vanilla sugar, three drams; gumeratic, five drams. Mix well +with warm water to a stiff paste, and cut into lozenges. Take a +lozenge occasionally. + + + TO BLEACH AND PURIFY THE SKIN OF THE FACE AND NECK. + +A celebrated physician gives the following as a good skin bleacher and +purifier: Half a pint of skim milk; slice into it as much cucumber as +it will cover, and let it stand an hour; then bathe the face, neck, +and hands. Wash them off with clean soft water when the cucumber +extract is dry. If the skin is rough from exposure to the wind, an +application of buttermilk at night, washed off with fine carbolic soap +in the morning, will make the skin smooth and natural. + +=To Permanently Remove Black Specks or "Flesh-worms."=--Sometimes little +black specks appear about the base of the nose, or on the forehead, or +in the hollow of the chin, which are called flesh-worms, and are +occasioned by coagulated lymph that obstructs the pores of the skin. +They may be squeezed out by pressing the skin, and ignorant people +suppose them to be little worms. They are permanently removed by +washing with very warm water, and severe friction with a towel and +then applying a little of the following preparation: Liquor of +potassa, one ounce; cologne, two ounces; white brandy, four ounces. + +=French Face Wash Purifies and Brightens the Complexion.=--Take equal +parts of the seeds of the melon, pumpkin, gourd, and cucumber, pounded +till they are reduced to powder; add to it sufficient fresh cream to +dilute the flour, and then add milk enough to reduce the whole to a +thick paste. Add a grain of musk and a few drops of the oil of lemon. +Anoint the face with this, leave it on twenty or thirty minutes, or +over night if convenient, and wash off with warm water. It gives a +remarkable purity and brightness to the complexion. + +Or, try this; splendid.--Infuse a handful of well-sifted wheat bran +for four hours in white wine vinegar; add to it five yolks of eggs and +two grains of musk, and distill the whole. Bottle it, keep carefully +corked for fifteen days, when it will be fit for use. Apply over +night, and wash in the morning with tepid water. + +=To Remove Pimples.=--There are many kinds of pimples, some of which +partake almost of the nature of ulcers, which require medical +treatment; but the small red pimple, which is most common, may be +removed by applying the following twice a day: Sulphur water, one +ounce; acetated liquid of ammonia, one-quarter ounce; liquor of +potassa, one grain; white wine vinegar, two ounces; distilled water, +two ounces. These pimples are sometimes cured by frequent washing in +warm water and prolonged friction with a coarse towel. The cause of +these pimples is obstruction of the skin and imperfect circulation. + +=To Remove Tan.=--_Creme de'l Enclos._--New milk, half a pint; lemon +juice, one-quarter ounce; white brandy, half ounce. Boil the whole and +skim it clear from all scum. Use night and morning. + +=A Cosmetic Bath.=--Take two pounds of barley or bean flour, eight +pounds of bran, and a few handfuls of Borage leaves. Boil these +ingredients in a sufficient quantity of spring water. This both +cleanses and softens the skin in a superior manner. + +=Kalydor for the Complexion.=--For pimples, freckle-tanned skin, or +scurf on the skin. Take emulsion of bitter almonds, one pint; +oxymuriate of quicksilver, two and one-half pints; sal ammoniac, one +dram. To be used moderately by means of a sponge, after washing the +face and hands with pure soap and warm water. + +=To Improve the Skin.=--Take two ounces of Venice soap and dissolve it +in two ounces of lemon juice. Add one ounce of the oil of bitter +almonds and a like quantity of the oil of tartar. Mix the whole and +stir it well till it has acquired the consistence of soap, and use it +as such for the hands. The paste of sweet almonds, which contains an +oil fit for keeping the skin soft and elastic and removing +indurations, may be beneficially applied to the hands and arms. + +=Wash a la Marie Antoinette.=--Gives a beautiful brilliancy to the +complexion. Take half a dozen lemons and cut them in small pieces, a +small handful of the leaves of white lilies and southernwood, and +infuse them in two quarts of cows milk, with an ounce and a half of +white sugar and an ounce of rock alum. These are to be distilled in +palneum mariæ. The face at bedtime is to be rubbed with this liquid, +and it will give a beautiful luster to the complexion. It is a safe +application, and its effects are certain. + +=Liquid Rouge.=--Harmless--a perfect imitation of nature. For ladies who +wish to use a little artificial bloom the following is recommended. A +liquid rouge to produce a perfect imitation of the colors of nature is +prepared as follows: Add to a pint of French brandy, half an ounce of +benzoin, an ounce of red sandalwood, half an ounce of Brazil wood and +the same quantity of rock alum. Cork the bottle carefully, shake it +well once a day, and at the end of twelve days it will be fit for use. +The cheeks are to be lightly touched with it. + +=Milk of Roses.=--This is a cosmetic. Pound an ounce of almonds in a +mortar very finely; then put in shavings of honey soap in a small +quantity. Add enough rose-water to enable you to work the composition +with the pestle into a fine cream; and in order that it may keep, add +to the whole an ounce of spirits of wine, by slow degrees. Scent with +otto of roses. Strain through muslin. Apply to the face with a sponge +or a piece of lint. + +=Circassian Cream.=--This celebrated preparation is made, according to a +published recipe, in this way: Castor oil, one pint; almond oil, four +ounces; liquid potassa, three drams; essence of bergamot, oil of +cloves, and oil of lemon, in equal quantities; and about a dozen drops +of otto of roses. + +=Toilet Vinegar.=--Add to the best malt vinegar, half a pint of cognac +and a pint of rose-water. Scent may be added, and if so, it should be +first mixed with the spirit before the other ingredients are put in. + +=Bloom Rose.=--This is a preparation of carmine for the face and lips. +Take a quarter of a dram of carmine and place it in a phial with half +a dram of liquid ammonia; keep for a few days, occasionally shaking +the mixture; then dilute with two ounces of rose-water, to which half +a dram of essence of roses has been added. Draw off and keep a week or +ten days, then apply with the corner of a soft handkerchief, taking +care that if the color is too bright it is reduced by means of pure +water. + +=Certain Cure for Eruptions, Pimples, Etc.=--Having in numerous +instances seen the good effects of the following prescription, I can +certify to its perfect remedy: Dilute corrosive sublimate with the oil +of almonds, apply it to the face occasionally, and in few days a cure +will be effected. + +=To Clear the Complexion, and Reduce the Size.=--It is essential that +the blood should be cleansed. Take a teaspoonful of powdered charcoal, +mixed with water or honey, for three successive nights, then use a +seidlitz powder to remove it from the system. It acts splendidly upon +the system and purifies the blood; but under no circumstances must the +physic be neglected to carry the chemicals from the system; if not, +ill effects are certain to follow. + +=To Cure and Refine a Stippled or Blotched Skin.=--A small dose of +teraxacum every other night will most materially aid in refining the +skin. It is a month's or six weeks' job to accomplish the desired +result. You must also wear a mask of quilted cotton, wet in cold +water, over night. Do not get discouraged, for it is worth the +trouble. + + + TO CURE AND PREVENT WRINKLES. + +=Pomade d'Hebe.=--This pomade is used for the removal of wrinkles. To +make: Melt white wax, one ounce, to gentle heat; add juice of lily +bulbs, two ounces; add honey, two ounces; rose-water, two drams; and +otto of roses, a drop or two. Use twice a day. + +=Lotion for Wrinkles.=--Beautifies the face, preserves the freshness of +youth, and gives a beautiful brilliancy to the skin. Take the second +water of barley, one pint, and strain through a piece of fine linen; +add a dozen drops of the balm of Mecca; shake it well together until +the balm is thoroughly incorporated with the water, which will be +effected when the water assumes a whitish or turgid appearance. Before +applying, wash the face with soft water. If used once a day, this +lotion will beautify the face, remove wrinkles, preserve the freshness +of youth, and give a surprising brilliancy to the skin. + +=Wash for Wrinkles.=--Take two ounces of the juice of onions, two ounces +of the white lily, two ounces of Norboune honey, and one ounce of +white wax; put the whole into a new earthen pipkin until the wax is +melted, then take the pipkin (crock) off the fire, and continue +stirring briskly until the mixture grows cold. This should be applied +on going to bed and allowed to remain on till the morning. + +=To Remove Wrinkles.=--To one fluid ounce of tincture of gum benzoin add +seven fluid ounces of distilled rose-water and one-half ounce of +glycerine. Bathe face, neck, and hands with it at night, letting it +dry on. Wash off in the morning with a very little pure white castile +soap and soft water. This is a famous cosmetic, and has been sold +under various names. It is an excellent remedy for tan, freckles, and +sunburn also. + + + HOW TO HAVE BRILLIANT, BEAUTIFUL EYES. + +Beautiful eyes are the gift of nature; but even those of the greatest +beauty may owe something to the toilet, while those of an indifferent +kind are very susceptible of improvement. We entirely discountenance +any tampering with the eye itself, with a view to giving it luster or +brightness. The sight has often been injured by the use of belladonna, +preparations of the calabar bean, eyebright, and other substances +having a strong effect on the eyes. But without touching the eye +itself, it is possible to give the effect of brightness, softness, +etc., by means of the eyelids and eyelashes. Made-up eyes are by no +means desirable, and to many are singularly displeasing; but the same +may be said of made-up faces generally. Some ladies are, however, +persuaded that it adds to their charms to give the eyes a long, almond +shape--after the Egyptian type--while very many are persuaded that the +eye is not seen to advantage unless its apparent size is increased by +the darkening of the lids. Both these effects are produced by kohl, a +black powder, which may be procured at the chemist's, and is mixed +with rose-water and applied with a camel's-hair brush. + +=To Cure Weak Eyes.=--It is well to have on the toilet table a remedy +for inflamed eyes. Spermaceti ointment is simple and well adapted for +the purpose. Apply at night, and wash off with rose-water in the +morning. Golden ointment will serve a like purpose. Or, there is a +simple lotion made by dissolving a very small piece of alum and a +piece of lump sugar of the same size in a quart of water. Put the +ingredients into water cold and let them simmer. Bathe the eyes +frequently with it. Sties in the eyes are irritating and disfiguring. +Foment with warm water; at night apply a bread and milk poultice. When +a white head forms, prick it with a fine needle. Should the +inflammation be obstinate, a little citerine ointment may be applied, +care being taken that it does not get into the eye, and an aperient +should be tried. + +=To Improve the Eyelashes.=--Many people speak highly of this secret. +Trim the tiny points slightly, and anoint with this salve: Two drams +of ointment of nitric oxida of mercury, and one dram of lard. Mix the +lard and ointment well, and anoint the edges of the eyelids night and +morning, after each time, with milk and water. This will restore the +lashes when all other remedies fail. It is not known in this country, +and is a valuable secret. + +=To Cure Weakness of Eyes.=--Sulphate of copper, fifteen grains; +camphor, four grains; boiling water, four ounces. Mix, strain, and +when cold make up to four pints with water. Bathe the eyes night and +morning with a portion of the mixture. + +=How to Have Beautiful Eyelashes.=--The effect of the eyes is greatly +aided by beautiful eyelashes. These may be secured to a certain extent +by a little care, especially if it is taken early in life. The extreme +ends should be cut with a pair of small, sharp scissors, care being +taken to preserve the natural outline, not to leave jagged edges. +Attention to this matter results in the lengthening of the lashes. +Dyeing them is another expedient often resorted to for increasing +their effect. A good permanent black is all that is needed, and for +this use Indian ink. As an impromptu expedient to serve for one night, +a hairpin held for a few seconds in the flame of a candle, and drawn +through the lashes, will serve to color them well, and with sufficient +durability. It need scarcely be added that the hairpin must be +suffered to grow cold before it is used, or the consequence may be +that no eyelash will be left to color. Good eyebrows are not to be +produced artificially. It is possible, however, to prevent those that +are really good from degenerating through neglect. When wiping the +face dry after washing, pass a corner of the towel over the forefinger +and set the eyebrows in the form you wish them to assume. And when +oiling the hair, do not forget to oil the eyebrows also. + +=To Cure Watery and Inflamed Eyes.=--Foment frequently with decoction of +poppy heads. When the irritation and inflammation occur, a teaspoonful +of cognac brandy in four ounces of spring water may be used three or +four times in the course of the day as a strengthening lotion. + +=General Care of the Eyes.=--The eyes, of all the features, stand +pre-eminent for their beauty and ever-varying powers of expression, +and for being the organs of the most exalted, delicate and useful of +the senses. It is they alone that "reveal the external forms of beauty +to the mind, and enable it to perceive them, even at a distance, with +the speed of light. It is they alone that clothe the whole creation +with the magic charms of color, and fix on every object the identity +of figure. It is the eyes alone, or chiefly, that reveal the emotions +of the mind to others, and that clothe the features with the language +of the soul. Melting with pity, or glowing with hope, or redolent with +love, benevolence, desire, or emulation, they impart to the +countenance those vital fascinations which are the peculiar attributes +of man." "And when the mind is subdued by fear, anxiety or shame, or +overwhelmed by sorrow or despair, the eyes, like faithful chroniclers, +still tell the truthful story of the mental disquietude. And hatred, +anger, envy, pride, and jealousy, ambition, avarice, discontent, and +all the varied passions and emotions that torment, excite or depress +the human soul, and find a resting place in the human breast, obtain +expression in the eyes. At one moment the instruments of receiving and +imparting pleasure, at another the willing or passive instruments of +pain, their influences and changes are as varied and boundless as the +empire of thought itself." Through their silent expressions the mind +reveals its workings to the external world in signs more rapid and as +palpable as those uttered by the tongue. It is "the eyes alone that +stamp the face with the outward symbol of animation and vitality," and +which endue it with the visible "sanctity of reason." The eye is, +indeed, the chief and most speaking feature of the face, and the one +on whose excellence, more than any other, its beauty depends. + +Theories have been based on even the peculiar color of the eyes. Thus, +it is said that dark blue eyes are found chiefly in persons of +delicate, refined or effeminate mental character; light blue eyes, and +more particularly gray eyes, in the hardy and active; hazel eyes, in +the masculine, vigorous, and profound; black eyes, in those whose +energy is of a desultory or remittent character, and who exhibit +fickleness in pursuits and affection. Greenish eyes, it is asserted, +have the same general meaning as gray eyes, with the addition of +selfishness or a sinistrous disposition. These statements, however, +though based on some general truths, and supported by popular opinion, +are liable to so many exceptions as to be unreliable and valueless in +their individual applications. + +Shakespeare is said to have had hazel eyes; Swift, blue eyes; Milton, +Scott, and Byron, gray eyes. Wellington and Napoleon are also said to +have had gray eyes. + +A beautiful eye is one that is full, clear, and brilliant; appropriate +in color to the complexion, and in form to the features, and of which +the connected parts--the eyelids, eyelashes, and eyebrows, which, with +it, in a general view of the subject, collectively form the external +eye--are also beautiful, and in keeping with it. + +To increase the beauty and expression of the eyes, various means are +occasionally had recourse to, nearly all of which, except those herein +mentioned in connection with the eyelashes and eyebrows, are not +merely highly objectionable, but even dangerous. Thus, some +fashionable ladies and actresses, to enhance the clearness and +brilliancy of their eyes before appearing in public, are in the habit +of exposing them to air slightly impregnated with the vapor of prussic +acid. This is done by placing a single drop of the dilute acid at the +bottom of an eyecup or eyeglass, and then holding the cup or glass +against the eye for a few seconds, with the head in an inclined +position. It has also been asserted, and I believe correctly, that +certain ladies of the demimonde rub a very small quantity of +belladonna ointment on the brow over each eye, or moisten the same +part with a few drops of tincture of belladonna. This produces +dilation of the pupil, and gives that peculiar fullness and an +expression of languor to the eyes which, by some, is regarded as +exceedingly fascinating. The use of these active medicinals in this +way must be manifestly injurious; and when frequent, or long continued +or carried to excess, must necessarily result in impaired vision, if +not in actual blindness. + +The following means of repairing and restoring the sight, which has +for some time been going the round of the press, being based on +scientific principles, may be appropriately inserted here: + +For nearsightedness, close the eyes and pass the fingers, very gently, +several times across them outward, from the canthus, or corner next +the nose, towards the temple. This tends slightly to flatten the +corner and lens of the eye, and thus to lengthen or extend the angle +of vision. The operation should be repeated several times a day, or at +least always after making one's toilet, until shortsightedness is +nearly or completely removed. For long sight, loss of sight by age, +weak sight, and generally for all those defects which require the use +of magnifying glasses, gently pass the finger, or napkin, from the +outer angle or corner of the eyes inward, above and below the eyeball, +towards the nose. This tends slightly to "round up" the eyes, and thus +to preserve or to restore the sight. It should be done every time the +eyes are washed, or oftener. + + + TO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL MOUTH AND LIPS. + +The beauty of the human mouth and lips, the delicacy of their +formation and tints, their power of expression, which is only inferior +to that of the eyes, and their elevated position as the media with the +palate, tongue, and teeth, by which we communicate our thoughts to +others in an audible form, need scarcely be dilated on here. The poet +tells us that: + + "The lips of woman out of roses take + The tints with which they ever stain themselves. + They are the beautiful, lofty shelves + Where rests the sweetness which the young hours make, + And which the earnest boy, whom we call Love, + Will often sip in sorrow or in play. + Health, when it comes, doth ruddiness approve, + But his strong foe soon flatters it away! + Disease and health for a warm pair of lips, + Like York and Lancaster, wage active strife: + One on his banner front the White rose keeps, + And one the Red; and thus with woman's life, + Her lips are made a battle-field for those + Who struggle for the color of a rose." + +A beautiful mouth is one that is moderately small, and has a +well-defined and graceful outline; and beautiful lips are gracefully +molded, neither thick nor thin, nor compressed nor lax, and that are +endowed with expression and are tinted with the hues of health. + +The ladies of Eastern nations commonly heighten the hue and freshness +of their lips by means of cosmetics, a practice which in Western +Europe is only adopted on the stage, and occasionally by courtesans +and ladies of the demimonde. + +Chapped lips most frequently occur in persons with pale, bluish, moist +lips and a languid circulation, who are much exposed to the wind or +who are continually moving from heated apartments to the external air. +East and north-east winds are those that generally produce them. The +occasional application of a little cold cream, lip salve, spermaceti +ointment, or any other mild unguent, will generally prevent them, and +remove them when they have already formed. A still more elegant and +effective preventive and remedy is glycerine diluted with about twice +its weight of eau-de-rose, or glycerinated lip salve or balsam. + +The moist vesicular eruption of the lips, referred to above, may also +generally be prevented by the use of glycerine, or any of the +preparations just mentioned. After its accession, the best treatment +is to freely dust the affected portion of the lips with violet powder, +finely powdered starch, prepared chalk, or French chalk or talc +reduced to an impalpable powder by scraping or grating it. + +The following formulas of preparations are all valuable for +beautifying and preserving the beauty of the lips:-- + +=White Lip Salve--No. 1.=--Take half a pound spermaceti ointment, +liquify it by the heat of warm water, and stir in one-half dram neroli +or essence de petit-grain. In a few minutes pour off the clear portion +from the dregs (if any) and add twenty drops of oil of rose. Lastly, +before it cools, pour it into jars. + +=Lip Salve--No. 2.=--This indispensable adjunct to the toilet is made by +melting in a jar, placed in a basin of boiling water, a quarter of an +ounce each of white wax and spermaceti; flour of benzoin, fifteen +grains; and half an ounce of oil of almonds. Stir till the mixture is +cool. Color red with two-penny worth of alkanet root. Splendid for +keeping the lips healthy and of a beautiful crimson color. + +=French Lip Salve.=--Lard, twenty-six ounces; white wax, two ounces; +nitre and alum in fine powder, of each one-half ounce; alkanet to +color. + +=German Lip Salve.=--Butter of cacao, one-half ounce; oil of almonds, +one-quarter ounce; melt together with a gentle heat, and add six drops +of essence of lemon. + + + THE CARE OF THE TEETH. + +The influence which the teeth are capable of exercising on the +personal appearance is usually known and admitted. + +The teeth have formed especial objects of attention, in connection +with the toilet and cosmetic arts, from almost the earliest ages of +the world to the present time. History and tradition, and the +researches of archæologists among the remains of the prehistoric +nations of the East, show us that even dentistry may trace back its +origin to a date not very long subsequent to the "confusion of +tongues." + +We are told that the ancient Welsh took particular care of their +teeth, by frequently rubbing them with a stick of green hazel and a +woollen cloth. To prevent their premature decay, they scrupulously +avoided acid liquids, and invariably abstained from all hot food and +drink. + +Europeans pride themselves on teeth of pearly whiteness; but many +Asiatic nations regard them as beautiful only when of a black color. +The Chinese, in order to blacken them, chew what is called "betel" or +"betel nut," a common masticatory in the East. The Siamese and the +Tonquinese do the same, but to a still greater extent, which renders +their teeth as black as ebony, or more so. As the use of the +masticatory is generally not commenced until a certain age, the common +practice is to stain the teeth of the boys and girls with a strong +preparation of it, on the former attaining the age of ten or twelve. + +Keeping the lips apart and breathing through the mouth instead of the +nose, and, particularly, sleeping with the mouth open, are habits +which are very prejudicial to the teeth and gums. In this way the +mouth forms a trap to catch the dust and gritty particles floating in +the atmosphere, which soon mechanically injure the enamel of the teeth +by attrition. + +On the subject of cleanliness in connection with the teeth and mouth, +it may be said that the mouth cannot be too frequently rinsed during +the day, and that it should be more particularly so treated after each +meal. Pure cold water is the best for the purpose. It not only cleans +the teeth and mouth, but exerts a tonic action on the gums, which warm +water, or even tepid water, is deficient in. When cold water cannot be +tolerated, tepid water may be employed, the temperature being slightly +lowered once every week or ten days until cold water can be borne. +Every one who abhors a foetid breath, rotten teeth, and the +toothache, would do well to thoroughly clean his teeth at bedtime, +observing to well rinse the mouth with cold water on rising in the +morning, and again in the day once, or oftener, as the opportunities +occur. With smokers, the use of the toothbrush the last thing at night +is almost obligatory if they value their teeth and wish to avoid the +unpleasant flavor and sensation which teeth fouled with tobacco smoke +occasion in the mouth on awakening in the morning. + +As to tooth powders or pastes to be used with the brush, the simplest +are the best. Plain camphorated chalk, with or without a little finely +powdered pumice stone or burnt hartshorn, is a popular and excellent +tooth powder. It is capable of exerting sufficient friction under the +brush to ensure pearly whiteness of the teeth without injuring the +enamel, whilst the camphor in it tends to destroy the animalcula in +the secretions of the mouth, whose skeletons or remains constitute, as +we shall presently see, the incrassation popularly called "tartar." +Recently-burnt charcoal, in very fine powder, is another excellent +tooth powder, which, without injuring the enamel, is sufficiently +gritty to clean the teeth and remove the tartar from them, and +possesses the advantage of also removing the offensive odor arising +from rotten teeth and from decomposing organic matter. The charcoal of +the heavy hardwoods, as lignum-vitæ, boxwood, oak, are the best; and +these, as to quality, range in the order given. Still more valuable as +a dentifrice is areca nut charcoal, which, besides possessing the +properties of the other vegetable charcoals in an eminent degree, has +valuable ones peculiar to itself. + +Some dentists, and some persons in imitation of them, in order to +whiten the teeth, rub their surfaces with hydrochloric acid, somewhat +dilute; but the practice is a most dangerous one, which, by a few +repetitions, will sometimes utterly destroy the enamel and lead to the +rapid decay of all the teeth so treated. Should the teeth be much +discolored, and ordinary tooth powder prove ineffective, a little +lemon juice used with the brush will generally render them perfectly +white. It should only be employed occasionally, and the mouth should +be well rinsed with water afterwards. A little of the pulp of an +orange, used in the same way, is also very effective and safe, as are +also ripe strawberries, which may be either rubbed on the teeth with +the fingers or applied with the brush. The last form, perhaps, the +very best natural dentifrice known. Besides possessing singular power +in whitening and cleaning the teeth and rapidly removing tartar, they +destroy the offensive odor of rotten teeth and impart an agreeable +fragrance to the breath. + +The importance of a judicious attention to the teeth, in connection +with health, cleanliness, and personal comfort and appearance, cannot +be too often alluded to and enforced. + +It is no exaggeration to say that, taking the whole community, there +are few, very few, who clean their teeth, or even wash their mouths, +once a day. With the masses the operation, if performed at all, is +confined to the Sabbath day, or to holidays; whilst refined, educated, +and cleanly persons regard the operation of cleaning the teeth as a +daily duty, as necessary as washing the face and hands. The dirty and +vulgar--the two words are here synonymous--wholly neglect it, and too +often even consider it as unnecessary, effeminate, and absurd. The +consequences of the careless performance, or the neglect, of this +really necessary personal duty are not long in being developed. +Passing over the degradation of the other features, the offensiveness +of the breath, often to a degree which renders the individual +uncompanionable, and the unfavorable impression which, like other +marks of uncleanliness, they convey of the taste and habits of their +possessor, as the immediate effects of habitually neglected and dirty +teeth, let us look at the more distant, but not less certain, ones:-- + +In cases of ordinary toothache, even severe ones, chewing a small +piece of really good pellitory will often give relief in a few +minutes. Chewing a piece of strong, unbleached Jamaica ginger will +often do the same in light cases. The celebrated John Wesley +recommended a "few whiffs" at a pipe containing a little caraway seed +mixed with tobacco as a simple and ready means of curing the +toothache. I can bear testimony to the fact that in some cases it +succeeds admirably. + +Scarcely anything is more disagreeable, and in marked cases, more +disgusting, than foetid breath. It is unpleasant to the person that +has it, and it renders him unfit for the society of others. The cause +of stinking breath may generally be traced to rotten teeth, diseased +stomach, or worms. When the first are the cause, the teeth should be +thoroughly cleansed and then "stopped" in the manner already +indicated; or, when this is impracticable, the offending tooth, or +teeth, may be removed and replaced by artificial ones. When this +cannot be done, or is inconvenient, the evil may be greatly lessened +by the frequent use of an antiseptic tooth powder, areca nut charcoal +or camphorated chalk. Dirty teeth, even when quite sound, always more +or less taint the breath. When a foul or a diseased stomach is the +cause, mild aperients should be administered; and if these do not +succeed, an emetic may be given, scrupulous cleanliness of the teeth +being observed, as in the former case. When worms are the cause, worm +medicine, under medical direction, will be necessary. + +=To Cure Foul Breath.=--When bad breath is occasioned by teeth, or any +local cause, use a gargle consisting of a spoonful of solution of +chloride of lime in half a tumbler of water. + +=To Have White and Beautiful Teeth.=--An article known as "The Queen's +Tooth Preserver" is made as follows: One ounce of coarsely powdered +Peruvian bark, mixed in half a pint of brandy for twelve days. Gargle +the mouth (teeth and gums) with a teaspoonful of this liquid, diluted +with an equal quantity of rose-water. Always wash off the teeth after +each meal with water. Also, twice a day, wash the teeth with the ashes +of burned bread--bread burned to ashes. + +=For Decayed Teeth.=--There is nothing better than two scruples of myrrh +in fine powder, one scruple of juniper gum, and ten grains of alum, +mixed in honey. Apply often to the teeth. + +=To Cure Toothache.=--Take equal parts of camphor, sulphuric ether, +ammonia, laudanum, tincture of cayenne, and one-eighth part oil of +cloves. Mix well together. Saturate with the liquid a small piece of +cotton, and apply to the cavity of the diseased tooth, and the pain +will cease immediately. + +=Premium Tooth Powder.=--Six ounces prepared chalk, one-half ounce +cassia powder, one ounce orris; mix well. + +=Mouth Pastilles for Perfuming the Breath.=--First: Extract of +liquorice, three ounces; oil of cloves, one and a half drams; oil of +cinnamon, fifteen drops. Mix, and divide into one-grain pills. + +Second: Catechu, seven drams; orris powder, forty grains; sugar, three +ounces; oil of rosemary (or of cloves, peppermint, or cinnamon), four +drops. Mix, and roll flat on oiled marble slab, and cut into very +small tablets. + +=Feuchtwanger's Tooth Paste.=--Powdered myrrh, two ounces; burned alum, +one ounce; cream tartar, one ounce; cuttlefish bone, four ounces; drop +lake, two ounces; honey, half a gallon. Mix. Reduce the proportion for +a small quantity. + +=Fine Tooth Powder.=--Powdered orris root, one ounce; Peruvian bark, one +ounce; prepared chalk, one ounce; myrrh, one-half ounce. Mix. + +=To Remove Offensive Breath.=--For this purpose, almost the only +substance that should be admitted to the toilet is the concentrated +solution of chloride of soda. From six to ten drops of it in a +wineglassful of spring water, taken immediately after the operations +of the toilet are completed. + +In some cases, the odor arising from caries is combined with that of +the stomach. If the mouth be well rinsed with a teaspoonful of the +solution of the chloride in a tumbler of water, the bad odor of the +teeth will be removed. + +=Rye Tooth Powder.=--Rye contains carbonate of lime, carbonate of +magnesia, oxide of iron, manganese, and silica, all suitable for +application to the teeth. Therefore, a fine tooth powder is made by +burning rye, or rye bread, to ashes, and grinding it to powder by +passing the rolling-pin over it. Pass the powder through a sieve, and +use. + +=Camphorated Chalk.=--This favorite tooth powder is easily made. Take a +pound of prepared chalk, and with this mix two drams of camphor very +finely powdered, and moisten with spirits of wine. Thoroughly mix. + +=To Remove the Yellow Color from Teeth.=--Take of dry hypochlorite of +lime, one-half dram; red coral, two drams. Tincturate and mix +thoroughly. This powder is employed in the following manner: A new +brush is slightly moistened, then dipped in the powder and applied to +the teeth. A few days after the use of this powder the teeth will +acquire a beautiful white color. + +=Camphor Paste.=--Take one ounce of oil ammoniac, four drams of camphor. +Let the above be very finely powdered, then mix it with sufficient +honey to make it into a smooth paste; triturate it until entirely +smooth. This is a most excellent paste for preserving and beautifying +the teeth. + +=Preservative Tincture for the Teeth and Gums.=--Take four drams of +camphor, one ounce of tincture of myrrh, one ounce of tincture of +bark, and one ounce of rectified spirits of wine; mix them, and put 30 +or 40 drops in a wineglassful of water. Pour a little of this upon +your brush before you apply it to the powder, and when the teeth are +clean, wash the mouth, teeth, and gums with the remainder. It will in +ordinary cases prevent toothache. + +=Powerfully Cleansing Dentifrice.=--Take fine powder of pumice stone, +four drams; fine powder of cuttlefish bone, four drams; add one +scruple of subcarbonate of soda. Mix them well together, color and +scent according to taste, and then pass it through a fine sieve. + +=Infallible Cure for Toothache.=--Take alum, reduced to an impalpable +powder, two drams; nitreous spirits of ether, seven drams. Mix, and +apply them to the tooth. This is said to be an infallible cure for all +kinds of toothache, unless the disease is connected with rheumatism. + +=Mixture for Decayed Teeth.=--Make a balsam with a sufficient quantity +of honey, two scruples of myrrh in fine powder, a scruple of gum +juniper, and ten grains of rock alum. A portion to be applied +frequently to the decayed tooth. + +=To Whiten and Beautify the Teeth.=--Take gum tragacanth, one ounce; +pumice stone, two drams; gum arabic, one ounce; cream of tartar, one +ounce. Dissolve the gums in rose-water, and adding to it the powder, +form the whole into little sticks, which are to be dried slowly in the +shade, and afterwards kept for use. Use on the brush like soap. + + + HOW TO HAVE SOFT, WHITE AND BEAUTIFUL HANDS. + +There are very few beautiful hands, but to make the hands beautiful +rests, with scarcely an exception, with the possessor. Now that +chiromancy has become so fashionable as to be a part of a great many +entertainments, it is very desirable that the hands should present an +attractive appearance. A soft, white, delicate hand, with neatly-kept +nails, forms an important factor in a pleasing personal appearance, +and is something any man or woman may possess themselves of with a +little care. Of course it goes without saying, that requisite is +perfect cleanliness of both the hands and nails. The best and purest +soap should be used, and when soft water cannot be obtained, a few +drops of ammonia, or a little borax, should be added to the water in +which the hands are washed, and they should always be thoroughly +dried. A lotion of one ounce glycerine, one ounce rose-water, ten +drops of carbolic acid, and forty drops of hamamelis, is excellent to +use on the hands before they are dried each time they are washed. + +Persons who do housework should wear the India rubber gloves which are +made for the purpose and can be purchased in any size for from $1.00 +to $1.25 as they are with or without wrists. + +Rubbing the hands once or twice a day in oatmeal tends to whiten them +and make them soft and flexible. + +The following bleaches the hands and arms and makes them beautifully +soft and white:-- + +=Bleaching Lotion.=--Bitter almonds, ten ounces; iris powder, one ounce; +pulverized horse-chestnut, two ounces; essence of bergamot, one dram; +carbonate of potash, two drams; mix. Use on the hands after washing, +and on retiring for the night. + +Five grains of chloridated lime in a pint of warm water will whiten +the hands and remove all stains, but as this is not always quite +harmless to a delicate skin, it is perhaps better to remove stains +with a cut of lemon, and use the preparation given above for whitening +them. + +Tight lacing and tight sleeves, and even tight shoes, will cause the +hands to be an unsightly red, for which no lotion or care is a remedy. +If, however, all the clothing is worn so as to allow a free +circulation, and the directions which have been given are regularly +and constantly followed, any hand will become white, supple and +delicate--a pleasure to both possessor and beholder; and it is really +worth the care, which after a little time becomes a fixed habit and so +is scarcely noticeable, to have such hands. + +=To Make the Hands White and Delicate.=--Should you wish to make your +hands white and delicate, wash them in hot milk and water for a day or +two. On retiring to rest, rub them well over with palm oil, and put on +a pair of woollen gloves. The hands should be thoroughly washed with +hot water and soap the next morning, and a pair of soft leather gloves +worn during the day; they should be frequently rubbed together to +promote circulation. Sunburnt hands should be washed in lime water or +lemon juice. Should they be severely freckled, the following will be +good to use: Take of distilled water, half a pint; sal ammoniac, half +a dram; oxymuriate of quicksilver, four grains; divide the two last in +spirit, and gradually add the water to them; add another half pint of +water, mix well together, and it is ready for use. It should be +applied as often as desirable, with a piece of soft sponge. If +rose-water is substituted for distilled water, the effect is +pleasanter. + +=Remedy for Chapped Hands.=--The simplest remedy is the camphor ball, to +be obtained of all chemists. Powdered hemlock bark put into a piece of +muslin and sprinkled on the chaps is highly recommended. Or, wash with +oatmeal, and afterwards rub the hands over with dry oatmeal, so as to +remove all dampness. It is a good thing to rub the hands and lips with +glycerine before going to bed at night. A good oil is made by +simmering: Sweet oil, one pint; Venice turpentine, three ounces; lard, +half a pound; beeswax, three ounces. Simmer till the wax is melted. +Rub on, or apply with a rag. + +=To Cure Red Hands.=--Wash them frequently in warm, not hot, water, +using honey soap and soft towel. Dry with violet powder, and again +with a soft, dry handkerchief. Take exercise enough to promote +circulation, and do not wear gloves too tight. + +=Almond Paste for the Hands.=--Take one pound of sweet almonds, +one-quarter of a pound of bread crumbs, one half a pint of spring +water, one-half a pint of brandy, and the yolks of two eggs. Pound the +almonds with a few drops of vinegar or water, to prevent them oiling; +add the crumbs of bread, which moisten with the brandy as you mix it +with the almonds and the yolks of eggs. Set this mixture over a slow +fire, and stir it continually or it will adhere to the edges. + +=Almond Paste for Chapped Hands= (which will preserve them smooth and +white).--The daily use of the following paste will keep the hands +smooth and white: Mix a quarter of a pound of unsalted hog's lard, +which has been washed in common, and then in rose, water, with the +yolks of two fresh eggs and a large spoonful of honey. Add as much +paste from almonds (well pounded in a mortar) as will work it into a +paste. + +=General Remarks.=--The human hand, regarded either with reference to +its ingenious construction and usefulness, or to its beauty, stands +alone, in its superlative excellence, in the whole animal world. In no +species of animal is the hand so wonderfully formed and so perfectly +developed as in man. + +To preserve the delicacy and beauty of the hands, some little care, +and more than that which is ordinarily bestowed on them, is required. +Foremost in consideration must be the subject of cleanliness. Dirty +and coarse hands are no less marks of slothfulness and lowbreeding +than clean and delicate hands are of refinement and gentility. To +promote softness and whiteness of the skin, mild emollient soaps, or +those abounding in oil or fat, should alone be adopted for common use; +by which means the tendency to contract chaps and chilblains, and +roughness from drying winds, will also be lessened. The coarse, strong +kinds of soap, those abounding in alkali, should be rejected, as they +tend to render the skin rough, dry and brittle. Rain, or soft, water +is the best natural water for washing the hands, as it cleanses them +more rapidly and completely than ordinary hard water, and with the use +of less soap. It may be advantageously used tepid, or even warm; but +hot water should be avoided. Distilled water, when obtainable, is +preferable to even rain water. In the absence of these, water that +has been boiled and allowed to settle and cool may be employed. With +hard water the hands are cleansed with difficulty, and though it may +be readily softened by the addition of a little soda, such an addition +tends to make the skin of a delicate hand somewhat hard and rough. If +hard water must be used to wash with, the only harmless substance that +can be conveniently added to it is a little good powdered borax. This +will also cause it to exert a genial action on the skin. Oatmeal and +warm water used every night and morning as a wash will whiten and +soften the roughest and darkest hands. + +=Coarse, Red, Dark-Skinned Hands= may be whitened by the occasional use +of a few grains of chloride of lime, with warm water, in the manner +mentioned above. + +=Roughness of the Hands=, induced by exposure to cold and drying winds, +may, in general, be removed by the use of a little powdered pumice +stone with the soap in washing them. The subsequent application, +particularly at night, of the above lotions, or of two or three drops +of almond or olive oil, well rubbed in, will usually effect the object +completely. + +The hands may be preserved dry for delicate work by rubbing a little +club moss (lycopodium), in fine powder, over them. So repellent is +this substance of moisture, that if a small quantity of it be +sprinkled on the surface of a basin of water, the hand, by a little +adroitness, may be plunged to the bottom of the basin without becoming +wet. + +Excessive moisture or perspiration of the hands without obvious cause +is generally indicative of debility, or disordered stomach, and +requires corresponding treatment. Frequently washing the hands in +moderately cold water often proves a local remedy for the +inconvenience. The addition of a few grains of alum, sal ammoniac, or +sulphate of zinc, or of a teaspoonful of vinegar, to the water greatly +increases its efficacy. Extremely delicate and susceptible persons +cannot always bear the excessive perspiration of their hands to be +thus suddenly lessened, and therefore some discretion should be +exercised by them in their attempts to check it. + +=The Finger Nails= require special attention if we desire to preserve +them in their highest condition of beauty and usefulness. To keep them +clean, the nailbrush and soap and water should be used once or oftener +daily, as circumstances demand. Once a day at least, on wiping the +hands after washing them, and whilst they are still soft from the +action of the water, the free edge of the scarfskin, which, if not +attended to, is apt to grow upward over the nails, should be gently +loosened and pressed back in a neatly rounded form, by which the +occurrence of cracks and sores about their roots (agnails, nail +springs, etc.) will be prevented, and a graceful, oval form, ending in +a crescentlike space of white, will be ensured. The skin, as a rule, +should never be cut, pared, picked or torn off, as is commonly done, +and the less it is meddled with, otherwise than in the way just +mentioned, the better. The ends or points of the nails should be pared +once every week or ten days, according to the rapidity of their +growth, which somewhat varies with the season of the year and the +habit of the individual. This is best done with a sharp penknife or +nail-knife. Scissors are less convenient for the purpose, and have the +disadvantage of straining and distorting the nails during the process. + +The length and shape of the nails, both for beauty and use, should +exactly correspond with the tips of the fingers. Nails extending +beyond the ends of the fingers are vulgar, clawlike, and inconvenient; +whilst if shorter, particularly much shorter than the fingers, they +are unsightly and of little use, and cause the tips of the fingers to +become thick and clumsy. Biting the nails should be avoided as a dirty +and disagreeable habit, and one utterly destructive to their beauty, +strength, and usefulness. + +To remove stains and discolorations of the nails, a little lemon juice +or vinegar and water is the best application. Should this fail, a few +grains of salt of sorrel, oxalic acid, or chloride of lime, each +diluted with warm water, may be applied, care being taken to +thoroughly rinse the hands in clean water, without soap, afterwards. +Occasionally a little pumice stone, in impalpable powder, or powdered +cuttlefish bone, putty powder (polisher's peroxide of tin), may be +used along with water and a piece of wash-leather, flannel, or the +nailbrush, for the same purpose. The frequent use of any of these +substances is, however, injurious to the healthy growth, strength, and +permanent beauty of the nails. The common practice of scraping the +surface of the nails cannot be too strongly censured, as it causes +them to become weak and distorted. Blows on the nails, and, indeed, +violence to them in any form, also distorts and marks them. + +The ladies of Oriental nations commonly dye the nails; and amongst +many savage tribes the same practice is adopted, and is not confined +to the gentler sex. Amongst Western Europeans, and Americans, white +and regularly-formed nails are alone esteemed. + +=Chapped Hands= are common among persons with a languid circulation, who +are continually "dabbling" in water during cold weather, and +particularly among those with a scrofulous taint, who, without the +last, expose their ungloved hands to bleak, cold winds. The best +preventives, as well as remedies, are the use of warm gloves out of +doors, and the application, night and morning, of a little glycerine, +diluted with twice its weight of water, or a little cold cream, +spermaceti cerate, salad oil, or any other simple unguent or oil, +which should be well rubbed in, the superfluous portion being removed +with a towel. This treatment will not only preserve the hands from the +effects of cold and damp, but also tend to render them soft and white. +Deep chaps which have degenerated into sores should be kept constantly +covered with a piece of lint wetted with glycerine or spread with +spermaceti ointment, the part being at the same time carefully +preserved from dirt, cold, and wind. It is said that a once favorite +actress, celebrated for the beauty of her hands, even when in the +"sere and yellow leaf," covered them nightly with the flare of a calf +or lamb, with the fat attached, over which was drawn a glove or mitten +of soft leather. The application of a little glycerine or fatty +matter, in the way just indicated, would have been equally effective. + +=Warts=, like chilblains, are too well known to require description. +They chiefly attack the hands, and particularly the fingers, but +sometimes occur on other portions of the body. They may be removed by +rubbing or moistening their extremities every day, or every other day, +with lunar caustic, nitric acid, concentrated acetic acid, or aromatic +vinegar, care being taken not to wash the hands for some hours after. +The first is an extremely convenient and manageable substance, from +not being liable to drop or spread; but it produces a black stain, +which remains till the cauterized surface peels off. The second +produces a yellow stain, in depth proportioned to the strength of the +acid employed. This also wears off after the lapse of a few days. The +others scarcely discolor the skin. + +=To Cause the Skin to become Satin-smooth, and to Smell like a bunch of +Violets.=--Any one using the following preparation will be noted for +the fair softness of her complexion and the delicate perfume which +emanates from her person. For ladies who like perfume, and care for a +satin-smooth skin, the following is an invaluable toilet +preparation:-- + +Have your druggist mix for you one ounce tincture of orris, one ounce +tincture of benzoin, ten drops oil of neroli, and ten drops oil of +lemon. To use this perfume, add a tablespoonful of it to about a pint +of warm water. It will turn as white as milk, and the real perfume +will be given off, whereas while in the bottle it has anything but a +pleasing odor. Now, after your bath, just take a soft cloth and go +over yourself with this milk, dry thoroughly, and you will smell like +a bunch of violets. The perfume may be altered to suit you, or you may +add any handkerchief extract, but don't omit the benzoin, for that is +what gives permanence to the perfume and softness and smoothness to +the skin. + +=To Cause Those Who have Lost the Bloom and Fairness of Early Youth to +Regain Them.=--Many ladies who as young girls were fair with a lovely +rosy bloom, lose these beauties very early in life; very many do this +at twenty, or very little later, and become sallow and heavy-eyed, +thus losing their principal charm. Now, this is very easily remedied. +Go to your druggist and ask him for some iron pills and for some +simple purgative to take with them. Get from him directions for taking +both, and take strictly according to his directions. In a very short +time you will again be fair and rosy and your eyes bright and +sparkling; in fact, you will seem to have renewed your youth, and, +indeed, you will feel like another person, so light-hearted will you +become, in addition to your return of beauty. + + + THE HAIR. + +=Its Estimation, Structure, Growth, Management, Etc.=--The hair is not +only invaluable as a protective covering of the head, but it gives a +finish and imparts unequalled grace to the features which it +surrounds. Sculptors and painters have bestowed on its representation +their highest skill and care, and its description and praises have +been sung in the sweetest lays by the poets of all ages. Whether in +flowing ringlets, chaste and simple bands, or graceful braids +artistically disposed, it is equally charming, and clothes with +fascination even the simplest forms of beauty. + + O wondrous, wondrous, is her hair! + A braided wealth of golden brown, + That drops on neck and temples bare. + +If there is one point more than another on which the tastes of mankind +appear to agree, it is that rich, luxuriant, flowing hair is not +merely beautiful in itself, but an important, nay, an essential, +auxiliary to the highest development of the personal charms. Among all +the refined nations of antiquity, as in all time since, the care, +arrangement and decoration of the hair formed a prominent and +generally leading portion of their toilet. The ancient Egyptians and +Assyrians, and other Eastern nations, bestowed on it the most +elaborate attention. The ancient Jews, like their modern descendants, +were noted for the luxuriance and richness of their hair and the care +which they devoted to it. Glossy flowing black hair is represented to +have been the glory of the ancient Jewess, and in her person to have +exhibited charms of the most imposing character; whilst the chasteness +of its arrangement was only equalled by its almost magic beauty. Nor +was this luxuriance, and this attention to the hair, confined to the +gentler sex, for among the pagan Orientals the hair and beards of the +males were not less sedulously attended to. Among the males of Judah +and Israel, long flowing ringlets appear to have been regarded as +highly desirable and attractive. The reputed beauty and the prodigious +length and weight of the hair of Absalom, the son of David, as +recorded in the sacred text, would be sufficient to startle the most +enthusiastic modern dandy that cultivates the crinal ornament of his +person. Solomon the Wise, another son of David, conceived the beauty +of hair sufficiently dignified to express figuratively the graces of +the Church. + +The hair, though devoid of sensibility and unsusceptible of expression +under the influence of the will and the ordinary mental feelings, like +the mobile portions of the face, and though it may be popularly +regarded rather in the light of a parasitic growth than as an +essential portion of the body, is capable of being affected by the +stronger emotions and passions, and even of aiding their expression in +the features. Who is there that, at some period or other of his life, +if only in childhood, in a moment of sudden terror or horror, has not +experienced the sensation popularly described as "the hair standing on +end?" Or who is there that, at some time or other, has not witnessed +the partial erection of the hair in children or females under like +violent emotions, or seen the representation of it in sculptures or +paintings? Those passions, so aptly styled by Gray the "vultures of +the mind," frequently affect with wonderful rapidity the health of +both the body and the mind, which wreck the hair soon sympathizes with +and shares. Instances are recorded in which violent grief in a few +weeks has blanched the hair and anticipated the effects of age; and +others in which intense terror or horror has affected the same with +even greater celerity, the change having occurred in a few days or +even in a few hours. + +Besides daily attention to the hair, something else is necessary to +insure its cleanliness and beauty and the perfect health of the skin +of the head from which it springs. For this purpose the head should +be occasionally well washed with soap and water, an abundance of water +being used and great care being subsequently taken to thoroughly rinse +out the whole of the soap with the water in which the head has been +washed. The water may be either tepid or cold, according to the +feelings or habit of the person; and if the head or hair be very +scurfy or dirty, or hard water be used, a few grains of soda (not +potash or pearlash) may be advantageously added to the water. This +will increase its detersive qualities. After the hair has been washed, +which should be done quickly, though thoroughly, it should be freed as +much as possible by pressure with the hands and then wiped with a +soft, thick towel, which should be done with care, to avoid entangling +it. After laying it straight, first with the coarse end of the +dressing comb and then with the finer portion, it may be finally +dressed. + +In ordinary cases once every two or three weeks is often enough to +wash the hair and head. The extreme length of ladies' hair will +sometimes render the process of washing it very troublesome and +inconvenient. In such cases the patient and assiduous use of a clean, +good hairbrush, followed by washing the partings and the crown of the +head with soap and water, may be substituted. + +The occasional washing of the head is absolutely necessary to preserve +the health of the scalp and the luxuriance and beauty of the hair when +much oil, pomatum or other greasy substance is used in dressing it. + +Medical writers have frequently pointed out the ill effects of the +free or excessive use of oily or greasy articles for the hair; but +their warnings appear to be unheeded by the mass of mankind. Some +object to their use altogether. There are, however, exceptions to +every rule, and some of these exceptions are noticed elsewhere in this +volume. The ill effects referred to chiefly occur from their being +used when not required, and in excess, and are aggravated by the +neglect of thorough cleanliness. + +To improve the growth and luxuriance of the hair, when languid or +defective, the only natural and perfectly safe method that can be +adopted is to promote the healthy action of the scalp by increasing +the vigor of the circulation of the blood through its minute channels. +For this purpose nothing is so simple and effective as gentle +excitation of the skin by frequent continued friction with the +hairbrush, which has the convenience of ease of application and +inexpensiveness. The same object may be further promoted by the +application of any simple cosmetic wash or other preparation that +will gently excite or stimulate the skin or exercise a tonic action on +it without clogging its pores. Strong rosemary water or rosemary tea, +and a weak solution of the essential oil of either rosemary or garden +thyme, are popular articles of this kind. They may be rendered more +stimulating by the addition of a little ammonia or a little spirit, or +both of them. The skin of the head should be moistened with these on +each occasion of dressing the hair, and their diffusion and action +promoted by the use of a clean hairbrush. Aromatized water, to which a +very little tincture or vinegar of cantharides (preferably the former) +has been added, may also be used in the same way, and is in high +repute for the purpose. When the skin is pale, lax, and wrinkled, +astringent washes may be used. Strong black tea is a convenient and +excellent application of this kind. When the skin and hair are dry, +and the latter also stiff and untractable, a little glycerine is an +appropriate addition to each of the preceding washes or lotions. The +occasional use of a little bland oil, strongly scented with oil of +rosemary or of origanum, or with both of them, or with oil of mace, or +very slightly tinctured with cantharides, is also generally very +serviceable when there is poorness and dryness of the hair. When the +hair is unnaturally greasy and lax (a defect that seldom occurs), the +use of the astringent washes just referred to, or of a little simple +oil slightly scented with the essential oil of bitter almonds, will +tend to remove or lessen it. + +All the articles named above promote the glossiness and waviness of +the hair, and are also among the simplest, safest, and best +applications that can be employed when the hair is weak and begins to +fall off. + +To impart some degree of curliness or waviness to the hair when it is +naturally straight, and to render it more retentive of the curl +imparted to it by papers or by other modes of dressing it, various +methods are often adopted and different cosmetics employed. The first +object appears to be promoted by keeping the hair for a time in a +state intermediate between perfect dryness and humidity, from which +different parts of its structure, being unequally affected in this +respect, will acquire different degrees of relaxation and rigidity, +and thus have a tendency to assume a wavy or slightly curly form, +provided the hair be left loose enough to allow it. For this purpose +nothing is better than washing the hair with soap and water, to which +a few grains of salt of tartar (carbonate of potash) have been added; +or it may be slightly moistened with any of the hair washes mentioned +in the last paragraph, in each half-pint of which a few grains of the +carbonate (say ten or twelve), or a teaspoonful of glycerine, has +been dissolved. The moistened hair, after the application of the +brush, should be finally loosely adjusted as desired with the +dressing-comb. The effect occurs as the hair dries. When oils are +preferable to hair washes, those strongly scented with the oil of +rosemary, to which a few drops of oil of thyme or origanum may be +added, appear to be the most useful. + +To cause the hair to retain the position given to it in dressing it, +various methods and cosmetics are commonly employed. When the +arrangement is a natural one and the hair healthy and tractable, the +free use of the hairbrush will usually be sufficient for the purpose. +When this is insufficient, the application of a few drops of oil, or, +better still, moistening the hair with a little simple water, will +effect the object satisfactorily. In very elaborate and unnatural +styles of dressing the hair, and to cause it to remain in curl or to +retain its position during dancing, or violent exercise, bandoline and +cosmetique or hard pomatum are the articles commonly employed in +fashionable life. Mild ale or porter has a similar effect, and is +often substituted for the preceding expensive cosmetics. The frequent +use of any of these articles is objectionable, as they clog up the +pores of the skin and shield both it and the hair from the genial +action of the atmosphere, which is essential to their healthy vigor. +They should, hence, be subsequently removed by carefully washing the +head with a little soap and tepid water. Their use may be tolerated in +dressing for the ballroom, but on no other occasion. Simple water +skillfully employed, as noticed elsewhere, is the best and safest +mixture, and under ordinary circumstances is amply sufficient for the +purpose. + +The practice of artificially changing the color of the hair, and +particularly of dyeing it, has descended to us from remote antiquity, +and though not so common in Western Europe as formerly, is still far +from infrequent at the present day. This might be inferred from the +multitude of nostrums for the purpose continually advertised in the +newspapers, and from the number of persons who announce themselves as +practicing the art, even though the keen and experienced eye did not +frequently detect instances of it, as it now does, in the hair and +beards of those we see around us. The recent rage after light auburn +or reddish hair in fashionable life has, unfortunately, greatly +multiplied these instances. The consideration of the subject, however, +in its ethical relations does not come within the province of the +present work, and I shall confine myself to pointing out how the color +of the hair may be changed in the safest and most satisfactory +manner. + +To change the color of the hair various methods and preparations are +employed. The principal of these are intended to darken it, but +sometimes the contrary is aimed at. Whichever object is desired, it is +necessary that the article or preparation employed to carry it out be +not of a caustic or irritant nature, capable of injuriously affecting +the delicate skin to which it is applied, or that it may be liable to +come in contact with, as is the case with many of the nostrums vended +for the purpose. Some of the substances that necessarily enter into +the composition of hair strains and hair dyes, or that are used in +connection with them, possess these objectionable properties in a high +degree, and can, therefore, only be safely employed in a state of +proper dilution and combination. If any doubt exists respecting such +an article, it is a wise precaution to regard it with suspicion and to +test its qualities before applying it for the first time. This may be +done by placing some of it on the soft skin of the inner side of the +wrist or fore-arm, and allowing it to remain there as long, and under +the same conditions, as it is ordered to be left in contact with the +hair or skin of the head or face. In this way the injury or loss of +the hair, sores, and other serious consequences that too often follow +the use of advertised and ill-prepared hair dyes may be generally +avoided. + +To gradually darken the shade of the hair on these principles, +provided its normal sulphur be still secreted by the hair-bulbs and be +still present in its structure, it will, therefore, generally be +sufficient to occasionally employ a weak solution of any of the milder +salts of iron as a hair wash. The menstruum may be water, to which a +little spirits and a few drops of oil of rosemary to increase its +stimulating qualities have been added. In applying it, the head being +first washed clean, care should be taken to thoroughly moisten the +whole surface of the hair and the skin of the head with the wash; and +its absorption and action should be promoted by the free use of a +clean hairbrush. Wine is the favorite solvent for the iron; ale and +beer are also sometimes so employed. Most of the fashionable +ferruginous hair washes also contain a few grains of acetate of copper +or distilled verdigris, the objections to which have been already +pointed out. + +The daily use of oil or pomatum, with which a few grains of carbonate +of lead, lead plaster, or trisnitrate of bismuth, have been blended by +heat and careful trituration, has generally a like effect on the hair +to ferruginous solutions; so also has a leaden comb, but its action is +very uncertain. None of these last are, however, safe for +long-continued use. Atrophy of the scalp, baldness, and even local +paralysis, have sometimes, though rarely, been caused by them. + +When the normal sulphur of the hair is absent, or deficient, the +preceding substances fail to darken the hair. In this case the desired +effect may often be produced by also moistening the head, say twice a +week, with water, to which a little sulphuret of potassium or +hydrosulphuret of ammonia has been added. + +When it is desired to dye or darken the hair more rapidly, as in a few +hours, or even a few minutes, plumbite of lime, plumbite of potassa, +or nitrate or ammonia--nitrate of silver--is usually employed. The +first is commonly produced by the admixture of quicklime with oxide of +lead (litharge), carbonate of lead, or acetate of lead. These +ingredients should be in appropriate proportions, but very generally +the reverse is the case in those of the shops. + +It may be laid down as a rule that when the lime is in greater +proportion than about two to one of the oxide, and to the +corresponding equivalents of the other substances mentioned, or when +the lime has not been prepared in a proper manner, the compound is not +safe, and very likely to prove injurious to the skin and hair-bulbs, +and perhaps to act as a depilatory. The effects of these lead dyes +arise partly in the way previously described and partly by direct +chemical action between the sulphur of the hair and the lead which +they contain, sulphuret of lead being formed in the surfacial portion +of the hair. It is on the last that their more immediate effect +depends. If there be no sulphur in the hair, they will not darken it. +After the necessary period of contact, they should be gently but +thoroughly removed from the hair and skin by rubbing them off with the +fingers, and by the use of the hairbrush, the head being then washed +clean with tepid water. Should the tint imparted by them not be deep +enough, or be too fiery, it may be darkened and turned on the brown or +black by moistening the hair the next day with a very weak solution of +sulphuret of potassium, or of hydrosulphuret of ammonia. + +None of the compounds of lead stain the skin, an advantage which has +led to a preference being given to them by many persons who are clumsy +manipulators, and to the more extensive use of them than of other hair +dyes. + +The salts of silver above referred to are more rapid in their action +as hair dyes than those containing lead. It is only necessary to wash +the hair quite clean and free from grease, then to moisten it with a +weak solution of one of them, and, lastly, to expose it to the light, +to effect the object in view. Sunlight will fully darken it in a few +minutes, but in diffused daylight it will take two or three hours, or +longer, to acquire the deepest shade. To avoid this delay and +inconvenience, the common practice is, a few minutes after applying +the silver solution, to moisten or wet the hair with a solution of +sulphuret of potassium, or of hydrosulphuret of ammonia. The effect is +immediate, and the full depth of shade which a silver solution of the +strength employed is capable of imparting is at once produced. A few +minutes later and the hair and skin may be rinsed with tepid water, +gently wiped dry, and the hair finally adjusted with the comb. The +effect of its application, its rapid action, and the satisfactory +nature of the effect produced, all tend to render a solution of +nitrate of silver the favorite hair dye of those who have sufficient +skill and steadiness of hand to use it properly. + +It will be useful here to inform the inexperienced reader that all +solutions and compounds which contain nitrate of silver stain the skin +as well as the hair, if they be allowed to touch it. These stains may +be removed, when quite recent, by rubbing them with a piece of rag or +sponge wetted with a weak solution of potassium, of hydrosulphuret of +ammonia, or of iodide of potassium; but as this is attended with some +trouble and inconvenience, the best way is to avoid the necessity of +having recourse to it. The hairdressers commonly adopt the plan of +smearing hard pomatum or cosmetique over the skin immediately +surrounding the hair to be operated upon, in order to protect it from +the dye. By very skillful manipulation, and the observance of due +precautions, the hair may be thoroughly moistened with the silver +solution without touching the adjacent skin; but this can only be done +when the hair of the head is under treatment by a second party. + +In reference to the tone and shades of color given by the substances +commonly employed to dye the hair, it may be useful to state that the +shades given by preparations of _iron_ and _bismuth_ range from dark +brown to black; those given by the salts of silver, from a fine +natural chestnut to deep brown and black, all of which are rich and +unexceptional. The shades given by lead vary from reddish-brown and +auburn to black; and when pale or when the dye has been badly applied +or compounded, are generally of a sandy, reddish hue, often far from +agreeable. However, this tendency of the lead dyes has recently led to +their extensive use to impart that peculiar tint to the light hair of +ladies and children which is now so fashionable. Other substances, +hereafter referred to, are, however, preferable, as imparting a more +pleasing hue. + +The reddish tint produced by lead, as already hinted, may be generally +darkened into a brown, more or less rich, by subsequently moistening +the hair with a weak solution of either sulphuret of potassium or +hydrosulphuret of ammonia. + +The favorite compounds for external use in baldness, and, perhaps, the +most convenient and best, are such as owe their stimulating quality to +cantharides or Spanish flies, or to their active principle, +cantharidine. This application of these drugs has received the +sanction of the highest medical authorities, both in Europe and +America. The leading professional hair-restorers now rely almost +exclusively on cantharides, and all the more celebrated advertised +nostrums for restoring the hair contain it as their active ingredient. + +Oils and pomades, very strongly impregnated with the essential oil of +garden thyme (origanum) and rosemary, and lotions or liniments +containing ammonia with a like addition of these essential oils, +probably come next in the frequency of their use as popular +restoratives of the hair in actual and incipient baldness. + +=To Have Elegant Hair.=--Every girl should have thick, magnificent hair. +It is essential to clip the ends of the hair once a month after a +child is four years of age. Ammonia and warm water is an excellent +wash for the hair and scalp, and gives life and vigor to it when all +other articles fail. + +=Wild Rose Curling Fluid.=--Take two drams (avoirdupois) dry salt of +tartar; (carbonate of potassa) powdered cochineal, half dram; liquor +of ammonia and spirit de rose, each one fluid dram; glycerine, +one-fourth ounce; rectified spirit, one and one-half imperial fluid +ounces; distilled water, eighteen ounces; digest with agitation for a +week, and then decant or filter. The hair to be moistened with it, and +then loosely adjusted. The effect occurs as it dries. + +=To Cause the Hair to Grow very Thick.=--One of the most powerful +stimulants for the growth of the hair is the following: Take a quarter +of an ounce of the chippings of alkanet root, tie in a scrap of coarse +muslin, and suspend it in a jar containing eight ounces of sweet oil +for a week, covering it from the dust. Add to this sixty drops +tincture of cantharides, ten drops oil of rose, sixty drops of neroli, +and sixty drops oil of lemon. Let this stand twenty days, closely +corked, and you will have one of the greatest hair-invigorators and +hair-growers that this world has ever produced. + +=Lola Montez Hair Coloring.=--This celebrated woman published the +following, and claimed that it was as harmless as any preparation that +would really color the hair: Ten grains of gallic acid, one ounce of +acetic acid, one ounce of tincture of sesgurichloride of iron. +Dissolve the gallic acid, sesgurichloride, and add the acetic acid. +Wash the hair with soap and water; when dried, apply the dye by +dipping a fine comb in it and drawing through the hair so as to color +the roots thoroughly. Let it dry, then oil and brush well. + +=Hair Restorative.=--Four drams oxide bismuth, four drams spermaceti, +four ounces pure hog's lard. The lard and spermaceti should be melted +together. When nearly cool, stir in the bismuth and perfume. Prevents +the hair from turning gray, and restores gray hair. + +=For Bald Heads.=--A most valuable remedy for promoting the growth of +the hair is an application, once or twice a day, of wild indigo and +alcohol. Take four ounces of wild indigo and steep it about a week or +ten days in a pint of alcohol and a pint of hot water, when it will be +ready for use. The head must be thoroughly washed with the liquid, +morning and evening, application being made with a sponge or soft +brush. + +Another excellent preparation is composed of three ounces of castor +oil, with just enough alcohol to cut the oil, to which add twenty +drops tincture of cantharides, and perfume to suit. This not only +softens and imparts a gloss to the hair, but also invigorates and +strengthens the roots of the hair. + +=Excellent Hair Wash.=--Take one ounce of borax, half an ounce of +camphor; powder these ingredients very fine and dissolve them in one +quart boiling water. When cool the solution will be ready for use. +Dampen the hair frequently. This wash effectually cleanses, +beautifies, and strengthens the hair, preserves the color, and +prevents early baldness. The camphor will form into lumps after being +dissolved, but the water will be sufficiently impregnated. + +=To Cure Baldness.=--Cologne water, two ounces; tincture of cantharides, +two drams; oil of lavender or rosemary, of each ten drops. These +applications must be used twice a day for three or four weeks, but if +the scalp becomes sore they may be discontinued for a time or used at +longer intervals. + +When the hair falls off, from diminished action of the scalp, +preparations of cantharides are excellent. The following will cause +the hair to grow faster than any other preparation: Beef marrow +(soaked in several waters, melted and strained), half a pound; +tincture cantharides (made by soaking for a week one dram of powdered +cantharides in one ounce of proof spirit), one ounce; oil of bergamot, +twelve drops. + +=Stimulants for the Hair.=--Vinegar and water form a good wash for the +roots of the hair. A solution of ammonia is often used with good +effect for the same purpose. For removing scurf, glycerine diluted +with a little rose-water will be found of service. Any preparation of +rosemary forms an agreeable and highly cleansing wash. The yolk of an +egg beaten up in warm water is a most nutritious application to the +scalp. A very good application is made in this way: Take an ounce of +powdered borax and a small piece of camphor and dissolve in a quart of +boiling water. The hair must afterwards be washed in warm water. Many +heads of hair require nothing more in the way of wash than soap and +water. The following recipe will strengthen the hair and prevent its +falling out: Vinegar of cantharides, half an ounce; eau de cologne, +one ounce; rose-water, one ounce. The scalp should be brushed briskly +until it becomes red, and the lotion should then be applied to the +roots of the hair twice a day. + +=The Golden Hair Secret.=--The rage for light, gold color, or even red +hair, which has prevailed for some time, has led to various expedients +for procuring it. Many ladies have sacrificed fine heads of hair, and +in place of their own dark tresses have adopted light wigs; but the +prevailing absurdity has been the use of strong alkalies for the +purpose of turning dark hair light. This is the purpose of the +ausicomus fluid, which may be procured of any hairdresser; but we warn +our fair readers that the use of these products is apt to be +disappointing. They certainly will turn black to a brick-dust hue, but +the color is often disagreeable. It is apt to present itself in +patches in different hues, and the effect on the hair is terrible--it +often rots and crumbles away. In place of this absurd practice, we +recommend the following as available for trying the effect for dress +purpose: Procure a packet of gold powder of the hairdresser. Have +ready a very weak solution of gum and water, and one of the small +perfume vaporizers now in use. When the hair has been dressed, +sprinkle it with gum and water by means of the vaporizer and then +shower on the gold powder. It may be put on thick enough to hide the +color of the hair, and owing to the gum it cannot be danced off. The +effect by artificial light is beautiful. + +=For Keeping the Hair Crimped or Curled in Summer.=--A quarter of an +ounce of gum tragacanth, one pint rose-water, and five drops of +glycerine; mix and let stand over night. If the tragacanth is not +dissolved, let it remain half a day longer; if it is thick add more +rose-water and let it remain for some hours. If then it is a smooth +solution, nearly as thin as glycerine, it is fit for use. Dampen the +hair before crimping or curling. + +=To Bleach the Hair.=--It has been found in the bleaching of hair that +gaseous chlorine is the most effectual. The hair should be cleaned for +that purpose by a warm solution of soda and washed afterwards with +water. While moist it is put into a jar with chlorine gas introduced +until the air in the jar looks greenish. Allow it to remain on for +twenty-four hours, and then, if necessary, repeat the operation. + +=A New French Remedy for Baldness.=--Croton oil, one of the best French +remedies for baldness, is employed by simply adding to it oil or +pomade, and stirring or agitating the two together until admixture or +solution is complete. The formula adopted by the eminent French +physician who introduced this remedy, and who speaks in the most +confident and enthusiastic way of the success attending its use, is: +Take croton oil, twelve drops (minims); oil of almonds, four troy +grains. Mix. A little is to be well rubbed on the scalp twice a day. +Soft down, we are assured, appears in three weeks. + +=For Improving the Hair.=--_Palma Christi oil for thickening the hair_: +Take one ounce of Palma Christi oil, add oil of lavender or bergamot +to scent it. Let it be well brushed into the hair for two or three +months, particularly applying it to those parts where it may be most +desirable to render the hair luxuriant. This is a simple and valuable +oil, and not in the hands of any monopolist. + +=To Dye the Hair Flaxen.=--We have heard the following is effective: +Take a quart of lye prepared from the ashes of vine twigs, briony, +celandine roots, and tumeric, of each half an ounce; saffron and lily +roots, of each two drams; flowers of mullein, yellow stechas, broom, +and St. John's wort, of each a dram. Boil these together and strain +off the liquor clear. Frequently wash the hair with the fluid, and it +will change it, we are told, in a short time to a beautiful flaxen +color. + +=A Powder for Preserving the Hair.=--The following powder has the name +of facilitating the regeneration of the hair and strengthening its +roots. Still more valuable properties have been ascribed to it, such +as that of rousing the imagination to vigorous efforts and +strengthening the memory--delightful properties if they could be +realized by such simple means. Take an ounce and a half of red roses; +a small quantity each of calamus aromaticus (sweet-scented flag), and +of the long cyperus; an ounce of benzoin; six drams of aloes (the wood +of); half an ounce of red coral, and the same quantity of amber; four +ounces of bean flour; and eight ounces of the root of Florentine iris. +Let the whole be mixed together and reduced to a very fine powder, to +which add a few grains of musk. This powder is to be sprinkled on the +hair in the same manner as hair powder is generally used, and, having +remained for a time embedded with the hair, to be removed by means of +comb and brush; and to be occasionally applied and removed. It is said +to regenerate the hair and strengthen the roots, and to possess the +properties which are above enumerated. + +=To Make the Hair Grow and to Prevent It from Falling.=--The following +recipes are selected from a work published some years ago in Paris, +entitled "Manuel Cosmetique des Plantes":-- + +Take the roots of young vines, the roots of hemp, and young cabbages, +of each two handfuls. Dry, and then burn them. Make afterwards a lye +with the ashes. Before the head is washed with this lye it must be +rubbed with honey, and continue both for three successive days. This +will not only make the hair grow, but restore it upon bald places, +under certain habits and constitutions of body. Pulverize some parsley +seed, and use it as hair powder for three nights at the commencement +of the year, and it will prevent your hair from falling. + +=To Make the Hair Grow Quick.=--Dip, every morning, the teeth of your +comb in the juice of nettles, and comb the hair against the grain. + +=Mixture for Shampoo.=--Bay rum, one pint; tincture of cantharides, one +dram; carbonate of ammonia, one half dram; salts tartar, one half +dram. Mix. + +=To Prevent the Hair Falling Out.=--Boxwood shavings, six ounces; proof +spirit, twelve ounces; spirits of rosemary, two ounces; spirits of +nutmeg, one half ounce. Mix. + +=Wash for Scald Heads.=--Take one half ounce of sulphate of potassa, one +pint of lime water, one ounce of soap liniment. Mix, and apply to the +head two or three times a day. + + + POWDERS AND THEIR USES. + +The powders usually sold by druggists are injurious to the complexion, +owing to harmful ingredients. If a powder is perfectly pure, a +moderate use of it will not harm the complexion, but if it is impure +it soon causes the face to turn sallow and yellow. The following is +perfectly pure, and is a splendid article, giving a lovely, refined +complexion:-- + +=Boston Burnet Powder for the Face.=--Five cents' worth of bay rum, five +cents' worth of magnesia snowflake, five cents' worth of bergamot, +five cents' worth oil of lemon; mix in a pint bottle and fill up with +rain water. Perfectly harmless, and splendid. + +=Queen Bess Complexion Wash.=--Put in a vial one dram of benzoin gum in +powder, one dram nutmeg oil, six drops of orange-blossom tea or apple +blossoms; put in half a pint of rain water, and boiled down to a +spoonful, and strained; one-pint of sherry wine. Bathe the face +morning and night; it will remove all flesh-worms and freckles, and +give a beautiful complexion. Or, put one ounce of powdered gum benzoin +in a pint of whisky. To use: Put in water in washbowl till it is +milky. + + + FLESH-WORMS--TO CURE. + +Black specks on the nose disfigure the face. Remove by washing +thoroughly in tepid water, rubbing with a towel, and applying with a +soft flannel a lotion made of three ounces of cologne and half an +ounce of liquor of potash. + + + TO WHITEN THE SKIN AND REMOVE FRECKLES AND TAN. + +Bathe three times a day in a preparation of three quarts water, one +quart alcohol, two ounces of cologne and one of borax, in proportion +of two teaspoons mixture to two tablespoons soft water. + + + + + CHAPTER II. + + TREATING OF MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. + + +=The Human Temperaments.=--By these are meant certain types, forms or +conformations of the human body, each known and distinguished from the +other by certain characteristics, which enable those who are familiar +with these peculiarities to readily distinguish one temperament from +the others. The existence of the temperaments is believed to depend +upon the development of certain parts or systems in the body, and each +is accompanied by different degrees of activity of the brain, and +corresponding difference in the talents and manifestations of the +individual. They are four in number, viz.: Nervous, Sanguine, Bilious, +and Lymphatic. When the brain and nerves are predominant, it is termed +the _nervous_ temperament; if the lungs and blood vessels +constitutionally predominate, the _sanguine_; if the muscular and +fibrous systems are in the ascendency, the _bilious_; and when the +glands and assimilating organs are in the ascendency, it is termed the +_lymphatic_ or _phlegmatic_. + +First: The nervous is indicated by fine, thin hair, small muscles, +thin skin, pale countenance, brilliant eyes, with great quickness and +sensitiveness to impressions, and is really the mental or intellectual +temperament. + +Second: The sanguine is known by a stout, well-defined form, a full +face, florid complexion, moderate plumpness, firm flesh, chestnut or +sandy hair, and blue eyes. This is the tough, hardy, working +temperament, excessively fond of exercise and activity, and a great +aversion to muscular quiescence and inactivity, and consequently +averse to books and close literary pursuits. + +Third: The bilious is indicated by a thin, spare face, dark skin, +black hair, firm flesh, moderate stoutness, with rough, harsh, and +strongly marked features. This temperament gives great will, +elasticity, and powers of endurance, and, when combined with the +nervous, is the great, efficient, moving temperament in the great +events of the world. + +Fourth: The lymphatic is indicated by paleness, roundness of the form, +softness of muscle, fair hair, sleepy, half-closed eyes, and a dull, +sluggish, inexpressive face. In this temperament the brain and all +other parts of the body appear to be slow, dull, and languid, and the +whole body little else than one great manufactory of fat. These +temperaments, however, are rarely found pure, but mixed or blended in +an almost endless variety of ways, producing the ever-varying +peculiarities of human character and intellect. + + + THE FORTUNATE AND UNFORTUNATE DAYS OF EACH MONTH. + + FORTUNATE. + +In January, six days--the 1st, 2nd, 15th, 26th, 27th, and 28th. +In February, four days--the 11th, 21st, 25th, and 26th. +In March, two days--the 10th and 24th. +In April, five days--the 6th, 15th, 16th, 20th, and 28th. +In May, three days--the 3rd, 18th, and 31st. +In June, five days--the 10th, 11th, 15th, 22nd, and 25th. +In July, three days--the 9th, 15th, and 28th. +In August, six days--the 6th, 7th, 10th, 11th, 19th, and 25th. +In September, five days--the 4th, 8th, 17th, 18th, and 23rd. +In October, five days--the 3rd, 7th, 16th, 21st, and 22nd. +In November, three days--the 5th, 14th, and 20th. +In December, six days--the 15th, 19th, 20th, 22nd, 23rd, and 25th. + + + UNFORTUNATE. + +In January, seven days--the 3rd, 4th, 6th, 13th, 14th, 20th, and 21st. +In February, seven days--the 3rd, 7th, 9th, 12th, 16th, 17th, and 23rd. +In March, eight days--the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 8th, 12th, 16th, 28th, and 29th. +In April, two days--the 24th and 25th. +In May, five days--the 17th, 20th, 27th, 29th, and 30th. +In June, eight days--the 1st, 5th, 6th, 9th, 12th, 16th, 18th, and 24th. +In July, four days--the 3rd, 10th, 17th, and 18th. +In August, two days--the 15th and 16th. +In September, two days--the 9th and 16th. +In October, six days--the 4th, 9th, 11th, 17th, 27th, and 31st +In November, four days--the 3rd, 9th, 10th, and 21st. +In December, two days--the 14th and 21st. + + + DAYS OF THE WEEK--THEIR IMPORTANCE AT THE NATAL HOUR. + +A child born on Sunday shall be of long life and obtain riches. + +A child born on Monday will be weak and effeminate. + +Tuesday is more unfortunate still, though a child born on this day +may, by extraordinary vigilance, conquer the inordinate desires to +which he will be subject; still, in his violent attempts to gratify +them, he will be in danger of a violent death. + +The child born on Wednesday will be given to a studious life, and +shall reap great profit therefrom. + +A child born on Thursday shall attain great honor and dignity. + +He who calls Friday his natal day shall be of a strong constitution, +and perhaps addicted to the pleasures of love. + +Saturday is another ill-omened day; most children born on this day +will be of heavy, dull, and dogged disposition. + + + IMPORTANT ADVICE TO FEMALES. + +It has often been observed, and experience has shown the observation +to be a true one, that some event of importance is sure to happen to a +woman in her thirty-first year, whether it prove for her good or it be +some evil or temptation; therefore we advise her to be circumspect in +all her actions. If she is a maiden or widow, it is probable she will +marry this year. If a wife, that she will lose her children or +husband. She will either receive riches or travel into a foreign land; +at all events, some circumstance or other will take place during this +remarkable year of her life that will have great effect on her future +fortunes and existence. + + + THE MAGIC RING. + +=To know whom you will marry, and what kind of a fate you will have +with them.=--Borrow a wedding ring, concealing the purpose for which +you borrow it; but no widow's or pretended marriage ring will do--it +spoils the charm; wear it for three hours at least before you retire +to rest, and then suspend it, by a hair off your head, over your +pillow; write within a circle resembling a ring, the sentence from the +matrimonial service beginning with, "_with this ring I thee wed_," and +round the circle write your own name at full length, and the figures +that stand for your age; place it under your pillow, and your dream +will fully explain whom you are to marry, and what kind of a fate you +will have with them. If your dream is too confused to remember it, or +you do not dream at all, it is a certain sign that you will never be +married. + + + PHYSIOGNOMICAL SIGNS OF A GOOD GENIUS. + +A straight, erect body, neither over tall nor short, between fat and +thin. The flesh naturally soft. The skin neither soft nor rough, but a +medium between. The complexion white, verging to a blush of redness. +The hair between hard and soft, usually of a brown color. The head and +face of a moderate size. The forehead rather high. The eyes manly, +big, and clear, of a blue or hazel color. The aspect mild and humane. +The teeth so mixed that some are broad and some narrow. A subtle +tongue, and the voice between intense and remiss. The neck comely and +smooth. The channel-bone of the throat appearing and moving. The back +and ribs not over fleshy. The shoulders plain and slender. The hands +indifferently long and smooth. The fingers long, smooth, and equally +distant. The nails white, mixed with red, and shining. The carriage of +the body erect in walking. + + + ELECTRICAL PSYCHOLOGY, OR PSYCHOLOGICAL FASCINATION. + +The most easy, sure and direct mode to produce electro-psychological +communication is to take the individual by the hand, in the same +manner as though you were going to shake hands. Press your thumb with +moderate force upon the _ulnar nerve_, which spreads its branches to +the ring and little finger. The pressure should be nearly one inch +above the knuckle, and in range of the ring finger. Lay the ball of +the thumb flat and particularly crosswise so as to cover the minute +branches of this nerve of motion and sensation. When you first take +your subject by the hand, request him to place his eyes upon yours, +and to keep them fixed, so that he may see every emotion of your mind +expressed in the countenance. Continue this pressure for half a minute +or more, then request him to close his eyes, and with your fingers +gently brush downward several times over the eyelids, as though +fastening them firmly together. Throughout the whole process feel +within yourself a fixed determination to close them, so as to express +that determination fully in your countenance and manner. Having done +this, place your hand on the top of his head and press your thumb +firmly on the organ of individuality, bearing partially downward, and +with the other thumb still pressing the _ulnar nerve_, tell him, _You +cannot open your eyes!_ Remember that your manner, your expression of +countenance, your motions, and your language must all be of the same +positive character. If he succeed in opening his eyes, try it once or +twice more, because impressions, whether physical or mental, continue +to deepen by repetition. In case, however, that you cannot close his +eyes, nor see any effect produced upon them, you should cease making +any further efforts, because you have now fairly tested that his mind +and body both stand in a positive relation as regards the doctrine of +impressions. If you succeed in closing the subject's eyes by the above +mode, you may then request him to put his hands on his head, or in any +other position you choose, and tell him, _You cannot stir them!_ In +case you succeed, request him to be seated, and tell him, _You cannot +rise!_ If you are successful in this, request him to put his hands in +motion, and tell him, _You cannot stop them!_ If you succeed, request +him to walk on the floor, and tell him, _You cannot cease walking!_ As +so you may continue to perform experiments, involving muscular motion +and paralysis of any kind that may recur to your mind, till you can +completely control him in arresting or moving all the voluntary parts +of his system. + + + MESMERISM. + +If you desire to mesmerize a person, who has never been put in that +state, nor in the least affected, the plan is to set him in an easy +posture and request him to be calm and resigned. Take him by both +hands, or else by one hand and place your other gently on his +forehead. But with whatever part of his body you choose to come in +contact, be sure to always touch two points, answering to the +_positive_ and _negative_ forces. Having taken him by both hands, fix +your eyes upon his, and, if possible, let him contentedly and steadily +look you in the face. Remain in this position until his eyes close. +Then place both your hands on his head, gently pass them to his +shoulders, down the arms, and off at the ends of his fingers. Throw +your hands outward as you return them to his head, and continue these +passes till he can hear no voice but yours. He is then entirely in the +mesmeric state. When a person is in the mesmeric state, whether put +there by yourself or someone else, you can awake him by the upward +passes, or else do it by an impression, as follows: Tell him, "I will +count _three_, and at the same instant I say _three_ I will slap my +hands together, and you will be wide awake and in your perfect senses. +Are you ready?" If he answers in the affirmative, you will proceed to +count "One, two, three!" The word three should be spoken suddenly, and +in a very loud voice, and at the same instant the palms of the hands +should be smitten together. This will instantly awake him. + + + HOW TO MAKE PERSONS AT A DISTANCE THINK OF YOU. + +Let it be particularly remembered that "faith" and concentration of +thought are positively needful to accomplish aught in drawing others +to you, or making them think of you. If you have not the capacity or +understanding to operate an electric telegraph battery, it is no proof +that an expert and competent person should fail in doing so. Just so +in this case; if faith, meditation, or concentration of thought fail +you, then will you also fail to operate on others. First, you must +have a yearning for the person you wish to make think of you; and, +secondly, you must learn to guess at what time of day or night, he may +be unemployed--passive--so that he may be in a proper state to receive +the thought which you dispatch to him. If he should be occupied in any +way, so that his nervous forces were needed to complete his task, his +"human battery," or thought, would not be in a recipient or passive +condition, therefore your experiment would fail at that moment. Or, if +he were under heavy narcotics, liquors, tobacco, or gluttonous +influences, he could not be reached at such moments. Or, if he were +asleep, and you operated to effect a wakeful mind or thought, you +would fail again at the moment. To make a person at a distance think +of you (whether you are acquainted with him or not, matters not), I +again repeat, find out or guess at what moment he is likely to be +passive--by this I mean easy and careless; then, with the most fervent +prayer or yearning of your entire heart, mind, soul, and strength, +desire he may think of you. And if you wish him to think on any +particular topic in relation to you, it is necessary for you to press +your hands, when operating on him, on such mental faculties of your +head as you wish him to exercise towards you. This demands a meager +knowledge of Phrenology. His "feeling nature," or "propensities," you +cannot reach through these operations, but when he thinks of you (if +he does not know you, he imagines such a being as you are) he can +easily afterwards be controlled by you, and he will feel disposed to +go in the direction where you are, if circumstances permit and he is +his own master, for, remember, circumstances alter cases. I said you +cannot reach his "feeling," but only his "thinking," nature, truly, +but after he thinks of you once his "feeling nature," or propensities, +may become aroused through his own organization. In conclusion on this +topic, let me say that if you wish the person simply to think of you, +one operation may answer; but, on the contrary, if you wish him to +meet you, or go where you are, all you have to do is to persevere, in +a lawful and Christian manner, to operate, and I assure you, in the +course of all natural things--that is, if no accident or very +unfavorable circumstances occur--he will make his way towards you, and +when he comes within sight, or reaching distance of you, it will be +easy to manage him. + + + HOW TO CHARM THOSE WHOM YOU MEET AND LOVE. + +When you desire to make any one "love" you with whom you meet, +although not personally acquainted with him, you can very readily +reach him and make his acquaintance, if you observe the foregoing +instructions in addition to the following directions: Suppose you see +him coming towards you, in an unoccupied mood, or recklessly or +passively walking past you, all that remains for you at that moment is +to concentrate your thought, and send it into him as before explained, +and, to your astonishment, if he was passive, he will look at you, and +now is your time to send a thrill to his heart, by looking him +carelessly, though determinately, in the eyes, and praying him, with +all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, that he may read your +thought and receive your true love, which God designs we should bear +one another. This accomplished, and you need not, and must not, wait +for a cold-hearted, fashionable, and popular Christian introduction; +neither should you hastily run into his arms, but continue operating +in this psychological manner, not losing any convenient opportunity to +meet him at an appropriate place, when an unembarrassed exchange of +words will open the door to the one so magnetized. At this interview, +unless prudence sanction it, do not shake hands, but let your manners +and loving eyes speak with Christian charity and ease. Wherever or +whenever you meet again, at the first opportunity grasp his hand in an +earnest, sincere, and affectionate manner, observing at the same time +the following important directions, viz.: As you take his bare hand in +yours, press your thumb gently, though firmly, between the bones of +the thumb and the forefinger of his hand, and at the very instant when +you press thus on the blood vessels (which you can before ascertain to +pulsate) look him earnestly and lovingly in the eyes, and send all +your heart's, mind's, and soul's strength into his organization, and +he will be your friend, and if you find him not to be congenial, you +have him in your power, and by carefully guarding against evil +influences, you can reform him to suit your own purified, Christian, +and loving taste. + + + + + CHAPTER III. + + A SPECIAL CHAPTER FOR YOUNG WOMEN. + + + MARRIAGE. + +Advice upon this subject is very much needed. I am assured that it is +a subject not often talked of in families--at least, as it ought to +be--nor is it much alluded to in the pulpit, and the result is that +young people commonly get their notions about it from those only a +little older than themselves, and who therefore know but little more +than they do, or from those who form their opinions from the abuse +they see of it and so hold degrading and unworthy ideas respecting it. +Sometimes all that is known about it amounts to this, that it is a +delightful thing to be married. + +It is quite true that it often is, and always ought to be, delightful; +still, you know it is frequently the reverse. You cannot, then, be too +cautious in the matter. + +Nothing can be more orderly, right, proper, and holy than marriage. It +is not, however, quite so simple an affair as you may fancy. Every +good thing (and this is one of the best) requires some effort to +obtain it, and unless you take the right course you must not expect to +succeed. + +You may often see a young woman who, from not entertaining correct +views on the point, is certainly taking a wrong course, her endeavors +being rather to make what she considers a good match than by acquiring +kind and orderly habits to qualify herself to become worthy of a +worthy husband. + +That the best things are liable to the greatest abuses is notorious, +and from the lamentable fact that marriage is often abused we may +fairly infer its pre-eminent worth. In truth, there is nothing more +valuable. It is, then, highly injurious to entertain low notions +respecting it, and men who indulge in loose conversation on the +subject are likely at the same time to think meanly of women. Beware +of them, and if you hear them expressing such opinions in your +presence, withdraw from them at once as unworthy of your company. +Never fear but they will respect you the more for the rebuke. + +Of course you are looking forward to settling happily, and will do +your best for that purpose. On this let me remark that all happiness +(that is, all that is genuine, and therefore worthy of the name) comes +from connection with the one great source of all good, and He has +freely and fully provided all the means necessary for our being happy, +both here and hereafter. He has placed each of us where it is best for +us to be, and in the circumstances that are best for us at the time, +and this applies to you and to me now. Howsoever much appearances may +be to the contrary, He cares as much for each of us as if we were the +sole objects of His care. It is only by doing our duty in humble +dependence on His assistance, which He never withholds, that we can be +happy. It behooves you, then, to consider well what is your duty, in +order that you may do it and may enjoy the blessings He is so ready to +bestow. I hope you may have been a loving and dutiful daughter, an +affectionate sister, and a faithful friend; then you may have good +ground of hope for the future. + + + WHEN A PROSPECT OF MARRIAGE + +occurs you cannot do better than consult your mother, aunt, or other +discreet relative that has your welfare at heart, from whom you may +reasonably expect the best and most disinterested advice; and this it +will be well for you to be guided by. Women of mature years can judge +far better than you whether a man is likely to make a good husband. +You should likewise quietly and cautiously make your own observations +among your married acquaintances, especially where you believe there +is a comfortable and happy home. You will doubtless find that to a +very great extent this happy home depends on the wife's management and +economy. Very often it happens that when two husbands have the same +income, with the same number of children, there will be comfort in the +one home and discomfort in the other. Now, there must be a reason for +this, and you should endeavor to find it out and profit by the lesson. +It is said "Cleanliness is next to godliness," and truly the value of +cleanliness cannot be overrated. In point of time, it should go before +godliness, for where there is not cleanliness there can hardly be +godliness; and the health of body and mind are greatly dependent on +these two. Moreover, where can there be complete happiness without +health? + +One of the most prolific sources of matrimonial difficulties is the +lack of knowledge on the part of wives of the duties of housekeeping. +In these days there are a hundred young ladies who can drum on the +piano to one who can make a good loaf of bread. + + + YET A HUNGRY HUSBAND + +cares more for a good dinner than he does--as long as his appetite is +unappeased--to listen to the music of the spheres. Heavy bread has +made many heavy hearts, given rise to dyspepsia--horrid dyspepsia--and +its herd of accompanying torments. Girls who desire that their +husbands should be amiable and kind, should learn how to make good +bread. When a young man is courting, he can live well at home; or, if +he has to go a distance to pay his addresses, he usually obtains good +meals at an hotel or an eating-house; but when he is married and gets +to housekeeping, his wife assumes the functions of his mother or his +landlord, and it is fortunate for her if she has been educated so as +to know what a good table is. Those who are entirely dependent upon +hired cooks make a very poor show at housekeeping. The stomach +performs a very important part in the economy of humanity, and wives +who are forgetful of this fact commit a serious mistake. + +You know full well that most young men--and most young women, too--are +desirous of marrying and having a family; but they do not sufficiently +consider that it is God who gives them this desire, and that for the +wisest of purposes; not only that this world may be peopled, but also +that its inhabitants may be prepared for heaven. + +Nothing is more certain than that + + + MARRIAGE AFFORDS + +the fairest opportunities for preparing for a better world. In it we +have others dearer than ourselves to think about and provide for; and +in doing so, we have often to practice that very useful virtue, +self-denial. Let me here impress upon you most deeply, that it is only +by making others happy that we can become happy ourselves. The angels, +we may be assured, are happy, because they are always actively good; +and for a similar reason it is that God himself is infinitely happy. +If you try to secure you own happiness by any other means than a +faithful discharge of your duty to God and your neighbor, you will +certainly fail. + +I dare say you will find that + + + YOUNG MEN ARE FOND OF YOUR COMPANY, + +and of paying you every polite attention, and you, as a right-minded +woman, are well pleased to be so treated. It is due to you _as a +woman_. Now, each of them is, or ought to be, looking out for a wife, +and it is well that you should know this. It is, too, more important +than you perhaps are aware, that you should be carefully making your +own observations, so that when the time arrives for one of them to ask +you to become his wife you may not be taken by surprise, but may know +how to act on the occasion. + +Let me caution you here against a failing that is common among young +women. I mean that of making themselves too cheap. They feel flattered +by the attentions paid to them, and are not sufficiently aware that +many young men are fond of indulging in flattery; and such, if they +find a young woman weak enough to be pleased with it, will perhaps +play upon her feelings and gain her affections without having any +honorable intentions towards her. + +As a protection against such, I recommend you to have a proper respect +for yourself, and to consider with what object or purpose you receive +their attentions. If you respond without an object, you may be doing +them wrong; if you accept them when they have no right intentions, you +allow them to wrong you. For this purpose consider well what you +are--a human being intended for an eternity of bliss. God has made you +a woman; and, believe me, as there is no fairer, so there is no nobler +creature than woman. She is formed to be her husband's helpmate and +the mother of his children, and the all-important work of training +these for heaven depends mainly upon her. Great, then, is her +responsibility; but God has given her the requisite love and power to +do her duty with satisfaction and delight. He has placed you in this +beautiful world that by doing your duty as a daughter, sister, wife, +mother, and friend, you may become fitted to enter His heavenly +kingdom. + +During your courtship let me entreat you to be very careful and +circumspect. There is no period of life that can compare with this +delightful season. It is, or should be, full of sunshine and sparkling +with the poetry of life; but alas! to many it is the opposite. A want +of judgment--a momentary indiscretion--has not only blotted out this +beautiful springtime of life, but has marred, darkened, and blighted +the whole of the after lifetime. + +No maiden can, under any circumstances, place her character in the +hands of any man before marriage. No matter how sincere the love, how +ardent the protestations, how earnest or plausible the pleadings, you +must not, you cannot, surrender your honor. You must preserve your +prudence and virtue; it is only by possession of these that you can +keep + + + THE LOVE AND RESPECT OF YOUR LOVER. + +Be firm, be circumspect; a rash word or a false step may extinguish +forever all your bright hopes and prospective joys. Even should your +lover redeem his promises and take you to be his wife, this +indiscretion, or crime, will surely hang over you like a curse, +creating discord, trouble, and sorrow, the greatest portion of which +will fall to your share. + +You must know that young men, however amiable, worthy or honorable +they may be, may, in a moment of intense excitement, commit a sin that +in their calmer moments they would not be guilty of for worlds. + +But under all circumstances you will be looked upon to resist any +advances, and maintain your purity and virtue. No matter how high the +tide of passion may run in unguarded moments, and set in against +heaven and against society, the terrible and painful ebb will surely +follow and leave you stranded forever on the bleak and barren shore of +your earthly existence. + + + THERE IS NO STATE OF LIFE MORE HONORABLE, + +useful, and happy than that of a wife and mother. There must and ever +will be inequalities of station, but happiness is equally attainable +in them all. To be happy, however, you must be good. Of course, I do +not mean absolutely good, for "there is none good but One"; but I mean +that you should be relatively good, and should aim at becoming better +and more innocent as you advance in life. Now, you cannot respect +yourself unless you know that you are worthy of respect; and if you do +not respect yourself, you cannot expect that anybody else will; and in +such case you will not be worthy of the love of any good man, and none +such will be likely to pay court to you. If, however, you take the +right means, in which I include prayer for divine guidance, you will +have the respect and friendship of all your acquaintances, and then in +God's own time, and, let me add, without your seeking it, the man whom +you can make happy will present himself and propose to make you his +wife, if it be God's will that you should become one. + +Here are two very important points for your consideration: First, that +it should be your constant endeavor to + + + MAKE YOUR HUSBAND HAPPY; + +and, second, that before you consent to marry him, you should +ascertain that he has those qualifications that will secure your +happiness. It most nearly concerns yourself that you do your duty to +God and your neighbor at all times, so that it becomes your habit; and +you will find it much easier, and safer, too, to do it every day +rather than on only particular occasions; for this would require a +special effort, and for the time, perhaps, put you into a state of +excitement, which, in all probability, would be followed by a +depression of spirits. What you should rather aim at is a uniformly +cheerful state of mind, resulting from a conscious and confident +dependence on Providence. If your husband knows from experience that +such is your character, he cannot fail, provided he be worthy of you, +to be content and happy. + + + IT IS THE NATURE OF YOUNG WOMEN + +to be affectionate, and it is pleasant and usual for them to have +several dear friends, enjoying more or less of their confidence. Among +these may be included some of their male acquaintance. Now, while they +may esteem each of these as they would a dear cousin, they should know +and act upon the knowledge that it is only to _one_ they can give +their unlimited confidence and individual affection as a wife. It is +the height of cruelty and wickedness for either a man or a woman to +trifle with another's affection. Such base conduct has cost many a +young woman her health and peace, and even her life, and cannot, +therefore, be too much depreciated and avoided. + +Let me, then, advise you to be + + + VERY CAUTIOUS + +before you allow a young man to pay you such marked attentions as may +lead to marriage. It is not, you know, to terminate in seven years, +like an apprenticeship or a commercial partnership, but it is an +engagement for the life of one of the parties. I want you, then, to +profit by the experience of others, too many of whom enter into +marriage from light and low considerations, and not to settle in life +till you, and also your friends, see that there is a reasonable +prospect of your securing happiness, as well as comfort and a +respectable position. + +When a young woman has property or expects it, or is possessed of +superior personal attractions, she should be especially prudent in her +conduct towards the numerous admirers which such qualifications +usually attract. No woman should allow herself to accept the +attentions of any man who does not possess those sterling qualities +which will command her respect, or whose love is directed to her +fortune or beauty rather than herself. On such a one she can place no +reliance, for should illness or misfortune overtake her she may find +herself deprived of that love which she had valued as the great +treasure of her life. Possessed of this, she feels that earthly riches +are but of secondary importance, and that the want of them can never +make her poor. + +Moreover, a worthier man than any of her interested suitors may have a +sincere respect and affection for her, but be kept in the background +by the overzealous attention of his rivals. Still, if she has +sufficient self-command to patiently and calmly investigate their +general private character, she may find reason to decline their suit, +and may discover that the more modest and retiring youth is the one +that is deserving of her love. + +While on this subject, let me caution you against the foolish +affectation which some girls practice in order to attract the +attention of young men. In their company be natural in your manners, +open and friendly and ready to converse on general subjects; not +appearing to expect that every one who pays you the ordinary +courtesies of society is going to fall in love with you. This mode of +behavior, which is more common with those who are vain of their beauty +than with others, frequently leads to such young women being more +neglected than their less pretending sisters; for prudent young men, +who are impressed with the necessity of a right decision in the +all-important step of marriage, instinctively shrink from those who +seem unwilling to give them a fair opportunity of judging whether +their hearts and minds are as attractive as their persons. + +You may innocently admire many a young man for the noble qualities God +has bestowed upon him, without at all entertaining the idea either +that he would make you happy as his wife, or you him as your husband. +Thank God we are constituted of such different temperaments that all +may find suitable partners without clashing with each other's tastes, +if they will only be content to watch and wait. + +It is the part of a young man to _watch_, to be actively desirous of +meeting with a suitable partner. In doing this, his first +consideration should be to seek for such a one as he can make happy; +not to look primarily for beauty, fortune, wit, or accomplishments--things +all very good in themselves, but by no means constituting the +essentials of happiness. If he is influenced by pure and simple +motives, he will not find, or expect to find, more than one that can +satisfy his desire, and he will not be in much danger of exciting the +envy or the rivalry of his companions. + +On the other hand, it is becoming in a young woman to + + + WAIT PATIENTLY + +till, from the assiduous and respectful attentions of a young man, she +can have no doubt that he is in earnest, when, and not before, she may +freely give him her company, and with every expectation of a happy +result. Be assured that no sensible young man is ever attracted by a +young woman whom he sees on the lookout for a lover; he is more likely +to think meanly of her, and to avoid her society. + +It may, however, happen that a young man makes the offer before the +young woman knows enough of him for it to be right for her to accept +it, and before he, on his part, ought to take the step. In such case +it would be well for her, even supposing she is inclined to like him, +to tell him that he has taken her by surprise, and that she cannot +think of entering on so important a subject without consulting her +friends, to whom she accordingly refers him. It would then become her +duty to intimate to him that, although his attentions are agreeable to +them, he must wait a while, till, from further acquaintance, they are +enabled to judge whether it will conduce to the mutual happiness of +their daughter and himself for her to accept the offer he has so +kindly made. + +But it is not only young men who + + + ARE APT TO BE HASTY + +in these matters. It is, as is well known, not uncommon for parents, +especially mothers, very soon after a young man has begun to pay +attention to their daughter, to give him to understand that they wish +to know his intentions in reference to her. By such proceedings a +young man may be taken aback, and either hurry into a match, which +turns out unhappily, or be led to withdraw from a union which might +have resulted in the happiness of all the parties concerned. + +That your parents should wish you to be married is only natural, +especially if their own marriage has been a happy one. It will be +gratifying to them to see a worthy young man paying attention to you, +and most probably they will let things take their own course. Marriage +is too important a matter to admit of being hastened. + +There are, I am aware, unwise parents, who, from various motives, will +throw obstacles in the way of young people who are desirous of coming +together. Some are so selfish as to be unwilling to part with their +daughter, preferring their own happiness to hers. Others are so silly +as to think no ordinary man good enough for her, and therefore, if +they had their own way, would have her to become an old maid. +Fortunately, such shortsighted people are not infrequently outwitted. + +If your parents are, as I hope they are, reasonable in their views and +expectations, one of the chief concerns of their life will be the +promotion of your happiness, and it behooves you to pay the utmost +deference to their opinion; and should they, from circumstances they +become aware of, deem it advisable that you should either postpone or +even break off an engagement, they will doubtless give you such +weighty reasons as will justify you in acting on their advice. Where, +however, as sometimes happens, they unwisely refuse their consent to +their child's marriage at a time when she well knows from her own +feelings, and also from the sanction she receives from the opinion of +trustworthy and judicious friends, that she would be making a real +sacrifice were she to comply with their wishes; if, I say, under such +circumstances she acts disobediently and marries the man she loves, +more blame attaches to the parents than to herself, and the sooner +they forgive her the better. + +It is very common for young men, when going into the company of young +woman, together with their best dress to put on their best behavior; +in fact, to assume a character which is not their natural one, but far +superior to it. + +Some hold the opinion that + + + "ALL IS FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR." + +To me it appears there cannot be greater folly and wickedness than for +young people who are thinking of marrying to attempt to deceive each +other. What is the good of it? A very short period of married life +will entirely dispel the illusion. I suppose people of the world may +think it fair to overreach one another in their dealings, saying +"everyone for himself." They have no intention of seeking to promote +the other's happiness; present gain is all they want. But a married +pair, to be happy, must + + + RESPECT AND ESTEEM, AS WELL AS LOVE, + +each other; and this cannot be attained except by the constant +endeavor to _be_ as well as to _appear_ true and good. + +That young men should behave well in the presence of women is only +natural and right; none but a fool would do otherwise. But you, long +before thinking of marrying, should take all fair means to learn what +is the general conduct and habits of your male acquaintance in their +family circle and with their daily connections. "Are they good-humored +and kind--able to bear the troubles they meet with? Are they +industrious, frugal, temperate, religious, chaste? Have they had the +prudence to insure against sickness and death?" Or, on the other hand, +are they addicted to drinking, smoking, betting, keeping late hours, +frequenting casinos, etc.? Your mother and other prudent friends will +assist you to find this out. Those who do not come up to the proper +standard, however agreeable they may be as acquaintance, certainly +cannot make good husbands. In company of such, it behooves you to be +well on your guard, and accept no attention from them. Should you +marry such a one, you would be sure to be miserable. + +While, however, it is quite right that you should be careful about the +character of the young man who is paying court to you, it is of far +more importance to you that you should be careful about your own, and +this whether you marry or not. Indeed, a chief object in our being +placed in this world is that we may acquire good habits, and so be +fitted to associate with the just made perfect in heaven! + +Be very guarded in your actions and demeanor. Cultivate purity of +heart and thought. + +No woman is fit to become a wife who is not perfectly modest in word, +deed, and thought. No young man, who is worth having, would ever +entertain the thought for a moment of taking the girl for a wife who +is habitually careless in her conversation and displays a levity in +her manners. Young men may like your free and hearty girls to laugh +and talk with, but as to taking one for a wife, let me assure you they +would not tolerate the idea for a moment. + +You may at times be unavoidably compelled to hear a vulgar word spoken +or an indelicate allusion made; in every instance maintain a rigid +insensibility. It is not enough that you should cast down your eyes or +turn your head, you must act as if you did not hear it; appear as if +you did not comprehend it. You ought to receive no more impression +from remarks of this character than a block of wood. Unless you +maintain this standing, and preserve this high-toned purity of manner, +you will be greatly depreciated in the opinion of all men whose +opinion is worth having, and you deprive yourself of much influence +and respect which it is your privilege to possess and exert. + + + COURTSHIP, AFTER ALL, IS A MOMENTOUS MATTER. + +After taking all the counsel that may be offered, you must at last, in +a great measure, rely on your own judgment. Within a few short months +you have to decide, from what you can see of a man, whether you will +have him in preference to your parents, friends, and all others that +you know, to be a life companion. What can you do? How shall you +judge? How arrive at a correct conclusion? My dear young girl, there +is only One who can assist you. He, in His mercy to your helplessness +and weakness, has given to every virtuous and pure-minded woman a +wonderful, mysterious, and subtle instinct; a peculiar faculty that +cannot be analyzed by reason, a faculty that men do not possess, and +one in which they do not generally believe. At this all-important +period, this eventful crisis in your life, this womanly instinct +guides and saves you. You can feel in a moment the presence or +influence of a base, sensual, and unworthy nature. An electric-like +thrill animates you, and you are naturally repulsed from him. When +your suitor is a man of incongruous temper, ungenial habits, and of a +morose and unsympathetic disposition, this same precious, divine +instinct acts, and the man feels, though he cannot tell why, that all +his arts and aspirations are in vain. It will seldom be necessary for +you to tell him verbally of his failure; but should such a one blindly +insist upon intruding his attentions, do not hesitate to tell him +kindly but firmly your decision. Should your suitor be one who is +worthy, who will make you happy, this same blessed instinct will +whisper in your soul the happy news. From the first interview there is +frequently thrown around the maiden a peculiar, undefined spell; she +will feel differently in his presence, and watch him with other eyes +than she has for the rest of men, and in due time, when he shall ask +her to decide upon the question which shall seal the temporal and +eternal destiny of two human souls, she will gladly respond, giving in +loving trustfulness that which is the most precious, the most enviable +thing on earth: a maiden's heart, a woman's love. + +Many persons, of both sexes, however amiable and pure their minds may +be, should conscientiously abstain from marriage. This applies to all +who have a tendency to consumption, scrofula, insanity, or any other +of those diseases which are so frequently transmitted to offspring. +This very important matter is not sufficiently known, and therefore is +not attended to as it ought to be; hence the great amount of sickness +and early death among children. + +The tendency to inherit qualities is very evident in the case of +drunkards, whose children are often inclined to practice the vice of +their parents. The children of the blind, and of the deaf and dumb, +are also liable to be afflicted as their parents were. These facts go +far to show that it is literally true that the sins of the fathers are +visited upon the children. It is, however, gratifying to know--and +there are many well-attested cases to prove it--that whereas the +children born to a man while he was addicted to drunkenness were +similarly addicted to that vice, those born after he gave up his +vicious indulgence, and by that means improved his bodily health, were +free from the evil tendency. + +One strong reason + + + WHY NEAR RELATIONS SHOULD NOT INTERMARRY + +is that, as the same general tendencies prevail in families, when the +parents are nearly related they are very likely to have the same evil +tendency, whatever that may be; and, therefore, there is a great +probability that their children will also have the same, but more +strongly developed, and, consequently, the difficulty of their +overcoming it will be much increased. + +How plainly, then, is it the duty of those about to marry, as well as +of those who are married, to strive to their utmost, with God's help, +to overcome disorderly habits of every kind; for, be assured, it is +only by such means they can hope to be blessed with good and healthy +children, and thereby contribute to their own happiness, and at the +same time to the improvement of the race as subjects both of this +world and of heaven. + +As it is by no means certain that you will marry, and the time may +come when it will no longer be convenient to your parents to support +you, it will be good for you, keeping these contingencies in mind, to +qualify yourself to earn your own maintenance by some honest industry. +You will then have a right feeling of independence, and not be tempted +to marry, as too many young women do, not from the true principle of +sincere affection, but mainly for a living. They may thus obtain a +competence, and jog on comfortably, but they have no right to expect +that genuine happiness which I recommend you to aim at. When, too, you +see so many left widows, with small families, and, as we say, totally +unprovided for, you will become sensible of the soundness of the +advice I am offering you. As the Lord's tender mercies are over all +His works, it is evident, from what is occurring around us, that +trouble and adversity are better suited to the state of some people, +to prepare them for their eternal destination, than any amount of +prosperity would be. The poor are no less His children than the rich, +and he cares equally--that is, infinitely--for them all. It is +certainly wise, then, to be prepared to meet adversity, should He +suffer it to come upon you. + +Again, suppose you should not have any suitable offer of marriage, +such as you would feel it your duty to accept, you are not on that +account to be disheartened, and fancy yourself overlooked by +Providence. + +Single life is evidently the best for some persons; they escape many +troubles which perhaps they would find it very hard to bear. There are +many ways in which single people can lead a useful life, and be + + + AS HAPPY AS THE DAY IS LONG. + +No one that is actively useful can be unhappy. What do you see around +you? Many, I admit, who are not so happy as we should like them to be; +but in most cases, if we could fully investigate the matter, it would +perhaps be found to have arisen from their thinking too much about +themselves and not enough for others. But, on the other hand, it not +infrequently happens, when a woman is left, and sees that the support +and welfare of herself and children depend on her own exertions, she +is enabled to so successfully put forth her energies and to employ her +talents which, till she needed them, she hardly knew she possessed, as +to surprise both herself and the most sanguine of her friends. + +Now, it must be confessed that we are fallen creatures, and therefore +prone to evil. We are consequently always in danger of going wrong +and forming bad habits, but our Heavenly Father watches over us at all +times and gives us power to "refuse the evil and choose the good." We +are, I know full well, too much inclined to yield to evil influences; +still, as we always have divine aid if we implore it, I am not sure +that, on the whole, it is not as easy to acquire good habits as bad +ones. This much is certain, that whichever we acquire, they are likely +to remain with us and are not easily to be got rid of. + +Among the subjects deserving attention as affecting our happiness is +one on which, perhaps, I am not entitled to say much. I refer to +dress. Now, I hold it to be a duty for people to dress well--that is, +according to their position, means, and age; and this not so much for +their own sakes as for the sake of giving pleasure to others. It is, I +admit, difficult to determine how much of one's income should be +devoted to dress, but I think few will deny that at present dress +occupies too much time, attention, and money. For my own part, I +confess I am most affected by female dress, and although certainly I +like to see women well dressed, and would rather see them a little too +fine than slovenly, I am often pained at witnessing the extravagance +and, to me, ridiculous taste exhibited. Whenever I see a handsome and +expensive dress trailing in the dirt, I regard it as culpable waste +and in bad taste, and when I see it accidentally trodden on I am not +sorry. I am inclined to believe that many women can hardly find time +or opportunity to perform any useful duty; they have quite as much as +they, poor things, can do to take care of their dress. I also believe +(and this is the serious point of the matter) that many a young man is +deterred from soliciting a maiden in marriage by knowing that his +means would not enable him to let her dress as he is accustomed to see +her, and this is doubtless one of the many reasons why so many of both +sexes remain unmarried. I hold, too, that whatever forms an obstacle +to marriage has a tendency at the same time to obstruct the entrance +to heaven. + +I will now allude to some of the duties which will devolve upon you as +a wife; and recollect that it is on the faithful discharge of these +duties that your happiness, here and hereafter, mainly depends. All +labor is honorable, and you know who it is that says, "My Father +worketh hitherto, and I work." Being married, you must make your +husband feel + + + "THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME." + +His business will probably take him from home most of the day, and it +should be your care, as I doubt not it will be your delight, to see to +his comfort, both before he starts and when he returns. It may +sometimes happen in his fighting the battle of life that he has to +encounter much that is unpleasant, and he may return home depressed. +You will then have to cheer him, and be assured no one can do it so +effectually, so pleasantly--aye, and so easily--as yourself. + +It is not to sweep the house, and make the bed, and darn the socks, +and cook the meals, chiefly, that a man wants a wife. If this is all +that he needs, hired help can do it cheaper than a wife. If this is +all, when a young man calls to see a young lady, send him to the +pantry to taste the bread and cake she has made. Send him to inspect +the needlework and bedmaking; or put a broom into her hands and send +him to witness its use. _Such things are important_, and the wise +young man will quietly look after them. But what a true man most wants +of a true wife is her companionship, sympathy, courage, and love. The +way of life has many dreary places in it, and a man needs a companion +to go with him. A man is sometimes overtaken with misfortune; he meets +with failure and defeat; trials and temptations beset him; and he +needs one to stand by and sympathize. He has some stern battles to +fight with poverty, with enemies, and with sin; and he needs a woman +that, while he puts his arm around her and feels that he has something +to fight for, will help him fight; that will put her lips to his ear +and whisper words of counsel, and her hands to his heart and impart +new inspirations. All through life--through storm and through +sunshine, conflict and victory, and through adverse and favoring +winds--man needs a woman's love. The heart yearns for it. A sister's +or a mother's love will hardly supply the need. Yet many seek for +nothing further than success in housework. Justly enough, half of +these get nothing more; the other half, surprised beyond measure, have +got more than they sought. Their wives surprise them by bringing a +nobler idea of marriage, and disclosing a treasury of courage, +sympathy, and love. + +And I would here caution you against giving way to little +misunderstandings in early married life. Sometimes trifling matters, +for want of some forbearance or concession on one side on the other, +perhaps on both sides, accumulate into serious results. These +differences might be avoided by married partners studying each other's +peculiarities of character, with the aim of mutually correcting, in a +kindly spirit, any wrong tendency or temper which may sometimes show +itself. Should you find you have inadvertently given pain to your +husband, do not rest until you have ascertained the cause of his +disquiet and succeeded in allaying the unhappy feeling. The earnest +desire to please each other should by no means terminate on the +wedding day, but be studiously continued through married life. Each +should always endeavor to think the best of the other, and instantly +reject every thought that might tend to weaken the bond of mutual +preference and perfect trust. + +If he be wise, he will leave the housekeeping entirely to you; his +time and attention can be better employed elsewhere. To enable you to +do this wisely, you should, long before you marry, become familiar +with the quality and prices of articles of consumption, and where they +can best be obtained. Every wife should be able to cook well, whether +she has to do it herself or not. Health and good humor greatly depend +upon the food being of good quality, well cooked, and nicely served +up. She should also be able, if needful, to make and mend her own and +children's clothes. + +Too much importance cannot be attached to cleanliness. Men may be +careless as to their own personal appearance, and may, from the nature +of their business, be negligent in their dress, but they dislike to +see any disregard in the dress and appearance of their wives. Nothing +so depresses a man and makes him dislike and neglect his home as to +have a wife who is slovenly in her dress and unclean in her habits. +Beauty of face and form will not compensate for these defects. The +charm of purity and cleanliness never ends but with life itself. These +are matters that do not involve any great labor or expense. The use of +the bath, and the simplest fabrics, shaped by your own supple fingers, +will be all that is necessary. These attractions will act like a +magnet upon your husband. Never fear that there will be any influence +strong enough to take him from your side. + +An experience of many years of observation has convinced me that where +a pure, industrious, and cheerful wife meets her husband with a bright +smile on the threshold of her dwelling, that man will never leave the +home for any other place. + +As all people are liable to illness, every young woman should aim at +being an efficient nurse. In case of illness, it is now generally +admitted that good nursing is of more value than medicine. To a sick +husband, a little gruel or other trifle prepared and given by his +wife's own hands will confer much more benefit than if prepared and +given by another. Should it happen to you to fall ill, you may expect +your husband to do his best; but you must not be surprised if he is +not your equal in that department. Nursing is one of the many useful +things which women can do better than men. A practical knowledge of +nursing will enable you to be useful beyond your own family, and will +enhance your value as a neighbor. + +You have often, I trust, experienced the pleasure of serving others +from disinterested motives, and found that the pleasure has been +deeper and purer when you have engaged in doing good to those who +could not make you any return. This you have found to be the case +wherever you have had charge of a baby--one of those little ones of +whom the Lord says: "Their angels do always behold the face of my +Father which is in heaven." You have perhaps been surprised to find +how easy it was to perform such a duty, and let me assure you that you +may always expect to find it easy to perform your duty in that state +of life to which it shall please God to call you. He never requires +anything from any of His creatures beyond what He gives them power to +do. He is no hard task-master. You have only to look to Him and do +your best, and then you may safely leave the result in His hands. + +Of all God's creatures, I know no happier one than a young mother with +a good husband and a healthy baby. I say a _healthy_ baby, for that +implies healthy parents, especially a healthy mother. She may justly +feel proud that God has intrusted a young immortal to her care, and +she should at all times bear in mind that it is His gift. While it is +on all hands considered honorable to hold a commission from the +President, and to fill a high office, contributing to the welfare of +many people, a mother may feel her office at least as honorable, +seeing she has intrusted to her the rearing and training of an +immortal being, and that she holds her commission direct from the King +of Kings. For, recollect, it is only by God's blessing that she +becomes a mother; for such is the present state of society that many +very worthy married people have not the privilege of offspring, +although they are intensely fond of children and seem to have no other +earthly want. They may, nevertheless, be very useful, and therefore +happy, in a different sphere, by the adoption of nephews and nieces or +in some similar way. + + + AT THE BIRTH OF HER FIRST CHILD + +there is opened in the mother's heart a new well of love, such as she +had not known before; and although she may fancy that this is all +spent upon her babe, it is not so, for she loves her God, her husband, +and everybody else better than ever. The father, too, is similarly +affected; he also has a warmer love for his wife and for all his +connections. + +A similar idea is well expressed by Möhler, a German writer, who says: +"The power of selfishness, which is inwoven with our whole being, is +altogether broken by marriage, and by degrees love, becoming more and +more pure, takes its place." When a man marries he gives himself up +entirely to _another_ being; in this affair of life he first goes out +of himself, and inflicts the first deadly wound on his egotism. By +every child with which his marriage is blessed, nature renews the same +attack on his selfhood, causes him to live less for himself, and +more--even without being distinctly conscious of it--for others; his +heart expands in proportion as the claimants upon it increase, and, +bursting the bonds of its former narrow exclusiveness, it eventually +extends its sympathies to all around. + +Whenever a mother is supplying her baby with the food which God has so +wisely provided for it, or is ministering to any other of its numerous +and increasing wants, she may feel that everything she does for it is +pleasing to her Heavenly Father and has its immediate reward in the +delight she experiences in the act. + +I can fancy that when a mother has washed her baby, and before she +dresses it has a good romp with it, smothering it with kisses, calling +it all the beauties and darlings and pets and jewels she can think of, +and talking any amount of nonsense at the top of her voice--the baby +all the while cooing, chirping, or even screaming with delight--at +such a time, I say, I can easily fancy that the angels are looking on +approvingly and enjoying the scene. And why not? "Of such is the +kingdom of heaven." + +From the time that an infant first becomes conscious of its wants, and +long afterwards, it looks to its mother to supply them all, fully +believing her able to do so. She is, in fact, in place of God to it, +and it would be well for many of us if we trusted our Heavenly Father +as simply and as fully as the infant does its earthly mother. + +Those who know no better, when they see a mother patiently watching +her sleeping babe, might wonder that she does not feel the want of +company. She has, however, company that they know not of, and of which +even she herself may not be conscious. If only our eyes were open, we +might see that she is not the only one that is so engaged--that +angels are also occupied in watching the babe and in supporting her. +I entirely agree with Dr. Watts, where, in his "Cradle Hymn," he makes +the mother say: + + "Hush! my babe, lie still and slumber, + Holy angels guard thy bed." + +You probably know the beautiful Irish superstition that when a baby +smiles in its sleep the angels are whispering to it. + +"Before I became a father, I took little or no interest in babies; I +rather thought them troublesome things. But the arrival of one of my +own wrought a great change in me. It enlarged at once my views and my +heart, and I had higher and stronger motives to exertion. My interest +in them has not yet begun to weaken, and I have no reason to think it +ever will." + +Girls are differently constituted from boys. God makes the intellect +predominate in males, and affection in females. Accordingly, a little +girl early shows a love for a doll, regarding it quite as her baby and +never taking into account that it is not alive. She has many of a +mother's cares and anxieties, as well as pleasures, about it; indeed, +as many as she is then capable of. It is a constant source of +amusement and employment to her. In all this we may plainly see the +hand of Providence. It forms a suitable introduction to some of the +interesting and important duties which will devolve on her if it +should be His good pleasure for her to become a mother. + +You will, I dare say, readily see the object I now have in view. It is +that I wish to impress on you how desirable it is that you should take +every opportunity of becoming acquainted with the habits and wants of +babies, and the best way of managing them. The more you have to do +with them the more you will like the labors, and the easier and more +delightful it will become. It is fair that, before you have children +of your own, you should get your knowledge as to the management of +them by experience with other people's. I take it for granted you will +at all times do your best for them. You will then have but little +cause to fear accident; and if accident should happen, as with all +your care it sometimes will, you will have more confidence in your +powers, and will be more likely to do what is best at the moment, than +if you were unused to children. Much of the disease and early death +that happens among children arises from the ignorance of the mothers, +who, however, are much more to be pitied than blamed in the matter. +They had never been taught their duties toward their future +offspring. + +Few mothers are, perhaps, sufficiently aware of the great influence +which their manners, habits, and conversation have upon the tender +minds of their children, even from birth. The child should grow up +with a feeling of reverence for its parents, which can only be the +case when wisdom, as well as affection, is exercised in its bringing +up. Hence the necessity of the mother fitting herself, both +_intellectually_ and _morally_, for her sacred office, that the child +may become accustomed to yield perfect obedience to her wishes, from a +principle of love, and may acquire, as it advances in life, the habit +of yielding a like obedience to that which is right. + +As you well know that you are not perfect yourself, you must be +prepared to find that your husband has also his imperfections, and it +is no unimportant part of your duty to help him to get rid of them. +Indeed, it is one of the highest uses of marriage for each partner to +assist the other on the journey to the heavenly Canaan. But before you +attempt to point out a fault in him, consider how you had best proceed +so as to attain your object; for unless you adopt a judicious mode, +and an affectionate as well as earnest manner, you may do as much harm +as good. You must also carefully watch your opportunity; for what +would be favorably received at one time and under certain +circumstances, might under other circumstances give offence and +altogether fail of the good effect intended and hoped for. You do not +know how powerful you may be for good to your husband. There is much +truth in the saying, "A man is what a woman makes him." + +Previous to your marriage it will be expedient for you not to give +your lover that full and unlimited confidence which it will be your +duty--and your inclination, too--to give him when he becomes your +husband. I refer chiefly to family and other private matters, not to +anything he ought to know to enable him to judge of your character and +position. Many unhappy marriages have been brought about through the +young woman letting it be known that she has "great expectations." A +worthless fellow may, in consequence, have succeeded in winning her +hand. + +There is another point to which I must just allude before concluding +this address. It is doubtless the order of Providence for marriage to +take place, when possible, on our arriving at years of maturity. But I +would guard you against the evil results of _too early_ marriage, +before either body or mind is perfectly matured. We scarcely need +consult either medical or moral science to satisfy ourselves on this +by no means trifling point. We may find in society too many sad +instances of such immature and indiscreet unions. The minds of young +persons should be expanded by a certain amount of experience in the +world before entering upon engagements involving so many momentous +duties. + +In your daily walks abroad, if you examine the countenances of those +you meet, you will doubtless be led to conclude that there is a great +deal of disease and misery in the world; but judging from my own +observation, I think you will find that the greater number of persons +exhibit signs of health and happiness. Much of the disease, and misery +with which the world is afflicted is the direct result of the +misconduct of the individuals themselves; but no little of it is +attributable to their parents, who have neglected or violated God's +laws of health, their misconduct thus affecting their descendants to +the "third and fourth generation." I cannot, therefore, too much +impress upon you the importance of your honestly trying to find out +any bad habits to which you are inclined, with a view to getting rid +of them, one by one, and supplying their place by good habits. By +pursuing this course you will not only do much for your own happiness, +but also for that of your children, if God should bless you with a +family. Children, you know, are often striking likenesses of their +parents, and in their minds and habits they likewise often resemble +them. You should strive, then, to be good--not from mere self-love and +that you may get to heaven, but because your duty to others requires +it. + +Earl Granville, when laying the foundation-stone of the Alexandria +Orphanage, in England, thus expressed himself in reference to the +great value of children: "Few will deny that a child is 'an +inestimable loan,' as it has been called, or refuse to acknowledge, +with one of our greatest poets, that the world would be a somewhat +melancholy one if there were no children to gladden it." Children, +more than any other earthly thing, equalize the conditions of +society--to rich and poor they bring an interest, a pleasure, and an +elevation which nothing else that is earthly does. + +Now, young people, before they think of engaging themselves, should +clearly know each other's peculiar views of religion; because if they +differ seriously on this point there is danger of it interfering with +that full confidence which is so essential to happiness. + + + + + CHAPTER IV. + + LOVE AND MARRIAGE. + + +The attraction of the sexes for each other, though based upon the dual +principle of generation which pervades the living world and which has +its analogies in the attractive forces of matter, yet pervades the +whole being. + + + LOVE IS NOT MERELY + +the instinctive desire of physical union, which has for its object the +continuation of the species--it belongs to the mind as well as to the +body. It warms, invigorates, and elevates every sentiment, every +feeling; and in its highest, purest, most diffusive form unites us to +God and all creatures in Him. + + + ALL LOVE IS + +essentially the same, but modified according to its objects and by the +character of the one who loves. The love of children for their +parents, of parents for offspring, brotherly and sisterly love, the +love of friendship, of charity, and the fervor of religious love, are +modifications of the same sentiment--the attraction that draws us to +our kindred, our kind; that binds together all races and humanity +itself, resting on the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. +It is but natural that this love should vary in degrees. Attractions +are proportional to proximity. Family is nearer than country; we +prefer our own nation to the rest of the race. + +Each individual has, also, his own special attractions and repulsions. +There is love at first sight and friendship at first sight. We feel +some persons pleasant to us; to be near them is a delight. Generally +such feelings are mutual--like flows to like, or as often, perhaps, +differences fit into each other. We seek sympathy with our own tastes +and habits, or we find in others what we lack. Thus the weak rest upon +the strong, the timid are fond of the courageous, the reckless seek +guidance of the prudent, and so on. The sentiment of + + + LOVE FOR THE OPPOSITE SEX + +--tender, romantic, passionate--begins very early in life. Fathers and +daughters, mothers and sons, have a special fondness for each other, +as, also, have brothers and sisters; but the boy soon comes to admire +someone, generally older than himself, who is not a relation. Very +little girls find a hero in some friend of an elder brother. + + + FONDNESS FOR COUSINS + +generally comes more from opportunity than natural attraction, though +a cousin may have very little appearance of family relation. The law +appears to be that free choice seeks the diverse and distant. A +stranger has always a better chance with the young ladies of any +district than the young men with whom they have always been +acquainted. Savages seek their wives out of their own tribe. + +It is my belief that naturally (I mean in a state of pure and +unperverted nature, but developed cultivated, and refined by +education) every man loves womanhood itself, and all women so far as +they approximate to his ideal; and that in the same way every woman +loves manhood, and is attracted and charmed by all its gentle, noble, +and heroic manifestations. By such a man, every woman he meets is +reverenced as a mother, sister, daughter, or, it may be, cherished in +a more tender relation, which should be at first, and may always +remain, free from any sensual desire. Such love may have many objects, +each attracting the kind and degree of affection which it is able to +inspire. Such love of men for women, and women for men, may be free +and will be free just in the degree in which it is freed from the +bondage of sensual passion. + + + SUCH LOVE HAS A DIRECT TENDENCY + +to raise men above the control of their senses. The more of such love +one has and the more it is diffused, the less the liability to sink +into the lower and disorderly loves of the sensual life. + +The idea that every attraction, every attachment, every love between +the sexes must lead to marriage--that no love can be tolerated but +with that end in view--is a very false and mischievous one. It +deprives men and women of the strength and happiness they might have +in pure friendships and pure loves, and it leads to a multitude of +false and bad marriages. Two persons are drawn together by strong +attractions and tender sentiments for each other who have no more +right to be married than if they were brother and sister, but who have +the same right to love each other. But their true sentiments for each +other, and consequent relation to each other, are not understood by +those around them and perhaps not by themselves. They are urged by the +misapprehension of others, by their expectation, by ignorant gossip, +by the prejudice of society, based upon low and sensual estimates of +life, to marry; they find that they must either marry or lose the +happiness they have in each other's society, and they make the +irrevocable mistake. + +When it is understood that there are + + + OTHER LOVES + +than that of marriage; when the special attraction that justifies +union for life, and the begetting of offspring, is discriminated from +all the other attractions that may bring two souls into very near and +tender relations to each other, there will be more happiness in the +world and fewer incomplete, imperfect, and, therefore, more or less +unhappy, marriages. Nothing can be more detestable than that playing +with fire which goes by the name of + + + FLIRTATION; + +but there are men and women who have the happiness of living and of +being tenderly and devotedly loved by persons of the opposite +sex--loved purely, nobly, happily--without injury and with great good. +When such loves are accompanied by perfect trust in the goodness, +purity, truth, and honor of the beloved, there can be no jealousy, no +desire for selfish absorption, no fear of deprivation of any right. +There is no reason why a husband or a wife should limit the range of +pure and spiritual affection to near relatives. + + + THE MAN WHO CAN LOVE + +a sister as sisters are often loved, may love in the same way, or as +purely, any woman who might be his sister. As men and women learn to +purify their lives, the world will grow more tolerant and love will +become more universal. The tender and fervent exhortations to mutual +love to be found in the Gospels and Epistles of the New Testament are +now almost without a meaning. But they had a meaning to those to whom +they were addressed, and when we are better Christians, and bring our +lives to the purity of Christian morality, they will have a meaning to +us and we shall learn that, in a sense we have not dreamed of, God is +Love. + + + IN THE HUMAN RACE ALL CIRCUMSTANCES POINT TO MONOGAMY + +as the lawful or natural condition. Males and females are born in +almost equal numbers. If there are two or three per cent. more of +males than females, the risks of life with males soon make the number +even. Therefore, as a rule, no man can have more than one wife without +robbing his neighbor. + +_Polygamy_ is therefore a manifest injustice, and may become the most +grievous of all monopolies. + +Children are the most helpless of all young creatures and require the +care of parents for the longest period. The care of a husband for his +wife, and of a father for his child, is an evident necessity. The +proper care and education of a single child should extend over at +least fifteen years, and that of a family may reach to thirty years, +or throughout the greatest part of an ordinary life. During all +periods of pregnancy, childbearing, nursing, and the education and +care of a family, every woman has a right to the sympathy, sustaining +love, and constant aid of her husband. No man has a right to desert or +leave helpless, or even dependent upon others, except in extraordinary +cases, the mother of his children. + +Marriage, like celibacy, should be a matter of vocation. + + + THE SPECIAL OBJECT OF MARRIAGE + +is to have children; the co-operating motive is that two persons drawn +to each other by a mutual affection may live helpfully and happily +together. A selfish marriage, for its merely animal gratifications--a +marriage in which strength, health, usefulness, often life itself, are +sacrificed to sensuality and lust--is a desecration of a holy +institution, and somewhat worse in its consequences than promiscuous +profligacy, for the consequences of that may not fall upon one's +children and posterity. + +There are many persons who have no right to marry. There should be a +kind and amount of love that will justify and sanctify such a +relation. There should be a pure motive and the fixed intention of +making the relation what it ought to be to husband, wife, and +children. There should be a reasonable assurance of the power to +provide for a family. There should be that amount of health, that +freedom from bodily and mental disease, that physical and moral +constitution which will give a reasonable prospect of children whose +lives will be a blessing to themselves and to society. + +When there is deformity of body, or an unhappy peculiarity of temper +or mind liable to be inherited, people should not marry, or if they +live together, should resign the uses of marriage. People should +conscientiously refrain from propagating hereditary diseases. Persons +near of kin are wisely forbidden to marry, for there is in such cases +the liability of imperfect generation--the production of blind, deaf, +idiotic or insane offspring. + + + SHOULD MARRIAGE BE FOR LIFE? + +As a rule, undoubtedly. Every real, proper, true marriage must be. It +takes a lifetime for a husband and wife to make a home and rear and +educate and provide for a family of children. But what if people make +mistakes and find that they are not suitably married? These are +mistakes very difficult to remedy. If a man, after deliberately making +his choice of a woman, ceases to love her, how can he honorably +withdraw from his relation to her, and enter upon another, + + + WHEN SHE STILL LOVES HIM, + +and is ready to fulfill her part of the contract? Laws cannot very +well provide for mistakes. If the distaste for each other be mutual, +and both parties desire to separate, a separation may of course be +permitted; but it is a serious question whether two such persons can +go into the world and find new partners, with justice to the rest. The +law which permits of no divorce certainly bears hard upon individual +cases; but if it leads to greater seriousness and care in forming such +relations, it may be, on the whole, the best thing for society that it +should be strictly observed. + + + + + CHAPTER V. + + WHEN TO MARRY--HOW TO SELECT A PARTNER + ON RIGHT PRINCIPLES. + + +The proper age to marry is a somewhat vexed question, but needlessly +so, because that age varies much, according to temperament and other +circumstances relating to the individual. Although after puberty the +sexual organs are capable of reproduction, yet it by no means follows +that they should be used for that purpose. Their early activity is +intended for the perfection of the body and mind, and not for the +continuation of the species. + + + VERY EARLY MARRIAGE, + +therefore, should be avoided, because the nervous force expended in +amative indulgence is imperatively required in both sexes for +developing the physical and mental faculties. The zoösperms produced +by the male in the first years of puberty are inferior in power and +less capable of producing healthy offspring than those of mature +years. The early germs, also, of the female are less fitted for +fecundation than those that appear later in life; nature evidently +intending these early efforts to be used on the individuals themselves +in building up their bodies, strengthening their minds, and preparing +them to reproduce their species in maturer years. There is a serious +day of reckoning for early indulgence; for precocious persons (unless +their constitutions are as powerful as their desires) who give way to +their passions at their first exactions, barter their youth for their +enjoyment, and are old and weary of the world at an age when people of +more moderate habits are only in the meridian of pleasure and +existence. + + + GENERALLY THE BEST AGE TO MARRY, + +where the health is perfect, is from twenty-one to twenty-five in the +male and from eighteen to twenty-one in the female. As a general rule, +marriages earlier than this are injurious and detrimental to health. +Men who marry too young, unless they are of cold and phlegmatic +constitution, and thus moderate in their conduct, become partially +bald, dim of sight, and lose all elasticity of limb in a few years; +while women in a like position rarely have any bloom on their cheek or +fire in their eye by the time they are twenty-five. And all profound +physiologists agree that from the same cause the mental faculties +suffer in the same ratio. + +A medium, however, is to be observed. It is not well to defer till +middle age the period of connubial intercourse; for too tedious +spinsterhood is as much calculated to hasten the decay of beauty as +too early a marriage. Hence, there is rarely any freshness to be seen +in a maiden of thirty; while the matron of that age, if her life has +been a happy one, and her hymeneal condition of not more than ten +years' standing, is scarcely in the heyday of her charm's. And the +same rule will apply with equal force to the other sex; for, after the +first prime of life, bachelors decay and grow old much faster than +married men. + +The rich are qualified for marriage before the poor. This is owing to +the superiority of their aliment; for very nutritious food, and the +constant use of wines, coffee, etc., greatly assists in developing the +organs of reproduction; whereas the food generally made use of among +the peasantry of most countries--as vegetables, corn, milk, +etc.--retards their growth. Owing to this difference of diet, the +daughter of a man of wealth, who keeps a good table, will be as +adequate to certain duties of married life at eighteen as the daughter +of a humble peasant at twenty-one. Singular as it may seem, it is none +the less true, that love novels, amorous conversations, playing parlor +games for kisses, voluptuous pictures, waltzing, and, in fact, all +things having a tendency to create desire, assist in promoting puberty +and preparing young persons for early marriage. Those who reach this +estate, however, by artificial means and much before the natural +period will have to suffer for it in after life. + +The female who marries before the completion of her womanhood--that +is, before her puberty is established--will cease to grow and probably +become pale and delicate, the more especially if she become pregnant +soon after marriage. A person who is thus circumstanced will also be +liable to abortions and painful deliveries. + + + MARRIAGE, UNLESS + +under very peculiar circumstances, should not take place until two or +three years after the age of puberty. Many instances could be cited of +the injurious effects resulting from not observing this rule. The case +of the son of Napoleon I. is a notable instance, who, at the age of +fifteen or sixteen, began his career of sexual indulgence, which ended +his life at the early age of twenty-one years. He was an amiable, +inoffensive, and studious youth, beloved by his grandfather and the +whole Austrian court; and though the son of the most energetic man +that modern times has produced, yet, from his effeminate life, he +scarcely attracted the least public attention. + +Let me, therefore, advise the male reader to keep his desires in +leading-strings until he is at least twenty-one, and the female not to +enter the pale of wedlock until she is past her eighteenth year; but +after these periods marriage is their proper sphere of action, and one +in which they must play a part or suffer actual pain as well as the +loss of one of the greatest of earthly pleasures. + + + MARRIAGES ARE MOST HAPPY + +and most productive of handsome and healthy offspring when the husband +and wife differ, not only in mental conformation, but in bodily +construction. A melancholy man should mate himself with a sprightly +woman, and _vice versa_; for otherwise they will soon grow weary of +the monotony of each other's company. By the same rule should the +choleric and the patient be united, and the ambitious and the humble; +for the opposites of their natures not only produce pleasurable +excitement, but each keeps the other in a wholesome check. In the size +and form of the parties the same principles hold good. Tall women are +not the ideals of beauty to tall men; and if they marry such, they +will soon begin to imagine greater perfections in other forms than in +those of their own wives. And this is well ordered by nature to +prevent the disagreeable results which are almost certain to grow out +of unions where the parties have a strong resemblance. + +For instance, tall parents will probably have children taller than +either, and mental imbecility is the usual attendant of extreme size. +The union of persons prone to corpulency, of dwarfs, etc., would have +parallel results; and so, likewise, of weakly and attenuated couples. +The tall should marry the short, the corpulent the lean, the choleric +the gentle, and so on, and the tendency to extremes in the parents +will be corrected in the offspring. + +Apart from these considerations, there are reasons why persons of the +same disposition should not be united and wedlock. An amiable wife to +a choleric man is like oil to troubled waters; an ill-tempered one +will make his life a misery and his home a hell. The man of studious +habits should marry a woman of sense and spirit rather than of +erudition, or the union will increase the monotony of his existence, +which it would be well for his health and spirits to correct by a +little conjugal excitement; and the man of gloomy temperament will +find the greatest relief from the dark forebodings of his mind in the +society of a gentle, but lively and smiling partner. + +However, in some particulars the dispositions and constructions of + + + MARRIED PEOPLE MUST ASSIMILATE + +or they will have but few enjoyments in common. The man of full habits +and warm nature had better remain single than unite his destinies with +a woman whose heart repulses the soft advancements of love; and the +sanguine female in whose soul love is the dominant principle should +avoid marriage with a very phlegmatic person, or her caresses, instead +of being returned in kind, will rather excite feelings of disgust. +Thus the discriminations to be made in the choice of a partner are +extremely nice. + +Nature generally assists art in the choice of partners. We +instinctively seek in the object of our desires the qualities which we +do not possess ourselves. This is a most admirable arrangement of +Providence, as it establishes an equilibrium and prevents people from +tending to extremes; for it is known that unions of dwarfs are +fruitful of dwarfs, that giants proceed from the embrace of giants, +and that offspring of parents alike irritable, alike passive, alike +bashful, etc., inherit the prominent qualities of both to such a +degree as to seriously interfere with their prospects in the world. + +It has another advantage. Through its means "Every eye forms its own +beauty"; hence, what one person rejects is the _beau ideal_ of +another's conceptions, and thus we are all provided for. + +In fine, with man as with animals, the best way to improve the breed +is to cross it, for the intermarriage of like with like and relative +with relative not only causes man to degenerate, but if the system +became universal would in time bring the human race to a termination +altogether. + +A male or female with a very low forehead should carefully avoid +marriage with a person of like conformation, or their offspring will, +in all probability, be weak-minded or victims to partial idiocy. + +The system of crossing is so perfect that marriages between persons of +different countries are likely to be pleasant and fruitful. Speaking +on this subject, an English writer says: "The Persians have been so +improved by introducing foreigners that they have completely succeeded +in washing out their Mongolian origin." And the same author adds to +the effect that in those parts of Persia where there is no foreign +intercourse the inhabitants are sickly and stunted, while in those +that are frequented by strangers they are large and healthy. + +To make what is called + + + "A HANDSOME COUPLE," + +the female should be about three inches less than the male, and the +parties should be proportionately developed throughout their system. + + + "A WELL-FORMED WOMAN," + +says a modern physiologist, "should have her head, shoulders, and +chest small and compact; arms and limbs relatively short; her +haunches apart; her hips elevated; her abdomen large and her thighs +voluminous. Hence, she should taper from the center, up and down. +Whereas, in a well-formed man the shoulders are more prominent than +the hips. Great hollowness of the back, the pressing of the thigh +against each other in walking, and the elevation of one hip above the +other, are indications of the malformation of the pelvis." + +From the same writer I take the following, which is applicable here. +It is very correct in its estimates of beauty in both sexes:-- + +"The length of the neck should be proportionately less in the male +than in the female, because the dependence of the mental system on the +vital one is naturally connected with the shorter courses of the +vessels of the neck. + +"The neck should form a gradual transition between the body and +head--its fullness concealing all prominences of the throat. + +"The shoulders should slope from the lower part of the neck, because +the reverse shows that the upper part of the chest owes its width to +the bones and muscles of the shoulders. + +"The upper part of the chest should be relatively short and wide, +independent of the size of the shoulders, for this shows the vital +organs which it contains are sufficiently developed. + +"The waist should taper a little farther than the middle of the trunk, +and be marked, especially in the back and loins, by the approximation +of the hips. + +"The waist should be narrower than the upper part of the trunk and its +muscles, because the reverse indicates the expansion of the stomach, +liver, and great intestine, resulting from their excessive use. + +"The back of woman should be more hollow than that of man; for +otherwise the pelvis is not of sufficient depth for parturition. + +"Women should have more extended loins than men, at the expense of the +superior and inferior parts, for this conformation is essential to +gestation. + +"The abdomen should be larger in woman than in man, for the same +reason. + +"Over all these parts the cellular tissue, and the plumpness connected +with it, should obliterate all distinct projection of muscles. + +"The surface of the whole female form should be characterized by its +softness, elasticity, smoothness, delicacy, and polish, and by the +gradual and easy transition between the parts. + +"The moderate plumpness already described should bestow on the organs +of woman great suppleness. Plumpness is essential to beauty, +especially in mothers, because in them the abdomen necessarily +expands, and would afterwards collapse and become wrinkled. + +"An excess of plumpness, however, is to be guarded against. Young +women who are very fat are cold and prone to barrenness. + +"In no case should plumpness be so predominant as to destroy the +distinctness of parts." + +A male and female formed on the above models would be well matched and +have fine children. + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + + SEXUAL INTERCOURSE--ITS LAWS AND + CONDITIONS--ITS USE AND ABUSE. + + +There is an increasing and alarming prevalence of nervous ailments and +complicated disorders that could be traced to have their sole origin +from this source. Hypochondria, in its various phases, results from +the premature and unnatural waste of the seminal fluid. Then speedily +ensues a lack of natural heat, a deficiency of vital power, and +consequently indigestion, melancholy, languor, and dejection ensue; +the victim becomes enervated and spiritless, loses the very attributes +of man, and premature old age soon follows. + + + IT IS A PREVALENT ERROR + +that it is necessary for the semen to be ejected at certain times from +the body; that its retention is incompatible with sound health and +vigor of body and mind. This is a very fallacious idea. The seminal +fluid is too precious--nature bestows too much care in its elaboration +for it to be wasted in this unproductive manner. It is intended, when +not used for the purpose of procreation, to be reabsorbed again into +the system, giving vigor of body, elasticity and strength to the mind, +making the individual strong, active, and self-reliant. When kept as +nature intended, it is a perpetual fountain of life and energy--a +vital force which acts in every direction, a motive power which +infuses manhood into every organ of the brain and every fiber of the +body. + + + THE LAW OF SEXUAL MORALITY + +for childhood is one of utter negation of sex. Every child should be +kept pure and free from amative excitement and the least amative +indulgence, which is unnatural and doubly hurtful. No language is +strong enough to express the evils of amative excitement and unnatural +indulgence before the age of puberty; and the dangers are so great +that I see no way so safe as + + + THOROUGH INSTRUCTION + +regarding them at the earliest age. A child may be taught, simply as a +matter of science, as one learns botany, all that is needful to know, +and such knowledge may protect it from the most terrible evils. + +The law for childhood is perfect purity, which cannot be too carefully +guarded and protected by parents, teachers, and all caretakers. The +law for youth is perfect continence--a pure vestalate alike in both +sexes. No indulgence is required by one more than the other--for both +nature has made the same provision. The natures of both are alike, and +any--the least--exercise of the amative function is an injury to one +as to the other. + + + MEN EXPECT + +that women shall come to them in marriage chaste and pure from the +least defilement. Women have a right to expect the same of their +husbands. Here the sexes are upon a perfect equality. + +On this subject, Dr. Carpenter (physiological works) has written like +a man of true science, and, therefore, of true morality. He lays it +down as an axiom that _the development of the individual and the +reproduction of the species stand in an inverse ratio to each other_. +He says: "The augmented development of the generative organs at +puberty can only be rightly regarded as _preparatory_ to the exercise +of the organs. The development of the _individual_ must be completed +before the procreative power can properly be exercised for the +continuance of the race." And in the following extract from his +"Principles of Human Physiology," he confirms my statement respecting +the unscientific and libertine advice of too many physicians: "The +author would say to those of his younger readers who urge the wants of +nature as an excuse for the illicit gratification of the sexual +passions, 'try the effects of _close mental application_ to some of +those ennobling pursuits to which your profession introduces you, in +combination with _vigorous bodily exercise_, before you assert that +appetite is unrestrainable and act upon that assertion.' Nothing tends +so much to increase the desire as the continual direction of the mind +toward the objects of its gratification, whilst nothing so effectually +represses it as a determined exercise of the mental faculties upon +other objects and the expenditure of nervous energy in other channels. +Some works which have issued from the medical press contain much that +is calculated to excite, rather than to repress, the propensity; and +the advice sometimes given by practitioners to their patients is +immoral as well as unscientific." + + + EVERY MAN AND EVERY WOMAN, + +living simply, purely, and temperately--respecting the laws of health +in regard to air, food, dress, exercise, and habits of life--not only +can live in the continence of a pure virgin life when single, and in +the chastity which should be observed by all married partners, but be +stronger, happier, and in every way better by so living. + +Chastity is the conservation of life, and the consecration of its +forces to the highest use. Sensuality is the waste of life, and the +degradation of its forces to pleasure divorced from use. Chastity is +life; sensuality is death. + + + FROM THE AGE OF PUBERTY TO MARRIAGE + +the law, is the same for both sexes--full employment of mind and body, +temperance, purity, and perfect chastity in thought, word, and deed. +The law is one of perfect equality. There is no license for the male +which is not equally the right of the female. There is no +physiological ground for any indulgence in one case more than in the +other. No man has any more right to require or expect purity in the +woman who is to be his wife than the woman has to require and expect +purity in her husband. It is a simple matter of justice and right. No +man can enter upon an amative relation with a woman, except in +marriage, without manifest injustice to his future wife, unless he +allow her the same liberty; and also without a great wrong to the +woman, and to her possible husband. + +It is contended that the sins of men against chastity are more venial +than those of women, because of the liability of women to have +children. But men are also liable to be the fathers of children, who +are deeply wronged by the absence of paternal care. The child has its +rights, and every child has the right to be born in honest, +respectable wedlock, of parents able to give it a sound constitution +and the nurture and education it requires. The child who lacks these +conditions is grievously wronged by both father and mother. + + + THE LAW OF MARRIAGE + +is, that a mature man and woman, with sound health, pure lives, and a +reasonable prospect of comfortably educating a family, when drawn to +each other by the attraction of mutual love, should chastely and +temperately unite for offspring. The sexual relation has this chief +and controlling purpose. The law of nature is intercourse for +reproduction. Under the Christian law, marriage is the symbol of the +union of Christ with the Church; husband and wife are one in the Lord; +they are to live in marriage chastity, not in lust and uncleanness; +and there cannot be a more hideous violation of Christian morals than +for a husband to vent his sensuality upon a feeble wife; against her +wishes and when she has no desire for offspring and no power to give +them the healthy constitutions and maternal care which is their right. + +The law of Christian morality is very clear. It is the sexual union +first and chiefly for its principal object. It is for the husband to +refrain from it whenever it is not desired; whenever it would be +hurtful to either; whenever it would be a waste of life; whenever it +would injure mother or child, as during pregnancy and lactation. + + + A MAN WHO TRULY LOVES A WOMAN + +must respect and reverence her, and cannot make her the victim of his +inordinate and unbridled, selfish and sensual nature. He will be ever, +from the first moment of joyful possession to the last of his life, +tender, delicate, considerate, deferent, yielding to her slightest +wishes in the domain of love, and never encroaching, never trespassing +upon, never victimizing the wife of his bosom and the mother of his +babes. We have romance before marriage, we want more chivalry in +marriage. + +This is not the world's morality, yet it seems to one the world must +respect it. This, high and pure Christian morality is not always +enforced by Christian ministers, some of whom yield too much to human +sensuality and depravity, instead of maintaining the higher law of +Christian purity, which is but nature restored or freed from its +stains of sin. The world requires that unmarried women should be +chaste, while it gives almost unbridled license to men. A girl +detected in amours is disgraced and often made an outcast. In young +men such irregularities are freely tolerated. They are "a little +wild"; they "sow their wild oats"; but open profligacy, the seduction +of innocence, the ruin of poor girls, adultery, harlotry and its +diseases do not hinder men from marrying, nor from requiring that +those they marry should have spotless reputations. It is not for a +moment permitted that women in these matters should behave like men, +and a pure girl is given to the arms of a wasted debauchee, and her +babes are perhaps born dead, or suffer through life with syphilitic +diseases, while she endures a long martyrdom from disordered, +diseased, and unrestrained sensuality. For the unmarried, young men, +soldiers, sailors, and all who do not choose to bear the burdens of a +family, society has its armies of prostitutes--women like others, and +more than others, or in less reputable fashion, the victims of the +unbridled lust of men. They are everywhere tolerated as + + + "NECESSARY EVILS," + +and, in some places, protected or regulated; and, from economical or +philanthropic considerations, or both, combined efforts are made to +free them from the contagious diseases which for some centuries have +been a curse attending this form of the violation of the laws of +nature--one of the consequences of lust which is the divorce of the +sexual instinct from its natural use and purpose. + +The Christian + + + LAW OF MARRIAGE, + +as set down in the Holy Scriptures, and defined by the best writers on +moral theology, is in harmony with nature, in consonance with the +higher nature of man. "God hath set the earth in families." Adultery +is a sin, because it disorders that divine arrangement. Fornication is +a sin, because it prevents pure marriages. Prostitution is a sin, +because it is a sacrifice of women, who might be wives and mothers, to +the selfish lusts of men. All useless indulgence is a waste of life, +and a kind of suicide. In a pure marriage union, men and women unite +themselves with God in acts of creative power. The progress of +humanity depends upon individual development and the conditions at +generation and gestation. With culture and a harmonized development, +we acquire a higher and more integral life. When two parents are in +their highest condition and in + + + A TRUE UNION + +with each other, the child combines the best qualities of both +parents. When parents are not in the unity of a mutual love, the child +may be inferior to either parent. The intensity of mutual love tends +to the reproduction of the best faculties of both parents in the +child. When men or women are exhausted or diseased the race +deteriorates. Health is therefore one of the conditions of progress. + +"It is all very fine," I shall be told, "to talk of purity and +chastity; but we must take men as they are. How are you going to make +men pure and chaste, and respectful of the purity of women? How can +you get men with strong amative propensities to live like anchorites?" + +How can you get men to do anything right, or refrain from any wrong +thing? There are three motives--fear of punishment, hope of reward, +and sense of right or the principle of duty. The first of these is the +lowest, but often the most effectual; the second is higher, and +appeals to hope and the love of happiness; the third, the highest of +all motives, pure and unselfish as the love of truth, as in +mathematics, acts on noble minds with great power. Men of real +conscientiousness love the right for its own sake. They are just from +love of justice; pure from a sense and love of purity. They love good, +and God as the source of all good; and do right, not from fear or +hope, but from pure love. + +We must appeal to all motives. Men refrain from theft and other +dishonest conduct from the dread of disgrace and punishment, because +they see that "honesty is the best policy," and from a sense of +justice and regard to the rights of property, or a sense of honor +which makes a mean action impossible. By similar motives great numbers +are restrained from drunkenness and other vices. Children are to be +restrained from impurity by the fear of the terrible consequences of +unnatural indulgence in causing disease and pain, by the hope of a +pure, healthy and happy life of love in manhood and womanhood, and by +a sense of the beauty and holiness of chastity and the sacredness of +the functions by which the race is recreated and preserved. The +religious feelings that our bodies are to be kept pure, healthy, and +holy in every way as the temples of the Holy Ghost cannot be too early +instilled into the infant mind, which is open to the highest +sentiments of veneration, devotion, and heroic religion. In youth +there are the same motives. Indulgence in solitary vice is +self-destructive of all that youth most values--a profanation of his +own body. + + + SEDUCTION + +is a desecration of what he should hold in the most tender reverence. +To the young man, womanhood should be sacred, and every woman, mother, +sister, beloved of the present or the future, should never be wronged +by one thought of impurity. In this matter instinct goes with right. +The inward voice supports the outer law of morality. Before men can +become bad, their instinctive modesty must be broken down. Unless very +badly born, with disordered amativeness, hereditary from a diseased +and lustful parentage, they must be perverted and corrupted before +they can act immodestly and impurely. + + + WOMEN ARE PROTECTED + +by a strong public sentiment around them. They have the dread of +disgrace. For them to yield to their own affectionate desires, or the +solicitations of a lover, is a fall, is ruin. They have the hope of a +loving husband, a happy home, and the respect of society. And in woman +passion has commonly less force, and the sentiment of modesty and +purity more power. Women are weak in yielding to solicitation, giving + + + EVERYTHING FOR LOVE; + +but we see how protective of female virtue are these motives to vast +numbers. + +Men can perfectly restrain the sensual part of their natures whenever +they have a strong motive to do so. A child would be simply mad who +was not controlled by the presence of father, mother, and persons he +respected or feared. Young men have no difficulty when they are in the +company of pure women. They are in no trouble when their lives are +full of mental and muscular activity, and particularly if their habits +of eating simply and temperately, of refraining from heating and +exciting stimulants, and sleeping in cold beds and fresh air, are such +as health requires. There needs but the strong will to live purely in +any one, and at any age, the will that comes from the high motives of +conscience and religion, or all motives combined. A strong sense of +what is just and right controls even the motions of our bodies and +actions which seem to be involuntary. A man who has a vivid sense of +the right and duty of refraining from sensuality, and preserving his +own purity of mind and body and the chastity of all women, will do so +even in his dreams. When the will is right, all things are soon +brought into its subjection. The mind controls the organization, and +the life forces are directed into other channels. A strong man, full +of + + + LIFE AND LOVE, + +can safely hold a virgin in his arms, and respect her virginity, if he +have but the motives and the will to do so. If he be pure in his +will, how can he commit impurity? If a woman be sacred in his eyes, +how can he profane her? It is not that men have not the power of +restraint, the power to do right; it is that they lack the motive. +They have lost the sense of right; they are even impelled to do wrong +by the pressure of opinion around them. Boys and young men are driven +into libertinage by the ridicule of their companions. Vice is +considered manly. They seek sensuality in an evil emulation, as they +learn to smoke, or gamble, or drink; and, later on, vanity has often +more to do with excess than the force of lust. Young men seduce girls +that they may boast of it. They keep mistresses because it is the +fashion. They exhaust themselves because they wish to give a high idea +of their manly powers. Even in marriage, women are injured and have +their health destroyed by yielding weakly, or from + + + A FALSE SENSE OF DUTY, + +to a husband whose own motive is the desire to acquit himself manfully +in what he considers his marital duties. Men and women are, in +thousands of cases, wretched victims to what they imagine to be the +wants or expectations of each other. A man, ignorant of the nature of +women and the laws of the generative function, goes on in a process of +miserable exhaustion, to please his wife. She submits, sometimes in +pain, often in disgust, weariness, and weakness, to what she dare not, +from + + + LOVE OR FEAR, + +refuse. Men have to know what is right and to will to be right. This +will is omnipotent. God helps those who have the will, who have even +the desire, to do right. + +If the presence of those we fear or reverence, respect or love, +restrain us from sin and stimulate us to right action, faith in the +existence and presence of God and angels, and the spirits of the +departed, must have a more powerful and pervading influence. No one +who really believes in the existence of a Supreme Being, no one who is +strongly impressed with the reality of a spiritual life, can go on +doing what he knows to be wrong. A religious faith is therefore the +most powerful of all restraints from evil and incitement to good. + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + + MARRIAGE. + + + WHAT IS MARRIAGE? + +Marriage is in law the conjugal union of man with woman, and is the +only state in which cohabitation is considered proper and +irreprehensible. The marriage relation exists in all Christian +communities, and is considered the most solemn of contracts, and, +excepting in Protestant countries, it is regarded as a sacrament. In +some countries its celebration falls under the cognizance of +ecclesiastical courts only, but in the United States it is regarded as +merely a civil contract, magistrates having, equally with clergymen, +the right to solemnize it, though it is usually the practice to have +it performed by a clergyman and attended with religious ceremonies. +Marriage, as a legalized custom, is of very ancient origin. It is +doubtful whether even the primitive man was not governed in the +intercourse of the sexes by some recognition of the union being +confined to one chosen one. No greater promiscuity can certainly be +supposed than occurs in the lower animals, where pairing is the law. +The nobler animals, as the lion, elephant, etc., never have but one +mate, and even in case of death do not remate. As men advanced, civil +codes were inaugurated and certain protection given to the choice of +the parties. The earliest civil code regulating marriage, of which we +have any account, was that of Menes, who, Herodotus tells us, was the +first of the Pharaohs, or native Egyptian kings, and who lived about +3,500 years before Christ. The nature of his code is not known. + +The Biblical account extends further back, but it does not appear that +any laws existed regulating marriage, but each one was allowed to +choose his wife and concubines, and it is supposed that common consent +respected the selection. Next, Moses gave laws for the government of +marriage among the Israelites. The early Greeks followed the code of +Cecrops, and the Romans were also governed in their marital relations +by stringent laws. In fact, the necessity of some law regulating the +intercourse between the sexes must have become very apparent to all +nations or communities at a very early period. It certainly antedates +any legal regulations with regard to the possession of property. It is +very probable that every community did by common consent afford to +each male one or more females, and the presumption is that such choice +or assignment, as the case may have been, was respected by common +agreement as inviolable. It is doubtful if ever promiscuity was the +law or privilege with any community of men, even in their primitive +state. The possession of reason is antagonistic to such a belief; and +man was most probably elevated above the beast by the faculty of +reason in this respect as in others. Promiscuous indulgence is always +evidence of debauchery, and a departure from that natural course which +is prompted by an innate sense of propriety characterizing mankind. +The law is very indefinite with regard to what constitutes a legal +marriage. It is an unsettled question, both in England and this +country, whether a marriage solemnized by customary formalities alone +is legal, or if one characterized by the mere consent of the parties +is illegal. The latter has been held as legal in some instances in +both countries. Kent, in his "Commentaries," lays down the law that a +contract made so that either party recognizes it from the moment of +contract, and even not followed by cohabitation, amounts to a valid +marriage, and also that a contract to be recognized at some future +period, and followed by consummation, is equally valid. It is +unfortunate that the law is so undecided in this respect. The +decisions arrived at, for or against, were not dependent upon any +recognized law, but seem to be influenced by the character of the +cases, either for favor or discountenance. As long as the law +recognizes cohabitation legal only in marriage, it seems to me that if +consummated under consent of the parties to bear marital relations +with each other, or promise of marriage, the act should be +unhesitatingly pronounced as the equivalent of a valid marriage in all +instances. If cohabitation is only a marital prerogative, the law +should not stultify itself by recognizing it as possible to occur in +any other relation. If either of the parties is married, the law +defines it as adultery, and very properly defines the punishment. It +is necessary to the progress of the age that some such principle +should be recognized in common law so as not to subject the decision +of the question to the individual opinion of any judge. It would at +once obviate the confusion of sentiment now held in regard to it and +besides arrest the decision in test cases from mere caprice of the +tribunal. It is certainly as correct a principle as any in common law, +and would, in its operations as a statute law, be free from injustice, +and capable of doing much good. + + + POLYGAMY--WHAT IT IS. + +Polygamy is a state in which a man has at the same time more than one +wife. It has existed from time immemorial, especially among the +nations of the East. The custom was tolerated by the laws of Moses, +and, in fact, no positive injunction against it is found in the whole +of the Old Testament. It is questionable whether more than one was +recognized as the _bona fide_ wife, the others simply being wives by +right of concubinage. But if polygamy was in its strictest sense the +legal custom, it soon grew unpopular, for no trace of it is met in the +records of the New Testament, where all the passages referring to +marriage imply monogamy as alone lawful. The custom has been almost +universal in the East, being sanctioned by all the religions existing +there. The religion of Mohammed allows four wives, but the permission +is rarely exercised except by the rich. + +In Christian countries polygamy was never tolerated, the tenets of the +Church forbidding it, though Charlemagne had two wives, and Sigbert +and Chilperich also had a plurality. John of Leyden, an Anabaptist +leader, was the husband of seventeen wives, and he held that it was +his moral right to marry as many as he chose. + +In England the punishment of polygamy was originally in the hands of +the ecclesiastics. It was considered a capital crime by Edward I., but +it did not come entirely under the control of the temporal power until +a statute of James I. made it a felony, punishable by death. George +III. made it punishable by imprisonment or transportation for seven +years. + +It is the offspring of licentiousness, and its advocates merely wish +to give legal color to licentious habits. Every student of history +will find that as soon as a nation became morally depraved, polygamy +was practiced, and that monogamy was the rule in all countries truly +civilized. + +Polygamy has, of late years, been most shamefully revived and +outrageously practiced in face of law by the Mormons. They claim it as +a religious duty, and defend the system by claiming that unmarried +women can in the future life reach only the position of angels who +occupy in the Mormon theocratic system a very subordinate rank, being +simply ministering servants to those more worthy, thus proclaiming +that it is a virtual necessity of the male to practice the vilest +immorality in order to advance the female to the highest place in +heaven. + +Mormonism is a religion founded by Joseph Smith, who was born in +Sharon, E. V., Dec. 23rd, 1805, and killed at Carthage, Ill., June +27th, 1844. + +It is a most singular fact that a sect like the Mormons could have +been established in a country peopled with such law-abiding people as +of the United States, and maintain a system of marriage, antagonistic +to the law and religion of the land. Neither could they have done so +if they had not possessed two great virtues, temperance and industry. +It is to be hoped that the legal process now instituted for its +abolition will effectually remove the blot from the national +escutcheon. + +The "Oneida Communists" are essentially polygamic, although they have +no marriage system. They do not marry, and ignore all marriage codes. +Cohabitation is under no restrictions between the sexes. Marriage is +also not observed among the "Shakers." + + + MONOGAMY--WHAT IT IS. + +This is the conjugal union of a male with one female only. We have +seen that monogamy was coequal with civilization, and that most +probably the majority of the males had but one wife, even among +polygamic nations. Universal polygamy is practically impossible, the +scarcity of females and the poverty of the males forbidding it. The +excess of females is not so great in any country as to allow to each +male more than one wife, except the male portion is depleted by long +and disastrous wars. Monogamy has done more for the elevation of the +female than any other custom of civilization. The rich could only +afford to practice polygamy, and should the poor imitate the example +it would necessarily subject the wives to a state of serfdom. In the +economy of nature it is designed that the male should be the protector +of the female, and that by his exertions the provision of food and +raiment should be secured. In polygamous nations the female has not +attained that social state that she has reached in countries where the +male is entitled to but one female as his wife. Woman's highest sphere +is not in the harem or zenana, but in that dignified state in which +she is the sole connubial companion of but one man. It is debasing to +her nature, and subversive of her dignity in the rank of humanity, to +make her the equal only with others in the marital union with one +male. She becomes only the true, noble and affectionate being when she +is conscious of a superiority to others in the connubial companionship +with her accepted one. The female bird chirps but for her single mate, +and she is pugnaciously monogamic, as well as virtuous, allowing +neither male or female at or near her home. The spirit of independence +she gains by being the mate of but one male gains for her the victory +over the intruders. + +The physical and mental welfare of the female is also dependent upon +monogamic marriage. We have demonstrated that temperate indulgence is +conducive to the sanitary condition of the sexes, and that absolute +abstinence is opposed to the designs of nature. It is also evident +that the male is not endowed with greater power, vigor or capacity +than the female; therefore, confinement or limitation of the congress +to the companionship of one male with one female, as in monogamic +marriage, gives the healthy balance to the marital union. The +polygamic husband must either suffer from the consequences of +excessive indulgence or his wives from poverty of sexual +gratification; probably both would be the case. + + + POLYANDRY + +is equally as proper as polygamy, yet it never in the history of man +obtained a foothold. The system is more logical than polygamy, because +the wife's dependence would be distributed between two or more +husbands, in which case she would be better insured against poverty +and her support would be guaranteed by greater probability. + +We have now described the history and aspect of the two customs, and +will conclude the subject by remarking that a man is morally and +physically entitled to but one wife, and that a plurality is a great +wrong to the female and in total opposition to the ordinance of +nature. Wherever polygamy is the custom the female is held in slavish +subjection. It only prospers in proportion to the ignorance of the +sex. Intelligent and civilized woman will always rebel against such +debasement and servitude. + + + MARRIAGE CUSTOMS. + +It would probably be interesting to many to describe the marriage +ceremonies observed by different nations, but to enter into a +descriptive detail would occupy too much space. It is sufficient to +say that while some wives are wooed and won, others are bought and +sold; while in some countries the husband brings the wife to his home, +in others, as in Formosa, the daughter brings her husband to her +father's house, and he is considered one of the family, while the +sons, upon marriage, leave the family forever. In civilized countries, +the ceremonies are either ministerial or magisterial, and are more or +less religious in character; while in others, less civilized, the +gaining of a wife depends upon a foot-race, in which the female has +the start of one-third the distance of the course, as is the custom +in Lapland. In Caffraria, the lover must first fight himself into the +affections of his ladylove, and if he defeats all his rivals she +becomes his wife without further ceremony. Among the Congo tribes, a +wife is taken upon trial for a year, and if not suited to the standard +of taste of the husband, he returns her to her patents. In Persia, the +wife's status depends upon her fruitfulness; if she be barren, she can +be put aside. In the same country they have also permanent marriages +and marriages for a certain period only--the latter never allowed to +exceed ninety years. + +In fact, the marriage ceremonies differ in nearly all countries. To us +some may appear very absurd, and yet our customs may be just as +amazing to them. It matters but little how a conjugal union is +effected so long as sanctioned by law or custom and it obligates the +parties, by common opinion, to observe the duties pertaining to +married life. + + + THE BASIS OF A HAPPY MARRIAGE. + +The state of conjugal union should be the happiest in the whole of the +existence of either man or woman, and is such in a congenial marriage. +Yet in the history of very many marriages contentment or happiness is +palpably absent and an almost insufferable misery is the heritage of +both parties. It is therefore important that previous to the marital +union the parties should take everything into consideration that +fore-shadows happiness after marriage, as well as everything +calculated to despoil conjugal felicity. + +The first requisite of congenial marriage is love. Without being +cemented by this element the conjugal union is sure to be uncongenial. +It is the strongest bond, the firmest cord, uniting two hearts +inseparably together. Love for the opposite sex has always been a +controlling influence with mankind. It is the most elevating of all +the emotions and the purest and tenderest of all sentiments. It exerts +a wonderful power, and by its influence the grandest human actions +have been achieved. Of what infinite worth it is to either sex to be +compensated with a worthy and satisfying love, and how ennobling to +the impulses and actions it is to bestow the sentiment upon one worthy +to receive and willing to return. + + + LOVE IS THE MAINSPRING + +that regulates the harmony of conjugal life, and without it there is a +void in the machinery, productive only of jars, convulsive movement, +and a grating and inharmonious action. The soul yearns for love and +to love, and unless the desire is compensated human life is a blank +and becomes a purposeless existence. Love ever stimulates the good and +suppresses the bad, if kept in a proper channel and guided by pure +affections. + +Another requisite of a happy marriage is health. No person has a moral +right to engage in wedlock who cannot bring to his partner the +offering of good health. + +Another consideration is _evenness of temper_. In the wooing days +everyone is a lamb, and only becomes the howling wolf after marriage. +Circumstances that ruffle the temper in the presence of the intended +are but like the harmless squib, but would become like the explosive +torpedo in his or her absence or in after-marriage. Quarreling caused +by matrimonial differences is the most frequent cause of infelicity, +and most of it is caused by an innate irate temper of either husband +or wife. + +The _tastes_ should not be dissimilar. Some of them may be +unimportant, but others are a fruitful source of disagreement. The +social wife will never be contented with the unsocial husband, and the +gay husband, though his gayety may not be commendable, will always +accuse his wife if she lacks a social disposition to a great extent. +The religious wife will never excuse a tendency to irreligion in her +husband, and though he may be far from being immoral, she is unhappy +if he does not participate in her devotions. The one devoted to +children will never be happy with one having a natural repugnance for +them. In this way we might multiply facts illustrative of the +importance of an investigation into the similarity of taste previous +to marriage. Great love, however, overcomes almost every obstacle. + + + THE PARTIES SHOULD BE NEARLY OF ONE AGE. + +The husband should be the elder. The union of the old husband to the +young wife, or the reverse, is seldom a happy one. It is seldom that +such a marriage occurs in which the incentive is not the wealth of +either of the parties. + +Marriages are usually contracted to gratify various desires, as love, +fortune or position. The results are more truthfully stated by an +eminent divine in the following: + +"Who marries for love, takes a wife; who marries for fortune, takes a +mistress; who marries for position, takes a lady." + +To a man there is but one choice that he can rationally make, a +marriage of love. My female readers, I hope, will decide rather to wed +a husband than the master or the elegant gentleman. + +A little foresight, a little prudence, and a little caution will +prevent in most cases the entrance into a marriage which, by the very +nature of the alliance, is certain to be an unhappy and improper one. + + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + PREGNANCY--LABOR--PARTURITION. + + +Perhaps there is no more eventful period in the history of woman than +that in which she first becomes conscious that the existence of +another being is dependent upon her own and that she carries about +with her the first tiny rudiments of an immortal soul. + + + THE SIGNS OF PREGNANCY + +are various. Many females are troubled with colic pains, creeping of +the skin, shuddering, and fainting fits immediately on conception +taking place. Where such symptoms occur immediately after connection, +they are a certain indication of impregnation. + + + A REMARKABLE CHANGE + +takes place in the face in most cases, varying in time from three days +to three months. The eyes are dull and heavy, and present a glassy +appearance; the nose pinched up; the skin becomes pale and livid, and +the whole countenance appears as if five or ten years' advance in life +had been taken at a single step. + +Another important and remarkable sign, and one the most to be relied +on, is an increase in the size of the neck. This often occurs at a +very early period, and many females, by keeping a careful daily +measurement of the neck, can always tell when they are pregnant. + +A suppression of the menstrual flow is another strong presumptive +sign. It is true a partial flow of the menses often occurs after +pregnancy, from the lower part of the womb, but when the flow is +suddenly stopped without any apparent cause, pregnancy is generally +the predisposing cause. + + + SOON AFTER CONCEPTION + +the stomach often becomes affected with what is called morning +sickness. On first awaking, the female feels as well as usual, but on +rising from her bed qualmishness begins and perhaps while in the act +of dressing retching and vomiting takes place. + +This symptom may occur almost immediately after conception, but it +most frequently commences for the first time between two and three +weeks after. Now and then it is experienced only during the last six +weeks or two months of pregnancy, and subsides about the time the +movements of the child begin to be felt. + + + CHANGES IN THE BREAST + +are generally considered as strong signs of pregnancy. When two months +of pregnancy have been completed, an uneasy sensation of throbbing and +stretching fullness is experienced, accompanied by tingling about the +middle of the breasts, centering in the nipples. A sensible alteration +in their appearance soon follows, they grow larger and more firm. The +nipple becomes more prominent, and the circle around its base altered +in color and structure, constituting what is called the areola, and as +pregnancy advances milk is secreted. + + + THE PERIOD OF GESTATION, + +at which these changes may occur, varies much in different females. +Sometimes, with the exception of the secretion of the milk, they are +recognized very soon after conception; in other instances, +particularly in females of a weakly and delicate constitution, they +are hardly perceptible until pregnancy is far advanced or even drawing +toward its termination. + +The changes in the form and size of the breasts may be the result of +causes unconnected with pregnancy. They may enlarge in consequence of +marriage, from the individual becoming stout and fat or from +accidental suppression of the monthly flow. + +The changes which take place in the nipple, and around its base, are +of the utmost value as an evidence of pregnancy. + + + ABOUT THE SIXTH OR SEVENTH WEEK + +after conception has taken place, if the nipple be examined it will be +found becoming turgid and prominent, and a circle forming around its +base, of a color deeper in its shade than rose or flesh color, +slightly tinged with a yellowish or brownish hue, and here and there +upon its surface will be seen little prominent points from about ten +to twenty in number. In the progress of the next six or seven weeks +these changes are fully developed, the nipple becoming more prominent +and turgid than ever, the circle around it of larger dimensions, the +skin being soft, bedewed with a slight degree of moisture, frequently +staining the linen in contact with it; the little prominences of +larger size, and the color of the whole very much deepened. + +Calculations of the + + + DURATION OF PREGNANCY, + +founded upon what has been observed to occur after casual intercourse, +or perhaps a single act, in individuals who can have no motive to tell +us what is false, are likely to be correct. The conclusion drawn from +these is, that labor usually, but not invariably, comes on about 280 +days after conception, a mature child being sometimes born before the +expiration of the forty weeks, and at other times not until that time +has been exceeded by several days. A case is on record where the +pregnancy lasted 287 days. In this case the labor did not take place +until that period had elapsed from the departure of the husband for +the East Indies, consequently the period might have been longer than +287 days. + + + CHILDBIRTH IS A NATURAL PROCESS, + +and however complicated and painful habits or disease have made it, +yet the work must be left to nature. Any efforts to assist or hurry +matters will only end in harm. The only cases where interference is +justifiable is where her powers are exhausted or some malformation +exists or malpresentation occurs. When labor is about to commence, the +womb descends into the bottom of the belly and the motions and weight +of the child will be felt much lower down than usual. If in a natural +position the head will fall to the mouth of the womb and press upon +it. This drives forward the membranes which retain the water at the +orifice, and at the proper moment they break and labor then commences. + +Labor is caused by involuntary contractions of the uterus and +abdominal muscles. By their force the liquor amnii flows out, the head +of the foetus is engaged in the pelvis, it goes through it, and soon +passes out by the valve, the folds of which disappear. These different +phenomena take place in succession and continue a certain time. They +are accompanied with pains more or less severe, with swelling and +softening of the soft parts of the pelvis and external genital parts, +and with an abundant mucous secretion in the cavity of the vagina. All +these circumstances, each in its own way, favor the passage of the +foetus. + +It is proper here to remark that parturition is not necessarily either +painful or dangerous. It is well known that women in an uncivilized +state suffer very little pain or disablement in bringing forth +children. Generally neither pregnancy nor labor interrupt the ordinary +avocation of the mother, except for an hour or two at the birth +itself. The suffering and debilitating influences that often attend +childbirth now are caused by our unnatural modes of living and +nonattention to the laws of health. Numerous well-authenticated +instances are known where women who had previously suffered with +severe labor in childbirth have, by attention to health and diet as +here shown, been delivered of fine healthy children with comparative +ease. + +From the + + + BEGINNING OF PREGNANCY + +more than ordinary care should be used in taking regular exercise in +the open air, being careful to avoid fatigue and overexertion. During +the whole period of pregnancy every kind of agitating exercise, such +as running, jumping, jolting in a carriage, and plunging in cold +water, should be carefully avoided, as well as the passions being kept +under perfect control. + + + THE DIET + +must chiefly consist of fruits and farinaceous food, as sago, tapioca, +rice, etc. In proportion as a woman subsists upon aliment which is +free from earthy and bony matter will she avoid pain and danger in +delivery; hence, the more ripe fruit, acid fruit in particular, and +the less of other kinds of food, but particularly of bread or pastry +of any kind, is consumed, the less will be the danger and sufferings +of childbirth. Nearly all kinds of fruit possess two hundred times +less ossifying principle than bread or anything else made of wheaten +flour. + +Honey, molasses, sugar, butter, oil, vinegar, etc., when +unadulterated, are entirely free from earthy matter. Common salt, +pepper, coffee, cocoa, spices, and many drugs are much worse than +wheaten flour in their hardening and bone-forming tendency, and should +therefore be avoided. The drink should be tea or lemonade made with +water, soft and clear, and, when practicable, distilled. + +No mother who has adopted this mode of living but has blessed the +knowledge of it, and it has saved many a young mother from needless +terror. + +In the third month of pregnancy, but not before, the belly begins to +enlarge or swell, and gradually increases in size till the full term +of pregnancy is completed. Between the sixteenth and twentieth week +the womb rises up into the belly, and the motion of the child is felt, +which is called + + + QUICKENING. + +The first time a woman is with child this sensation of quickening is +like that of a bird fluttering within her; at other times she feels a +tickling or pushing sensation, or the child gives a kick or a jump, +and this, too, with so much energy as to move the petticoats, a book, +or any light article she may have in her lap. + +It is important to remember these symptoms, and the order in which +they occur: first, cessation of the menses; second, morning sickness; +third, swelling and darting pains in the breast, and dark color around +the nipples; fourth, gradual enlargement of the abdomen or belly; +fifth, the movement of the child. + +In ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, if these symptoms are present +the woman is pregnant. Pregnant women are generally affected with +heartburn, sickness of a morning, headache, and that troublesome +disease, toothache, which accompanies pregnancy; all of which may +usually be avoided by keeping the bowels gently open with seidlitz +powders, caster oil, or pills of rhubarb, which should be taken +occasionally, either alone or in combination with colocynth and soap. +A clyster made of warm soapsuds will often be sufficient if repeated +every few days; or senna and manna; and if there is any aversion to +taking medicine, give some simple articles, such as roasted apples, +figs, prunes, or anything that will quiet the stomach and prevent +costiveness of the bowels. + + + THE TOOTHACHE + +often complained of by pregnant women, and which may occur at any +period, is seldom relieved by extraction, having its seat in the +adjacent nerves of the face or jaws, and is neuralgic. The teeth ought +not to be drawn during pregnancy, unless urgently required, but should +be relieved by applying hot fomentations to the face, as a camomile +poultice. Rubbing the jaw externally with spirits of camphor or +laudanum, or applying mustard plasters or blisters behind the ears, +will afford relief. + + + THE CRAMPS OF THE LEGS. ETC., + +in pregnancy, caused by the pressure of the enlarged womb on the +nerves, are often troublesome, but not attended with any danger, and +may be speedily relieved by a change of posture, and friction, or +rubbing with opodeldoc, spirits of camphor, or hot whisky and salt. +Palpitation of the heart occurs frequently, and usually about the +period of quickening. In general, it is the result of a disordered +stomach and may be relieved by attention to diet and moderate doses of +magnesia and Epsom salts, of equal quantities. + + + THE PALPITATION OF THE HEART + +may be produced by a morbid state of the nerves, and is then termed +hysterical. Attention in all such cases should be paid to the diet, +air, exercise, etc., with the view of improving the strength, the +bowels being kept open by mild means. All exciting or agitating +subjects should be carefully avoided, and the mind of the pregnant +woman kept calm and tranquil; for the mind, in the early stages of +pregnancy, exercises the most powerful influence over the child +through life; and how many peculiar traits of character have been +indelibly fixed upon their offspring from these exciting causes is +evident in many families. + +When the palpitation occurs from the state of the nerves, as before +described, producing uncomfortable feelings, a teaspoonful of the +tincture of castor or asafoetida, with an equal quantity of compound +spirits of lavender, mixed in a little water, will seldom fail to +afford relief, which may, if necessary, be repeated on its recurrence. + + + MORNING SICKNESS + +is one of the most painful feelings attendant on the pregnant state, +and it is one of those which medicine commonly fails to relieve. A cup +of camomile or peppermint tea, taken when first awaking, and suffering +the patient to be still for an hour, will frequently alleviate the +distressing sickness; but should it recur during the day, and if these +means fail, two or three teaspoonfuls of the following mixture should +then be taken either occasionally or, when the vomiting and heartburn +are more continual, immediately after each meal: + +Take of-- + Calcined magnesia, One dram; + Distilled water, Six ounces; + Aromatic tincture of rhatany, Six drams; + Water of pure ammonia, One dram. + +Mix. The anxiety and sometimes despondency of mind--in other words, +lowness of spirits--to which pregnant women are more or less liable +greatly depends on the state of their general health and the natural +temper and character of the individual; but it can be greatly +aggravated, and may often be excited by circumstances or officious +persons. Let me, then, urge upon you the _important necessity_ of +keeping the mind as tranquil and cheerful as possible, particularly +during the first four months of pregnancy. A judicious course of this +kind will produce the most beneficial and well-balanced mind in the +child; while, if the contrary, a desponding and nervous temperament, +with many other peculiarities, will be the consequence. + + + SURE TEST FOR THE DETECTION OF PREGNANCY. + +M. Nauche has found that the urine of pregnant women contains a +particular substance, which, when the urine is allowed to stand +separates and forms a pellicle on the surface. M. Enguiser, from an +extensive series of observations, has confirmed the fact, and +ascertained that kisteine, as this particular substance has been +called, is constantly formed on the surface of the urine of women in a +state of pregnancy. The urine must be allowed to stand for from two to +six days, when minute opaque bodies are observed to rise from the +bottom to the surface of the fluid, where they gradually unite and +form a continuous layer over the surface. This layer is so consistent +that it may be almost lifted off by raising it by one of its edges. +This is the kisteine. It is whitish, opalescent, slightly granular, +and can be compared to nothing better than the fatty substance which +floats on the surface of soups after they have been allowed to cool. +When examined by the microscope, it has the aspect of a gelatinous +mass without determinate form; sometimes cubical shaped crystals are +discovered on it, but this appearance is only observed when it has +stood a long time, and is to be regarded as foreign to it. The +kisteine remains on the surface for several days; the urine then +becomes turbid, and small opaque masses become detached from the +kisteine and fall to the bottom of the fluid and the pellicle soon +becomes destroyed. + +The essential character of the urine of pregnancy, then, is the +presence of the kisteine; and the characters of the pellicle are so +peculiar that it is impossible to mistake it for anything else. A +pellicle sometimes forms on the surface of the urine of patients +laboring under phthisis, abscess, or disease of the bladder, but may +be easily distinguished by this circumstance, that it does not form in +such a short time as the kisteine, and that in place of disappearing, +as this last, in a few days, it increases in thickness and at last is +converted into a mass of moldiness. There exists, likewise, a very +marked difference between its mucous aspect and that of kisteine; a +difference which is difficult to describe, but which is easily +recognized. + +Kisteine appears to exist in the urine from the first month of +pregnancy till delivery. It has even been recognized in the urine of a +few gravid animals. + + + "PARTURIENT BALM," + +_For Rendering Childbirth Easy and Less Dangerous--A very Important +Medicine._ + +Take blue cohosh root, four ounces; lady's-slipper root and spikenard +root, of each one ounce; sassafras bark (of root) and clover, of each +half an ounce. Bruise all, and simmer slowly for two hours in two +quarts of boiling water. Strain, and add one pound of white sugar. + +Dose: A wineglassful twice a day for two weeks or a month previous to +expected confinement, for the purpose of rendering parturition, or +childbirth, more easy. + +Should be taken by every pregnant woman. + + + ABORTION. + +Abortion, or miscarriage, means, in plain language, a woman losing her +child previous to the seventh month of her pregnancy; that is, before +its due time. When this occurs after that period it is called + + + PREMATURE LABOR. + +Miscarriage involves pain and weakness in addition to the loss of +offspring, and is often a severe trial to the maternal constitution. +It may occur at any period of pregnancy, but particular stages are +more liable to the accident than others. These are generally +considered to be about the time of the first menstruation after +conception; again at the twelfth week, and toward the seventh month; +and the liability is increased at those times which correspond to the +menstrual period. When abortion has once taken place it is more likely +to occur again, and some have so strong a tendency to it that they +never go beyond a certain stage, but then invariably miscarry. + + + THE CAUSE OF ABORTION + +may exist in the constitution of the female herself, being the result +of weakness and irritability, or of an overfull habit or a diseased +condition of the womb; or the foetus, or child, may die or be +deficient in development, when it is cast off like a blighted fruit. +Suckling after conception has taken place is not infrequently a cause +of miscarriage. Active diseases occurring during pregnancy, such as +fevers, severe inflammation, eruptive fevers, etc., are almost certain +to occasion the expulsion of the uterine contents. Continued +diarrhoea and the action of strong purgative medicines, particularly +the aloetic, are dangerous. This is a very good reason for those who +are pregnant avoiding all quack aperient medicines; they almost all +contain aloes, and may be very injurious. All undue exertion or +agitation of body or mind, sudden jerks or jumps, riding on horseback +in the early stage, or in a shaking carriage in the latter stages of +pregnancy, may any of them bring on miscarriage. To these may be +added: exertion of the arms in doing anything on a level above the +head; costive bowels and straining consequent therein; sexual +indulgence, or, in plain language, too much connection with your +husband; and luxurious habits. Those who have once suffered from +abortion ought to be extremely careful during succeeding pregnancies, +and all ought to bear in mind the possibility of the occurrence. + + + THE SYMPTOMS OF THREATENED ABORTION + +vary with the constitution. In the strong and plethoric it is often +preceded by shivering and febrile symptoms and by a feeling of weight +in the lower bowels. In the weak there is languor, faintness, +flaccidity of the breasts, general depression, and pains in the back +and loins. Intermittent pains, and discharge of blood from the +passage, tell that the process has begun. If miscarriage occurs within +the first month or two after conception, the process may be +accomplished with so little inconvenience as to escape notice and be +mistaken for a menstrual period. More generally, however, the severity +of the pain and an unusual clotted discharge of blood render the case +evident. The pain, the discharge, and, at the same time, the danger of +an abortion, are in proportion to the advancement of the pregnancy. +When a miscarriage goes on, the pains increase in force and frequency, +and continue, with discharge of blood, fluid or in clots, until the +ovum, or first formation of the child, is expelled; after which both +become moderated till they cease altogether and the red flow gives +place to a colorless one. It is very important that those in +attendance upon the patient should examine every clot that comes away. +If large, tear it in pieces, that they may ascertain whether the +contents of the womb are expelled or not, for there is no safety or +rest, where miscarriage is progressing, till it has taken place and +everything is cast off. + + + AS SOON AS A FEMALE + +experiences threatenings of abortion she ought at once to retire to +bed, upon a mattress, and keep perfectly quiet till every symptom has +disappeared. Sometimes this simple measure, _promptly adopted_, is +sufficient to avert the threatened evil. If there is much feeling of +fullness, and the patient is of full habit generally, eight or a dozen +leeches may be applied to the lower part of the bowels; if there is +fever, saline medicines may be given, such as the common effervescing +draft of carbonate of soda and tartaric acid or lemon juice; or, if +the bowels are much confined, seidlitz powders, assisting the action +by cold clysters, if necessary. When the pains are severe, +particularly in the weak and irritable, twenty or thirty drops of +laudanum should be given, and may be repeated in a few hours if the +symptoms are not improved. In the case of profuse discharge, the +patient should be kept very lightly covered, movement avoided, and +every article of food or drink given cold, or iced if possible, +provided the vital powers are not excessively reduced. Cloths dipped +in cold or iced water should also be applied to the lower part of the +body and frequently changed. Acid drinks, with cream of tartar, may be +freely given. Ten or fifteen drops of elixir vitriol may be given in a +wineglassful of water every two or three hours. Should slight +faintness come on, it is better not to interfere with it, but use +outward remedies--camphor, cold water, vinegar, etc.--as they maybe +salutary. If it reaches to an extent to threaten life, stimulants, as +brandy and water, and others, must be had recourse to. Profuse and +continued discharge, though it may not threaten life, must occasion a +weakness which will take a long time to overcome, and which may +ultimately, if not properly attended to, promote the development of +other diseases of the womb. + + + IF THE FLOODING IS PROFUSE + +and uncontrolled by the means before mentioned, one grain and a half +of sugar of lead may be given every two or three hours, and washed +down with a drink of vinegar and water, to which, if there is much +pain, add from five to ten drops of laudanum. + +Pieces of linen or cotton cloth should be soaked in a strong solution +of alum, or a decoction of oak bark; and then well oiled; with this +cloth plug the passage or birthplace; or, some of this astringent wash +may be thrown up with a syringe. + +But, during the time and after miscarriage, the general strength must +be supported by a strengthening diet, such as soups, meat, etc., +avoiding stimulants as much as possible. Nevertheless, in some cases +wine or malt liquors may be necessary in convalescence, or when +recovering, and if so may be assisted by tonic or strengthening +medicines, such as contain mineral acid. Bark or iron are generally +given as the most appropriate remedies. The bowels will, in some +cases, require strict attention, as indeed they do throughout, and for +this purpose castor oil is a good medicine, or clysters of cold or +tepid water are most useful. A teaspoonful of Epsom salts dissolved in +half a pint of water, either cold or slightly warmed, to which add +fifteen drops of elixir vitriol, forms a most excellent and mild +purgative, which should be taken before breakfast. In all cases where +the constitution of the woman has a tendency to miscarriage or +abortion, a quiet state of mind should be observed, avoiding all +violent exertions, particularly lifting heavy weights. These +principles of treatment are to be kept in mind in the management of +miscarriage: + +The first, to prevent it, if possible, by rest, opiates, etc. + +The second, to allay pain, moderate the discharge of blood, and to +save and support the strength of the patient. + +The third, when abortion must take place, to expedite the separation +of the ovum and free the contents of the womb. This is generally done +by simply occasionally drinking cold water, and in difficult cases, if +necessary, by the administration of spurred rye. The dose is a strong +infusion or tea given every twenty or thirty minutes until the desired +effect is produced, as long as the stomach will bear it. + +The health of pregnant females should at all times be an object of +great care and interest; and they should be impressed with the +conviction that while + + + BEARING THE FIRST CHILD + +they may, by proper care and attention, lay the foundation for their +future health and that of their offspring; while by neglect and +imprudence in this matter, they may not only enfeeble their +constitution, but entail upon their children an inheritance of +infirmity and disease. + +Miscarriage, or abortion, which includes all cases in which delivery +takes place before the sixth month, seldom occurs without being +preceded, or accompanied, or followed, by a morbid discharge of blood +from the womb, which is commonly known by the name of _flooding_. +Abortion, or miscarriage, takes place with the first pregnancy, and +during the first two months; therefore, great care should be observed +during this period, as any cause which either destroys the life of the +child in the womb or brings on morbid or premature contractions in +that organ may induce miscarriage. Coughing severely, or vomiting, a +blow or fall, or a misstep leading to an effort to prevent falling, +may, and does frequently, result in miscarriage; and this having once +occurred, it is, without proper care, exceedingly liable to be the +case again at the same period of a subsequent pregnancy. The same +result may follow any vivid moral impression; for fright, or mental +excitement by passion, or witnessing any accident, will be found often +to end in miscarriage. In some healthy females, however, it occurs +without any other cause than mere fullness of blood. A bleeding from +the womb is often in such cases a first symptom of abortion, and +should be attended to as early as possible before it goes to any +considerable extent. The amount of flooding, in most cases, is in +proportion to the early period of pregnancy at which it takes place, +for in the latter months there is seldom much blood lost. But there +are cases in which pregnant women will lose blood repeatedly from the +womb and yet not miscarry, but these are very rare cases. + +In most cases, the occurrence of a woman's flooding between the first +and fourth months, unless very slight, or quickly relieved, is usually +followed by a miscarriage; but as soon as the child and its membranes +are both expelled by the contraction of the womb the flooding soon +ceases. In many such cases it is often very difficult, and sometimes +impossible, to deliver the afterbirth and membranes, which remain and +finally pass off after putrefaction has taken place, resulting in long +and offensive discharges from the womb, and which, unless treated by +the most skillful management, frequently result in many internal +mischiefs of a serious character, such as ulcers, cancers, etc. + +In all cases, those who are constitutionally disposed to abortion, or +have a tendency to miscarriage, should take great care to preserve a +quiet state of mind and to avoid all violent exertion; and all active +purgatives should be avoided, and exposure to great heat or cold, +during the time of gestation or pregnancy. + +When the miscarriage has really taken place, and the foetus, or +child, is expelled, together with the contents of the womb, the same +precautions should in general be observed as in childbirth. + + + TO PREVENT MISCARRIAGE, + +when it is threatened, or on the appearance of the first symptoms, the +patient should lie down and be as quiet as possible; live on very +light diet; bowels be kept freely open; and an injection of thirty +drops of laudanum should be given in half a pint of slippery elm tea. +Should flooding be present, cold lemonade should be drank freely, and +cloths wet with cold or ice water applied to the thighs and lower part +of the birthplace, which should be repeated until the flooding is +relieved. + + + MEANS OF PREVENTING ABORTION. + +To prevent abortion, women of weak or relaxed habit should use solid +food, avoiding great quantities of tea, coffee, or other weak or +watery liquors. They should go soon to bed and rise early, and take +frequent exercise, but avoid fatigue. They should occasionally take +half a pint of the decoction of lignum-vitæ, boiling an ounce of it in +a quart of water for five minutes. + +If of a full habit, they ought to use a spare diet and chiefly of the +vegetable kind, avoiding strong liquors and everything that may tend +to heat the body or increase the quantity of blood; and when the +symptoms appear, should take a dram of powdered nitre in a cup of +water gruel every five or six hours. + +In both cases the patient should sleep on a hard mattress and be kept +cool and quiet; the bowels should be kept regular by a pill of white +walnut extract or bitterroot. + + + + + CHAPTER IX. + + MENSTRUATION. + + +Though this is not a disease, but a healthy function, and as, from +various causes, derangement of the function occurs, it is proper that +it should be perfectly understood. Menstruation is the term applied to +the phenomenon that attends the rupture of what is called the +_Graafian follicles_ of the ovaries and the discharge of an ova, or +egg. It is a bloody discharge from the female genitals; not differing +from ordinary blood, excepting that it does not coagulate, and in its +peculiar odor. The blood comes from the capillaries of the womb and +vagina. + + + MENOPHANIA, OR THE FIRST APPEARANCE + +of the menses, is usually preceded by a discharge of a fluid whitish +matter from the vagina, by nervous excitement, and by vague pains and +heaviness in the loins and thighs, numbness of the limbs, and swelling +and hardness of the breasts. The first appearance is an evidence of +capacity for conception. It generally appears about the age of +fourteen, but varies from nine to twenty-four years. In warm climates +women begin to menstruate earlier and cease sooner than in temperate +regions; in the cold climates the reverse of this holds as a general +rule. The manifestations of approaching puberty are seen in the +development of the breasts, the expansion of the hips, the rounded +contour of the body and limbs, appearance of the purely feminine +figure, development of the voice, and the child becomes reserved and +exchanges her plays for the pursuits of womanhood. + +More or less indisposition and irritability also precede each +successive recurrence of the menstrual flux, such as headache, +lassitude, uneasiness, pain in back, loins, etc. The periods succeed +each other usually about every twenty-eight days, although it may +occur every twenty-two, twenty, eighteen, fifteen, or thirty-two, +thirty-five, or forty days. The most important element is the +regularity of the return. In temperate climates each menstrual period +ordinarily continues from three to six days, and the quantity lost +from four to eight ounces. The menses continue to flow from the period +of puberty till the age of forty-five or fifty. At the time of its +natural cessation the flow becomes irregular, and this irregularity is +accompanied occasionally by symptoms of dropsy, glandular swellings, +etc., constituting the _critical period_, _turn_ or _change of life_; +yet it does not appear that mortality is increased by it, as vital +statistics show that more men die between forty and fifty than women. + +It should be the + + + DUTY OF EVERY MOTHER + +or female in charge of a child in whom age or actual manifestations +suggest the approach of puberty to acquaint her with the nature of her +visitation and the importance of her conduct in regard to it. She +should be taught that it is perfectly natural to all females at a +certain period, and that its arrival necessitates caution on her part +with regard to exposure to wet or cold. The author has made the +acquaintance of the history of many cases of consumption and other +diseases which were directly induced by folly and ignorance at the +first menstrual flow. The child is often kept in extreme ignorance of +the liability of womanhood occurring to her at a certain age, and, +hence, when she observes a flow of blood escaping from a part, the +delicacy attached to the locality makes her reticent with regard to +inquiry or exposure; she naturally becomes alarmed, and most likely +attempts to stanch the flow by bathing or applying cold water to the +part, thus doing incalculable mischief. + +This purely feminine physiological function should be well studied and +understood by all females. At least, they should know that the +phenomenon is a natural one, liable to disorder, and that the best +interests of their general health demands care and prudence on their +part to maintain regularity, etc., of the flow. Disregard of such a +duty will surely entail much misery. + + + DELAYED AND OBSTRUCTED MENSTRUATION. + +When the menses do not appear at the time when they may naturally be +expected, we call it delayed or obstructed menstruation. It is, +however, of great importance to know whether a girl is sufficiently +developed to make it necessary for the menses to appear, although she +may have reached the proper age. As long as the girl has not increased +physically, if she has not become wider across the hips, if her +breasts have not become enlarged, and if she experience none of the +changes incident to this period, an effort to force nature is +positively injurious. In this case a general treatment will be called +for. She should be required to exercise freely in the open air, retire +early to bed and rise at an early hour in the morning. She should not +be allowed to be closely confined to school, if attending. Her diet +should be generous but free from all rich food, which will disorder +the stomach. If, however, she is fully developed, and she suffers from +time to time from congestions of the head, breast or abdomen, it will +be necessary to interfere. The following are symptoms which will +generally be found in these cases: Headache, weight, fullness, and +throbbing in the center of the cranium and in the back part of the +head; pains in the back and loins; cold feet and hands, becoming +sometimes very hot; skin harsh and dry; slow pulse, and not +infrequently attended with epilepsy. + + + TREATMENT. + +It is well for the patient, a few days before the period, to take a +warm hip bath or foot bath twice a day, and at night, when retiring, +to apply cloths wet in warm water to the lower part of the abdomen. + +The bowels should be kept open by some mild catharsis, as castor oil +or a pill of aloes. If there is pain and fullness of the head during +the discharge, or before it, use the following: + + Tincture of aconite leaves, Two drams; + Tincture of belladonna, One dram; + Tincture of cantharides, One dram; + Morphia, Three grains; + Simple syrup, Quarter ounce. + +Mix. Dose: One teaspoonful three times a day. If the pain is severe it +may be taken every two hours. + +Between the monthly periods, if the system is weak, the following may +be taken: + + Precip. carbonate of iron, Five drams; + Extract of conium, Two drams; + Balsam Peru, One dram; + Alcohol, Four ounces; + Oil wintergreen, Twenty drops; + Simple syrup, Eight ounces. + +Dose: Two teaspoonfuls three times a day. Shake the mixture before +using. + + + CHLOROSIS, OR GREEN SICKNESS. + +This disease generally occurs in young unmarried females who are weak +and delicate. It manifests itself about the age of puberty, and is +accompanied by feeble appetite and digestion. There is no menstrual +discharge, or else it is very slight. + +It is caused by innutritious food and residence in damp and +ill-ventilated apartments. It may be hereditary, all the females of +the family being liable to the same disease. Those who drink largely +of tea, coffee, diluted acids, bad wines, and indulge in tight lacing; +are predisposed to this disease. Among the exciting causes may be +mentioned disturbing emotions, unrequited love, homesickness, +depression of spirits, etc. When we take into consideration the fact +that the cause of the disease is impoverishment of the blood, the +treatment will not be difficult. + + + TREATMENT. + +Exercise freely in the open air; protect the body from chilliness with +warm clothing and plenty of it. The patient should sleep on a mattress +in a well-ventilated room. The diet should be nourishing without being +stimulating. It is important that the habits should be regular, and +the mind kept cheerful by society and innocent amusements. Before the +medical treatment is commenced the exciting causes of the disease must +be removed. A complete change must be made in the existence of the +patient. If she is confined closely at school, she must be removed; if +she is inclined to confine herself to the house, send her to the +country. Picture to her the danger she is in by the continuance of +such a life; give her plenty of outdoor exercise. The mental and moral +causes are the most difficult to remove, but a change of scenery and +new friends will do much towards it. For those who are shut up in +factories, or who work all day in a stooping position, a change of +employment must be made. A bath of tepid water in the morning, +followed by a brisk rubbing, will be beneficial; also the frequent use +of the sitting-bath, and the sponge bath in the evening. Active +exercise should precede and follow all baths. During menstruation all +applications of water should be omitted. The following remedies are +recommended by a famous Philadelphian doctor. They are to be taken on +alternate days; that is, take No. 1 one day, No. 2 the next day, etc.: + +No. 1.--Precip. carbonate of iron, five drams; extract of conium, two +drams; balsam Peru, one dram; oil cinnamon, twenty drops; simple +syrup, eight ounces; pulverized gum arabic, two drams. Mix. Dose: Two +teaspoonfuls three times a day, every other day, after meals. Shake +before using. + +No. 2.--Tincture of nux vomica, one dram; syrup iodide of iron, one +ounce; simple syrup, four ounces. Mix. Dose: One teaspoonful three +times a day, every other day, after meals. + +Another treatment is as follows: + +Clear the bowels with the following mixture: Sulphate of magnesia, one +ounce; nitrate of potash, ten grains; extract of liquorice, one +scruple; compound infusion of senna, five and one-half ounces; +tincture of jalap, three drams; spirit of sal volatile, one dram. Mix. +Dose: Two or three tablespoonfuls at a time, at intervals of two hours +until an effect is produced. This is to be followed by sulphate of +iron, five grains; extract of gentian, ten grains. Make into three +pills and take a pill twice a day, with the compound aloes or rhubarb +pill every night. + + + PROFUSE MENSTRUATION--MENORRHAGIA: + +By menorrhagia we understand an immoderate flow of the menses. There +is no fixed amount of blood which is lost at the menstrual period, but +it varies in different women. It will average, however, from four to +eight ounces. The quantity discharged may be estimated by the number +of napkins used. Each napkin will contain about half an ounce, or one +tablespoonful, so that eight napkins would contain four ounces; +twenty, ten ounces; etc. In some females the discharge may be +excessive without impairment of the general health. + +Some females are predisposed to uterine hemorrhages, from a relaxed or +flabby state of the texture of the uterus. Frequent childbearing, +abortion, high living, too prolonged and frequent suckling, may induce +flooding. Among the exciting causes we may mention overexertion, +dancing, falls, lifting heavy weights, cold, and mental excitement. + + + TREATMENT. + +The patient must lie down on a hard bed, and abstain from all +stimulating food and drinks. The room should be cool and she should be +lightly covered with bedclothes. Soak the feet in warm water, and if +the flowing is excessive apply cloths wrung out in vinegar and water +to the lower bowels. The hips must be elevated higher than the head. +Only in extreme cases should plugging be resorted to. This may be +done by pieces of linen, about four inches square, thrust into the +vagina until it is full, and a bandage applied between the legs. Cold +hip baths and vaginal injections of cold water will be beneficial when +the hemorrhage is slight. + +Use also the following: + + Diluted sulphuric acid, Two drams; + Syrup of orange peel, Two ounces; + Cinnamon water, One ounce. + +Mix. Dose: A teaspoonful in a wineglassful of water two or three times +a day. + +If there is much pain administer the following every two or three +hours: + + Morphia, Quarter grain; + Cayenne, Four grains; + Rosin, Four grains. + +Mix. Give in blackberry syrup. + + + PAINFUL MENSTRUATION--MENSTRUAL COLIC--DYSMENORRHEA. + +Dysmenorrhea means a difficult monthly flow, and is always preceded by +severe pains in the back and lower part of the abdomen. It is caused +by taking cold during the period; fright, violent mental emotions, +obstinate constipation, sedentary occupations, smallness of the mouth +and neck of the womb. Females subject to this trouble are generally +relieved by marriage. The symptoms are severe bearing-down pains in +the region of the uterus, like labor pains; restlessness, coldness, +flashes of heat, with headache; aching in the small of the back, lower +part of the abdomen, and thighs; the discharge is scanty, and contains +shreds of fiber and clotted blood. + + + TREATMENT. + +The patient should immediately go to bed and cover up warmly. +Stimulating food and drinks should be avoided. Use a warm foot bath +and sitting-bath, with hot poultices of hops or cloths wet in hot +water applied to the abdomen. + +In the interval of the menses, take active exercise, with a tepid hip +bath three nights in the week, injecting some of the water high up in +the vagina. Keep the bowels open by a pill of aloes and myrrh, and +take a small teaspoonful of the volatile tincture of guiacum three +times a day, in water. On the approach of the period, take the +following at night: + + Calomel, Three grains; + Opium, One grain. + +In the morning a dose of caster oil, and on the appearance of the +menses, the Dover's Powder and mixture as before. Repeat this +treatment, in each interval, until permanently relieved. + +The following is recommended by an eminent physician, to be taken a +few days before the period: + + Acetous tincture of colchicum, Three drams; + Magnesia, One dram; + Sulphate of magnesia, Three drams; + Distilled mint or cinnamon water, Four ounces. + +Mix. Dose: A small wineglassful every two or three hours until it +operates. This should be preceded the night before by a small dose of +blue pill. + + + SUPPRESSION OF THE MENSES--AMENORRHOEA. + +By suppression is meant a disappearance of the menses after they have +become established, and may be either acute or chronic. It is caused +by cold caught during the flow, by exposure to night air or by wetting +the feet; fear, shocks, violent mental emotions, anxiety, fevers and +other acute diseases. Chronic suppression may be either a consequence +of the acute, or caused by delicate health; also, from diseases of the +ovaries or womb. It may also be occasioned by an imperforate hymen, in +which case it must be cut open by a physician. + + + TREATMENT. + +When the suppression is caused by some disease in the system, that +disease must be cured before the menses will return. For sudden +suppression, use the warm sitting-bath or foot bath. Apply cloths wet +in warm water to the lower part of the abdomen, and drink freely of +warm water. If the suppression is chronic and the patient is delicate, +in the interval between the menses use the shower or the full bath of +cold or tepid water, rubbing the body briskly with a coarse towel, +especially around the abdomen, loins, and genital organs. + +As soon as the discharge has ceased, a warm hip bath will generally +bring it on. If there is much inflammation of the uterus give the +following: + + Tincture aconite leaves, Two drams; + Sweet spirits of nitre, One ounce; + Simple syrup, Three ounces. + +Dose: One teaspoonful every two or three hours. + +If the discharge cannot be brought on, wait until the next period. A +few days before the term the bowels should be freely opened and kept +open until the period for the discharge has arrived. A pill of aloes +and iron is one of the best that can be given. Give from one to three +pills daily. If there is no evident reason for the discharge not +appearing, such as pregnancy, inflammation of the neck of the womb, +and the woman is suffering from the suppression, use the following: + + Caulophyllin, One dram; + Extract aconite, Eight grains; + Aloes, Ten grains; + Sulphate of iron, Ten grains. + +Make into forty pills. Dose: Two or three pills, taken night and +morning. + +The remedies should always be taken a few days before the period +arrives for the menses. If the chronic suppression is the result of +any acute disease, the health must first be re-established, otherwise +it would be wrong to force the menses. When this has been done, +immediately before the return of the period a warm hip bath should be +taken every night for six nights, and one of the following pills taken +three times a day: + + Fresh powdered ergot of rye, Fifty grains; + Barbadoes aloes, Twelve grains; + Essential oil of juniper, Twelve drops. + +Make into twelve pills with syrup or mucilage, washing down each pill +with a cupful of pennyroyal tea. + + + CESSATION OF THE MENSES--CHANGE OF LIFE. + +By the phrase, "change of life," or, the critical period, we +understand the final cessation, or stoppage, of the menses. It usually +takes place between the ages of forty and fifty, although in some +cases it may occur as early as thirty, and in others not until sixty. +However, we can expect the change about the forty-fifth year. + +The symptoms will vary according to the constitution of the woman. In +some the change occurs by the discharge gradually diminishing in +quantity; in others, by the intervals between the periods being +lengthened. A woman may pass this period without having any more +unpleasant symptoms than an occasional rush of blood to the head, or a +headache. Others, however, may have very severe symptoms arise, which +will require the care of an intelligent physician. These disagreeable +sensations should receive a careful consideration and not be hushed up +with the reply that these complaints arise from the "change of life" +and will vanish whenever that change takes place. The foundation of +serious trouble may be laid which will make the remainder of her +existence a burden and cut short a life which might have been +conducted to a good old age. While this change is in progress, in +probably the majority of cases there is more or less disturbance of +the health. It is sometimes quite impossible to say exactly what is +the trouble with the patient, except that she is out of health. The +following are some of the symptoms which may arise: Headache, +dizziness, biliousness, sour stomach, indigestion, diarrhoea, piles, +costiveness, itching of the private parts, cramp and colic of the +bowels, palpitation of the heart, swelling of the limbs and abdomen, +pains in the back and loins, paleness and general weakness. + + + TREATMENT. + +Eat and drink moderately; sleep in airy, well-ventilated rooms; +exercise daily in the open air, either by walking or riding; avoid +violent emotions; shun exposure to wet, stormy weather, wet feet, etc. + +Keep the bowels regulated with the following: + +Mercurial pill, one grain; ipecac powder, one-half grain; compound +rhubarb pill, three grains. Mix for a pill to be taken every night. + +Or, one ounce of hicra picra, or powdered aloes with castella, mixed +in a pint of gin, which should stand for four or five days, after +which a tablespoonful in a glass of water may be taken every morning +or second morning, as the case may be. + +If the patient is large and fleshy, of full habit, the following is +recommended: + +Sulphate of magnesia, one and one-half ounces; compound infusion of +roses, five ounces; cinnamon water, one ounce. Mix, Dose: Two +tablespoonfuls once a day. + +If there are nervous symptoms prominent, give valerianate of zinc, +eight grains; tincture of valerian, two drams; orange flower water, +three and a half ounces; syrup of red poppies, two drams. Mix. Dose: A +tablespoonful every six hours. + + + FALLING OF THE WOMB + + _(Prolapsus uteri)._ + +Falling of the womb is simply a sinking down of the organ, and may be +so slight as not to be noticed or so great that the organ will +protrude between the legs through the external opening. It is not a +disease of the womb itself, but of some of its supports. + +So long as the vagina retains its natural size and the ligaments are +but two and a half inches long the organ will not be displaced. +Whatever tends to relax and weaken the system may cause the complaint. +The muscles of the abdomen which support the intestines being weakened +from any cause will allow the intestines to press down upon the womb +and its ligaments, and, in consequence of this constant pressure, they +give way. Another cause is too early exercise after childbearing. +Flooding and leucorrhoea, or whites, if allowed to continue for a +long time, will produce it; in delicate females, continued running up +and down stairs, also tight lacing, dancing, leaping, and running, +particularly during the period of menstruation, when the womb is +increased in weight by the blood contained in it. The use of medicines +to loosen the bowels, which is very common among many, is still +another cause of the disorder. + +Most females who are troubled with falling of the womb think that it +is necessary to a cure that they should wear some kind of a support to +the abdomen. These supporters, however, do a vast amount of harm, for +by being worn tightly around the abdomen they increase the pressure on +the bowels, thus forcing down, more and more, the womb and its +appendages. All that is necessary is to raise up the womb to its +natural position, and use an instrument that will keep it in place. +This instrument is called a pessary. This pessary is a ring or hollow +cup-shaped globe, made of gold, silver, ivory, wood or gutta-percha, +and is placed in the vagina or birthplace, thus supporting the womb. +The cold hip bath should be used once a day, at the same time +injecting cold water into the vagina with a syringe. Lie down as much +as possible, and avoid becoming fatigued. Apply cold bandages to the +abdomen on going to bed. + +If the womb has descended to the external orifice it is often +necessary to restore it to its natural position by pressing it upward +and backward by a finger or two pressed into the vagina. If the +process be accompanied with pain, the vagina should be well washed by +injections of thick flax seed or slippery elm bark tea for a day or +two before the astringent washes are used. + +Avoid tight corsets and heavy skirts, suspend the under-garments from +the shoulders and not from the waist, as is usually done. Use plain +vegetable diet, and avoid tea, coffee, spirituous drinks, and all +sensual indulgences. Allow the clothes to be loose. These things must +be attended to closely. The diet should be plain and nourishing, but +not stimulating. + +Use an injection of an infusion of white oak bark, geranium, or a +solution of alum, in the proportion of one ounce to the pint of water. +If there is inflammation of the womb, this must be subdued before +using the pessary. Give tincture of aconite, compound powder of ipecac +and opium, with injections of an infusion of hops and lobelia, or an +infusion of belladonna. + +If there is heat and difficulty in passing water, drink an infusion of +marsh mallow and spearmint. If the patient is weak, give the following +tonic: + +Sulphate quinine, twenty-five grains; citrate of iron (soluble), +thirty-five grains. Make into twenty-four powders. Take a powder three +times a day, after each meal, in sweet wine. + + + LEUCORRHOEA--WHITES--FLOUR ALBUS. + +The word leucorrhoea is derived from two Greek words, and means +literally a "white discharge." It is also known as "flour albus," +"whites," and "female weakness," and consists of a "light colorless +discharge from the genital organs, varying in hue from a whitish or +colorless to a yellowish, light green, or to a slightly red or +brownish; varying in consistency from a thin, watery, to a thick, +tenacious, ropy substance; and in quantity from a slight increase in +the healthy secretion to several ounces in the twenty-four hours." +This discharge generally occurs between the ages of fifteen and +forty-five, seldom during infancy or old age. When it occurs in young +female children, it will not infrequently be produced by the presence +of pinworms in the vagina, which make their way there from the rectum. +There will be intense itching of the parts, and the worms can be +removed with a small piece of cloth, after separating the lips. + +This disease may be either acute or chronic. The acute form generally +results from taking cold, and is simply a catarrhal inflammation of +the mucous membrane lining the vagina. The chronic form is but a +continuation of the acute, and is generally caused by the acute stage +having been neglected or improperly treated. Ulceration of the neck of +the womb sometimes results. There are two forms of leucorrhoea: +Vaginal leucorrhoea, when the discharge comes from the walls of the +vagina; and cervical leucorrhoea, when the discharge proceeds from +the neck of the womb. + +Causes: Taking cold from sitting on the ground, or exposure of the +neck and shoulders; over sexual excitement, and sexual intercourse; +tight lacing; piles, miscarriages, and abortions; displacements of the +womb; purgatives, improper articles of diet; warm injections, or +injections of any kind; late hours, etc. It may also be hereditary. + + + TREATMENT. + +The treatment, to be successful, requires that the patient should +first be placed in a favorable condition. Anything which tends to +excite the disease must be avoided, as dissipations, late suppers, +etc. The diet must be plain and nourishing without being stimulating, +and be taken regularly. Exercise, short of fatigue, will be +beneficial. The clothing should be warm and worn loosely, especially +about the waist. Water is of great importance in the treatment of this +trouble. The sitting-bath may be used every day, and injections of +cold or tepid water should be used three or four times a day, +according to the severity of the discharge. + +An injection of weak green tea will be found good in some mild cases, +as also sweet cider or a weak solution of alum. + +One of the best tonics is the muriated tincture of iron, of which take +twenty or twenty-five drops in half a tumbler of water three or four +times a day. An excellent injection is made by taking three drams of +tannic acid and an ounce of alum, dissolving in a quart of water, and +inject one-third three times a day. The bowels should be kept open by +Rochelle or Epsom salts, or seidlitz powder. When there is great +debility of the organs, or when the disease has been brought on by +exposure to cold, pregnancy, abortions, etc., the following will be +found very successful: + +Tincture of aloes, two ounces; muriated tincture of iron, four drams. +Mix. Dose: Thirty-five drops in water three times a day. At the same +time use the following injection: Sulphate of zinc (white vitriol), +two drams; sugar of lead, two drams. Mix in one quart of water, and +use one-fourth for each injection. + + + + + CHAPTER X. + + COLLECTION OF VALUABLE MEDICAL COMPOUNDS. + + +Do you have-- + A frequent headache over the eyes? + A susceptibility to chills and fever? + A bitter or oily taste in the mouth? + A sour stomach? + A complexion inclined to be yellow? + A great depression of spirits without known cause? + Specks before the eyes, and flushed face? + A done out, tired feeling? + +Besides many other symptoms too numerous to mention? If you have you +are affected in your liver and kidneys, and should do something for +it. The following preparation, "Magic Kidney and Liver Restorer," acts +on these organs and, when diseased or out of order, restores them to a +healthy state. Everyone should keep a bottle of this preparation in +the house, as it is an invaluable medicine. Splendid to take in the +spring to tone up the system: + + + MAGIC KIDNEY AND LIVER RESTORER. + + Two ounces of alcohol; + One and a half ounces of glycerine; + One ounce of liverwort; + Three hundred and twenty grains of saltpetre; + Forty drops of wintergreen. + +Steep the liverwort in a quart of water down to half the quantity, +then throw in the other ingredients while hot. Dose: One tablespoonful +about four times a day. + + + HOP BITTERS. + + One ounce mandrake root; + One ounce gentian root; + One ounce dandelion root; + One ounce buchu leaf; + One ounce sarsaparilla leaf; + One ounce blackberry leaf; + One ounce hops. + +Infuse in cold water, three quarts, two or three days. Add a pint of +whisky, and bottle. Dose: A teaspoonful three times a day. + + + ALTERATIVE, OR LIVER POWDER. + +Take podophyllin and sanguinaria, of each ten grains; leptandrin, +twenty grains; white sugar, forty grains. Triturate or rub the whole +well together in a mortar and divide into twenty powders, and take one +night and morning. If they operate much on the bowels take but one a +day. + +_Uses:_ Valuable in liver complaint, torpidity of the liver, and as an +alterative to act on the secretions of the system generally. A +complete substitute for blue pill and free from any danger. + + + HEPATIC AND ALTERATIVE POWDER. + +Take equal parts, say of each half an ounce, of finely powdered blue +flag root, bloodroot, May apple root, golden seal root, and +bitterroot. Mix all together and pass through a fine sieve. Dose: As +an alterative and to act on the liver and secretions, from two to five +grains two or three times a day. + + + CATHARTIC AND LIVER PILLS. + +Take podophyllin, sixty grains; leptandrin and sanguinaria, ipecac and +pure cayenne, each thirty grains. Make into sixty pills with a little +soft extract of mandrake or dandelion. This is the best pill that can +be used as a cathartic and liver pill and to act on the secretions +generally. As a purgative the dose is from two to four pills for a +grown person, and as an alterative and substitute for blue mass and to +act on the liver, one pill once a day or every other day. + + + ANTI-DYSPEPTIC PILLS. + +Take Socotrine aloes, two drams; colocynth, gamboge, rhubarb, and +castile soap, each one dram; cayenne, thirty grains; oil cloves, +thirty drops. Make into one hundred and twenty pills with extract of +gentian or dandelion. Dose: For dyspepsia, inactive liver or +costiveness, one or two pills once a day; as a cathartic, three to +five pills at a dose. This is a splendid pill. It cleanses the +stomach, gives tone and energy to the digestive organs, restores the +appetite, excites the liver and other secretory organs, without +causing any debility. + + + ANOTHER ANTI-DYSPEPTIC PILL. + +Take Quevenne's powdered metallic iron, forty grains; rhubarb, twenty +grains; extract of nux vomica, one grain. Triturate well in a small +mortar, so as to mix them perfectly, and make into twenty pills with +extract of boneset or gentian. Take one pill before each meal. This is +one of the best anti-dyspeptic pills known. + + + DYSPEPTIC LEY. + +Take hickory ashes, one pint; soot, three or four ounces; boiling +water, two quarts. Pour on in a suitable vessel or crock, stir, and +let stand, over night, then pour off clear and bottle. Dose: Half a +teacupful three times a day, and if too strong weaken with water until +palatable. A sure remedy for dyspepsia. + + + AGUE PILLS. + +Take quinine, twenty grains; piperine, ten grains; Dover's Powder, ten +grains; cayenne, ten grains. Mix, pulverize, and make into twenty +pills with a little gum arabic or extract of gentian or boneset. To be +taken at the rate of one pill an hour when there is no fever, or +during intermission, until twelve pills are taken, the balance to be +taken on the third day or next well day. Good as a remedy for the +chills or fever and ague. + + + CERTAIN REMEDY FOR THE AGUE OR INTERMITTENT FEVER. + +Take quinine, twelve grains; ipecac and cayenne, of each six grains; +pulverized opium, three grains. Make into twelve pills with +precipitated extract of Peruvian bark, or if you cannot get this, use +either extract of dogwood or boneset, sufficient to form into pill +mass. Two or three pills to be taken every two or three hours, during +the well day or intermission, till all are taken. A very certain and +effectual remedy for the ague or intermittent fever. + + + FEVER POWDER. + +Take finely pulverized gum myrrh, bloodroot, and lobelia seed, or +ipecac, of each half an ounce; gum camphor and nitre, of each two +drams. Pulverize, mix, and rub well together in a mortar, and bottle +for use. Dose: Three to five grains every hour of two during fever. +Good to allay the excitement, act on the skin and promote +perspiration; also a good expectorant powder in coughs, colds, +pneumonia, and oppressed breathing. + + + AGUE DROPS. + +Take quinine, twenty grains; water, one ounce; sulphuric acid, twenty +drops. Mix in a vial. Dose: A teaspoonful every hour or every two +hours during the well day till all is taken. A certain cure for the +ague, or chills and fever. + + + SICK HEADACHE PILLS. + +Take Socotrine aloes, gamboge, and castile soap, of each one dram; +ipecac and scammony, of each thirty grains; oil of anise, thirty +drops. Make into sixty pills with a little mucilage, gum arabic or +extract dandelion. Dose: One to three pills. Useful in sick headache, +habitual costiveness, dizziness, sour stomach, and indigestion, and +may be used whenever a good vegetable cathartic is needed. For an +attack of headache, take three pills, and repeat in three hours if the +first does not operate. Will invariably give relief. + + + ANODYNE HEADACHE PILLS. + +Take extract of hyoscyamus, thirty grains; extract stramonium, ten +grains; quinine, twenty grains; morphine, two grains. Mix well and +make into twenty pills, adding a little powdered liquorice root, or +any other innocent powder, if necessary, to thicken the mass. The +pills are one of the best remedies known for nervous headache, +neuralgia in the face or head, toothache and nervous and neuralgic +pains in any part of the system, that I have ever used. Dose: One +pill, for a grown person, and may be repeated every two or three hours +till relief is obtained. The extract of belladonna may be used instead +of the stramonium, in the same proportion, with equally good effect. + + + RHEUMATIC PILLS. + +Take jalap, colchicum seeds, and gum guaiac, of each one dram. +Pulverize and mix veil, and make into sixty pills with extract of poke +root (or berries). The dose is one or two pills three or four times a +day. Good in all cases of chronic rheumatism, neuralgia, sciatica, and +the like. + + + ANOTHER FOR SAME. + +Take macrotin and pulverized gum guaiac, of each one dram; +podophyllin, ten grains. Make into sixty pills with extract of poke +root. Dose: One pill two or three times a day. An excellent pill for +rheumatism and neuralgia. + + + PILLS FOR DYSENTERY. + +Take rhubarb, ipecac, and castile soap, each thirty grains; pulverized +opium, fifteen grains. Make into thirty pills with mucilage, gum +arabic, or any other suitable substance. Dose: One pill every three to +six hours for diarrhoea and dysentery. After three or four are taken +they should not be taken oftener than once in six hours. + + + ANOTHER FOR SAME. + +Take leptandrin, forty grains; rhubarb, twenty grains; morphine, four +grains. Mix, and triturate well in a mortar so as to mix perfectly, +and make into twenty pills with mucilage of gum arabic. Dose: In +dysentery and diarrhoea, one pill every six to twelve hours. Two or +three pills are generally sufficient to cure any ordinary case, if +given during the early stage. They may be relied on in all cases and +stages of bowel diseases, and especially in dysentery. A second pill +may be given three hours after the first, a third six hours after the +second; after that not oftener than once in twelve hours, and never +more than one pill at a time. + + + EPILEPTIC PILLS. + +Take sulphate of zinc, sixty grains; rhubarb and ipecac, each thirty +grains; cayenne, sixty grains. Make into sixty pills with extract of +hyoscyamus. Dose: One pill night and morning for one week, then leave +off for a week, and then resume again, and so on every other week. An +important remedy, and has cured many cases of epileptic fits when +taken in the early stages. + + + PILLS FOR ASTHMA. + +Take powdered elecampane root, powdered liquorice root, powdered anise +seed, and sulphur, of each one dram. Make into ordinary sized pills +with a sufficient quantity of tar, and take three or four pills at +night on going to bed. This is an admirable remedy for asthma and +shortness of breath. + + + HYSTERIC PILLS. + +Take asafoetida and carbonate of ammonia, of each one dram; +pulverized opium and macrotin, of each thirty grains. Melt the first +two articles over the fire, and then stir in the others. Mix well and +make into sixty pills. Dose: One or two pills, in cases of hysteric +fits, every two or three hours; also good in female nervous attacks +and spasmodic affections. + + + PILLS FOR CHRONIC BRONCHITIS. + +Take pulverized skunk cabbage root, two drams; pulverized extract of +liquorice, one dram; sanguinaria and macrotin, of each thirty grains. +Make into large sized pills (say from eighty to one hundred) with a +sufficient quantity of tar, and take one pill from three to six times +a day, and continue for several weeks if necessary. One of the best +remedies known for chronic bronchitis, and what is sometimes called +"clergyman's sore throat." + + + PILLS FOR NEURALGIA. + +Hyoscyamus, extract of, one dram; extract of aconite, thirty grains; +macrotin, twenty grains; morphine, five grains. Make into forty pills, +thickening the mass, if necessary, with a little powdered liquorice or +ginger. Dose: One pill every three hours till relief is obtained. Good +in neuralgia and all severe nervous pains. + + + BLEEDING AT THE LUNGS. + +Eat freely of raw table salt, or take a teaspoonful three or four +times a day of equal parts of powdered loaf sugar and rosin, or boil +an ounce of dried yellow dock root in a pint of milk. Take a cupful +two or three times a day. + + + FOR CONSUMPTION. + +Take a teaspoonful of the expressed juice of horehound (the herb) and +mix it with a gill of new milk. Drink it warm every morning. If +persevered in it will perform wonders. + + + COUGH SYRUP. + +Take horehound herb, elecampane root, spikenard root, ginseng root, +black cohosh, and skunk cabbage root, of each a good-sized handful. +Bruise and cover with spirits or whisky, and let stand ten days; then +put all in a suitable vessel, add about four quarts of water and +simmer slowly over a fire (but don't boil) for twelve hours, or till +reduced to about three pints, then strain and add one pint of strained +honey, half a pint each of number six, tincture lobelia, and tincture +bloodroot (the vinegar or acetic tincture of bloodroot is the best) +and four ounces of strong essence of anise, and you will have one of +the best cough syrups known. Dose: A tablespoonful three to six times +a day, according to circumstances. Good in all kinds of coughs and +incipient consumption. + + + SOOTHING COUGH MIXTURE. + +Take mucilage of gum arabic, oil of sweet almonds, syrup of balsam +tolu, and wine of ipecac, of each one ounce; tincture of opium, half +an ounce. Dose: For a grown person, one to two teaspoonfuls as often +as required. + + + COUGH MIXTURE. + +Take extract of liquorice, one ounce, powdered; nitrate of potash +(saltpetre) and muriate of ammonia, of each two drams. Dissolve in +half a pint of boiling water, and when cool add wine of ipecac, syrup +of balsam tolu, and essence of anise, of each one ounce. Dose: From a +teaspoonful to a tablespoonful several times a day. An excellent +remedy for bronchitis, colds, and catarrhal coughs. + + + EXPECTORANT TINCTURE. + +Take pulverized lobelia (seed or herb), powdered bloodroot, and +powdered rattleroot (black cohosh), of each three ounces; alcohol and +good vinegar, of each one pint. Digest for ten days or two weeks, then +strain or filter and add four ounces each of wine of ipecac and +tincture balsam of tolu and one ounce strong essence of anise. A +portion of honey may be added if preferred. Dose: One to two +teaspoonfuls repeated as often as circumstances require. Highly useful +as an expectorant in coughs, colds, and all affections of the lungs. + + + COMPOUND TINCTURE OF MYRRH. + +Take best gum myrrh, eight ounces; cayenne, balsam of fir, and +nutmegs, of each one ounce; good brandy, two quarts. Bruise the solid +articles, and let stand two weeks to digest (shake it once or twice +every day), then strain or filter. Or, it may be made for immediate +use by putting the whole in a stone jug and placing this in a warm +sand bath or in a vessel of boiling water for twenty-four hours, +shaking frequently. Dose: A teaspoonful is an ordinary dose for a +grown person. Good in colic, pains in the stomach and bowels, +diarrhoea, headache, sick stomach, and wherever a powerful stimulant +is indicated. It is also valuable as a wash or external application +for sprains, bruises, and foul ulcers and old sores. It is a +preparation that no family should be without. + + + SURE REMEDY FOR BOWEL COMPLAINTS. + +Take half an ounce bruised turkey rhubarb and half an ounce saleratus, +steep or simmer slowly for fifteen minutes in a pint of water, strain +and add a teacupful of white sugar, and heat again to dissolve; then +add sixty drops oil of peppermint dissolved in one ounce of alcohol. +Dose: From a teaspoonful to a tablespoonful every hour till relieved. +An excellent remedy for diarrhoea, dysentery, and especially adapted +to the bowel complaints of young children. + + + CORDIAL FOR SUMMER COMPLAINTS. + +Take cloves, allspice, and cinnamon bark, of each half an ounce; white +oak bark, one ounce. Bruise all, and boil in one quart of water down +to half a pint; strain, add four ounces white sugar, dissolve by +melting, then add half as much good brandy as there is of the liquid. +Dose: One, two or three teaspoonfuls three to six times a day or +oftener, according to age and urgency of symptoms. An infallible cure +for cholera infantum, or summer complaints of children, and for all +bowel complaints. + + + SCROFULOUS SYRUP. + +Take yellow dock root, two pounds; stillingia root and bark of +bittersweet root, of each one pound. Boil slowly in three or four +gallons of water down to three quarts; strain, and add six pounds of +white sugar. Dose: Half a wineglass three times a day. A valuable +remedy for scrofula, and all scrofulous skin diseases, as tetter, +herpes, leprosy, and the like; also a valuable alterative in all +constitutional diseases. + + + EYEWATER. + +Take half an ounce each of green tea and lobelia herb, and tincture a +few days in four ounces of alcohol and water, equal parts. An +invaluable eyewater for weak eyes and all kinds of sore and inflamed +eyes. Use it two or three times a day. + + + TINCTURE FOR RHEUMATISM. + +Take pulverized gum guaiac and allspice, of each four ounces; +bloodroot, pulverized, two ounces; pearlash, one ounce; fourth proof +brandy, one quart. Let stand and digest three or four days, shaking it +two or three times a day. Dose: A teaspoonful three or four times a +day, in a little milk, syrup or wine. An almost infallible remedy for +rheumatism. + + + WORM ELIXIR. + +Take gum myrrh and aloes, of each one ounce; saffron, sage leaves, and +tansy leaves, of each half an ounce. Tincture in a pint of brandy for +two weeks, and give to children a teaspoonful once a week to once a +month as a preventive. They will never be troubled with worms as long +as you do this. + + + DR. JORDAN'S CHOLERA REMEDY. + +Take gum guaiac, prickly ash berries (or double as much bark of the +root), cloves, and cinnamon bark, of each two ounces; gum camphor and +gum myrrh, of each one ounce; gum kino, half an ounce. Reduce all to a +coarse powder and add to one quart of best French brandy. Let it stand +ten days or two weeks to digest, shaking the bottle two or three times +a day to keep the ingredients from becoming impacted at the bottom; +then strain and press out, and then take oil anise and oil peppermint, +of each two drams; alcohol, four ounces. Mix the oils and alcohol +together in a bottle and shake well till they are cut, then add to the +former, and it is ready for use. Dose: From one to two teaspoonfuls +every five, ten, fifteen or thirty minutes, according to the urgency +of the symptoms. In cholera it should be given frequently, and if +there are nausea and vomiting small doses are preferable; a single +teaspoonful every five minutes till urgent symptoms are checked, then +give it less frequently. It should always be given alone, unmixed with +anything else. In ordinary diarrhoea, one or two teaspoonfuls taken +once an hour will be sufficient. It is also an excellent remedy for +colic and pains in the stomach and bowels, and will generally settle +the stomach very soon in case of vomiting or nausea. It should always +be kept in the house. Where it is needed for immediate use, it may be +made in an hour or less by using alcohol instead of brandy and by +boiling all in a stone jug, uncorked, by placing the jug in a vessel +of boiling water, shaking or stirring frequently. + + + PILE OINTMENT. + +Take say a teacupful of hog's lard, put in a flat or pewter dish, and +take two bars of lead, flattened a little, and rub the lard with the +flat ends and between them till it becomes black or of a dark lead +color. Then burn equal parts of cavendish tobacco and old shoeleather +in an iron vessel till charred. Powder these and mix into the lard +till it becomes a thick ointment. Use once or twice a day as an +ointment for the piles. An infallible cure. + + + WARTS AND CORNS. + +The bark of the common willow burnt to ashes, mixed with strong +vinegar and applied to the parts, will remove all warts, corns, and +other excrescences. + + + DEAFNESS. + +It is seldom that the power of hearing once entirely lost can ever be +restored, and not always that even partial deafness can be cured, +though it may often be relieved. Partial deafness is frequently owing +to the accumulation and hardening in the ear of the ear wax, which may +generally be remedied by dropping into the ear such articles as are +calculated to soften, relax, and stimulate. For this purpose the +following preparations are recommended as the best: + +Take sulphuric ether, one ounce, and add to it one dram pulverized +carbonate of ammonia. Let it stand a few days to form a solution. If +it does not all dissolve, pour off carefully the liquid from the +dregs, and of this liquid drop into the ear once a day from three to +six drops. The patient should lay his head upon the opposite side at +the time, and remain in that position a few minutes to allow the +liquid to penetrate. This preparation is highly recommended, and if +persevered in will, it is said, overcome almost any partial deafness +or greatly relieve it. + + + ANOTHER. + +Take pure olive oil, say one ounce, and half an ounce each of the +tincture of lobelia and tincture of cayenne. Mix; and from a warm +teaspoon drop into the ear four to six drops of this twice a day, +shaking the vial well always before using it. This is relaxing, +softening, and stimulating, and in all ordinary cases will answer the +purpose. Turkey oil (or grease) is said to be still better than olive +oil and may be used instead of it in this preparation. The following +remedy, long kept a secret, is said to be infallible where it is +possible for anything to effect a cure: + +Take a common eel, remove the skin and intestines, and hang it up +before the fire and let the oil drip into a pan or vessel. When done +dripping, bottle the oil, and of this drop into the ear once a day or +twice a day five or six drops from a warm teaspoon. I have heard +remarkable accounts of the efficacy of this remedy, and doubt not but +it is good. I believe it has never been published but once before. The +secret was obtained with some difficulty from an old negro. + + + INVERTED TOE-NAIL. + +This is a very troublesome and often painful affection. The edges or +sides of the nail are disposed to turn down and grow into the flesh, +giving rise to inflammation, ulceration, and often great pain and +suffering. The best remedy I have ever known in this difficulty is to +scrape with some sharp-pointed instrument, as the point of a penknife, +a sort of groove or gutter in the center of the nail lengthways from +the root to the end. It must be scraped down to near the quick, or as +thin as it can be borne. This renders the nail "weak in the back," so +that it will gradually and ultimately turn up at the sides until the +edges come above and over the flesh. Continue this as fast as the nail +grows out and grows thicker, and you will eventually succeed in +getting the nail in its proper shape and position. It will be proper +to poultice if there is much inflammation, and also apply healing +salve. If ulceration, bathe the part also occasionally with tinctures +aloes, myrrh, and opium, equal parts mixed.--_Gunn's Domestic +Physician._ + + + + + CHAPTER XI. + + THINGS FOR THE SICK ROOM. + + +Many people are ignorant of what constitutes good, nourishing, +refreshing food and drink for sick people. The following dishes are +all palatable and nourishing, and are very refreshing to an invalid. +Every one should have these recipes for "Things for the sick room": + + + BARLEY WATER. + +Pearl barley, two ounces; boiling water, two quarts. Boil to one +quart, and strain. If desirable, a little lemon juice and sugar may be +added. This may be taken freely in all inflammatory and eruptive +diseases: measles, scarlet fever, small-pox, etc. + + + RICE WATER. + +Rice, two ounces; water, two quarts. Boil one hour and a half, and add +sugar and nutmeg to suit the taste. When milk is added to this it +makes a very excellent diet for children. Should the bowels be too +loose, boil the milk before adding. + + + SAGE TEA. + +Dried leaves of sage, half an ounce; boiling water, one quart. Infuse +for half an hour, and strain. May add sugar if desired. Balm, +peppermint, spearmint, and other teas are made in the same way. + + + A REFRESHING DRINK IN FEVERS. + +Boil one ounce and a half of tamarind, two ounces of stoned raisins, +and three ounces of cranberries in three pints of water until two +pints remain. Strain, and add a small piece of fresh lemon peel, which +must be removed in half an hour. + + + ARROWROOT JELLY. + +Stir a tablespoonful of arrowroot powders into half a cupful of cold +water, pour in a pint of boiling water, let it stand five or ten +minutes and then sweeten and flavor it to suit the taste. + + + IRISH MOSS JELLY. + +Irish moss, half an ounce; fresh milk, one and a half pints. Boil down +to one pint. Strain, and add sugar and lemon juice sufficient to give +it an agreeable flavor. + + + ISINGLASS JELLY. + +Isinglass, two ounces; water, two pints. Boil to one pint; strain, and +add one pint milk and one ounce of white sugar. This is excellent for +persons recovering from sickness, and for children who have bowel +complaints. + + + TAPIOCA JELLY. + +Tapioca, two large spoonfuls; water, one pint. Boil gently for an +hour, or until it appears like a jelly. Add sugar, wine, and nutmeg, +with lemon juice to flavor. + + + RICE JELLY. + +Mix a quarter of a pound of rice, picked and washed, with half a pound +of loaf sugar and just sufficient water to cover it. Boil until it +assumes a jellylike appearance; strain, and season to suit the taste +and condition of the patient. + + + GRAPES. + +In all cases of fever, very ripe grapes of any kind are a beneficial +article of diet, acting as both food and drink and possessing soothing +and cooling qualities. They are also extremely grateful to every +palate. + + + TOAST. + +To make a most excellent toast for a reduced or convalescent patient, +take bread twenty-four or thirty-six hours old, which has been made of +a mixture of fine wheat flour and Indian meal and a pure yeast batter +mixed with eggs. Toast it until of a delicate brown, and then (if the +patient be not inclined to fever) immerse it in boiled milk and +butter. If the patient be feverish, spread it lightly with cranberry +jam or calves' foot jelly. + + + RICE. + +In all cases where a light and nice diet for patients who have been or +are afflicted with diarrhoea or dysentery is required, rice, in +almost any cooked form, is most agreeable and advantageous. It may be +given with benefit to dyspeptics, unless costiveness accompanies the +dyspepsia. To make rice pudding, take a teacupful of rice, and as much +sugar, two quarts of milk, and a teaspoonful of salt. Bake, with a +moderate heat, for two hours. Rice flour made in a batter and baked +upon a griddle makes a superb cake; and rice-flour gruel, seasoned to +the taste, is most excellent for the sick room. + + + BREAD JELLY. + +Boil a quart of water and let it cool. Take one-third of a common loaf +of wheat bread, slice it, pare off the crust, and toast it to a light +brown. Put it in water in a covered vessel and boil gently till you +find, on putting some in a spoon to cool, the liquid has become a +jelly. Strain and cool. When used, warm a cupful, sweeten with sugar, +and add a little grated lemon peel. + + + RICE GRUEL. + +Ground rice, one heaping tablespoonful; water, one quart. Boil gently +for twenty minutes, adding, a few minutes before it is done, one +tablespoonful of ground cinnamon. Strain and sweeten. Wine may be +added when the case demands it. + + + WATER GRUEL. + +Oat or corn meal, two tablespoonfuls; water, one quart. Boil for ten +minutes and strain, adding salt and sugar if desired by the patient. + + + SAGO GRUEL. + +Sago, two tablespoonfuls; water, one pint. Boil gently until it +thickens; stir frequently. May add wine, sugar, and nutmeg, according +to taste. + + + ARROWROOT GRUEL. + +Arrowroot, one tablespoonful; sweet milk and boiling water, each one +half pint. Sweeten with loaf sugar. This is very good for children +whose bowels are irritable. + + + TAPIOCA. + +Tapioca is a very delightful food for invalids. Make an ordinary +pudding of it, and improve the flavor agreeably to the desire of the +patient or convalescent by adding raisins, sugar, prunes, lemon juice, +wine, spices, etc. + + + BEEF LIQUID. + +When the stomach is very weak, take fresh lean beef, cut it into +strips and place the strips into a bottle with a little salt; place in +a kettle of boiling water and let it remain one hour; pour off the +liquid and add some water. Begin with a small quantity, and use in the +same manner and under similar circumstances as beef tea. This is even +more nourishing than beef tea. + + + BEEF TEA. + +Cut one pound of lean beef into shreds, and boil for twenty minutes in +one quart of water, being particular to remove the scum as often as +any rises. When it is cool, strain. This is very nourishing and +palatable, and is of great value in all cases of extreme debility +where no inflammatory action exists, or after the inflammation is +subdued. In very low cases a small teaspoonful may be administered +every fifteen or twenty minutes, gradually increasing the amount given +as the powers of life return. In cases of complete prostration, after +the cessation of long exhausting fever it may be used as directed +above, either alone or in conjunction with a little wine. + + + PANADO. + +Put a little water on the fire, with a glass of wine, some sugar, and +a little grated nutmeg; boil all together a few seconds, and add +pounded cracker or crumbs of bread, and boil again for a few minutes. + + + FRENCH MILK PORRIDGE. + +Stir some oatmeal and water together; let the mixture stand to clear, +and pour off the water. Then put more water to the meal; stir it well, +and let it stand till the next day. Strain through a fine sieve, and +boil the water, adding milk while so doing. The proportion of water +must be small. With toast this is admirable. + + + COFFEE MILK. + +Put a dessertspoonful of ground coffee into a pint of milk; boil a +quarter of an hour, with a shaving or two of isinglass; let it stand +ten minutes, and then pour off. + + + RESTORATIVE JELLY. + +Take a leg of well-fed pork just as cut up, beat it and break the +bone; set it over a gentle fire, with three gallons of water and +simmer to one. Let half an ounce of mace and the same of nutmeg stew +in it. Strain through a fine sieve. When cold, take off the fat. Give +a coffee cup of this three times a day, adding salt to the taste. This +is very valuable in all cases of debility where animal food is +admissible. + + + DRINK IN DYSENTERY. + +Sheep's suet, two ounces; milk, one pint; starch, half an ounce. Boil +gently for thirty minutes. Use as a common drink. This is excellent +for sustaining the strength in bad cases of dysentery. + + + CRUST COFFEE. + +Toast slowly a thick piece of bread cut from the outside of a loaf +until it is well browned, but not blackened; then turn upon it boiling +water of a sufficient quantity, and keep it from half an hour to an +hour before using. Be sure that the liquid is of a rich brown color +before you use it. It is a most excellent drink in all cases of +sickness. + + + CRANBERRY WATER. + +Put a teaspoonful of cranberries into a cup of water and mash them. In +the meantime boil two quarts of water with one large spoonful of corn +or oat meal and a bit of lemon peel; then add the cranberries and as +much fine sugar as will leave a smart flavor of the fruit; also a +wineglassful of sherry. Boil the whole gently for a quarter of an +hour, then strain. + + + WINE WHEY. + +Heat a pint of new milk until it boils, at which moment pour in as +much good wine as will curdle and clarify it. Boil and set it aside +until the curd subsides. Do not stir it, but pour the whey off +carefully, and add two pints of boiling water with loaf sugar. + + + ORANGE WHEY. + +Milk, one pint; the juice of an orange with a portion of the peel. +Boil the milk, then put the orange into it and let it stand till it +coagulates. Strain. + + + MUSTARD WHEY. + +Bruised mustard seed, two tablespoonfuls; milk, one quart. Boil +together for a few minutes until it coagulates, and strain to separate +the curd. This is a very useful drink in dropsy. A teacupful may be +taken at a dose, three times a day. + + + CHICKEN BROTH. + +Take half a chicken, divested of all fat, and break the bones; add to +this half a gallon of water, and boil for half an hour. Season with +salt. + + + VEGETABLE SOUP. + +Take one potato, one turnip and one onion, with a little celery or +celery seed. Slice, and boil for an hour in one quart of water. Salt +to the taste, and pour the whole upon a piece of dry toast. This forms +a good substitute for animal food and may be used when the latter +would be improper. + + + CALVES'-FOOT JELLY. + +Boil two calf's feet in one gallon of water until reduced to one +quart. Strain, and when cool skim carefully. Add the white of six or +eight eggs, well beaten; a pint of wine, half a pound of loaf sugar, +and the juice of four lemons. Mix them well, boil for a few minutes, +stirring constantly, and pass through a flannel strainer. In some +cases the wine should be omitted. + + + SLIPPERY ELM JELLY. + +Take of the flour of slippery elm, one or two tablespoonfuls; cold +water, one pint. Stir until a jelly is formed. Sweeten with loaf sugar +or honey. This is excellent for all diseases of the throat, chest, and +lungs; coughs, colds, bronchitis, inflammation of the lungs, etc. It +is very nutritious and soothing. + + + NUTRITIVE FLUIDS. + +Following will be found directions for preparing three nutritious +fluids, which are of great value in all diseases, either acute or +chronic, that are attended or followed by prostration; debility, +whether general or of certain organs only; derangement of the +digestive organs, weak stomach, indigestion, heartburn or sour +stomach, constipated bowels, torpidity or want of activity of the +liver, thin or poor blood. These fluids are highly nutritious, +supplying to the blood, in such a form that they are most easily +assimilated, the various elements which are needed to enrich it and +thus enable it to reproduce the various tissues of the body that have +been wasted by disease. In cases where the stomach has become so +weakened and sensitive that the lightest food or drinks cannot be +taken without causing much uneasiness and distress these fluids are +invaluable. They strengthen the stomach and neutralize all undue +acidity, while at the same time they soothe the irritation by their +bland and demulcent qualities. When carefully and properly prepared, +according to the directions following, they very nearly resemble rich +new milk in color and consistency, while their taste is remarkably +pleasant. Care should be taken that all the ingredients are of the +best quality. Soft water must be used in all cases. Fresh rain water +is to be preferred, but spring water may be used if perfectly soft. +Hard water will cause the fluids to be of a yellow color, and if the +milk is old they are apt to separate: + + + FLUID NO. 1. + +Put a pint of new milk (the fresher the better) and two pints of soft +water, in a vessel perfectly free from all greasy matter, over a slow +fire. Rub two even teaspoonfuls of superfine wheat flour and two +teaspoonfuls of carbonate of magnesia, together with a little milk, +into a soft batter, free from lumps; add this to the milk and water as +soon as they begin to boil. Boil gently for five minutes--_no +longer_--stirring constantly. Pour into an earthen or glass dish to +cool, adding at the same time two teaspoonfuls of loaf sugar and one +teaspoonful each of saleratus and table salt, rubbed fine. Stir until +cold. The fluid must not be allowed to remain in a metallic vessel of +any kind, and it must be kept in a cool place. + + + FLUID NO. 2. + +Put one pint of fresh milk and two pints of soft water in a vessel +over a slow fire. Rub together with a little fresh cream into a soft +batter, free from lumps, one tablespoonful each of good sweet rye +flour, ground rice, and pure starch; which add to the milk and water +as soon as they begin to boil. Boil for five minutes, stirring +constantly. Remove from the fire and add three teaspoonfuls of loaf +sugar and one teaspoonful each of saleratus and table salt. Observe +the same precautions as in No. 1. + + + FLUID NO. 3. + +Put in a vessel, over a slow fire, one pint of fresh milk and two +pints of soft water. When they begin to boil, add one tablespoonful of +wheat flour, two tablespoonfuls of pure starch, and two teaspoonfuls +of carbonate of magnesia, rubbed, together with a little milk into a +soft batter, free from lumps. Boil gently for five minutes, stirring +constantly. Pour into an earthen vessel to cool, and add one +teaspoonful of the best gum arabic dissolved in a little warm water, +one teaspoonful each of saleratus and table salt, and one +tablespoonful of pure strained honey. Stir until cold. The same +precaution must be observed as in preparing No. 1. + + + DIRECTIONS. + +One half pint or less of these fluids may be taken at a dose, and at +least three pints should be taken during the day and the amount +gradually increased to two or three quarts. Commence with No. 1 and +use two weeks, then use No. 2 for the same length of time, after which +No. 3 is to be used for two weeks. Continue their use as long as +necessary, taking each for two weeks before changing. In all the +diseases mentioned above, the use of these fluids, in connection with +proper remedies, will insure a speedy restoration to health. + + + GUM ACACIA RESTORATIVE. + +Take two ounces of pure white gum arabic (procure the lump, the +powdered is very apt to be adulterated), pulverize it well, and +dissolve by the aid of a gentle heat in a gill of water, stirring +constantly. When it is entirely dissolved, add three tablespoonfuls of +pure strained honey. Let it remain over the fire until it becomes of +the consistency of a jelly. The heat must be very gentle, it must not +boil. If desirable, flavor with lemon or vanilla. This will be found a +very pleasant article of diet for a weak stomach. When the articles +used are pure it will be transparent and of a light golden color. This +will be borne by the weakest stomach when everything else is rejected. +_It is highly nutritious._ + + + MALT INFUSION. + +Infuse one pint of ground malt for two hours in three pints of +scalding water. The water should not be brought quite to the boiling +point. Strain; add sugar, if desired; flavor with lemon juice. This is +an excellent drink in inflammatory fevers, acute rheumatism, etc. + + + PEAS. + +Take young and fresh shelled green peas, wash them clean, put them +into fresh water, just enough to cover them, and boil them till they +take up nearly all the water. This dish, if prepared according to +directions, and eaten warm, will not harm any invalid, not even one +suffering from diarrhoea. + + + MILK. + +In some cases where a milk diet is advisable, owing to the peculiar +condition of the patient's stomach it will cause distress. This is +frequently the case where there is undue acidity. In such cases, let +it be prepared in the following manner and it will be found to set +well: Take a teacupful of fresh milk, heat nearly to boiling; dissolve +in it a teaspoonful of loaf sugar; pour into a large sized tumbler, +and add sufficient plain soda water to fill it. Prepared in the above +directed manner it will be free from all unpleasant effects. + + + SOUPS FOR THE CONVALESCENT. + +To extract the strength from meat, long and slow boiling is necessary; +but care must be taken that the pot is never off the boil. All soups +should be made the day before they are used, and they should then be +strained into earthen pans. When soup has jellied in the pan, it +should not be removed into another. When in danger of not keeping, it +should be boiled up. + + + EGGS. + +In cases of extreme debility, eggs are most excellent. They should +never be boiled hard. The best way to prepare them is to beat them +well with milk and sugar. When it will be appropriate to the case, add +some fine pale sherry wine. + + + MILK FOR INFANTS. + +Fresh cow's milk, one part; water, two parts; sweeten with a very +little loaf sugar. When children are raised by hand it is always +necessary to dilute the milk. As the child advances in age the +proportion of water stated above may be gradually lessened. + + + WATER GRUEL. + +Corn or oat meal, two tablespoonfuls; water, one quart. Boil ten or +fifteen minutes, and strain. Add salt and sugar to suit the taste of +the patient. This should be used freely during and after the operation +of cathartic medicines. + + + + + CHAPTER XII. + + THINGS CURIOUS AND USEFUL. + + + TO GET CLEAR OF MOSQUITOES. + +Take of gum camphor a piece about one-third the size of an egg and +evaporate it over a lamp or candle, taking care that it does not +ignite. The smoke will soon fill the room and expel the mosquitoes. + + + HOW TO GET RID OF BEDBUGS. + +Bedbugs cannot stand hot alum water; indeed, alum seems to be death to +them in any form. Take two pounds of alum, reduce it to a powder--the +finer the better--and dissolve it in about four quarts of boiling +water. Keep the water hot till the alum is all dissolved; then apply +it hot to every joint, crevice and place about the bedstead, floor, +skirting or washboard around the room, and every place where the bugs +are likely to congregate, by means of a brush. A common syringe is an +excellent thing to use in applying it to the bedstead. Apply the water +as hot as you can. Apply it freely, and you will hardly be troubled +any more that season with bugs. Whitewash the ceiling with plenty of +dissolved alum in the wash, and there will be an end to their dropping +down from thence on to your bed. + + + TO OBTAIN FRESH-BLOWN FLOWERS IN WINTER. + +Choose some of the most perfect buds of the flowers you would +preserve, such as are latest in blowing and ready to open. Cut them +off with a pair off scissors, leaving to each, if possible, apiece of +stem about three inches long. Cover the end of the stem immediately +with sealing wax, and when the buds are a little shrunk and wrinkled +wrap up each of them separately in a piece of paper perfectly clean +and dry and lock them up in a dry box or drawer, and they will keep +without corrupting. + +In winter or at any time when you would have the flowers blow, take +the buds at night and cut off the end of the stem sealed with wax and +put the buds in water wherein a little nitre or salt has been +diffused, and the next day you will have the pleasure of seeing the +buds opening and expanding themselves and the flowers display their +most lively colors and breathe their agreeable odors. + + + TO INCREASE THE LAYING OF EGGS IN HENS. + +Pulverized Cayenne pepper, half an ounce, to be given to one dozen +hens, mixed with their food every second day. + + + THE NEW AND BEAUTIFUL ART OF TRANSFERRING ON TO GLASS. + +Colored or plain engravings, photographs, lithographs, water colors, +oil colors, crayons, steel plates, newspaper cuts, mezzotints, pencil, +writing, show cards, labels, or, in fact, anything. + + + DIRECTIONS. + +Take glass that is perfectly clear (window glass will answer), clean +it thoroughly; then varnish it, taking care to have it perfectly +smooth; place it where it will be perfectly free from dust; let it +stand over night, then take your engraving, lay it in clear water +until it is wet through (say ten or fifteen minutes), then lay it upon +a newspaper, that the moisture may dry from the surface and still keep +the other side damp. Immediately varnish your glass the second time, +then place your engraving upon it, pressing it down firmly, so as to +exclude every particle of air; next, rub the paper from the back until +it is of uniform thickness, so thin that you can see through it, then +varnish it the third time and let it dry. + +These transferred pictures make lovely ornaments for table, bracket, +mantel, etc. + + + MATERIALS FOR MAKING THE VARNISH. + +Take two ounces balsam of fir to one ounce spirits of turpentine. +Apply with a camel's-hair brush. + + + TO PREVENT HORSES BEING TEASED BY FLIES. + +Boil three handfuls of walnut leaves in three quarts of water; sponge +the horse (before going out of the stable) between and upon the ears, +neck, and flank. + + + TO PREVENT FLIES LIGHTING ON WINDOWS, + PICTURES, MIRRORS, ETC. + +No fly will light on a window or other article which has been washed +in water in which garlic has been boiled. + + + TO MAKE LEATHER WEAR FOREVER. + +Let it receive as much neat's-foot oil as it will take. If regularly +repeated every three months, leather so treated seems to be impervious +to outward action and will last for years. + + + TO RENDER PAPER FIREPROOF. + +Whether the paper be plain, written, printed, or even marbled, +stained, or painted for paper hangings, dip it in a strong solution of +alum water and thoroughly dry it. In this state it will be fireproof. + + + TO PREPARE WATERPROOF BOOTS. + +Take three ounces of spermaceti and melt it in an earthen pot over a +slow fire; add thereto six drains of India rubber cut into slices, and +after it dissolves add of tallow, eight ounces; amber varnish, four +ounces. Mix it, and it will be ready for use immediately. + + + TO CURE DRUNKENNESS. + +Keep the patient for one week freely dosed with figwort. This is a +sure cure. + + + TO CURE LAZINESS. + +Give the patient an occasional dose of ferri. The sulphate of ferri is +the best. It acts on the liver and vital organs, and is a sure cure +for laziness. + + + TO EXTRACT THE ESSENTIAL OIL FROM ANY FLOWER. + +Take any flower you like, which stratify with common salt in a clean +glazed pot; when filled to the top, cover it well and carry it to the +cellar; forty days afterwards put a crape over a pan and empty the +whole to strain the essence from the flowers by pressure. Bottle this +essence, and expose it for four or five weeks in the sun and dew of +the evening to purify. One single drop of this essence is enough to +scent a whole quart of water. + + + TO TAKE LEAF PHOTOGRAPHS. + +A very pretty amusement, especially for those who have just completed +the study of botany, is the taking of leaf photographs. One very +simple process is this: At any druggist's get an ounce of bichromate +of potassium. Put this into a pint bottle of water. When the solution +becomes saturated--that is, the water has dissolved as much as it +will--pour off some of the clear liquid into a shallow dish; on this +float a piece of ordinary writing paper till it is thoroughly +moistened, and let it dry in the dark. It should be of a bright yellow +color. On this put the leaf, under it a piece of black soft cloth and +several sheets of newspaper. Put these between two pieces of glass +(all the pieces should be of the same size) and with spring +clothespins fasten them together. Expose to a bright sun, placing the +leaf so that the rays will fall upon it as nearly perpendicular as +possible. In a few moments it will begin to turn brown; but it +requires from half an hour to several hours to produce a perfect +print. When it has become dark enough, take it from the frame and put +it into clear water, which must be changed every few minutes until the +yellow part becomes white. Sometimes the veinings will be quite +distinct. By following these directions it is scarcely possible to +fail, and a little practice will make perfect. + + + TO MAKE LAMP WICKS INDESTRUCTIBLE. + +Steep common wicks in a concentrated aqueous solution of tungstate of +soda, and then dry thoroughly in an oven. + + + TO MAKE DIFFERENT KINDS OF PERFUMES. + + BALM OF A THOUSAND FLOWERS. + +Deodorized alcohol, one pint; nice white bar soap, four ounces. Shave +the soap when put in; stand in a warm place till dissolved; then add +oil of citronella, one dram, and oils of neroli and rosemary, of each +one-half dram. + + + FRANGAPANNI. + +Spirits, one gallon; oil of bergamot, one ounce; oil of lemon, one +ounce: Macerate for four days, frequently shaking; then add water, one +gallon; orange flower water, one pint; essence of vanilla, two ounces. +Mix. + + + JOCKEY CLUB. + +Spirits of wine, five gallons; orange flower water, one gallon; balsam +of Peru, four ounces; essence of bergamot, eight ounces; essence of +musk, eight ounces; essence of cloves, four ounces; essence of neroli, +two ounces. Mix. + + + LADY'S OWN. + +Spirits of wine, one gallon; otto of roses, twenty drops; essence of +thyme, one-half ounce; essence of neroli, one-quarter ounce; essence +of vanilla, one-half ounce; essence of bergamot, one-quarter ounce; +orange flower water, six ounces. Mix. + + + UPPER TEN. + +Spirits of wine, four quarts; essence of cedrate, two drams; essence +violets, one-quarter ounce; essence of neroli, one-half ounce; otto of +roses, twenty drops; orange flower essence, one ounce; oil of +rosemary, thirty drops; oils of bergamot and neroli, each one-half +ounce. Mix. + +If you wish to make a small quantity of any of the above perfumes, use +small quantities of the ingredients, preserving the same proportions. + + + TO WRITE SECRET LETTERS. + +Put five cents' worth of citrate of potassa in an ounce vial of clear +cold water. This forms an invisible fluid. Let it dissolve, and you +can use on paper of any color. Use goose quill in writing. When you +wish the writing to become visible, hold it to a red-hot stove. + + + TO PRESERVE FLOWERS SO THAT THEIR + BEAUTY WILL LAST FOR YEARS. + +Make a strong solution of gum arabic, two ounces of the gum to one +pint of boiling water; shake until dissolved; then take your flowers +and immerse in the solution, taking care that every part is well wet +with the solution. When dry, repeat the operation. Do this three +times. Flowers treated thus will last for years. + + + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + HOME DECORATION. + + +The chief features to be observed in house furnishing are color, form, +and proportion. All stiffness of design in furniture should be +avoided. Do not attempt to match articles, but rather carry out the +same idea as to color and form in the whole. It is not _en règle_ to +have decorations in sets or pairs; the arrangements should all be done +with odd pieces. Every room in the house should be arranged for +occupancy, having nothing too good for use, and the judicious +housewife will follow a medium course and adopt no extreme of fashion. + +The style and arrangement of the furniture should correspond with the +size of the room, with a due regard to the place a piece of furniture +or ornament will occupy. The order of arrangement in furnishing is +subject to individual taste, but the following suggestions may not be +inappropriate:-- + +In decorating a dining-room, deep, rich tones should be used; a +drawingroom or parlor should have bright, cheerful shades; in a +library use deep, rich colors, which give a sense of worth; a +sleeping-room should have light, pleasing tints, which give a feeling +of repose. + + + THE HALL. + +The hall being the index to the whole house, due care should therefore +be given to its furnishing. Light colors and gilding should be +avoided. The wall and ceiling decorations now mostly used are in dark, +rich colors, shaded in maroons or deep reds. Plain tinted walls and +ceilings in fresco or wainscot are also frequently used. The latest +shades of wall paper come in wood colors, dark olive-greens, stone +color, and grays, in tile, arabesque and landscape designs, and with +these are used a corresponding dado and frieze. + +A tile or inlaid floor is the most appropriate, but if circumstances +do not admit of one of these, a floor stained a deep wood-brown, base +board and moldings to correspond, may be substituted; when India +mattings and rugs may be used. + +The colors now in vogue for hall carpets are crimson or Pompeiian +reds, with small figures of moss-green or peacock-blue. The prevailing +shades of the walls and floor should be incorporated in the stair +carpet. + +If the hall is narrow, none but the most essential pieces of furniture +should be used; but if wide enough, there may be a lounge placed +against one of the walls, an old-fashioned clock of the cuckoo style +set in a quiet corner, two high-backed chairs upholstered in leather, +a table, an umbrella-stand placed near the door, a jardinière filled +with tropical plants set near the foot of the stairway, and a hall +mirror with a deer's head and antlers placed above it and a wooden or +marble slab underneath. The slab should be covered with a Roman scarf, +allowing a fall of twelve inches at each end. The hatrack must also +find a place. Family portraits or a few well-selected pictures are +appropriate for these walls. + +If the door-lights are not stained glass, lace shades in designs of +birds, cupids, and garlands of flowers are used; also, etchings in +various colors and designs are worked on different fabrics. Crimson +silk shades lined with black netting are very desirable, as the light +penetrating through them fills the hall with a rich, subdued glow. + + + THE PARLOR. + +The furnishing of the parlor should be subject to its architectural +finish. The first things to be considered are the walls and floor. The +former may be decorated in fresco or papered, according to individual +taste and means. The prettiest styles of parlor paper are light tints +of gray, olive, pearl, and lavender grounds, and in small scroll +patterns, panels, birds, and vines, finished in heavy gold traceries, +with dado and frieze to correspond. + +The styles of carpet mostly used are Brussels, Wilton, tapestry, and +Axminster. A tapestry carpet in light canary ground, with clusters of +lotus, or begonia leaves, makes a charming background to almost all +the colors generally used in upholstery. + +In selecting the furniture, the first thought should be given to its +true worth. Chairs and couches should be chosen for comfort rather +than for style. They should be of solid make, easy, graceful, and of +good, serviceable colors and materials. The most serviceable woods to +select in frames are ebony, oak, walnut, cherry, and mahogany. These +frames are finished in different styles--plain, carved, inlaid, and +gilt--and are upholstered in all shades of satin, plush, rep, silk, +and damask. These come at prices within the means of a slender purse. +That slippery abomination in the shape of haircloth furniture should +be avoided. The latest design in parlor furniture is in the Turkish +style, the upholstery being made to cover the frame. Rich Oriental +colors in woolen and silk brocades are mostly used, and the trimmings +are cord and tassels or heavy fringe. + +Formerly the parlor appointments were all in sets or pairs, but this +fashion is no longer observed, as the most tastefully arranged parlor +has now no two pieces of furniture alike; but two easy-chairs placed +opposite each other are never out of place. Here may stand an +embroidered ottoman, there a quaint little chair, a divan can take +some central position; a cottage piano, covered with some embroidered +drapery, may stand at one end of the room, while an ebony or mahogany +cabinet, with its panel mirrors and quaint brasses, may be placed at +the other end, its racks and shelves affording an elegant display for +pretty pieces of bric-a-brac. + +Marble-topped center-tables are no longer in use. Tables in inlaid +woods, or hand-painted, are used for placing books or albums on. A +small, airy-looking table, elaborately mounted in gilt, may stand near +a window or wall. The mantel mirror, with its beveled edges and small +racks arranged on each side, looks very effective when decorated with +pretty oddities--ferns, grasses, and pieces of old china. A jardinière +filled with living plants and placed near a bay window makes an +elegant ornament. Care should be taken in arranging that the room be +not over-crowded. There should be a few good pictures or painted +plaques mounted in plush hung on the walls; a portrait may be placed +on a common easel and draped with a scarf in old gold or peacock-blue, +and tiny lambrequins, painted or embroidered, may hang beneath a +bracket supporting a bust or flower-vase. + +An embroidered scarf with fringed ends may be placed on the back of a +chair or sofa in place of the old lace tidy. A sack made of small +pieces of bright-colored plush or silk in crazy work may be flung +across the table, the ends drooping very low. The mantelpiece may be +covered with a corresponding sash, over which place a small clock as +centerpiece and arrange ornaments on each side--statuettes, bannerets, +flower-holders, small Japanese fans, pieces of odd china, painted +candles in small scenes, may all find a place on the mantel. + +Window curtains of heavy fabric, hung from brass or plush mounted +poles, may be gracefully draped to the sides, while the inner lace +ones should be hung straight and be fastened in the center with some +ornament or bow of ribbon corresponding in shade to the general tone +of the room. The straight shades next to the glass may correspond in +tone to the outside walls or window-facings; but this is a mere matter +of taste. White or light-tinted shades, finished in etching or narrow +lace, are always in vogue. + +The dado shades are the latest innovation in window decoration. These +come in all colors, from the lightest to the darkest shades, with dado +in tile, arabesque and fresco patterns, finished in lace, fringe, and +brasses. + +Portières (curtain doors) have superseded folding doors. These should +be in shades to contrast with the general blending of the colors in +the room. The fabrics mostly used are India goods, but they may be of +any material, from expensive tapestries, satins, and plushes, to +ten-cent factory cottons. The curtains, if made from striped tapestry +and Turcoman, will give the finishing artistic touches to almost any +room, but the last softening polish comes only from the genial +presence of trailing and climbing vines. + + + THE SITTING-ROOM. + +The sitting or everyday room should be the brightest and most +attractive room in the house. Its beauty of decoration should not be +so much in the richness and variety of material as in its comfort, +simplicity, and the harmony of its tints--the main features being the +fitness of each article to the needs of the room. In these days of so +many advantages much can be done in adornment by simple means. + +The wall papers mostly used come in grounds of cream, amber, rose, +pale olive, fawn, ceil blue and light gray, with designs and traceries +of contrasting hues. + +The carpet, if in tapestry, looks more effective if in grounds of pale +canary or light gray, with designs in bright-colored woodland flowers +and borders to match. The new ingrain carpets, with their pretty +designs and bright colors, are very fashionable for rooms that are +much used. + +Whatever may be the prevailing tint of the carpet, the window curtains +should follow it up in lighter tones or contrast with it. The curtains +may correspond with the coverings of the chairs, sofa, mantel and +table draperies in color and fabric. If the furniture is of wicker, +bamboo or rattan, the curtains should be of Japanese or any kind of +Oriental goods. Curtains of muslin (either white or tinted), +gay-colored chintzes, lace or dotted Swiss muslin, looped back with +bright-toned ribbons, look very pretty and are appropriate for the +sitting-room at almost any season. That clumsy structure called the +cornice, for putting up curtains on, has happily given place to the +more light and graceful curtain pole. + +One large table, covered with a pretty embroidered cloth, should be +placed in some central location for a catch-all. A low divan, with a +pair of square, soft pillows, may stand in some quiet nook; a rocker, +handsomely upholstered, with a pretty tidy pinned to its back; a +large, soft easy-chair; a small sewing-chair placed near a table; and +a bamboo chair, trimmed with ribbons, will be tastefully arranged in +the room. Window stands and gypsy tables may be draped with some rich +fabric, the surrounding valance being caught up in small festoons and +fastened with bows or tassels, finished around the edge of the table +with cord or quilted ribbon. + +If the furniture is old or in sets it can be covered with different +patterns in cretonne or chintz, which not only protects the furniture +but breaks up the monotony and lends a pleasing variety to the room. A +Turkish chair is a grand accessory to the family room. This may be +made by buying the frame and having it upholstered in white cotton +cloth and covering it with a rich shade of cretonne, finishing it with +cord and fringe. + +A foot-rest frame can be made in the same way and covered with a piece +of homemade embroidery, finishing it off with a cord or narrow gimp +around the edge. Homemade easels, screens, and pedestals may be made +out of black walnut, and when stained and draped look exceedingly +pretty. An old second-hand cabinet may be bought at a trifle, and when +polished up may be set in a corner on which to display some pieces of +bric-a-brac. + +If the house has no library, the sitting-room is just the place for +the bookcase. + +With house plants in the windows, a room of this character, with +floods of sunshine, makes a most attractive and comfortable +living-room. + + + THE LIBRARY. + +The walls of the library should be hung with rich, dark colors, the +latest style in wall paper being a black ground with old gold and +olive-green designs. + +The carpet comes in Pompeiian red, with moss-green and peacock-blue +patterns. Statuary and the best pictures should find a place in the +library. The library table should be massive and the top laid with +crimson baize. There should be a few high-backed chairs, upholstered +in leather, a reading-chair, soft rugs, foot-rests, a mantel mirror, a +few mantel ornaments, and the _piece de resistance_--the bookcase. In +large libraries the bookcases are built in the wall. It is quite in +vogue to hang curtains on rods in front of bookcases instead of doors, +but we think the old style is the best, inasmuch as the books may be +seen and the glass doors exclude the dust. + +Heavy curtains of raw silk, Turcoman, and canton flannel, with a full +valance at the top, are used for the window drapery. + + + CHAMBERS. + +The walls of bedrooms should be decorated in light tints and shadings, +with a narrow rail and deep frieze. Most housekeepers prefer rugs and +oiled floors to carpets, but this is a matter of individual taste. +Rugs are as fashionable as they are wholesome and tidy. These +floor-coverings should be darker than the furniture, yet blending in +shade. If carpets are chosen they should be the lightest shades and in +bright field-flower patterns. Avoid anything dark and somber for the +sleeping-room. Pink and ceil blue combined are very pretty, scarlet +and gray, deep red and very light blue. Dark blue with sprays of lily +of the valley running through it is exceedingly pretty for bedrooms. +Dark furniture will harmonize with all these colors, but the lighter +shades are preferable. Cretonnes in pale tints and chintzes in +harmonizing colors are used for light woods. Square pillows of +cretonne on a bamboo or wicker lounge are very pretty. Canton matting +is often used, either plain or in colored patterns. + +Formerly the bed-coverings were spotlessly white, but the profluent +tide of color has included these also. The coverings now in vogue are: +Nottingham lace, darned net, applique, antique lace, and Swiss muslin. +These are used over silk and silesia for backgrounds, and are +exceedingly pretty, with pillow shams to match. Cretonnes, chintzes, +dimities, and silk in crazy work and South Kensington patterns are +also used. + +Cheese cloth, bunting, Swiss muslin, cretonne, and Swiss curtains are +used for window drapery. These may be trimmed with the same fabric or +antique lace. They are hung on poles above the windows and draped back +with ribbons. + +The appointments of a bedroom are a low couch, a large rocker, a small +sewing-chair, a workbasket, footstools, a toilet table prettily draped +with muslin, or a dressing-case, brackets for vases, flowerpots, a few +pictures, small table, hanging shelves for books, etc., and the bed. + +The washstand should have a full set of toilet mats, or a large towel +with a colored border may be laid on it; also, a splasher placed on +the wall at the back of the stand is very essential. A screen is a +very desirable part of the bedroom appointments. A rug should be +placed in front of the bed and dressing-case. + + + THE DINING-ROOM. + +The dining-room should be furnished with a view to convenience, +richness, and comfort. Choose deep, rich grounds for the +walls--bronze-maroon, black, Pompeiian red, and deep olive--and the +designs and traceries in old gold, olive or moss-green, with dado and +frieze to correspond. Or, the walls may be wainscoted with oak, +walnut, maple, etc. Some are finished in plain panels, with different +kinds of wood; others, again, are elaborately carved, with fruit, +flowers, and emblems of the chase. + +The floor is the next point for consideration. It may be of tile or +laid in alternate strips of different colored woods, with a border of +parquetry. Rugs or carpets may be used on these floors or dispensed +with, according to taste. If a carpet is used, the dark, rich shades +found in the Persian and Turkish designs should be chosen. + +The window drapery should be those deep, rich colors that hold their +own despite time and use--the pomegranates, rich crimsons, dark blues, +dull Pompeiian reds, and soft olives. These curtains may be hung on +poles, and should fall in heavy folds to the floor, then looped back +with a wide embroidered dado. + +Screens of stained glass are now used in the windows. They are both +useful and ornamental, for they exclude the strong rays of the sun, +and the light filtering through them beautifies the room with its many +mellow hues. + +Dark wood should be used for the furniture. The chairs should be +chosen in square, solid styles, and upholstered in embossed or plain +leather, with an abundance of brass or silver headed nails which are +used for upholstering leather and add much to the substantial +appearance of the articles. + +The dining-table should be low, square or bevel cornered, heavily +carved, and when not in use should be covered with a cloth +corresponding in shade to the window drapery. + +A buffet may stand in one corner for the display of ceramics or +decorated china. The sideboard should be of high, massive style, with +shelves and racks for glassware and pieces of china. + +A few pictures--two or three fruit pieces and one or two plaques of +still life--are appropriate. + +A case of stuffed birds, a few large pots of tropical plants, and a +fernery are in keeping with the dining-room appointments. A three-leaf +folding Japanese screen should not be forgotten; also, a lamp shade of +antique lace, lined with crimson silk, is very desirable. + + + THE KITCHEN. + +It is a remark too often made that this or that "is good enough for a +servant." If all knew that unpleasant surroundings made unpleasant +servants and ill-prepared meals, we think more pains would be taken to +have pleasant and comfortable kitchens. There should be a pleasant +window or two through which fresh air and floods of sunlight may come, +a few plants on the window sill, a small stand for a workbasket, an +easy-chair that the servant may "drop into" when an opportunity +offers, the walls painted or calcimined with some cheerful tint, and a +general air of comfort pervading the whole kitchen.--_The Popular Art +Instructor._ + + + + + CHAPTER XIV. + + FLORAL. + + + HOW TO CARE FOR HOUSE PLANTS. + +Plants that require a high or low temperature or a very moist +atmosphere and plants that bloom only in summer are undesirable. +Procure fresh sandy loam, with an equal mixture of well-rotted turf, +leaf mold, and cow-yard manure, with a small quantity of soot. In +repotting plants use one size larger than they were grown in. +Hard-burned or glazed pots prevent the circulation of air. Secure +drainage by broken crockery and pebbles laid in the bottom of the pot. +An abundance of light is important, and when this cannot be given it +is useless to attempt the culture of flowering plants. If possible +they should have the morning sun, as one hour of sunshine then is +worth two in the afternoon. Fresh air is also essential, but cold, +chilling drafts should be avoided. Water from one to three times a +week with soft, lukewarm water, draining off all not absorbed by the +earth. + + + DO NOT PERMIT + +water to stand in the saucers, as the only plant thriving under such +treatment is the calla lily; and even for these it is not necessary, +unless while blooming. Dust is a great obstacle to the growth of +plants. A good showering will generally remove it, but all the +smooth-faced plants (such as camellias, ivies, etc.) should be +carefully sponged so as to keep the foliage clean and healthy. + + + PLANTS SUCCEED BEST + +in an even temperature, ranging from sixty to seventy degrees during +the day and from ten to twelve degrees lower at night. If troubled +with insects, put them under a box or barrel and smoke from thirty to +sixty minutes with tobacco leaves. + + + FOR THE RED SPIDER + +the best remedy is to lay the plants on the side and sprinkle well or +shower. Repeat if necessary. If manures are used, give in a liquid +form. + +Some of the plants most suitable for parlor culture are: Pelargoniums, +geraniums, fuchsias, palms, begonias, monthly roses, camellias, +azaleas, oranges, lemons, Chinese and English primroses, abutilons, +narcissus, heliotrope, petunias, and the gorgeous flowering plant, +_Poinsettia pulcherrima_. Camellias and azaleas require a cooler +temperature than most plants, and the Poinsettia a higher temperature. +Do not sprinkle the foliage of the camellia while the flower buds are +swelling or it will cause them to droop, nor sprinkle them in the +sunshine. They should have a temperature of about forty degrees and +more shade. By following these rules, healthy flowering plants will be +the result. + +A good way + + + TO START SLIPS + +is to partly break off the slip (but do not entirely sever it from the +parent stock), leaving it hanging for ten or twelve days; then remove +and plant in a box of half sand and half leaf mold and it will be well +rooted in a week. Do not water too freely or the slip will rot. + +If house plants are watered once a week with water in which is mixed a +few drops of ammonia they will thrive much better. Sometimes small +white worms are found in the earth--lime water will kill them. Stir up +the soil before pouring it on, to expose as many as possible. For +running vines, burn beef bones and mix with the earth. + + + TO KEEP PLANTS WITHOUT A FIRE AT NIGHT. + +Have made, of wood or zinc, a tray about four inches deep with a +handle on either end, water-tight. Paint it outside and in, put in +each corner a post as high as the tallest of your plants, and it is +ready for use. Arrange your flowerpots in it and fill between them +with sawdust. This absorbs the moisture falling from the plants when +you water them and retains the warmth acquired during the day, keeping +the temperature of the roots even. When you retire at night spread +over the posts a blanket or shawl, and there is no danger of freezing. + + + SURE SHOT FOR ROSE-SLUGS. + +Make a tea of tobacco stems and a soapsuds of whale oil or carbolic +soap; mix and apply to the bush with a sprinkler, turning the bush so +as to wet the under as well as the upper part of the leaves. Apply, +before the sun is up, three or four times. + + + TO PREPARE AUTUMN LEAVES AND FERNS. + +Immediately after gathering take a moderately warm iron, smear it well +with white wax, rub over each surface of the leaf once, applying more +wax for each leaf. This process causes leaves to roll about as when +hanging on the trees. If pressed more they become brittle and remain +perfectly flat. Maple and oak are among the most desirable, and may be +gathered any time after the severe frosts; but the sumac and ivy must +be secured as soon after the first slight frost as they become tinted +or the leaflets will fall from the stem. Ferns may be selected any +time during the season. A large book must be used in gathering them, +as they will be spoiled for pressing if carried in the hand. A weight +should be placed on them until they are perfectly dry; then, excepting +the most delicate ones, it will be well to press them like the leaves, +as they are liable to curl when placed in a warm atmosphere. These +will form beautiful combinations with the sumac and ivy. + + + TO PREPARE SKELETON LEAVES. + +When properly prepared, skeleton leaves form a companion to the +scrapbook or collection of pressed ferns, fronds, etc. This is a +tedious operation and requires skill and great patience to obtain +satisfactory results. Some leaves are easier to dissect and make +better specimens than others, and, as a rule, a hard, thin leaf should +be chosen; that is, when a special variety is not required. + +Among those which are skeletonized most successfully are the English +ivy, box elder, willow, grape, pear, rose, etc. They should be +gathered during the month of June, or as soon as the leaf is fully +developed. The leaves should be immersed in a vessel of rain water and +allowed to remain till decomposed. When this takes place, press the +leaf between pieces of soft flannel, and the film will adhere to the +flannel, leaving a perfect network. Dry off gradually and clean the +specimen with a soft hair pencil. Place between folds of soft blotting +paper, and when perfectly dry place in your collection. + + + TO BLEACH THE LEAVES, + +dissolve one half pound of chloride of lime in three pints of rain +water, strain, and use one part of the solution to one of water. For +ferns, use the solution full strength. When perfectly white remove to +clear water, let stand for several hours, changing water two or three +times, float out on paper, and press between blotting paper in books. + +In mounting use mucilage made of five parts gum arabic, three parts +white sugar, two parts starch, and very little water; boil and stir +till thick and white. + + + HANGING BASKETS. + +A correspondent of the _Gardener's Monthly_ tells of a new style of +hanging basket made of round maple sticks about one inch in diameter, +eight inches in length at the bottom, increasing to fourteen at the +top. In constructing, begin at the bottom and build up, log-cabin +fashion; chink the openings with green moss and line the whole basket +with the same. These are easily kept moist, and the plants droop and +twine over them very gracefully. A good way to keep the earth moist in +a hanging basket without the trouble of taking it down is to fill a +bottle with water and put in two pieces of yarn, leaving one end +outside. Suspend the bottle just above the basket and allow the water +to drip. This will keep the earth moist enough for winter and save a +great deal of time and labor. Plant morning glory seeds in hanging +baskets in winter; they grow rapidly and are very pretty.--_Buckeye._ + + + + + CHAPTER XV. + + THE LAUNDRY. + + TELLING OF A GREAT MANY USEFUL AND LABOR-SAVING + PRACTICES FOR THE LAUNDRY. + + + TO MAKE WASHING FLUID. + +Bring to a boil one pound of sal soda, half a pound of unslaked lime, +a small lump of borax, and five quarts of water. Let cool, pour off, +and bottle. Use one teacupful to a boiler of clothes. This is +superior. + + + GALL SOAP. + +For washing woolens, silks, or fine prints liable to fade. One pint +beefs gall, two pounds common bar soap cut fine, one quart boiling +soft water; boil slowly, stirring occasionally until well mixed. Pour +into a flat vessel, and when cold cut into pieces to dry. + + + TO TAKE OUT SCORCH. + +If a shirt bosom or any other article has been scorched in ironing, +lay it where bright sunshine will fall directly on it. It will +entirely remove it. + + + BLUING. + +Take one ounce of Prussian blue, one-half ounce of oxalic acid; +dissolve in one quart of perfectly soft rain water. Insert a quill +through the cork of the bluing bottle to prevent waste or putting too +much in clothes and you will be pleased with the result. One or two +tablespoons of it is sufficient for a tub of water, according to the +size of the tub. Chinese blue is the best and costs twelve and a half +cents an ounce, and the acid will cost three cents. + + + COFFEE STARCH. + +Make a paste of two tablespoons best starch and cold water; when +smooth stir in a pint of perfectly clear coffee, boiling hot; boil +five or ten minutes. Stir with a spermaceti or wax candle. Strain and +use for all dark calicoes, percales, and muslins. + + + FLOUR STARCH. + +Have a clean pan or kettle on stove with one quart boiling water, into +which stir three heaping tablespoons flour, previously mixed smooth in +a little cold water; stir steadily until it boils and thereafter +enough to keep from burning. Boil about five minutes, and strain, +while hot, through a crash towel. The above quantity is enough for one +dress, and will make it nice and stiff. + + + TO MAKE FINE STARCH. + +Wet the starch smooth in a little cold water in a large tin pan, pour +on a quart of boiling water to two or three tablespoons of starch, +stirring rapidly all the while; place on stove, stir until it boils +and then occasionally. Boil from five to fifteen minutes, or until the +starch is perfectly clear. Some add a little salt or butter or pure +lard or stir with a sperm candle; others add a teaspoon of kerosene to +one quart of starch. This prevents the stickiness sometimes so +annoying in ironing. + +Cold starch is made from starch dissolved in cold water, being careful +not to have it too thick. Since it rots the clothes, it is not +advisable to use it. + + + ENAMEL FOR SHIRT BOSOMS. + +Melt together, with a gentle heat, one ounce white wax and two ounces +spermaceti. Prepare in the usual way a sufficient quantity of starch +for a dozen shirt bosoms, put into it a piece of this enamel the size +of a hazelnut. This will give your clothes a beautiful polish. + + + TO CLEAN ARTICLES MADE OF WHITE ZEPHYR. + +Rub in flour or magnesia, changing often. Shake off and hang in the +open air a short time. + + + HOW TO CLEAN VELVET. + +Invert a hot flatiron, place over it a single thickness of wet cotton +cloth, lay on this the velvet (wrong side next the wet cloth), rub +gently with a dry cloth until the pile is well raised, take off the +iron, lay on a table, and brush it with a soft brush or cloth. + + + TO CLEAN RIBBONS. + +Dissolve white soap in boiling water; when cool enough to bear the +hand, pass the ribbons through it, rubbing gently, so as not to injure +the texture; rinse through lukewarm water and pin on a board to dry. +If the colors are bright yellow, maroon, crimson or scarlet, add a few +drops of oil of vitriol to the rinse water; if the color is bright +scarlet, add to the rinse water a few drops of muriate of tin. + + + TO TAKE OUT PAINT. + +Equal parts of ammonia and spirits of turpentine will take paint out +of clothing. Saturate the spot two or three times, and then wash out +in soapsuds. + + + TO REMOVE INK STAIN. + +Immediately saturate with milk, soak it up with a rag, apply more, rub +well, and in a few minutes the ink will disappear. + + + TO TAKE GREASE OUT + +of silk, woolens, paper, floors, etc., grate chalk thick over the +spot, cover with brown paper, set on it a hot flatiron and let it +remain until cool; repeat if necessary. The iron must not be so hot as +to burn paper or cloth. + + + FRUIT STAINS. + +Colored cottons or woolens stained with wine or fruit should be wet in +alcohol and ammonia, then sponged off gently (not rubbed) with +alcohol; after that, if the material will warrant it, washed in tepid +soapsuds. Silk may be wet with this preparation when injured by these +stains. + + + TO REMOVE IRON RUST. + +While rinsing clothes, take such as have spots of iron, wring out, dip +a wet finger in oxalic acid and rub on the spot, then dip in salt and +rub on and hold on a warm flatiron, and the spot will immediately +disappear; rinse again, rubbing the place a little with the hands. + + + TO TAKE OUT MILDEW. + +Wet the cloth and rub on soap and chalk, mixed together, and lay in +the sun; or, lay the cloth in buttermilk for a short time, take out +and place in the hot sun; or, put lemon juice on and treat in the same +way. + + + TO WASH WOOLEN GOODS. + +Many woolen goods, such as light-colored, heavy sacques, nubias, etc., +may be washed in cold suds and rinsed in cold water. The garments +should be well shaken out and pulled into shape. + + + TO WASH FLANNELS IN TEPID WATER. + +The usefulness of liquid ammonia is not as universally known among +housewives as it deserves to be. If you add some of it to a soapsuds +made of a mild soap it will prevent the flannel from becoming yellow +or shrinking. It is the potash and soda combined in sharp soap which +tend to color animal fibers yellow; the shrinking may be partially due +to this agency, but above all to the exposure of the flannel while wet +to the extremes of low and high temperature. Dipping it in boiling +water or leaving it out in the rain will also cause it to shrink and +become hard. To preserve their softness, flannels should be washed in +tepid suds, rinsed in tepid water, and dried rapidly at a moderate +heat.--_Buckeye._ + + + + + CHAPTER XVI. + + HOW TO DO YOUR OWN STAMPING AND MAKE YOUR OWN PATTERNS. + + +In the following chapter are given full instructions for dry and wet +stamping, explaining how to make stamping powder, how to mix white +paint for stamping dark goods and black paint for stamping light +goods. + +The articles necessary are a sheet of writing paper and a piece of +transfer paper. The transfer paper can be made by rubbing white paper +with a composition consisting of two ounces of tallow, one-half ounce +powdered blacklead, one-quarter pint linseed oil, and sufficient +lampblack to make it of the consistency of cream. These should be +melted together and rubbed on the paper while hot. When dry it will be +fit for use. + +In order to make a perforated pattern of any engraving, procure a +piece of writing paper larger than the design to be traced and put a +piece of transfer paper on the writing paper, then place both sheets +directly under the engraving and pin the three sheets together at one +end, having the transfer paper between and dark side facing the +writing paper. You then take a quill with a fine point (a knitting +needle will do nicely) and without leaning too hard go over all the +outline of the engraving. You must be careful not to press your +fingers on the engraving, as this would cause a deposit of powder the +same color as the transferring paper on the writing paper. Now remove +the transfer paper and you have the design accurately traced and the +pattern is ready to be perforated. Lay a couple of folds of velvet or +felt on the table, place the pattern on this, and with a needle of +medium size or tracing-wheel prick out the pattern, being careful to +follow the outline closely and make the perforations quite close. + + + MECHANICAL ENLARGEMENT OF DESIGNS. + +The simplest way is to enlarge by the eye, as the artists do. One +method is to divide the whole design into squares and rule off the +paper to be enlarged in corresponding squares of larger size. Each +portion within the square is then exactly reproduced, copying the +portion in the smaller square. For embroidery designs especially we +should think this would be very good. + + + DRY STAMPING. + +This is done by a process known as pouncing. The process is as +follows: Place the pattern (rough side up) on the material to be +stamped, placing heavy weights on the corner to keep it from slipping; +then rub the powder over the perforations with the pouncet or +distributor described below till the pattern is clearly marked on the +material. This can be ascertained by lifting one corner of the pattern +slightly. Then remove the pattern carefully, lay a piece of thin paper +over the stamping and pass a hot iron over it. This melts the gum in +the powder and fastens the pattern to the material. The iron should be +as hot as possible without scorching the cloth. Should the heat change +the color of the material, iron it all over. Do not do any stamping by +this process on a hot or damp day if it can be avoided. Keep the +powder in a cool, dry place. In stamping with light-colored powder, +the best way to fasten it is to hold the back of the cloth against the +stovepipe or the face of the iron. French stamping is better, however, +for all dark materials. To take the powder up on the distributor, have +a tin plate with a piece of woolen cloth glued on the bottom, sprinkle +a little powder on the cloth, and rub the distributor over it, taking +care to shake off all the powder you can--enough will remain to stamp +the pattern clearly. + + + TO MAKE A DISTRIBUTOR. + +Take a strip of fine felt almost an inch wide (a strip from an old +felt hat is as good as anything), roll it up tightly into a roll, +leaving the end flat, and rub the end over a piece of sand paper to +make it smooth and even. + + + TO MAKE BLUE POWDER. + +Take equal parts of gum damar and white rosin and just enough Persian +blue to color it. Mix well together. + +Other colors are made the same, using for coloring chrome yellow (for +light-colored powder), burnt sienna, lampblack, etc. Black powder is +improved by adding a little blue to it. + + + TO MAKE WHITE POWDER. + +Take one ounce white lead; half ounce gum arabic, in the impalpable +powder; half ounce white rosin, in the fine powder. All well mixed. + + + SUPERIOR DARK BLUE POWDER. + +One ounce white rosin; one half ounce gum sandarac; one half ounce +Prussian blue, in fine powder. Mix all thoroughly. + + + FRENCH INDELIBLE STAMPING. + +This is the best process for all dark materials; in fact, this and the +blue powder are all that will ever be needed. By this process a kind +of paint is used instead of powder, and a brush instead of a pouncet. +Place the pattern on the cloth, smooth side up if you can (though +either side will work well), weight the pattern down as in stamping. +Rub the paint evenly over the perforations, and it will leave the +lines clean, sharp and distinct. After the stamping is done, the +pattern must be cleaned immediately. This is done by placing the +pattern on the table and turning benzine or naphtha over it to cut the +paint and then wiping the pattern dry on both sides with an old cloth, +or, better still, with common waste--such as machinists use to clean +machinery; this is cheap and absorbs the paint and naphtha quickly. +Hold the pattern up to the light to see if the holes are all clear; if +they are not, wash it the second time. Do not use the pattern for +powder immediately after it has been washed; let it dry a short time, +otherwise the moistened gum will clog the perforations. + + + TO MAKE THE PAINT. + +Take zinc white, mix it with boiled oil to about the thickness of +cream, add a little drying, such as painters use. Keep in a tin pail +(one holding about a pint is a good size); have a piece of board cut +round, with a screw in the center for a handle, to fit _loosely_ into +the pail; drop this on the paint and it will keep it from drying up. +Add a little oil occasionally to keep the paint from growing too +thick, and it will always be ready for use. + + + THE BRUSH. + +Take a fine stencil brush (or any brush with a square end), wind it +tightly with a string from the handle down to within one half inch of +the end; this will make it just stiff enough to distribute the paint +well. Keep the brush in water, to keep it from drying up, taking care +to wipe off the water before using. + + + THE CARE OF PATTERNS. + +New patterns, before being used, should be rubbed over on the rough +side with a smooth piece of pumice stone; this wears off the burr and +makes the stamping come out cleaner and finer. When patterns are so +large that they have to be folded, iron out the creases before using +them. After using the patterns for powder stamping, snap the pattern +to shake the powder from the perforations. After using the patterns +for paint stamping they should be washed thoroughly with naphtha until +the perforations are all perfectly clear. Keep the naphtha away from +the fire. After the pattern has been washed, do not use it for powder +until it has had time to thoroughly dry, otherwise it will gum up the +holes and spoil the pattern. + +If these directions are carefully followed the stamping will always be +satisfactory.--_Popular Art Instructor._ + + + + + CHAPTER XVII. + + BRONZE WORK. + + +Bronzing is the latest improvement in waxwork, and if properly made +cannot be detected from the most expensive artistic bronze. It answers +for table, mantel, and bracket ornaments, and may be exposed to dust +and air without sustaining the slightest injury. It can be dusted with +a feather duster like any piece of furniture, and is a very desirable +and inexpensive ornament. + +The colors required in bronze are: Silver bronze, gold bronze, copper +bronze, fire bronze, and green bronze. + + + THE ART OF MAKING A VASE IN BRONZE. + +For instruction, let us take a vase to be finished in copper bronze. +First the vase must be molded. The casting material is one part wax, +one part spermaceti, two parts mutton tallow. Melt the three articles +together and color with burnt umber. Have a coil of fine hair wire, +cut into one-half inch lengths, and when the mixture is melted to the +consistency of thick cream stir in the cut wire by degrees until there +is a sprinkling of it throughout the mixture; then pour into the +elastic mold and let stand till perfectly cold and solid; then loosen +the sections of the mold and take it out. Should any of the ends of +the wire project, they can be cut with a pair of sharp scissors. Trim +the seams caused by the sections of the mold; then take a piece of +soft flannel cloth, dip it in the refined spirits of turpentine and +polish the vase with it, after which it is ready for bronzing. + +Take copper bronze No. 4000, and with the tinting brush bronze the +vase evenly, and polish it with a soft piece of white silk. Now take +another brush and with copper bronze No. 6000 give it the last coat +The vase is now ready for draping. The most simple drapery is an ivy +vine. Take an embossed ivy leaf (or embossed muslin leaves, as they +are named), lay a fine wire along its midrib, leaving two or three +inches of wire for stem; cover the leaf with brown sheet wax, press +them together well with the finger and thumb to make the wax adhere to +the leaf, get the impression, and hold the wire firmly; then lay +another piece of wax on the under side, press the edges together and +cut away the superfluous wax, leaving the edge plain (the ivy leaf is +not serrated), cover the wire stem with wax and the leaf is ready for +bronzing. Rub both sides with turpentine, give one coat of bronze No. +4000, then the last coat of bronze No. 6000. When all the leaves are +finished, weave them into a spray, grading them from large to small +till the end of the vine is reached, then bronze and drape around the +vase in an easy, natural way. + +The natural fall leaves, pressed, make pretty draperies for these +kinds of vases. Sprays of mixed leaves, oak leaves and acorns, small +maple leaves, the holly leaf and berry, mixed ivy and fern leaves, and +many other kinds of leaves and vines are equally pretty. + + + THE ART OF MAKING A MOTTO IN BRONZE. + +Take a box frame of the ordinary motto-frame size (gilt face) and line +it with either crimson or royal purple velvet, and it is ready for any +design. The word "Welcome" is the simplest to begin with. Take a thick +blotting pad, lay it on a table, rub some arrowroot or rice power over +its upper surface, and lay a sheet of either calla or pond lily wax, +_extra thick_, on this powdered surface. Select the style of letter +preferred; German text is very appropriate for the motto "Welcome." +Cut the pattern letters out in pasteboard, or any kind of thick paper, +if tin letter-cutters are not convenient. + +Begin with the letter W. Lay it on the sheet of wax and cut out the +waxen letter after the pattern with a penknife previously dipped in +water. Next cut the E, and so on till the seven letters are cut out, +care being taken to powder the blotter every time a new sheet of wax +is laid on. Lay the back of the box on the table, having melted glue +ready, and with a camel's-hair brush apply a small portion of it to +the back of each letter as it is set in its relative position, +pressing it gently against the velvet with the palm of the hand. The +letters should be set an inch apart, and when all on the frame should +be set away until the glue is thoroughly dry and the waxen letters +adhere firmly to the velvet, then they are ready for ornamenting. This +is done in various ways, and all depends on the artist's taste, but a +few suggestions may not be amiss. + +Take a two-inch fern-cutter and cut the ferns out of double sheet wax; +then bronze them as directed on both sides, either with gold or silver +bronze. Begin with draping the letter W. Take the stem end of the fern +leaf and with the bead end of the curling-pin fasten it to the lower +side of the letter; then turn it over and fasten it down in the +middle, letting the point turn outward. Set the ferns on the letters +in such a way as not to obscure their form, _i. e._, the form of the +letters. If the motto is made in white wax it should be frosted with +diamond dust. + +A pretty style of motto is clasped hands in the center, of pure white +wax, surrounded with sprays of fine flowers and buds, finished in fire +bronze. + +Another style of motto is a vase in the center, from which vines in +different colors of bronze run. Green, fire, and copper bronzing +should have a light background; silver and gold bronzing should have a +dark background. + + + THE ART OF MAKING A FLORAL BASKET IN BRONZE. + +Take a medium-sized basket (chip or any solid substance), brush it +with glue on the inside, fill it with moss, and set it away to dry +till the moss is stuck to the basket. The moss should be raised in the +center in the form of a mound. Have the wax sheeted in carmine. Make +the center of the basket in roses, rosebuds, and carnations, as they +are the most durable. Mold the petals over the embossed muslin petals +and bronze them with fire bronze--Nos. 4000 and 6000--as previously +directed. Drape the basket and the handle in smilax, having the wax +for the smilax sheeted in chrome green; then mold over the embossed +muslin leaves, bronze in green bronze, and drape loosely. Such a +basket makes a pretty table ornament. + + + DIRECTIONS FOR BRONZING. + +All kinds of ornaments may be made in bronze--small animals, fish, +shells, birds, statuary, etc. The mixture for casts should be the same +shade as the bronze used. + +Fish may be bronzed in silver, gold, and copper bronze; shells in +silver, copper, gold, and some may be tinted with fire bronze on the +exterior of the shell, but the interior of almost all shells must be +tinted with paint; dogs in zinc, silver, and copper; birds in almost +any shade. + + + GREEN BRONZE STATUARY. + +Prepare the mixture in chrome green No. 1. A little rosin may be added +and a thick sprinkling of cut wire. Trim the object and rub with +spirits of turpentine, then apply the green bronze--the two numbers, +as directed. + + + COPPER BRONZE STATUARY. + +Prepare the mixture in burnt umber and proceed as directed. + + + BRONZING STATUETTES. + +Statuettes, or any object in plaster of Paris, may be made to resemble +bronze by first rendering the plaster nonabsorbent with drying linseed +oil and then painting it with a varnish made by grinding waste gold +leaf with honey or gum water. + +Another method is by first painting the article, after it has been +rendered nonabsorbent, of a dark color made of Prussian blue, yellow +ochre, and verditer, ground in oil. Before this becomes quite dry, +bronze powder of several colors should be dusted on those most +prominent parts which may be supposed to have worn bright. Plaster +casts may also be made to resemble bronze to a certain extent by +merely brushing them over with graphite, which is a brilliant +blacklead. + + + METHOD OF MAKING EMBOSSED MUSLIN LEAVES. + +Take a piece of green muslin or calico and size it well with +isinglass, then take the natural leaf, lay the sized piece of muslin +over it on the under or veined side of the leaf, let the muslin remain +on it till almost dry and the impression is set; then with a pair of +sharp scissors cut the muslin around the leaf, either plain or +serrated. + +The impression may be taken of any leaf or flower in this way. The use +of muslin leaves tends to make the work more durable and is found very +convenient for the artist. + + + THE ART OF MAKING EXOTIC LEAVES. + +The begonia rex makes a beautiful parlor plant. Five or seven leaves +make a nice-sized plant: Select five or seven healthy begonia leaves +of different sizes, as no two leaves of the rex are of one size on the +same plant. Cut the leaves closely off the stem and immerse them in a +solution of cold water and castile soap. Leave them in this twelve +hours before using. Melt the wax to the consistency of cream, in +chrome green, permanent green, dark olive-green, and verdigris-green. +Now take a leaf out of the soapsuds and lay it on a marble slab, +keeping the under surface or veined side uppermost; then with a +camel's-hair brush lay on the melted wax in different shades, +following the shades of the natural leaf. The soapsuds having made the +leaf transparent, all the shades and spots can be plainly seen on the +veined side, which is the side the waxen leaf has to be formed on. The +belt of light green over the silvery markings of the leaf should be +put on with verdigris-green. Begin the leaf in the center and continue +on each side of the midrib till the edge is reached and the leaf has a +thick coating of wax. Then lay a wire along the midrib or center of +the leaf, fasten it in the wax by pressing, care being taken to leave +it long enough for eight or nine inches of stem. Wire must also be +laid on all the side ribs or veins leading to the midrib. These small +wires are all brought to the center wire and laid evenly by its side +till they all come to the stem, where they are all twisted around it +to form one long, thick stem. Give the leaf another coating of dark +olive-green wax (this covers the wires), then finish with a thin +coating of burnt umber tinted with Vandyke brown, and the under +surface of the leaf is finished. Remove the natural leaf from the +waxen and tint the veins lightly with carmine. Brush a little carmine +loosely on the darkest shade in the center of the leaf, and before it +sticks blow off as much as possible, when enough will be left to give +it that reddish-green tint peculiar to the begonia rex leaf. The next +is to finish the silver belt or silvery leaf-markings midway between +the center and the edge of the leaf. This strip must be rubbed with +spirits of turpentine; then with the tinting brush apply a coating of +silver bronze (Nos. 4000 and 6000), care being taken that the bronze +does not scatter over the leaf. Now the leaf is finished. + +If the work is done according to directions, the waxen leaf will be a +true copy of the original. Continue in the same way till all the +leaves are made, then wax the stems and run them through the begonia +stemming, when they may be arranged in their natural growing manner in +a flowerpot filled with moss; or, if preferred, the flowerpot may be +filled with wax, in _terre-verte_ green, and the stems must be placed +in it before the wax gets hard. + + + HOW TO MAKE BEGONIA STEMMING. + +Procure the bristles of a very young pig, five or six weeks old. After +washing, put them in a very strong solution of chloride of lime and +let them remain in it till whitened; then rinse well in warm water +till free from chlorine. Color them while damp, some in different +shades of green and some in different shades of brown. After the +bristles are ready, the next thing is to make the stemming. Take a +square piece of cambric and fasten it in a stretcher, then give it a +thick coating of mastic varnish, and when the varnish is dry cut the +cambric on a true bias into straight strips of different widths, from +an inch to two inches, and half a yard in length. Lay one of these +strips on a table or some smooth surface, add another coat of varnish, +then cover it with glaucous green flock, care being taken to leave a +narrow margin bare on one side to lap under the other when the piping +is being made. Dip the bristles in mastic varnish, sprinkle them +thickly over the flock, and leave for twenty-four hours to dry; when +thoroughly dry, revarnish the bare edge, and turn it in underneath the +other edge, thus forming the strip into a pipe, ready to receive the +wire stems of the leaves. Brown and crimson flock may be used. + +For begonia rex, use crimson flock; for the rubra, use glaucous flock; +and for the palmata, use brown flock. Very good stemming may be made +by tinting canton flannel, which has a very long nap or pile. + + + GERANIUM LEAVES--ROSE GERANIUM. + +This leaf is of a dark chrome green. Prepare the wax in two shades, +dark chrome green and light; immerse the leaves in soapsuds for six +hours; take out of the soapsuds and lay it on the marble slab. As +there is neither shading nor marking on the leaf, all that is required +is to give it a coat of dark chrome green, thick enough to prevent the +wires from showing; then lay the wires over the veins and coat them +over with a light shade of green. Remove the natural leaf, and as the +texture of the rose geranium leaf is rather rough, rub it over with +green flock mixed with hair powder. The stems may be left in different +lengths. + +The best directions that we can give for the tinting and marking of +leaves is to copy from nature. The cyclamen leaf is well adapted for +the practice of marking and tinting. + +The leaf of the pond lily, lotus, canna, maranta, rubber tree, +magnolia, camellia, orange, and all leaves which have a waxy surface, +should either be varnished or bronzed. + +All kinds of leaves may be made by the foregoing directions.--_Popular +Art Instructor._ + + + DECALCOMANIA. + +This is another name for a style that has been in vogue for an +indefinite, period of time, and comes under the head of transferring. +It is almost superfluous to mention the variety of purposes to which +decalcomania may be applied, as it can be transferred upon everything +for which ornamentation is required, and the variety of designs which +are printed especially for it is so great that something may easily be +procured to suit the taste of the most fastidious. + +A few of the articles that may be decorated can be mentioned by way of +showing what a variety this style of ornamentation will embrace: All +kinds of crockery, china, porcelain, vases, glass, bookcases, folios, +boxes, lap desks, ribbons, dresses, etc. The method of transferring +beautiful designs is so simple, and all the materials requisite for +the art so easily procured, that it brings it within the means of +everyone. Flat surfaces are more suitable than concave or convex ones +for this style of decorating, for when the surface is curved the +design has to be cut to accommodate the shape, and in this way is +often spoiled unless done by the most careful and skillful hand. The +materials required are cement, copal varnish, designs, a duck-quill +sable, and a flat camel's-hair brush. + +Cut your designs neatly with a small pair of scissors, apply the +cement by means of the sable to the article to be decorated, place on +your design and press equally over its entire surface to exclude the +air; dampen it a little and keep pressing equally so that the design +may adhere firmly in every part. When the cement is sufficiently dry +dampen again with water (a little more freely) and remove the paper. +Be careful in manipulating this process, or you will remove some of +the colored part with it. If such should occur, instantly replace it +as well as you are able, or, if you have a knowledge of Oriental +painting, your panacea will be in that. You can retouch with these +colors and bring it back nearly to its original beauty. In case you +have no knowledge of Oriental painting, match the colors as nearly as +possible with water-color paints, allow time to dry, and varnish with +copal. + +Sometimes the cement becomes too thick for use. It may be restored to +its proper flowing consistency by placing the bottle in a bed of warm +sand, and can then be applied while warm. If you apply your design to +a dark groundwork, it would be desirable to give your picture a +coating of Winsor and Newton's Chinese white. The reason for this is +that some parts of the picture are semi-transparent, and these would +lose their brilliancy if transferred directly upon a dark background +without first painting. + + + TO TRANSFER ON WOOD. + +Dissolve some salt in soft water, float your engraving on the +surface--picture side uppermost--and let it remain about an hour. The +screen, box or table on which you wish to transfer the design should +be of bird's-eye maple or other light-colored hardwood, varnished with +the best copal or transfer varnish. + +Take the picture from the water, dry a little between blotters, place +the engraving--picture side downwards--on the varnished wood and +smooth it nicely. If the picture entirely covers the wood after the +margin has been cut off so that no varnish is exposed, lay over it a +thin board, on which place a heavy weight, and leave it for +twenty-four hours. If you wish but a small picture in the center of +the surface of the wood, apply the varnish only to a space the size of +the picture. Dip your finger in the solution of salt and water and +commence rubbing off the paper; the nearer you come to the engraving +the more careful you must be, as a hole in it will spoil your work. +Rub slowly and patiently until you have taken off every bit of the +paper and left only the black lines and touches of your picture on the +wood, in an inverted direction. Finish up with two or three coats of +copal varnish. + + + TO TRANSFER ON SILK. + +Apply a coating of mastic varnish to the design and allow it to dry; +then with a brush wash the paper surrounding the design carefully; +this removes from the paper the preparation, which would otherwise +soil the silk. Apply a second coating of the same varnish, and when +this is slightly dried place the design upon the silk or other fabric +to be decorated, and with the roller press it well down. With the +brush wet the back of the paper covering the design, when the paper +may be at once lifted off. Another method is to cut out the design +carefully and cover it with a thin coating of mastic varnish, and lay +it upon the silk or other fabric (which should be dampened) and roll +thoroughly with a rubber roller; dampen the back of the paper with the +brush and lift it off as previously directed. + + + TO MAKE WAX FLOWERS. + +The following articles will be required to commence waxwork: Two +pounds white wax, one quarter pound hair wire, one bottle carmine, one +bottle ultramarine blue, one bottle chrome yellow, two bottles chrome +green No. 1, one bottle each of rose pink, royal purple, scarlet +powder, and balsam fir; two dozen sheets white wax. This will do to +begin with. Now have a clean tin dish, and pour therein a quart or two +of water; then put in about one pound of the white wax and let it +boil. When cool enough so the bubbles will not form on top it is ready +to sheet, which is done as follows: Take half of a window pane, 7 × 9, +and, after having washed it clean, dip into a dish containing weak +soapsuds; then dip into the wax, and draw it out steadily and plunge +it into the suds, when the sheet will readily come off. Lay it on a +cloth or clean paper to dry. Proceed in like manner until you have +enough of the white; then add enough of the green powder to make a +bright color, and heat and stir thoroughly until the color is evenly +distributed, then proceed as for sheeting white wax. The other colors +are rubbed into the leaves after they are cut out, rubbing light or +heavy according to shade. + +For patterns you can use any natural leaf, forming the creases in wax +with the thumb nail or a needle. To put the flowers together, or the +leaves on to the stem, hold in the hand until warm enough to stick. If +the sheeted wax is to be used in summer, put in a little balsam of fir +to make it hard. If for winter, none will be required. + +You can make many flowers without a teacher, but one to assist in the +commencement would be a great help, though the most particular thing +about it is to get the wax sheeted. The materials I have suggested can +be procured at any drug store, and will cost from $3.00 to $4.50. + + + + + CHAPTER XVIII. + + +Dear lady subscriber, if you are a housekeeper, or ever intend to be +one, this chapter will more than repay you for what you have given for +this book. It will tell you how to save a large percentage of your +household expenses, and also how to have a great many of the articles +you use in your daily household work of a superior quality--vastly +better than the ones you are using at the present time. + +It is a fact not generally known that a great many of the articles +used in daily household work cost little more than one-tenth of the +price the consumer pays for them. We propose to show the ladies of our +great Continent how to have, in most instances, better articles than +those they are in the habit of purchasing, and at a small percentage +of the cost. To do this, we have, by our own personal investigation, +gathered a number of valuable recipes together, and have paid for the +privilege of using them. Remember, these are not common recipes, but a +full explanation of the manufacture of different articles needed in +every household; and they combine the embodied wisdom of practical and +successful men and women of the past and present. + +We give in this chapter a number of recipes which have never before +been published, and which, once possessing, you will never wish to be +without, as they are truly marvelous discoveries. The first three +every mother should have; the remainder no housekeeper should be +without. + +No. 1 is + + + HEALING SALVE. + +This salve heals all sores, chaps, cuts, bruises, sore lips, chafed +limbs, roughness, etc. It is invaluable as a healing ointment and may +be applied to the tenderest skin without injury, and yet it will heal +the most painful sores. A three-ounce box will only cost you ten +cents, and the directions are so plain that a child can follow them. + +_Recipe:_ Take one ounce of sweet oil, one-half ounce of camphor gum, +and one-half ounce of mutton tallow. Melt all together over a slow +fire, and stir continually until cold. + +_To use:_ Rub on part affected at night; wash off in the morning with +warm water and castile soap. + +No. 2 is + + + MAGNETIC CROUP CURE. + +This is the best remedy for croup ever discovered. It will save +parents much trouble and anxiety. With this remedy all that is +necessary is (if you have any fear of croup on putting your child to +bed) to take a piece of brown paper large enough to cover the throat +and chest and spread it with the ointment and put across the throat +and lungs; place over that several thicknesses of flannel so as to +keep the stomach warm, and keep in place with a string or bandage. Put +the child to bed, and you need have no fear of croup that night. This +ointment is also excellent for cuts, bruises or sores. Twelve cents +will make enough to last a year, even if you use it frequently. + +_Recipe:_ One-half pound of lard, quarter of a pound of raisins, +quarter pound of fine cut chewing tobacco. In the morning place the +tobacco in a tin can and cover it with water; set it on the stove and +let it cook and boil all day, replacing the water when it is +necessary; then squeeze all the juice from the tobacco. The next +morning chop your raisins, put them in the tobacco water and cook well +till noon; then again squeeze the raisins out of this water. Now to +this water add the lard and let them simmer together until the water +is evaporated. Now the croup remedy is ready for use. On putting the +child to bed, if you fear an attack, take a piece of brown paper large +enough to cover the throat and chest and spread it over with the +ointment and put it across the throat and lungs. Place over that and +tie several thicknesses of flannel; put the child to bed, cover up +warmly, and you need have no fear of croup that night. + +If taken with croup unexpectedly, on hearing the cough, spread a piece +of brown paper with the ointment and lay it across the throat and +chest; then heat flannel as hot as can be borne and lay over the +paper; change in about ten minutes for another hot cloth. If no fire +is on while waiting for it, heat cloths on a lamp chimney. As soon as +you get the stomach covered and warm, give a teaspoonful of melted +butter; repeat the dose in five minutes. + +No. 3 is + + + WORM ELIXIR. + +The best remedy for worms known. No mother should be without it. Also, +if given occasionally it is a splendid preventive. Children will never +be troubled with worms who are given a dose of this once a month, or +fortnight. + +_Recipe:_ Take gum myrrh and aloes, of each one ounce; saffron, sage +leaves, and tansy leaves, of each half an ounce; tincture in a pint of +brandy two weeks, and give to children a teaspoonful once a week to +once a month as a preventive. They will never be troubled with worms +as long as you do this. + + + WORM VERMIFUGE. + +Make a strong decoction of sage, two parts; wormseed, one part; +strain, and add sugar enough to make into candy, and let the child eat +of it. Infallible. + +No. 4 is + + + BRILLIANT SELF-SHINING STOVE POLISH. + +This is one of the greatest inventions of the age. It has been the +result of a large amount of study on the part of the inventor to +perfect a polish that would work easily and satisfactorily in a +perfectly dry state, thereby obviating the disagreeable task of mixing +and preparing. A good stove polish is an absolute necessity in every +family. To be assured that this is the best you need give it only one +trial. Now, remember, first, that this polish requires no water or +mixing like the various cake and powder polishes; second, that it is +self-shining and no labor is required; and third, that it has no equal +in the world. + +Below are the recipe and directions for preparing this polish. You can +prepare enough in ten minutes to last a year. A box holding two ounces +will cost but three cents. + +_Recipe:_ Get from the hardware store plumbago (blacklead), pulverize +it finely and it is ready for use. + +_Directions for use:_ Use a damp woolen rag, dip in the polish and +apply to the stove; then rub with a dry cloth, and a most beautiful +polish will appear. + +No. 5 is + + + WONDERFUL STARCH ENAMEL. + +For polishing shirt bosoms, collars, cuffs, lace curtains, etc., +putting on the same gloss and hard pearl finish as when bought at the +store new. Every lady should use the wonderful enamel for the +following reasons: It enables an ordinary ironer to compete with any +laundry; it makes the clothes clear and white; it makes clothes iron +smoothly, and prevents the iron sticking; it makes old linen look +like new; and it saves a woman many hours' hard work each week. It is +easily made, and five cents' worth will last an ordinary family six +months. + +_Recipe:_ Melt half a pound of refined paraffine wax in a tin pan over +a slow fire. When melted remove from the fire and add twenty drops of +oil of citronella. Take a tin pan and oil with sweet oil, put the pan +on a level table, and pour in enough of the hot wax to make a depth of +an eighth of an inch. When cool, but not cold, cut in pieces about the +size of an ordinary candy lozenge. Lay them aside to cool, but do not +let them touch each other. + +_Directions for use:_ To a pint of boiling starch stir in one cake. +Use starch while warm. + +No. 6 is + + + ROYAL WASHING POWDER + +--the laundress' assistant; warranted not to injure the finest fabric. +No acid; no potash. In the wash room it saves time, labor, expense, +muscle, temper, and hands. The clothes will come out cleaned and +white, without wear or tear or rubbing on washboards, therefore will +last twice as long. For housecleaning it is unequaled. One girl can +wash more clothes, paint, walls, windows or floors in a day with +perfect ease with this powder than she could in four days with hard +labor, soap, and scrubbing brush, and the paint will look new and +bright. It only requires to be tested to be appreciated. Packages of +one pound will only cost seven cents. + +_Recipe:_ Mix any quantity of soda ash with an equal quantity of +carbonate of soda crushed into coarse grains. Have a thin solution of +glue or decoction of linseed oil ready, into which pour the soda until +quite thick. Spread out in a warm apartment to dry. When dry shake up +well and pack away for use. Use as other washing powders. + +No. 7 is + + + MAGIC ANNIHILATOR. + +Removes all kinds of grease and oil spots from every kind of +wearing-apparel--such as coats, pants, vests, dress goods, carpets, +etc.--without injury to the finest silks or laces. It will shampoo +like a charm, raising the lather in proportion to the amount of +dandruff and grease in the hair. A cloth wet with it will remove all +grease from door knobs, window sills, etc., handled by kitchen +domestics in their daily round of kitchen work. For cleaning silver, +brass, and copper ware it cannot be beaten. It is certain death to +bedbugs, for they will never stop after they have encountered the +Magic Annihilator. It is useful for many other things. A quart bottle +costs about ten cents. + +_Recipe:_ To make half a gallon, take aqua ammonia, one pint; soft +water, one-half gallon; best white soap, one-half pound; saltpetre, +one ounce. Shave the soap fine, add the water, boil until the soap is +dissolved, then add the saltpetre, stirring until dissolved. Now +strain, let the suds settle, skim off the dry suds, add the ammonia, +and bottle and cork at once. + +_Directions for use:_ For grease spots, pour upon the article to be +cleaned a sufficient quantity of the Magic Annihilator, rubbing well +with a clean sponge and applying to both sides of the article. Upon +carpets and coarse goods where the grease is hard and dry use a stiff +brush and wash out with clear cold water. For shampooing, take a small +quantity, with an equal quantity of water; apply to the hair with a +stiff brush, brushing into the scalp, and wash out with clear water. +For killing bedbugs, apply to the places they frequent. + +No. 8 is + + + I X L BAKING POWDER. + +An unsurpassed article. Can be relied on for strength and purity. So +many of the baking powders sold contain injurious substances and are +altogether unreliable. This powder can be relied on for strength and +purity. It produces the most delightfully white, light and flaky +biscuits. For cakes it is unsurpassed. Try it and be convinced. This +powder is composed of the very best and purest substances, and +therefore is perfectly wholesome. Any lady can prepare enough in a few +minutes to last her six months. It will only cost a trifle--not +one-quarter of what you would have to pay your grocer for the same +amount. + +_Recipe:_ Take one pound of _tartaric_ acid (in _crystals_), one and +one-half pounds bicarbonate of soda, and one and one-half pounds of +potato or corn starch. Each must be powdered separately, well dried by +a slow fire, and well mixed through a sieve. Pack hard in a tin, or +paper glazed on the outside. Buy the articles from a druggist. + +_Directions for use:_ For biscuits, pie crust, johnnycake, etc., use +three teaspoonfuls to one quart of flour or meal; for cakes, two +teaspoonfuls to a teacup of flour. Mix well with the flour. + +No. 9 is + + + ELECTRIC POWDER. + +This is one of the best articles on our list--something that every +housekeeper needs. It is used for gold, silver, plated ware, German +silver, copper, brass, tin, steel, window glass, or any material where +a brilliant luster is required. To make two ounces costs but three +cents, and it is the best article of its kind known. + +_Recipe:_ To one pound best quality whiting add one-half pound cream +tartar and three ounces calcined magnesia. Mix thoroughly together and +store away for use. + +_Directions for use:_ Use the polish dry, with a piece of canton +flannel moistened with water or alcohol, and finish with the polish +dry. + +No. 10 is + + + FRENCH POLISH OR DRESSING FOR LEATHER. + +This is a grand article. All that is necessary is to have your boots +clean and apply this dressing with a sponge. The boots appear like the +very best French leather. Much hard work is saved, as no brushing is +required. To make a quart vessel full will only cost about twenty +cents. + +_Recipe:_ Mix half a pint of the best vinegar with a quarter pint of +soft water; stir into it one ounce of glue (broken up), two ounces +log-wood chips, one-sixteenth ounce of finely-powdered indigo, +one-sixteenth ounce of the best soft soap, one-sixteenth ounce of +isinglass. Put the mixture over the fire, let it boil ten minutes or +more; then strain, bottle and cork. When cold it is fit for use. Apply +with a sponge. + +No. 11 is + + + ARTIFICIAL HONEY. + +Equal to bee honey, and often mistaken by the best judges to be +genuine. It is palatable and luxurious. All persons are more or less +aware that honey should be used in every household, and it would be so +if every family could have it at a very moderate price. As a +health-establishing nutriment in the chamber of the invalid, and as a +delicious luxury for the well, honey cannot be too highly recommended. +Any one using this honey regularly will find that he is strengthened +and refreshed by it. He will have greater energy and if at all +inclined to dyspepsia will find himself greatly helped. This honey +costs but eight cents per pound to prepare, and our directions are so +simple a child ten years old can follow them. + +_Recipe:_ Take two ounces of slippery elm bark and put into three +quarts of warm water and let it stand four hours; strain and add eight +pounds of white sugar; boil four minutes; then add one pound of bee +honey while hot. Flavor with a drop of the oil of peppermint and a +drop of the oil of rose. + + * * * * * + +Any lady will readily see what a saving the possession of the above +recipes may cause in her household expense. Thus, you can get a ten +cent box of stove polish for three cents, a twenty-five cent package +of washing powder for seven cents, a twenty-five cent box of starch +enamel for five cents, etc. Any of the articles contained in the list +will take but a short time to prepare a large supply. + + + POISONS AND THEIR ANTIDOTES. + +The first thing to do in a case of poisoning is to cause the ejection +of the poison by vomiting. To do this, place mustard mixed with salt +on the tongue and give large quantities of lukewarm water; or, tickle +the throat with a feather. These failing, instantly resort to active +emetics, like tartar emetic, sulphate of copper or sulphate of zinc. +After vomiting has taken place with these, aid it, if possible, by +copious draughts of warm water until the poison is entirely removed. +Of course, if vomiting cannot be induced the stomach pump must be +employed, especially if arsenic or narcotics have been taken. The +following table may be useful for emergencies:-- + + POISONS. ANTIDOTES. + Acids, Alkalies: Soap and milk, chalk or soda. + Alkalies, Vegetable acids, vinegar, oil in + abundance. + Alcohol, Common salt, moderately. + Arsenic, Send for the doctor and his stomach pump. + Antimony, Oak bark, strong green tea. + Baryta or lime, Epsom salts, oils, magnesia. + Bismuth, White of eggs, sweet milk. + Copper, White of eggs, strong coffee. + Gases, Cold douche, followed by friction. + Iodine, Starch, wheat flour in water. + Creosote, White of eggs, sweet milk. + Lead, Strong lemonade, Epsom salts. + Opium and other narcotics, Emetics, cold douche, and heat. + Phosphorus, Magnesia in copious draughts. + Zinc, White of eggs, sweet milk. + Mad-dog bite, Apply fire in some form to the wound, + thoroughly and immediately. + Bite of insect, Ammonia, applied freely. + Bite of serpent, Same as for mad dog, followed by whisky + to intoxication. + +The foregoing are the more common and more important poisons and their +antidotes.--_Buckeye._ + + + TURKISH LOTION. + +_The New and Wonderful Discovery for Beautifying the Skin._ + +Gives to a woman of forty the fresh, bright complexion of a girl. No +more wrinkles, crow's-feet or sallowness. + +Turkish Lotion completely cures freckles, pimples, blackheads, moles +and superfluous hair, tan, greasy skin, blotches, redness, sore or +chapped lips, chapped and red, rough hands; and, best of all, +completely eradicates and prevents wrinkles, crow's-feet, and +sallowness. + +Turkish Lotion creates a perfect complexion. + +After using Turkish Lotion for a short time a lady's skin will be as +exquisitely soft and velvety, as clear and pure, as that of a little +child. It is not an artificial cosmetic, but a cleansing, refining, +whitening tonic. It feeds and nourishes the skin, preventing and +banishing wrinkles, crow's-feet, and sallowness. It is perfectly +harmless and composed of the purest ingredients. + +Turkish Lotion is invaluable to every lady. It conceals the evidences +of age. By its use a lady of middle-age will have the charming, fresh +look of a girl. Every womanly woman desires to appear fresh and +youthful as long as possible, thereby making herself the wonder of her +own sex and the admiration of the opposite. By using this lotion +according to directions every lady may have a fresh, rosy tinted +complexion of exquisite pearly fairness, free from wrinkles, +crow's-feet, and sallowness. + +One application will make the most stubbornly red and rough hands +beautifully soft and white. + +Turkish Lotion is not a paint or powder, but a new and great +discovery--a cleansing, healing, whitening tonic that causes the cheek +to glow with healthy action of the skin, and the neck, arms and hands +to assume an exquisite pearly whiteness. By its use all redness and +roughness is prevented and the skin is beautified and rendered soft, +smooth, and white, thereby imparting a delicate, refined loveliness +impossible to describe. Any lady using Turkish Lotion will present a +fresh, youthful, natural appearance, with a pearly, rose-tinted +complexion that is positively bewitching. It is without doubt the best +face lotion ever discovered, being as it is a medicated lotion +possessing healing qualities. Many ladies are troubled during cold +weather with sore lips, rough, parched skin, and chapped hands upon +the slightest exposure. By moistening at night with this wash the +parts affected, all soreness and roughness will be completely cured +and the face and hands will be as delicately soft and smooth as those +of a little child. + +No one need suffer any longer from any defect of the skin. + + * * * * * + +_Recipe for Turkish Lotion:_ To one fluid ounce of tincture of gum +benzoin add seven fluid ounces of distilled rose-water and one-half +ounce of glycerine. + +_Directions for use:_ Bathe face, neck, and hands with Turkish Lotion +at night, letting it dry on. Wash off in the morning with a very +little pure white castile soap and soft water. If the water is hard, +add a very little dissolved borax. This will prevent and cure greasy +skin, freckles, tan, wrinkles, pimples, blackheads, crow's-feet, +blotches, sunburn, chapped hands, sore lips, rough skin, etc. + +_To Cure Sallowness:_ Use as above directed, and ask your druggist for +some good iron tablets. Take as directed. In a short time your +complexion will be beautifully white and rose-tinted. + +_To Remove Hairy Moles and Superfluous Hair:_ Procure prepared pumice +stone from your druggist; cut the hair as close as possible to the +skin, dip the pumice in cold water and rub on the part on which the +hairs grow, commencing gently at first (as it may cause slight +irritation of the skin), then gradually increase the friction. After +using the pumice stone, anoint freely each time with Turkish Lotion. +Do this twice daily, and it will surely remove superfluous hair. + +Always, after using Turkish Lotion, rub gently with the hands until +the skin becomes dry. This will remove and prevent wrinkles and +lines. + + + + + INDEX. + + + PAGE. +Almond paste for the hands, 48 +Apt to be hasty, 80 +All is fair in love and war, 81 +Age to marry, the best, 99 +Age of puberty to marriage, from the, 107 +A happy marriage, the basis of, 118 +Abortion, 128 +Abortion, the cause of, 129 +Abortion, means of preventing, 133 +Amenorrhoea--suppression of the menses, 140 +Alterative, or liver powder, 147 +Anti-dyspeptic pills, 147 +Ague pills, 148 +Ague drops, 149 +Anodyne headache pills, 149 +Arrowroot jelly, 157 +Arrowroot gruel, 159 +Autumn leaves and ferns, to prepare, 181 +Articles of white zephyr, to clean, 184 +Artificial honey, 205 + +Breath, to purify the, 31 +Bleach and purify the skin, to, 31 +Bloom rose, 34 +Brilliant, beautiful eyes, how to have, 35 +Beautiful eyelashes, how to have, 36 +Beautiful mouth and lips, to have a, 39 +Bleaching lotion, 47 +Baldness, to cure, 61 +Bleach the hair, to, 63 +Boston Burnet powder, 65 +Birth of the first child, 89 +Bleeding at the lungs, 151 +Barley water, 157 +Bread jelly, 159 +Beef liquid, 159 +Beef tea, 160 +Bedbugs, to get rid of, 166 +Bleach the leaves, to, 181 +Bluing, 183 +Blue powder, to make, 188 +Brush, the, 189 +Bronze work, 191 +Bronzing, directions for, 193 +Bronzing statuettes, 194 +Begonia stemming, to make, 195 +Brilliant self-shining stove polish, 202 + +Cleopatra's freckle balm, 29 +Cure profuse perspiration, to, 31 +Cleopatra's enamel, 31 +Cure freckles, to, 31 +Cosmetic bath, a, 32 +Certain cure for eruptions, 34 +Clear the complexion, to, 34 +Cure and refine a blotched skin, to, 34 +Cure and prevent wrinkles, to, 34 +Cure weak eyes, to, 36 +Cure watery and inflamed eyes, to, 37 +Care of the teeth, the, 40 +Cure foul breath, to, 44 +Cure toothache, to, 44 +Camphorated chalk, 45 +Camphor paste, 45 +Cure red hands, to, 48 +Coarse hands, to whiten, 49 +Chapped hands, 51 +Cause the skin to become satin-smooth, to, 51 +Cause the bloom of youth to return, 52 +Cause the hair to grow, to, 60 +Charm those whom you meet, to, 72 +Courtship a momentous matter, 83 +Conception, 121 +Change, a remarkable, 121 +Changes in the breast, 122 +Childbirth a natural process, 123 +Cramps of the legs, etc., 126 +Chlorosis, or green sickness, 137 +Cessation of the menses--change of life, 141 +Cathartic and liver pills, 147 +Certain remedy for ague, 148 +Consumption, for, 151 +Cough syrup, 152 +Cough mixture, 152 +Compound tincture of myrrh, 152 +Cordial for summer complaints, 153 +Coffee milk, 160 +Crust, coffee, 161 +Cranberry water, 161 +Chicken broth, 161 +Calves'-foot jelly, 162 +Chambers, 176 +Coffee starch, 183 +Copper bronze, 194 + +Decayed teeth, for, 44 +Decayed teeth, mixture for, 46 +Dye the hair flaxen, to, 63 +Days of the week--their importance, 68 +Duration of pregnancy, 123 +Diet, the, 124 +Detection of pregnancy, sure test for the, 127 +Delayed menstruation, 135 +Duty of mothers, 135 +Dyspeptic ley, 148 +Dr. Jordan's cholera remedy, 154 +Deafness, 155 +Drink in dysentery, 161 +Drunkenness, to cure, 168 +Different kinds of perfume, to make, 169 +Dining-room, 177 +Do your own stamping, how to, 187 +Dry stamping, 188 +Distributor, to make a, 188 +Dark blue powder, 189 +Decalcomania, 196 + +Eruptions, 24 +Extreme paleness, 26 +Excoriations, 28 +Eyes, to cure weak, 36 +Eyes, to care watery and inflamed, 37 +Eyes, general care of, 37 +Eyelashes, to improve the, 36 +Eyelashes, to have beautiful, 36 +Elegant hair, to have, 60 +Electrical psychology, 69 +Early marriage, 99 +Everything for love, 111 +Expectorant tincture, 152 +Eggs, 165 +Extract the essential oil from flowers, to, 168 +Enamel for shirt bosoms, 184 +Exotic leaves, 194 +Electric powder, 205 + +Freckles, 25 +Freckles, to remove, 29 +Flesh-worms, to remove, 30 +French face wash, 32 +French lip salve, 40 +Fine tooth powder, 44 +Finger nails, the, 49 +French remedy for baldness, 63 +Fortunate and unfortunate days, 67 +Fondness for cousins, 95 +Flirtation, 96 +False sense of duty, 112 +Falling of the womb, 143 +Fever powder, 149 +French milk porridge, 160 +Fluid, No. 1, 2, and 3, 163 +Fresh-blown flowers in winter, 166 +Flour starch, 184 +Fine starch, 184 +Fruit stains, 185 +Flannels, to wash, 186 +Floral basket in bronze, 193 +French polish for leather, 205 + +German lip salve, 41 +Golden hair secret, the, 62 +Gestation, period of, 122 +Gum acacia restorative, 164 +Get rid of bedbugs and mosquitoes, how to, 166 +Gall soap, 183 +Grease, to take out, 185 +Green bronze, 193 +Geranium leaves, 196 + +Hands, chapped, 51 +Hair, the, 52 +Hair restorative, 61 +Hair, to bleach, 63 +Hair, to dye flaxen, 63 +Hair, keeping curled and crimped, 63 +Hair, powder for preserving, 64 +Hair to make grow quickly, 64 +Hair falling out, to prevent, 65 +Human temperaments, the, 66 +How to charm those whom you meet, 72 +Hop bitters, 146 +Home decoration, 171 +House plants, to care for, 179 +Healing salve, 200 + +Itch, the, 17 +Improve the skin, to, 33 +Improving the hair, for, 63 +Important advice to females, 68 +Inverted toe-nail, 156 +Irish moss jelly, 158 +Isinglass jelly, 158 +Iron rust, to remove, 185 +I X L baking powder, 204 + +Kalydor for the complexion, 33 + +Lemon cream, 29 +Lip salve, white, No. 1, 40 +Lip salve, No. 2, 40 +Love and respect, 77 +Love and marriage, 94 +Leucorrhoea, whites, flour albus, 144 +Laziness, to cure, 168 + +Milk of roses, 33 +Mouth pastilles, 44 +Mixture for shampoo, 64 +Mesmerism, 70 +Marriage, 73 +Married people, 102 +Monogamy, 116 +Marriage customs, 117 +Morning sickness, 126 +Menstruation, 134 +Malt infusion, 164 +Milk for infants, 165 +Magnetic croup cure, 201 +Magic annihilator, 203 + +Necessary evils, 109 +Nutritive fluids, 162 + +Preparation for whitening the skin, 30 +Pimples, to remove, 32 +Pomade d'Hebe, 34 +Preservative tincture for the teeth, 45 +Powder for preserving the hair, 64 +Polygamy, 125 +Polyandry, 117 +Pregnancy, labor, parturition, 121 +Parturient balm, 128 +Premature labor, 128 +Pills for asthma, 151 +Pills for chronic bronchitis, 151 +Pills for neuralgia, 151 +Pills for dysentery, 150 +Pile ointment, 155 +Panado, 160 +Prevent horses being teased by flies, 167 +Prevent flies lighting on windows, pictures, etc., 167 +Poisons and their antidotes, 206 + +Rouge, liquid, 33 +Rye tooth powder, 45 +Red hands, to cure, 48 +Rough hands, to cure, 49 +Rheumatic pills, 150 +Rice water, 157 +Refreshing drink, a, 157 +Rice, 158 +Rice jelly, 158 +Rice gruel, 158 +Restorative jelly, 160 +Render paper fireproof, to, 168 +Royal washing powder, 203 +Rashes and redness, 27 + +Skin, the, 22 +Scurf, scurvy, 27 +Soften and whiten the skin, 30 +Soft, white hands, 46 +Sexual intercourse--its laws and conditions, 105 +Seduction, 110 +Soothing cough mixture, 152 +Scrofulous syrup, 153 +Sago gruel, 159 +Scorch, to take out, 183 + +Turkish lotion, 207 + +Wrinkles, 28 +Wrinkles, to remove, 35 +Wrinkles, lotion for, 35 +Wrinkles, wash for, 35 +Wash for scald heads, 65 +Whiten the skin, to, 65 +Warts, 51 +Waterproof boots, to prepare, 168 +Worm elixir, 201 +Wonderful starch enamel, 203 + + + + + TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES + + +Obvious typographical errors have been fixed. See below for the +detailed list. + +page 11--typo fixed: changed 'Decalcomanie' to 'Decalcomania' +page 14--typo fixed: changed 'Feuchwanger's' to 'Feuchtwanger's' +page 15--typo fixed: changed 'Montey' to 'Montez' +page 27--typo fixed: changed 'expoliation' to 'exfoliation' +page 31--typo fixed: changed 'pitachia' to 'pistachia' +page 32--typo fixed: changed 'skum' to 'scum' +page 39--typo fixed: changed 'domimonde' to 'demimonde' +page 43--typo fixed: changed 'opreation' to 'operation' +page 44--typo fixed: changed 'Teuchwanger's' to 'Feuchtwanger's' +page 45--typo fixed: changed 'Talk' to 'Take' +page 51--typo fixed: changed 'particulary' to 'particularly' +page 59--typo fixed: changed 'strengh' to 'strength' +page 72--typo fixed: changed 'magnitized' to 'magnetized' +page 72--typo fixed: changed 'through' to 'though' +page 90--typo fixed: changed 'bady' to 'baby' +page 93--typo fixed: changed 'elevaton' to 'elevation' +page 101--typo fixed: changed 'eighteeth' to 'eighteenth' +page 102--typo fixed: changed 'probabilty' to 'probability' +page 106--typo fixed: changed 'Carpentar' to 'Carpenter' +page 122--typo fixed: changed 'preceptible' to 'perceptible' +page 128--typo fixed: changed 'increase' to 'increases' +page 153--typo fixed: changed 'rhubard' to 'rhubarb' +page 155--typo fixed: changed 'corbonate' to 'carbonate' +page 191--typo fixed: changed 'tupentine' to 'turpentine' +page 202--typo fixed: changed 'diagreeable' to 'disagreeable' +page 206--typo fixed: changed 'flower' to 'flour' + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Ladies Book of Useful Information, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LADIES BOOK OF USEFUL INFORMATION *** + +***** This file should be named 26368-8.txt or 26368-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/3/6/26368/ + +Produced by Robert Cicconetti, Irma Spehar and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by the Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions +(www.canadiana.org)) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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