Home Health.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XXI, Issue 3072, 24 January 1894, Page 4

Home Health.

Lamps. — How much abuse they get! and why? Is not the manipulator more deserving of the grumbles than - the lamp? There is no reason that a lamp should even be disagreeable, and if it be a good one and well managed, the light given is preferable to gas. First, then, the lamp should be good. There is no economy in cheap lamps ; they give a bad light, they are constantly out of order, and are generally unsatisfactory. Next, the lamp should be clean. The burner wants constant washing in hot soda water. If the burner has become black or discoloured, the stain should be removed. Then the reservoir should be well washed and dressed at least once a month. There is a slight sediment in most paraffin, and this, if allowed to accumulate, will foul the wick, and prevent its giving a good light. Then there is the vexed question of trimming, and here let me say that nearly everyone cuts their wicks too much. Far better is it to remove all the charred wicks with a piece of soft paper, and then carefully with the scissors trim off any rough edges that may exist. People often think to save themselves trouble by putting a long piece of wick in at once. This is a mistake, for clean wick is a great advantage, and gives a better light than one which has been long in use. Wicks should be thoroughly dried before being used. lam sure anyone who will follow these directions carefully cannot but be pleased with the light of an oil lamp. I must add that when lighting, the lamp should be carefully Wiped, so that there be no oil on the reservoir. Though this may have been done when trimming, still it requires doing again, for. oil has a tiresome habit of oozing out. - To make good beef -tea.— Put a calf's foot in r a stew jar, and coye 1 " with a quart of water; put the jar in a saucepan of boiling water and let it simmer for eighteen hours (a day and s> half). Then take out the calf's foot, and when ; the stock is ooldV strain 6ff the hstf and add two pounds of shin of Ijeeiand put the jar in a moderate ©ten jt or two hours, when it is ready to drink, and it is delicious. When making a cake do not stir the mixture, but beat it thoroughly with a big 'wooden spoon. The batter should be raised from the dish at each stroke of the - spoon, and in this way the 1 ' air.is driven into the mass. ' A simple toothache preventive is the using of the flour or sulphur as a fdoth wash. Bub the teeth and gums with a rather stiff brush, using the sulphur after each meal, or after sapper ■ only. -It preserves and cleanses the teeth, correcting all bad odors from, the mouth. "By adding a little pearlaah to a soap lather, faded ribbons placed therein will be restored to their natura) color. Faded breadths of %tff can be restored if treated to a oath of the above named ingredients. To clean kid- or leather gloves, wash them with soap and water, then stretch them on wooden Bands, or poll them into shape Without stretching'them ; next rub them with a pipeolay or yellow ochre? or a mixture of the two' of any required shade, msde into a paste with beer. Let them dry gradually, and when about half dry rob them well, so as to smooth them and put them into shape. Then dry them, brush ont the superfluous color, coyer with paper and smooth with a warm iron. Other colors than the ochre can be mixed with the pipeclay. Meat or minced, currie. — Slice a large onion or two medium ones into a saucepan, moisten a tablespoonful of arrowroot, 3 or 4 teaspoonful of Indian currie powder, with a little stock ; add to it the onion, and keep stirring while you. add as much stock as you require, half a lemon and salt to taste. I«et it simmer for half an hour ; mince with a machine or a chopper whichever raw meat you intend to currie, Half an hour before dinner time pat the minced meat in, stir for a little, and let it simmer until the meat is cooked— do not let it boil. Have ready some boiled rice to. serve frith the currie. More arrowroot and more currw powdeir can"Be added so as to suit the quantity of - meat to be curried. A little care exercised in carrying out these instructions will be amply repaid by the pleasure of having a tasty and appetising dish. A- teaspoonful or two, according to taste, of Indian currie powder will be found a great improvement in soups or gravies. Currie being made of raw ingredients* requires to boil or simmer for some time, otherwise there is a raw flavor, wjiieb is very objectionable.- Jjow^utlity, inferior curries *re iwort^Wr and are positively injurious to the health* Ox tail soup.— Two ox tails and 3 quarts ©f water, l«Vrot, 1 turnip, I onion, 1 leekr 1 stick of celery, arid 'a small bnnch 6f herbs. Clean artd put the tails in hot water for one hont j take tiiett bdt, toy them and fry in small pieces ; put them in a saiicepan witii^tbe water and vegetaWes, and wnflner gently for two hours, adding tbC^easompg. 8 cloves, a small Wade ol afece, a little allspice, a phjch of cayenne and black pepper, satt to taste. Take ont the pieces, remove the meat from the bones, and cut into very small bits ; skim and strain the liquor. Put 3os of butter into a saucepan ; when it is melted, «tir in 2o* of flour, and let it brown ; mix it with the soup ; put in the meat, also a glass of sherry. Heat and serve with sippets of toast*

Suicide Blenheim, Monday. — Harry Severne, schoolmaster atthe Havelock Suburban School, committed suicide on Sunday afternoon. He laid down, placed his gun in position, pulled the trigger with his left foot and shot himself between the eyes. He was about 45 years of age and had been under medical treatment a few days ago for excessive drinking. Forty shearers poisoned. Dunedin, Tuesday. — Forty shearers employed on Galloway's run were taken suddenly ill on Monday. They showed symptoms of blood-poisoning. Dr. Hyde, of Clyde, was sent for, and administered the usual remedies. The men are progressing favourably. It is thought pickled beef, which formed a meal provided for the men, had been tainted before pickling. Committed for trial. Dunedin, Tuesday. — Eberhard Kufner and Richard Dobson were to-day committed for trial on a charge' of maliciously stabbing Chas. Aston at South Dunedin on Christmas morning.