Household.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 998, 17 April 1891, Page 5

Household.

Acidity of the stomach is now knownt® be due to germs, and the- cure lies in getting rid of the germ 3. Earthern and glass vessels in which milk Is kept should be scalded and exposed to the sun each time after being used. Salt savea buttermilk for a while, but not batter. Buttermilk has become a favourite temper* ance drink in America, and the fancy for it has been stipulated by several physicians, who have recommended it as an excellent remedy for dyspepsia. Never put away food in tin plates. Fully one half the oases of poison from the use of canned goods is because the artiole was left or put into the can after using. China, earthenware, or glass ia the only safe receptacle for goods ‘left over.’ To cure soft corns, make a small pad of several thicknesses of chamois, and tie and sew it round one of the toes between which the corn lies. Keep it on a few weeks, or until the corn disappears. This throws the toes apart, and removes the pressure which caused the corn. The following is the way furs are cleaned in that land of furs, Russia :—Rye flour is placed in a pot and heated upon a stove, with constant stirring as long as the hand can bear the heat. The flour is then spread over the fur and rubbed into it. After this the for ia brushed with a very clean brush, or, better, is gently beaten until all the flour is removed. The fur thus treated resumes its natural lustre and appears as if absolutely new. • The proper way to brush the hair,’ says a well known hair dresser, 4 is not to brush its lengthwise, but to hold the ends of the hair, if it is long enough, and simply scrub the scalp with the brush. This process promotes the circulation of the blood and excites the pil glands to action. After the hair has been thoroughly brushed iu this way, it should be then finished with a few vigorous strokes lengthwise of the hair.’ The spice poultice is a growing favourite in the sick room. It is pleasant to use and easily made. Mix together dry one heaping teaspoontul each of ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves and flour. Moisten with hot water until of proper consistency to spread. Double and heat a piece of old cotton, spread the plaster on it and cover with cheese cloth. When cold, moisten with brandy or whisky and reheat. Black walnut furniture is quickly cleaned by rubbing with a flannel cloth moistened with kerosene. Rub nry, then apply the fol. lowing preparation : Mix together equal parts of linseed oil, vinegar and turpentine. Shake well, apply with flannel cloth and rub ia well. Let the furniture stand a short time, then rub vigorously with dry flannel. Unless bodily stained and marred ; furniture will look better treated in this way, than when coated with heavier dressings.

No water should ever be drank or employed for culinary purposes out of new cisterns ; but water should be allowed to stand in them some time without being removed, for only after a crust has been formed doe# the water become safe or to expediate this, a little phoaphate of soda ; or iodide of potassium may be added, or a few drops of sulphuric acid may be used. The lid or cover of cisterns should never be made of lead, os the vapour which condenses on it possesses all the solvent power of distilled water. Lead is also a very unsuitable metal for hot water pipes.

Now that we have cold aod wintry weather let women but hare the sound sanse to attire themselves in warm tweed or home spun dresses ; to take an adequate amount of walking exercise daily; and they will go a long way to escape catching the colds and the exoruoiating neuralgia, which are so Badly prevalent. Those who are suffering the tortures of neuralgia, source of anguish by night as well as by day, and especially dangerous, as it deprives the sufferer often of the renovating effects of sleep, will find the ordinary chemist’s mixture of quinine and iron very strengthening —that is, if it agrees with the patient, which ia not always the case, To the present writer this medicine proved a great blessing, as it drove away an acuta attack of neuralgia. But the best proven* tive la to keep up the general health*