CONCERNING HANDS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5731, 28 October 1905, Page 14

CONCERNING HANDS.

HOW TO MAKE AND KEEP THEM i’I’ETT Y. Attention nnd cleanliness of the hands bring iminodiuto, rewards, and oven the housewife who does a great deal of work in her homo may still keep hors in excellent condition. Every mother who has her child’s interest at heart will look carefully after the tiny, chubby hands nf the little one, for children are apt to form habits that absolutely destroy the beauty of Heir hands, and these cannot he too speedily corrected. From birth almost the finger nails ■diould bo carefully treated. Trim the little nails into an oval shape, and it will bo surprising to see how soon nature will develop pretty artistic poets, lihildren should never bn allowed to bite their naila, for if the habit is formed nnd allowed to continue, ugly, stubby, coarse nails will bo the result. Some grown-up people and many nervous, highstrung , girls are easy victims to this habit, though they are eager to overcome it. To those, lot it be suggested that the moment thev find themselves nibbling at thru- finger’ nails, a quick bathing with hot water will be effective, for the hot hath soothes the little uorves that are causing the mischief, and prevents the determining cause of tho nibbling. Coarse, rough hands are natural with ionic women; just us are coarse, unlovely complexions, but neither the one trouble nor the other is beyond remedy. Often the rough condition is tho result of carelessness. When washing tho hands tho yoirest. finest soaps should be used, but p.ven Die best soaps must be rinsed away, and the surface of tho skin bo dried with painstaking attention. Occasionally one finds a skin that will not endure soap at all, and for these French amandine is wonderfully effective. Tho prescription rn ns follows:

Put into a largo bowl two ounces of white honey: triturate it, and when the mixture boa boon rubbed to a thick paste add three ounces of perfectly neutral almond shaving cream. Then continue the trituration until the mixture has become homogeneous. Two pounds of fresh lino oil of sweet almonds must then bo poured in very slowly and mixed in well. If the , almond oil enters in large quantities tiho blending is imperfect, so great earn must be taken. A few drops of oil of bitter almonds and from five to ten drops of oil of roso are used as perfuming agents. A jelly-like cosmetic will be the result, which should bo closely sealed and kept in a cool place. Almond meal is also delightful for the hands, and can bo used with equal success on the .complexion. The cheap qualities of almond meal contain very little almond, and for that reason it is « good plan to compound one’s own, which is done in this way. Take two ounces of sweet almonds, blanched and powdered ; one ounce of bitter almonds, blanched and powdered orris root; five ounces af talcum powder, one ounce of powdered white cagtilo soap, one hundred grains of 'powdered borax, ten drops of oil of bitter almonds, ten drops of oil of ncroli. end ten drops of oil of tincture of musk. The volatile oils may be reduced, as they aire somewhat expensive,, and small quantities will do. This mixture may be used instead of soap. Chapped hands are caused by poor circulation, or by immersing the bands too frequently in hot or cold water. Incomplete drying will also cause the snr. face to roughen. Chapped hands are not confined to the winter months as many

individuals fancy. Tight gloves should be avoided, also titfht corset-*, or tight collars, since anything that interferes with circulation will not only make the hands rough, but will cause them to become vorv red. Tho persistent use of cosmetic jolly will invariably cure rough hands. Hero is the recipe, and it is one that may eaeilv be compounded at almost no expense*. Take thirty grains ot gum tragacanth, Eovr-n ounces of rosewater, one ounce of alcohol, and one ounce of glycerine. Let the gum tragacanth soak in the rosewater for three days, then strain it forcibly through muslin; add glycerine 1o it, then alcohol, and a suggestion of perfume. A teaspoonfui of pure borax is an improvement, but not actually necessary. For children who suffer from chapped hands this will be found a great boon. Once a week the finger nails should ho carefully manicured. A good plan, and one which should be followed faithfully every day, is to trim tho nails with a pliable file, to lift up the cuticle with an orange wood slick, and to polish the nails slightly with the palms of the hands. Pointed finger nails and nails that shimmer like mirrors are no longer considered correct.