THE CARE OF THE HANDS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 97, 30 May 1914, Page 7

THE CARE OF THE HANDS.

Of all the occupations pursued i:i by educated people, domestic, work;is, that which injures the hands the most if no attention is given to them. But ,by taking a few precautions .the woman who does her own housework can have smooth hands. However busy a woman may. be, and however little vanity ; she. may possess, there are a few hints: that she will find it worth her while to attend to. For even a. general servant may avoid having rough, scaly hands ,in \yhich the dirt lodges. ; Every. woman who does housework ought to keep the rind of- a lenion in the kitchen. As spoiv as her hanrls. become greasy or stained with the juice of fruit or any pther. discolouring, matter, she ought" to rub them with >. the... lemon, -which effectually cleanses them.. , A few drops of vinegar answer the same purpose, so many women keep a small bottle of vinegar to use when a lemon is. not available. After /loing an-y, particularly, dirty work, it is well to wash the hands in,tepid water, into which a few drops of aminonja havie been poured. - By. attending tp'Sthcse hints hands can bo kept free* from dirt, but they are liable- to become rough and chapped from being frequently plunged into water. This can be. prevented by that useful but much neglected substance, olive oil. A little oil rubbetl occasionally into the hands keeps them smooth, and often prevents chilblains from appearing. Before putting on the oil'it is well to rub the hands with pumice stone or snake stone.

If it is possible to keep the . nails clean.without using a nail brush regu : larly, this''.'.should'' certainly be. done. The brush'tends to separate the nail from the skin, and to make it easier for dirt to get in. Of course, the nails ought never .to be cleaned with scissors, but with an orange stick. The other utensils that comprise a manicure set are most useful. lust sad' of cutting the nails it is better to file them, and to rub off the sharp edges with sandpaper. The nails ought to be polished, regularly with chamois and powder. •Children often suffer from chilblains on the hands, because they do not wear warm gloves. Adults als"o suffer from wearing "'Bgflik-^llLj"' l §' lovef V which a7M« ite suitable hands often be 'warmer if they were quite bare*. v£" ie^c ; 'loose, reindeer, chamois or leather' '■•£'- CY ss would prevent iiiany hands from'" becoming un--sightly in winter owing to *" Cjbtilb For children and for"all who-live ill' the country woollen gloves' are the'best, since they,are both becoming ami com-