Notes For Women

Wairarapa Daily Times, 1 July 1933, Page 3

Notes For Women

Fashions, Recipes and Hints.

HELPFUL HINTS. CHILBLAINS. Chilblains are painfully irritating and hoirribly disfiguring things. The best method of warding off these unwelcome visitations is to look to- your diet and clothing. The diet must contain plenty of fat and plenty of vitamins. Drink a pint of milk every day, and if cream can also be taken, so much the better. Cod-liver oil and malt is a necessity to the chilblain martyr. Fat is most essential, largely because it contains calcium, and modern chemistry has shown that it is lack of calcium which is the forerunner of cold hands and feet and chilblains.

As to clothing, looseness and warmth are the two main essentials. Woollen underclothes should be worn, but looseness is quite as. important as warmth, for anything which impedes the circulation will almost certainly bring about stagnation of the blood. Tight shoes and tight gloves are dangerous, for local congestion of the circulation is the final stage in the production of a chilblain. Take as much exercise as possible. This is an excellent way of maintaining an adequate supply of blood in the toes and hands. When tho muscles aire used, heat is generated which warms the blood. Once or twice a day massage the hands well, rubbing from .the fingers up towards the elbow. Do the 1 same with the feet and ankles at night, working towards the knees. Never in any circumstances allow the hands and feet to get ‘‘blue with cold. ” Anyone a, victim to chilblains should paint the first little red patch with collosol iodine ointment, iodex, or some similar non-irritaont preparation of iodine. This will prevent the chilblain from growing worse. • Never use tincture of iodine, because the alcohol in .this is an irritant.

Very irritating and painful chilblains are relieved by thoroughly massaging them with a camphoir liniment or an ointment containing menthol and oil of wintergreen. An old-fashioned ointment for unbroken chilblains is made in this way. Grate an ounce of beeswax into a small pot. Pour on just enough olive oil to cover the wax, and stand the pot in an oven so that the ingredients will slowly melt. When the ingredients cool) an excellent ointment (results.

Apply liberally to the infected parts at night and then protect with a cloth. In the morning all signs of chilblains will have vanished. A little of this ointment rubbed on .to any part threatened with chilblains will prevent the trouble developing. If chilblains break a hot fomentation is the best treatment, with an occasional soaking in hot water to which a little hydrogen peroxide (20 volumes) has been added. Another method is to apply a poultice. Bake a white turnip and scrape out the pulp. Mix it with a tablespoonful of salad oil, mustard ffhd grated horse-TadisK * Stake a poultice of the mixture and apply it on a piece of linen to the chilblains. Amy broken chilblain should be kept scrupulously clean and treated as a surgical wound.

CONDITIONS OF HAIR. The condition of the hair is often an indication of the state of the general health. 'lf the hair is lacl - g in gloss and vitality, if it is thin and coming out in handfuls, then it is a sure sign that the health, as well as the hair, is in poor condition. Much can be done :by massage,, brushing and shampooing, to restore the hair to its former glory, but attention must be paid to the underlying cause as well. A hair tonic should be used; and remember’that' dry hair and greasy hair require totally different tonics if the best results are to be obtained; but, whatever .type of tonic is employed, the scalp should be thoroughly . massaged before the tonic is used. Half the 1 benefit obtained from the use of a tonic is due to the massage. Loss of hair may be due to many different reasons, but the most frequent cause is nervous istrain. When this is the case massage is of very great benefit. Massage stimulates the blood-vessels beneath the scalp, which have become weakened through nerve strain, and so strengthens the hair roots. Neglected teeth and pyorrhoea are a -frequent cause of loss of hair. When .this is so nothing will really benefit the hair till the cause has been removed, and a dentist should be consulted before attention is paid to the hair. Very dry hair not only falls out, but is sometimes grey before its .time and it loses its gloss and colour. If your hair is dry and it becomes harsh and brittle a few days after it has been shampooed you may be sure that it needs a hot oil treatment. Olive oil is best for the purpose, and it should be thoroughly heated. Rub it well into the scalp and allow to remain for at least 15 minutes before shampooing. Wrap the head in hot towels in order to open the pores further and allow the oil to soak in. The object of the oil application is to minimise the drying effect of the shampoo, and if your hair is in bad •condition it is advisable to give it hot oil treatment every time before you shampoo it. Very greasy hair, of course, needs quite a different treatment. Greasy hair needs the application of a spirit lotion before shampooing. Always give at least thiree rinsings after the shampoo, and have the water for each slightly cooler than ,tlie last until the third is almost cold. Never wring the water out of the hair; just squeeze it gently out with, a towel The best thing with which to dry the hair is a piece of silk. It is far better than a towel, for there is no “fluff” to rub off on the hair, and it leaves the hair soft and silky-looking.

up in cellulose wrapping and hung in a cupboard or wardrobe. Cellulose wrapping affords complete protection from dust and moths. TO PREVENT MOULD, To prevent mould forming on the top of the liquid in which pickles are kept, put in a few pieces of horseradish root. A CHEAP DISINFECTANT. Permanganate of potash is an excellent and cheap disinfectant. Dissolve loz in a quart of boiling water and pour a little down every firkin once a week; it will keep the home sweet. ADVTCE TO WIVES AND MOTHERS. Perhaps one of the greatest needs of the age is to supply accurate information to women and girls on everything pertaining to their womanhood. There is hairdly a woman in the land who is not seeking anxiously for advice on some problem of this nature. . Perhaps it is a love problem, or one connected with motherhood or personal hygiene. Owing to a woman’s natural reserve, she often hesitates to seek help from friends or (relatives, who may, or may not, be sympathetic. The consequence is that she carries her worries alone, fretting over the fact that she needs help, but does not know where to turn for it. Appreciating this great need, f'The New Idea,” the Australian 3d weekly for women, has inaugurated a comprehensive service, by means of which any woman may obtain authoritative advice free of charge, and without divulging her identity if she so desires. *This service is offered to Australian and New Zealand women by “The .New Idea’s” new department. The current copy of “The New Idea” contains a free pattern enclosed of a lady’s office firock (34 inch bust), and a pattern of a matron’s frock (40 inch bust), can be obtained free by coupon. Short stories., a fine serial, a service of sixpenny patterns by post, and many other features, make “The New Idea” the woman’s friend and counsellor.