HOME REMEDIES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIII, Issue II, 14 July 1894, Page 46

HOME REMEDIES.

Sweet oil is useful on the chest, for burns and in liniments ; cocoanut oil is good to use on the chest, for rough and chapped hands and lips and burns. I prefer to use this oil when I can because there is no unpleasant smell about it, and it does not stain the clothing like sweet oi]. If one is suffering with a cold on the lungs and there is a pressure on the chest, take a piece of cloth large enough to well cover the lungs, tack to this, with a needle and thread, a thick layer of cotton bitting; next mix together two parts of sweet oil and one of strong spirits of camphor in a bottle and shake well while using ; with a warm hand apply this mixture freely on the surface where this pressure or pain is. If sore between the shoulders apply there also, and cover with cotton batting. The cotton should be made hot and placed over the lungs as soon as you have applied the oil and camphor. This simple remedy will often relieve great distress in the course of fifteen minutes after it is applied. It would be well before applying anything to the chest to put the patient in a warm bed, give a drop of aconite in cold water ; it would be best to keep in bed for several hours after this treatment.

Alcohol is very good for outside applications, and will often do more good than high priced liniments. Equal parts of sweet oil, alcohol and strong ammonia make a good liniment. Sometimes I use spirits of camphor in place of alcohol, and if for rheumatic pains I add a little oil of hemlock.