Domestic

New Zealand Tablet, 23 July 1908, Page 33

Domestic

By MAUREEN " Cotton- Bandages. In every household there should be kept ready a supply of bandages for emergencies. Cotton serves as a better t bandage than does linen, for the reason that linen more readily absorbs the albuminous serum in burns and skin diseases of a moist character, thus keeping the surface dry and causing pain. .. It also absorbs the fatty substances used in -dressings, and thus -prevents their action on the skin. The cheese-cloth # used by physicians and surgeons is so cheap that it is possible to burn all bandages after once using. Value of Oatmeal. - * -'- ■ JT . • According to a medical " authority, a large measure of the food value of oatmeal is due to its capacity to stimulate tne action of the thyroid gland. After feeding a number- of young, rats for four to eight weeks on a diet oftuncooked oatmeal and water, an autopsy revealed in 'each- instance considerable enlargement of the thyroid, together with evidences of increased glandular activity. - He advises the use of oatmeal for breakfast in the form of porridge and milk,- the meal to be completed by a' 1 glass of milk and some bread "and butter, without bacon or any other form of meat. - - -.- Causes of Heart Disease. Medical men are inquiring into the increase in the number of deaths from heart disease. The causes assigned are business pressure, quick -lunches, haste, on every side,, running upstairs, and deprivation of sleep. Another cause, which has come in with late years, is the "abuse of the coal-tar, medical preparations, which relieve pain, but do so at the expense of_ the heart. It would be advisable for many people to take things a little more coolly and quietly, to eat their lunches "more slowly;- Walk upstairs, let others do the worrying, and- refrain from weakening the heart by means of pain-allaying medicine taken, without a physician's prescription. ' , . The Skin. ~ . . Pimples and tiny boils or sores on the skin are always due either to indigestion, weak health, or to the system being gut of order. The only way to cure these is to find out what causes " them, and -remedy that, and your skin ,avill soon be as good as ever. If they come from indigestion, go at once on a strict diet; leave off all kinds of sweets and fancy cakes, new bread, and sugar. Don't take wine, tea, soups, or -rich food of any kind. - Hot tea cakes and -sweet puddings must not be touched. At night take aperient medicine, and when the spots are cured take some simple tonic for a time.. Outdoor exercise must be taken -daily; sleep and live in well-ventilated rooms, and keep your bedroom window open at night. Fomentations. Though fomentations are' now so" largely used, there are i many people who have not the least id 2a how to apply one. To prepare a fomentation, lay a towel across a basin, allowing the ends to hang over. Place on this a double p'rece of flannel, and fold the sides of the towel over it. . Over this 'pour boiling water till it is well soaked, then take hold of the two ends of the towel and wring.- There should be, if possible, to do this .one holding eacil end of the towel. Thc^ towel should be well wrung, as the object is to get the flannel inside as dry as possible. Take the flannel out of the towel, shake, and apply at once, letting it down on the skin very gently, ' to prevent danger of burning. A badly wrung flannel is more likely to burn than one that has been "squeezed as dry as possible. After the fomentation is removed, cover the part affected with flannel or cotton wool to prevent danger from chill. If are to be constantly applied, two flannels should i.c provided, so that there may be no waiting about between the applications.