Huthwaite History

GRUEL. - A small quantity of ground malt, added to gruel, increases its nutritive properties.

SLEEPLESSNESS, in the case of a feverish person, is often remedied by sponging the body with aromatic vinegar and water.

CAMPHORATED OIL. -An invaluable remedy for outward applications in any chest or throat trouble is camphorated oil, which can be procured of any chemist.

MEDICINE STAINS. -Stain on silver or plated spoons can be easily removed by rubbing them with a rag dipped in vinegar, and then washing carefully with soap and water.

MEDICINES. -In measuring medicine, it is well to remember that a teaspoonful is equal to one fluid drachm; a dessertspoonful is about two fluid drachms; a wineglass holds from one and a half to two ounces.

SWEEPING A SICK ROOM. -This may be done by going over the carpet with a mop wrung out in some ammonia and warm water. A broom may be used afterwards to collect what dirt there is left, but no dust will be raised.

COFFEE in the sick room is a powerful deodorant. The best way to use it is to freshly pound the coffee in a mortar (if no mill is at hand), and sprinkle the coffee on a red-hot iron surface. The fumes will immediately have the desired effect.

TO AIR A SICK ROOM. -Swing a door rapidly and quietly backwards and forwards, it will pump the bad air out of a room and draw in the fresh air from the window, which should be down at the top. Cover the patient over carefully to keep him out of the draught.

ANGELS ON HORSEBACK. Cut the rind off three very thin slices of fat bacon, beard three small oysters, and place on on each slice of bacon; then add two or three drops of lemon juice and a little cayenne pepper. Roll the bacon tightly round the oyster, place it on a skewer, fry lightly, and place each roll on a thin slice of buttered toast. Serve while very hot. If nicely cooked, this forms a dainty little dish for one whose appetite requires tempting.

EGGS. -An egg broken into a cup of tea, or beaten and mixed with a basin of milk, makes a breakfast more supporting than tea solely.

BARLEY WATER. -Wash a handful of common barley, then simmer it gently in three pints of water with a bit of lemon-peel. This is less apt to nauseate than pearl-barley; but the other is a very pleasant drink.

EMETICS. -You can generally excite vomiting by tickling the back part of the throat, as far as you can reach, or by giving plenty of warm water to drink, or mustard and water, or common salt and water.

ICE APPLICATIONS. -When applying ice to the head, it should first be powdered by wrapping it tightly in one corner of a thick cloth, and dashing it with force against some hard substance, such as a stone hearth, it may then by put in an India-rubber sponge bag, or inside a soft sponge.

TAPICOCA JELLY. -Choose the largest sort, pour cold water on to wash it two or three times, then soak it in fresh water five or six hours, and simmer it in the same until it becomes quite clear; then add lemon juice, wine and sugar. The peel should have been boiled in it. It thickens very much.

IT IS UNWISE to talk about a sick person in his presence; it is better to tell the doctor all particulars downstairs before he sees the patient. It is a bad plan to talk to anyone just outside the bedroom door, the indistinct sounds are most irritating to the patient, and he is sure to fancy he is being discussed, even if such is not the case.

IT IS MOST NECESSARY that anyone nursing a sick person should take care of themselves and their health, other-wise a breakdown may occur, which will add to the trouble of the house by giving the rest of the family two sick persons to look after instead of one. Six hours' sleep should be taken every night, or, if it is night nursing, that amount should be taken in a quiet room (not the sick room) during the daytime. Meals should also be taken regularly, not by fits and starts and at odd hours.

MOISTENING BABY'S LIPS with cold water, or giving him a drink of the same, will often soothe and refresh and stop the little one crying or fretting.

CHILDREN SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED to acquire the habit of drinking during meals. It is far better for their digestion if they get accustomed to drink only after meals. Another thing, a cold drink brought into contact with teeth previously heated may crack them.

COVERING THE EARS. -Young children should never by allowed to go out of doors in very cold weather with uncovered ears. A close hood is the most suitable head covering for a child in a cold climate, failing this, ear-tabs or fur, or large rosettes of ribbon or velvet may be used.

PERSEVERANCE may be taught even to a child who is inclined to yield easily to any difficulty. He should be encouraged to further effort when he grows weary, and made to feel that, unless the case is a very exceptional one, it shows weakness to fail because he will not persevere.

BACON FAT. -Many children have a great distaste for fat, and, indeed, seem really as though they could not eat it. Yet fat is most essential for them, especially if there is the slightest tendency towards consumption. Such children will often eat bread dipped in the fat of fried bacon when they refuse any other kind of fat.

A COLD SPONGE BATH is injurious if the child seems chilly after it, even if briskly rubbed with a towel. A good plan is to let the child stand with its feet in warm water while being sponged, and add a handful of coarse salt to the cold water. The temperature of the room in which the child is being bathed should not be below sixty-eight degrees.

THIN HAIR. -Vigorous massage of the scalp, to stimulate it, is necessary in treating a child's hair that does not grow luxuriantly. Whatever tonic is chosen, most of the good derived from it depends upon its being thoroughly rubbed into the roots of the hair. This should be done at least three times a week. The hair should be cut if it is very long and thin.

COMMENDATION. -Mothers should not forget to praise their children occasionally, particularly when it is evident that they are trying to do right. We all like to feel that our efforts are appreciated, and children require as much encouragement as their elders.

DON'T LET YOUR BABY get into the bad habit of expecting to be rocked to sleep. When it is bed-time put him in his cradle, no matter whether awake or asleep, and leave him to himself. If this habit is formed from the first he will go off quite happily without any more attention.

HONEY is an excellent food for children. It is nutritious, and may be eaten with impunity when taken with bread. Being a laxative, persona of sedentary lives may use it to advantage. It is hardly possible to eat it to an injurious extent, inasmuch as it acts as an aid to digestion.

COMPLAINTS BY CHILDREN of pain or discomfort should always be investigated; they may mean something serious, and should never be disregarded. When the cause is obvious and temporary, they should be encouraged to bear the pain of mind or body as cheerfully as possible, and to make the least instead of the most of it.

PUTTING AWAY FLANNELS. -Car should be taken that the children's flannels are perfectly clean, either washed or well brushed if they are dark garments, before being put away for the summer months. They should be rolled tightly in newspapers, turning in the ends and tying securely. The female moth cannot penetrate paper to lay her eggs in the woollen material, and thus it is safe from her ravages.

A THERMOMETER is almost indispensable in the nursery. It should, if possible, hand in he middle of the room, away from a door, window, wall and fireplace, where the mercury may be affected by the draught. Should the room be very hot in the middle of the day, or at night, a wet sheet should be hung over the window, and the door left open. Sprinkle the sheet, as it dries, with a whisk brush that has been dipping in cold water.