USEFUL RECEIPTS FOR FAMILY PRACTICE

3712. _Prevention of Baldness._--Eau de Cologne two ounces, tincture of cantharides two drachms, oil of rosemary, oil of nutmeg, and oil of lavender, each ten drops. To be rubbed on the bald part of the head every night.

3713. _Cramp in Bathing._--For the cure of the cramp when swimming, Dr. Franklin recommends a vigorous and violent shock to the part affected, by suddenly and forcibly stretching out the leg, which should be darted out of the water into the air if possible.

3714. _Biting the Nails._--This is a habit that should be immediately corrected in children, as, if persisted in for any length of time, it permanently deforms the nails.

3715. Dipping the finger-ends in some bitter tincture will generally prevent children from putting them to the mouth; but if this fails, as it sometimes will, each finger-end ought to be encased in a finger-stall until the propensity is eradicated.

3716. _Flour of Brimstone_ is a mild aperient in doses of about a quarter of an ounce; it is best taken in milk.

3717. _To Fill a Decayed Tooth._--Procure a small piece of gutta percha, drop it into boiling water, then, with the thumb and finger, take off as much as you suppose will fill up the tooth nearly level, and while in this soft state press it into the tooth; then hold on that side of the mouth cold water two or three times, which will harden it.

3718. _Cod-liver oil._--Cod-liver oil is neither more nor less than cod-oil clarified; and consequently two-thirds of its medicinal qualities are abstracted thereby.

3719. _Cod oil_ can be purchased pure at any wholesale oil warehouse, at about one-thirtieth part of the price charged for the so-called cod-liver oil. Many persons who have used cod-oil pure as imported, have found it to answer much better than the cod-liver oil purchased of a druggist.

3720. The best vehicle for taking cod-liver oil in, is new milk; and the disagreeable flavor of the drug can easily be covered by the addition of one drachm of orange peel to every eight ounces of the oil.

3721. _To prevent Lockjaw, from a Nail run into the Foot, or any other injury._--Pour some turpentine into a tin cup and hold it over a lighted candle or the fire until it boils. It boils at so low a temperature that it will not burn when applied to the skin. Make a swab by wrapping soft muslin or linen round a stick. Dip this in the turpentine and apply it to the wound, rubbing it in carefully for some time. Apply it as warm as can be borne.--(See page 375.)

3722. _Squinting._--Squinting frequently arises from the unequal strength of the eyes, the weaker eye being turned away from the object, to avoid the fatigue of exertion. Cases of squinting of long standing have often been cured by covering the stronger eye, and thereby compelling the weaker one to exertion.

3723. It is often a question amongst people who are unacquainted with the anatomy and physiology of man, whether lying with his head exalted, or even with the body, is most wholesome. Most, consulting their own ease on this point, argue in favor of that which they prefer.

3724. Now, although many delight in bolstering up their heads at night and sleep soundly without injury, yet we declare it to be a dangerous habit. The vessels through which blood passes from the heart to the head, are always lessened in the cavities when the head is resting in bed higher than the body, therefore, in all diseases attended with fever, the head should be pretty near on a level with the body; and people ought to accustom themselves to sleep thus to avoid danger.

3725. _Dyeing the Hair._--It may be stated once for all that this practice is decidedly injurious. It may fail altogether in producing the desired result; it is never unattended by a certain amount of unpleasant circumstances, and frequently with evil results.

3726. _In the first place_, the alteration of the abnormal color, so far as the general aspect of the face is concerned, has an effect the very reverse of that which was intended. Every constituent part of man tends to make the human machine one harmonious whole. The figure, the stature, the skin, the hair, the gait, &c.

3727. _Fair hair_ is associated with a sanguineous and lymphatic temperament, a fine and white skin, blue eyes, and a soft and mild expression.

3728. _Black hair_, on the contrary, is generally connected with a bilious habit of body, a muscular and nervous temperament, a dark and yellowish skin, lively black eyes, and a bold, proud air.

3729. _Red hair_ is associated with a peculiar constitution, although closely approaching to the fair type. In this variety the skin is transparent, fresh, and presents a peculiar limpidity, which belongs exclusively to the color of hair mentioned.

3730. _The Contrast._--If, then, from the impression that red hair is a disfigurement, it is dyed black, what relation can exist between this new color and the soft blue eye, and a skin so fine and so susceptible, that the sun's rays seem to penetrate it, in the form of those lentiginous spots commonly called freckles.

3731. Be at much pains to keep your children's feet dry and warm. Don't bury their bodies in heavy flannels and wools, and leave their knees and legs naked.

3732. _For Nausea._--Three drops of hartshorn in a wine-glass of water.

3733. _For Sick Headache._--One teaspoonful of pulverized charcoal and one-third of a teaspoonful of soda mixed in very warm water.

3734. _Decoction of Sarsaparilla._--Take four ounces of the root, slice it down, put the slices into four pints of water, and simmer for four hours. Take out the sarsaparilla, and beat it into a mash; put it into the liquor again, and boil down to two pints, then strain and cool the liquor. Dose--a wine-glassful three times a day.

3735. Use--to purify the blood after a course of mercury; or indeed whenever any taint is given to the constitution, vitiating the blood, and producing eruptive affections.

3736. _Cough Syrup._--Steep for twelve hours or more a teacupful of wild-cherry bark in a quart of water. Add sugar enough to make it quite sweet and let it boil to a syrup.

3737. _Cough Syrup--Very Good._--Take a large handful of the herb hoarhound, and the same quantity of boneset. Steep them in a quart of water till it is reduced to a pint. Then strain the tea and mix with it a pint of syrup and a pint of sugar. Let it simmer for three or four hours, skimming it.

3738. _Cure for Pain in the Ear._--Take a teaspoonful of brown sugar, put it on a shovel or any thing that you can place over hot coals of fire until it gets thick, dissolve it in camphor, and drop it in the ear.

3739. _Gingerbread Aperients._--Gingerbread, made with oatmeal or with barley flour, is a very agreeable aperient for children. Beware of giving children medicines too frequently.

3740. _For Bowel Complaints._--One tablespoonful of flour, one ditto of brandy, one ditto of loaf sugar, mixed together.

3741. _Jaundice._--One pennyworth of allspice, ditto of flour of brimstone, ditto of turmeric; these to be well pounded together, and afterward to be mixed with half-a-pound of molasses. Two table-spoonsful to be taken every day.

3742. _Night Sweats._--Drink freely of cold sage tea; said to be a certain remedy; or, take elixir of vitriol in a little sweetened water. Dose from twenty to thirty drops.