Housekeeper.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 446, 3 November 1904, Page 7

Housekeeper.

BAJWP BEDS. TRAVELKjypS who suspect damp place a mirror between them few minutes—a handglass suffices. "■'*^ ; .n removing the glass it is cloudy, there it-proof that the sheets have not been properly aired. The sheets should be removed and the; blankets tested in similar fashion. A travelling rug should always bo carried to replace damp sheets or blankets in case of necessity. A few newspapers or a sheet or two of stout brown paper give further protection.

PNEUJfIONIA AflD BRONCHITIS.

The syjmptons of these complaints are not marked to very many people. It is much the same thing as the difference between a disease of the branches of a tree and its leaves. The wind-pipe, at the root of the neck, splits up into many pipes, which are called bronchi, and these carry the air to the lung cells. When the latter, which constitute almost the entire outer and principal portion of the lungs, are inflamed, that constitutes pneumonia. When these small pipes, or tubes, are inflamed, it is called bronchitis. Bronchitis is readily recognised by its hoarse, barking cough. It is much less dangerous than pneumonia, unless chronic.

CAUSE AND CURE OF GASTRIC CATARRH.

Chronic .congestion of the stomach, known as gastric catarrh, is usually caused by one of the following errors, or by all of them put together: Eating too much or too fast; swallowing food insufficiently masticated ; the use of such coarse foods as cabbage, greens, etc. '. mustard,, pepper, sauce, ginger, and other condiments and spices; pastry containing animal fats ; free fats, which lodge in the stomach and remain there a long time ; pork, griddle cakes, and burned fats; —these are the things : that produce gastric catarrh. The first and most necessary step in the treatment of this disease is to remove the cause of the trouble. We may induce activity of the skin by hot applications followed by cold—a hot bath followed by a very short application of cold ; fomentations, followed by a short cold application to the stomach. These treatments are useful, but the most important factor is the regulation of the diet.' [j A fruit diet is best, for the reason that in gastric catarrh there is a great accumulation of germs which are destroyed by fruit juice.

USEFUL MINTS

Hard water for washing purposes may be softened by addiDg to it some powdered borax—in the proportion of a teaspoonful to a quart of water.

To remove mildew from linen, soap the spots while wet, cover them with fine chalk, scraped to a powder, and rub in the latter well.

To remove wine-stains, held the stained article in milk that is boiling on the fire till the stains have boiled out.

It is said that meat may be kept from spoiling by being rubbed over with the following mixture—Take in the proportion of a quart of vinegar, two ounces each of lump sugar and salt. Boil these together for a few minutes, and when cold brush the meat with some of the liquid.