Household Hints

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 232, 9 February 1910, Page 3

Household Hints

Use of lodine. —lodine is sometimes used in case 3 of inflammation as a counter irritant on the surface, and also to prevent the spread of cutaneous or skin disorders. As is well known, it makes the skin very dark and is offensive to the sight. It has been found if the iodine is put on in the dark, the only light U3ed being a red light such as an ordinary photographic lantern, the skin will neither be discoloured nor blistered, even under prolonged use. The part painted should be immediately covered up, as exposure to any white light fixes the iodine in the skin.

Nettie-Rash in Infants. Among young children urticaria or nettle rash is frequently seen. The eruption which, as is name implies, resembles that produced by the the sting of a nettle, is usually caused by an attack of indigestion, it is hot serious, though the itching which it sets up is very distressing and disturbing to the child. The spots should be frequently patted with warm water containing bicarbonate of soda in solution. From one to three grains of calomel, according to the age of the child, may be given internally, or a dose of citrate of magnesia may be given. The diet should be confined to milk and water until the rash has disappeared.

A good floor pdiisli is that of a quarter of a pound of beeswax and an ounce of white wax, which should be steeped in a quart of turpentine. After a couple of days an ounce of shredded white soap, dissolved in a breakfast cupful of boiling water must be stirred in ; and when thoroughly mixed bottle for use. A little of it spread on a piece of flannel can be employed at a time, and a good polish produced by rubbing.

Onion juice represents an oldfashioned remedy for scorched linen which can hardly be improved on. To extract the juice, two onions should be peeled, sliced, and pounded in a mortar. Half an ounce of white soap should then be shredded, mixed with two onces of fuller's earth, and then with the onion juice, and half a pint of vinegar. After boiling the ingredients together, the mixture should be spread when cool over the scorched part of the linen, and left to dry. If the linen is then washed in the ordinary way the stain should disappear quickly.

To renovate a black chip hat. —After having removed all the trimming, head lining, etc., and thoroughly well brushed the hat, in order to free it from all adhering dust, paint it over with a mixture composed of one part of black ink to two of thin salad oil. You will find this method better to use in the case of a chip than ordinary black hat polish, which dries too stiffly for a soft make of straw. To clean light suede glove 3, put them on, then thoroughly rub in a mixture composed of finely powdered fuller's earch and alum in equal parts. Brush this off, and then rub with mixed dry bran and whiting. To dry-clean scarlet cloth or brightcoloured materials, take one ounce of flour, and two ounces of fuller's earth, make them hot in the oven, and rub them into the material with a clean flannel. After a time brush the cloth, and shake thoroughly.