Domestic

New Zealand Tablet, 20 December 1906, Page 33

Domestic

By '' Maureen '

Two Useful -Hints 'Alout- Sewing Machines. . " • A- sewing machine" may be Easily threaded by those with imperfect sight", „if - the ".machinist places, .a piece of something white— a piece _oL white., paper., will" do— under the - foot of the machine, for this^sfo^wsX. up . well the ' eye >f the needle.. When machining frail- materials,snch* as 'muslins, Lhin silks, lace, etc., a. piece- of tissue paper, -placed over the" material will* prevent-ijj. -from - cockling.- ' - ,l-r ' - . . ; Dry Toast, --• - - A leading medical journal "points out that toastedbread' is really , very wholesome, - even for invalids. .One thing in. 1 its w favor is the fact- that ' it places a lighter tax on the digestive-functions--' - than . ordinary ' bread," since during its preparation some of the starch grains^ of thejflour are ruptured, while "some _afe - eori--vertcd4nt'o dextrine, .which is. easily sqluble. Further, - the crispness of toust- necessitates its" being completely, moistened in the moutrr before' it can be swallowed.' As a rule, Therefore, toast is thoroughly" submitted to the action of the preliminary digestive " process -„. in ihe - "nioxithr - It -is important, however, tbat toasi shoulU be crisp all through, ~as otherwise the internal " portions " tend 4o become plastic and soft, like new bread, and like it difficult of digestion if not thoroughly masticated. To' secure this the slices -of "bread should be first -" put in the warm, stove to ' absorb ,' sqme of -the moisture, and then toasted, when the desire~d crispness will |" be - obtained. " , - " Crying Babies. Nothing is more difficult 'to the"' untrained nurse than to diagnose' "a baby : s cry. That something, is wrong is at once apparent, but the cause is generally -hard- to seek. It should, however^ - -*be remembered tli,at, infants rarely - cry - when dangerously ill, and ~in cases of severe illness the first outbreak of sobbing is 1- generally regarded- as "a - hopeful- sign. When a baby suffers from bronchitis hi its early stages its cry is hoarse, fretful, aiid rattling -, a croupv child when suffer ing from .an attack gives vent to frejful, .sharp- cries, while in ilie case of inflammation of'tlu- lungs it can better ' be described as moaning. - - _~ Cotton" should never be placed next an infant's skin, as this material neither absorbs the perspiration, nor does, it keep the y small limks__w_arm, and in the- case of a sudden change of temnetatoire, -when in .the "open air or exposed to a draught,-' a "chdll will be the le - suit.- ""j - ■ 'llpw, -to Clean Garments at Home. For ordinary .garment cleaning purposes ~lhere A is nothing like soap and water. It i^ the" stand-by "of _. the 1 dry cleaner, and is often employed when his judgment convinces him, that the .use of., naphtha, benzine; or gasoline are unsafe. \Vhen cleaning "-garments --at home select a clear day "for • the op.cratioiv, so - that - they can fe dried in the opmn ?anr. Have ready pknty of clear, hot-water and soriie good whito- soa/p; ordinary laundry soap will not " do, because it contains too large a proportion of ailcali.' For , woollen fabrics, -the water must be as >hot as the hands can bear, frut for silks it should be several degrees cooler.To not rub the soap on the goods in either case, but dissolve it in the water -tefore putting thef garjnents in. Dash the' v latter about tn.the solution, rubbing the badly- soiled, part's between- the hands, but not on the washboard. If this is not effectual, try brushing with a clean nail brush: ' This- method must not be. tried on^silken fabrics,- for these should be treated more tenderly. When the dirt has- all been washs! out rinse the articles -quickly in- several waters,- each cooler .than the- last ; shake -iliem well, -and:- hang them on the line in. a shady spot, letting Ihem drip dry. -See first >ha4r the line is. clean, and do • not:" al{temn"ir'ftj wring the water out of them," for wrinkles caused by wring- ' ing .are almost impossible t-o press out.' Pull seams; collar, sleeves, etc., into as .the -gurmient-'hangs' and when ready dry press" on 'the wrong"" skle with a hot -iron, applying v the latter "over a piec^' of Ihin paper, - and using a clean ironing elot'li— a flannel one if the material is embroidered. - Silk should . not he hung up \o dry, but should be "partially dried b^twpen toAyels and then -ironed. . Trimmings of lace and fiWion •arc- best removed before Avashhn«;...-.^A.ttenfioh ie, these Vdetails will turn the .arti-l<K3.;<oJut like new. ap.-l sa.ve Mhe necessity of sending- them out: to ."the dry-cleaners