TO MAKE CHEAP BLACKING.
Take 4 oz. of ivory black, 3 oz. of the coarsest moist sugar, a table spoonful of sweet oil, and a pint of small beer, with half a spoonful of the oil of vitrol; mix them gradually, cold.
HEAD ACHE.
Ceplinile snuff in a general way remove the afflicting pain of the head ache. One scruple of turpeth mineral, half a dram of powdered ginger, 1 scruple of powdered nutmeg, 3 drops of oil of rosemary, well mixed, and snuffed up the nose.
CURE FOR WEAK EYES.
Take a lump of white copperas about the size of a pea, put it in a small phial that contains about 2 ounces of water, carry this in the pocket, and occasionally taking out the cork, turn the phial on the finger’s end, and thus bathe the eyes. This will positively effect a cure in a short time.
INFLAMED EYES.
Is a very painful and well-known complaint, arising sometimes from cold, and frequently from a very acrid blood which stimulates the delicate vessels of the eye, swelling and inflaming them. The following eye waters are very good to cool sharp, hot humours, they may be readily prepared, and will more effectually answer their end if assisted by the use of diuretics at the same time. First, calaminaris levigated, half a dram, rose water, 2 oz.—Second, take white vitrol, 15 grains, rose water, 2 oz.—With either of these, the eyes may be washed at discretion, in all hot defluctions; but when the sight decays from dryness, or a defect in the optic nerve, such things can avail but little.—When a poultice is necessary, you may take half a pint of the decoction of linseed, and as much flour of linseed as is sufficient to make it a proper consistency. This poultice is preferable to bread and milk for sore eyes, it will not grow sour nor acid. In corroboration of the above, we give a letter to the editor of the Mechanics’ Magazine, page 95, vol. I.
“Sir,—Reading your miscellany to a friend, a cure for weak eyes, he had recourse to your receipt, and was cured in a short time, though he had previously spent much money without getting relief from the faculty. I hope your readers who may be in a similar situation, will follow the example.”