TO LAUNDER A BLACK COTTON DRESS.—Black and white or all black muslin dresses seldom look well when they come from the laundry and black cotton does not appear to make a good "tub" dress. But if the following method is tried it will give the cotton a clear look and stiffness like new. Mix one half cup of flour with cold water to make smooth, then turn on two quarts of boiling water and cook five minutes. Add this starch, to enough warm water to wash the dress or waist in and wash the garment without using a particle of soap. Rinse in two waters and hang to dry. Just before ironing sprinkle on the wrong side.
REMEDY FOR PALLOR.—An excellent lotion in case of pallor is made from one tablespoon of tincture of benzoin and three ounces of rose water.
EGGS PRESERVED IN WATER GLASS.—(Silicate of Sodine.) By this method eggs may be kept fresh for eight months if rules are carefully followed. Boil a quantity of water and allow it to cool. Use one gallon of water and one quart of water glass and stir until thoroughly mixed. Use a glazed stone jar and deposit the eggs into the solution and see that the eggs are covered to the depth of at least an inch. The jar must be covered and stored in a cold place. The eggs must be perfectly fresh and best results are obtained if they are put in the solution as gathered from the nests each day. The shells must also be perfectly clean.—Mrs. Harry Hansen.
WASHING FLUID.—This fluid is guaranteed not to injure or take the color out of any fabric and may be used in soaking white clothes, prints and flannels. It is made and used as follows: Heat one gallon of water. Add one can Lewis lye, ten cents worth of crystal ammonia and ten cents worth of salts of tartar. Have water hot but not boiling and cork solution in a gallon jug. A teacupful to three or four pails of hot water is the amount needed in soaking soiled clothes.—Mrs. Harry Hansen.
Home Remedies for Simple Ailments
LINSEED POULTICE.—Four ounces linseed meal and ten ounces of boiling water. Mix gradually. Dip spoon in boiling water when you spread this mixture on the poultice cloth. Bind on inflamed parts.
MUSTARD POULTICE.—Two ounces of dry mustard mixed with the whites of two eggs to a paste. Spread on a cloth in a thick paste and apply while it is fresh and wet.
COLDS.—For a cold in the head just appearing inhale spirits of camphor. Put one or two drops of camphor on a small lump of sugar, dissolve in a wine glass of water, (one gill) and take a teaspoonful every half hour. Take a good cathartic or drink four or five glasses of hot water at bed time and in half an hour follow with four more glasses of hot water. Gargle sore throat with warm water and alcohol or warm water and salt using one level teaspoon of salt to a pint of water. If cold has made the throat or lungs sore, dip a cloth in cold water, wring dry and spread it on throat or chest. Cover with three thicknesses of dry flannel and bind it on securely. Take a hot foot bath and go to bed. This treatment should cure your cold. If is doesn't it will be a wise thing to call a physician in the morning before alarming symptoms are developed. Bathe frequently, drink plenty of water and keep the bowels in regular action and prevent colds.
TO REDUCE SWELLINGS.—Tincture of arnica or witch hazel applied to a bump on the head or a bruise where the skin is not broken brings relief from pain and often prevents inflammation and bad swellings.