590. Camphor Cerate for Chapped Hands.—The following receipt was given to the contributor by a maid of honor to Queen Victoria. It is an excellent one. Scrape into an earthen vessel one ounce and a half of spermaceti and half an ounce of white wax; add six drachms of pounded camphor, and four table-spoonfuls of the best olive oil. Let it stand near the fire till it dissolves, stirring it well when liquid. Before the hands are washed, rub them thoroughly with a little of the cerate, then wash them as usual. Putting the cerate on before retiring, answers very well. This quantity costs about twenty-five cents, and will last three winters. The vessel it is kept in should be covered, to prevent evaporation.
591. Paste for Chapped Hands.—Mix a quarter of a pound of unsalted lard, which has been washed in soft water, and then in rose-water, with the yolks of two new-laid eggs, and a large spoonful of honey. Add as much fine oatmeal or almond-paste as will work into a paste.
Or:—Blanch one pound of bitter almonds, and pound them smooth in a marble mortar; add half an ounce of camphor, one ounce of honey, quarter of a pound of spermaceti, pounded and mixed with the almonds, till it becomes a smooth paste. Put it into jars, and tie it down till wanted.
592. To prevent inconvenience from Perspiration of the Hands.—Ladies who work lace or embroidery sometimes suffer inconvenience from the perspiration on their hands; which may be remedied, by rubbing the hands frequently with a little dry wheaten bran.
593. Another.—Any of the milder kinds of soaps will be found to answer the purpose of keeping the hands clean, soft, and as white as nature will permit.