594. For preserving the Nails.—One ounce of oil of bitter almonds; one drachm of oil of tartar per deliquium; one ounce of prepared crabs'-eyes. Mix up with essence of lemon, to scent it.
La Forest recommends rubbing the nails with lemon as a detergent.
595. To whiten the Nails.—Mix two drachms of diluted sulphuric acid, one drachm of tincture of myrrh, and four ounces of spring-water. Cleanse the nails with soap, and then dip the fingers in the mixture.
596. To remove Stains from the Hands.—Dip your hands in warm water, and rub on the stain a small portion of oxalic acid powder and cream of tartar, mixed together in equal quantities. Keep it in a box. When the stain disappears, wash the hands with fine soap or almond cream. A box of this stain powder should always be kept on hand.
597. To make Wash-balls.—Shave thin two pounds of new white soap into about a tea-cupful of rose-water, then pour on as much boiling water as will soften it. Put into a brass pan a pint of sweet oil, half an ounce of oil of almonds, half a pound of spermaceti, and set all over the fire till dissolved; then add the soap and half an ounce of camphor, that has first been reduced to powder by rubbing it in a mortar, with a few drops of spirits of wine, or lavender-water, or any other scent. Boil ten minutes, then pour it into a basin, and stir it till it is quite thick enough to roll into hard balls, which must then be done immediately. If essence is used, stir it in quickly after it is taken off the fire.
598. Essence of Soap, for shaving or washing hands.—Take a pound and a half of fine white soap, in thin slices, and add thereto two ounces of salt of tartar; mix them well together, and put this mixture into one quart of spirits of wine, in a bottle which will hold double the quantity of the ingredients: tie a bladder over the mouth of the bottle, and prick a pin through the bladder; set it to digest in a gentle heat, and shake the contents from time to time, taking care to take out the pin at such times, to allow passage for the air from within. When the soap is dissolved, filter the liquor through paper, to free it from impurities; then scent it with a little bergamot or essence of lemon. It will have the appearance of fine oil, and a small quantity will lather with water like soap, and is much superior in use for washing or shaving.