3751. To avoid catching Cold.—Accustom yourself to the use of sponging with cold water every morning on first getting out of bed. It should be followed with a good deal of rubbing with a wet towel. It has considerable effect in giving tone to the skin, and maintaining a proper action in it, and thus proves a safeguard to the injurious influence of cold and sudden changes of temperature.
3752. Friction of the body is one of the most gentle and salutary kinds of exercise, cleaning the skin, dispersing stagnating humors, promoting perspiration, strengthening the fibres, and increasing the warmth and energy of the whole body.
3753. Depilatory.—Take of sulphate of sodium, or hydro-sulphate of soda, crystallized, three parts; quick-lime in powder, ten ditto; starch, ten; mix. This powder, mixed with a little water, and applied over the skin, acts so rapidly as a depilatory, that if it be removed in a minute or two after its application by means of a wooden knife, the surface of the skin will be entirely deprived of hair.
3754. By this process, the removal of hair becomes so simple, rapid, and safe in operation, that it will possibly supercede the use of the razor in many cases; it is only after several days that the hair begins again to appear.
3755. Brandy and Salt as a Medicine.—It is useful in the reduction of inflammation of fractured limbs or bruises, the alleviation of incurable sores, cure of ringworms, headache, toothache, inflammation in the eyes, ague, colic, pains in the side, chilblains, burns and scalds, cancers, sprains, open sores, asthmas, and complaints of the lungs.