Matron.—A jagged tooth in the jaws of a woman aged fifty is a most undesirable thing. The “white patch” upon your tongue is caused, as you know, by the tooth. If you let the tooth remain in your head, that “white patch” will become a cancer. Go to a dentist and have the tooth out at once. Do not delay, for in a short time it will be too late.
Miriam.—Obviously your toothache is due to the decayed teeth. You must have these thoroughly seen to, either stopped or else removed, according to their condition. Toothache is an inflammation of the pulp of the tooth; the pain is due to pressure upon the nerves. The reason why pain is so severe in inflammation of a tooth is because the pulp cavity is an unyielding structure, and so the nerves are compressed between the “matter” formed by the inflammation and the wall of the cavity.
Uvula.—We discussed the causes of bad breath at some length a short while ago. Your trouble is doubtless due to the double cause of bad teeth and an unhealthy condition of the nose. As you are going to do the right thing and have your teeth seen to, we need not say much about this. But as regards your nose, you have a condition which is unfortunately exceedingly common among young women. It is a most difficult disease to eradicate, but with care can be kept in check, and the offensive smell altogether banished. Use as a spray or wash, and also as a gargle, four times a day, the following lotion:—bicarbonate of soda, 200 grains; carbolic acid, 30 grains; glycerine, one ounce, and water to the pint. Use the lotion warm. Afterwards apply to the interior of the nose, with the little finger, benzoated zinc ointment, and apply this ointment many other times a day.
Uvea.—Enlarged uvula is a common complaint. It gives rise to cough and other signs of throat irritation. Rarely is the uvula enlarged without other parts of the throat being unhealthy. The best treatment for an enlarged uvula is to have part of it cut away. Failing this, painting the uvula with menthol in paraleine, or better, with glycerine of tannic acid, will reduce its size.
“THE BRIDE.” (Gladiolus Colvillei Alba.)
MISCELLANEOUS.
Edie.—We prefer not to give recommendations as to the use of cosmetics. Unless analytical chemists, we could not say of what they are composed; unless skin-doctors, we could not pronounce of their efficacy, nor even their harmlessness; and unless we were personally acquainted with you, we could form no idea of what would suit your individual case. A recipe of the Empress Josephine’s has been found, and it appears that she used to pour boiling milk over a basinful of violets, with which she bathed her face and neck every morning. This very simple bath is used by French ladies to this day, from the time they discovered the treatment adopted by the Empress, so beautiful in complexion, and an enormous trade in this flower, and for this purpose, is carried on in Paris at this present time. We think it wrong to waste so much milk.
Irene.—Situations of this kind, as nurse or maid for the one voyage, are generally obtained by advertisement in a daily paper, or perhaps in one of the weeklies which deal with the subject, such as the Queen. No remuneration perhaps in some cases, or very little. This would be, of course, a subject for personal agreement. But there are many people who advertise themselves as willing to give their services, their passage-money being paid.
Goosie Gander.—1. If an assumed name or pseudonym be sent with a manuscript, the sender should also include his or her real name and address.—2. The length of stories is in accordance with what the Editor needs, and a story should not be difficult to shorten, or, in the reverse case, to lengthen, if required.