'E couldn't speak, bud 'e maade ma a sign ti send t' lahtle lass away, an' ah bade 'er roon 'oam ti 'er moother. Then ah knelt doon an' raised 'im in ma arms, an' it weant long—thank God, it weant long.
Well, it's ten year sin, as ah said, an' it's an owd story noo, an' t' grass is green on 'is graave. T' lahtle lass keeps it rare an' gay wi' flooers. Shoo's growin' a graat gell noo, an' it weant be long afoor t' lads begin ti coom aboot 'er, for shoo's growin' bonny; bud shoo's niver forgotten Gus, an' if shoo iver did, ah wouldn't oan 'er as ma darter, that ah wouldn't!
[ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.]
MEDICAL.
Freda.—Of the cause of exophthalmic goître but little is known for certain. Worry or anxiety often precede the onset of the disease. Unlike ordinary goître this affection is not limited in any way to certain districts, but occurs in every part of the country. "Is it curable, and if so, how long should a moderate case take to cure?" Yes, many cases do recover. When the disease is very marked, recovery is unusual. But now that surgeons have directed their attention to the disease there is every reason to believe that the severer grades of the affection may yield to operative treatment. We can no more tell you how long an attack of exophthalmic goître will last than we could tell you the day of your death. Sometimes the disease disappears in six months or a year, often it drags on for many years. As a rule, if the symptoms develop rapidly, the disease runs a rapid course. Men are comparatively rarely attacked. We can, however, call to mind a fair number of cases of exophthalmic goître in the male sex. Unmarried women of from twenty to thirty years of age are the usual victims of this disease.
Worried.—1. In all probability your sister would get better and stronger after marriage. Of course it depends a good deal upon the cause of her malady. She had far better go to her family doctor and get his advice upon the matter. We cannot take the responsibility of giving a definite answer to your question from such a very scanty amount of information.—2. There are so many books on travel and science, suitable to ordinary readers, that it is rather difficult to choose any particular volume. One of the best books on science for a beginner—that is, a person who is beginning to read science—is a little work called Ants and their Ways, by the Rev. Farren White. It is a charming little volume which will instil into anyone who reads it the habit of observation—so all-important in science. The book is very moderate in price. It is published by the Religious Tract Society. If you turn to the advertisement sheets at the back of this paper you will see notices of a number of very good books on both science and travel.
Matron.—Obviously the book you want is the British Pharmacopœia. This gives definite instructions how to make up every official preparation. There is a new edition just published. For the drugs which are not in the British Pharmacopœia, Squire's Companion to the British Pharmacopœia may be consulted. You will do well to thoroughly master the decimal measures, and to use them exclusively, as they are now official and will alone be used in the future. The old and confusing apothecaries' measures are now out of date.
Alta.—For the bites and stings of midges, etc., rub a little dilute ammonia on the bite. This usually relieves the pain instantly. It is better to put a drop of dilute carbolic acid (about 1 in 100) upon the bite after using the ammonia. The reason for this is that the trouble from an insect's bite is dependent upon two causes. In the first place the insect actually drops poison into the bite. This, which is usually formic acid, makes the wound smart at once, but its effect passes off in a little time. Ammonia neutralises this acid and so gives instant relief. But there is a second cause of trouble which is far more serious. The bite of a fly has caused more deaths than you would think, and from this reason. Flies of all kinds are given to feed on garbage, and as they have not yet learnt to use a toothbrush, their mouths are always swarming with germs. Usually these germs are not of a very virulent kind. But suppose that a midge has been eating the carcase of an animal which has died from peritonitis. That fly is now more deadly than a viper, for on its tongue it has a poison which is capable of rapid increase if it ever finds a suitable home. If this fly bites you, you may die from the bite. Everyone knows that often an insect sting or bite does not ache or swell at first; but after several hours the place becomes hot and swollen, and if the place bitten be the hand, the arm begins to swell and the glands in the armpit enlarge. In this case a mild dose of microbes has been innoculated. Ammonia will not in most cases destroy these microbes. Therefore, we say, put a drop of dilute carbolic acid on the place as soon as you can. The ammonia simply relieves a little itching (for the poison of the insect itself is rarely dangerous), but the carbolic acid destroys organisms which are capable of great mischief. Rubbing the face and hands with oil of eucalyptus, or paraffin, will sometimes prevent insects from coming near you.
Lily, My Queenie.—1. Is the skin round your eyebrows scarred? Hair never grows on scars, nor can it be made to do so by any means in our power. If there are no scars, try a little white precipitate ointment applied carefully to the eyebrows.—2. Moles cannot be cured. They can be removed by operation. If they are large and noticeable it is better to have them removed. Otherwise leave them severely alone.