Getting Gold: A Gold-Mining Handbook for Practical MenJohnson, J. C. F. (Joseph Colin Francis)
History
Getting Gold: A Gold-Mining Handbook for Practical Men
Johnson, J. C. F. (Joseph Colin Francis)
Gold mines and mining
Medicine is also a matter well worthy of thought. The author’s worst
enemy would not call him a mollycoddle, yet he has never travelled in
far wilds without carrying something in the way of medicine. First,
then, on this subject, it cannot be too often reiterated that if common
Epsom salts were a guinea an ounce instead of a penny the medicine would
be valued accordingly, but it is somewhat bulky. What I specially
recommend, however, is a small pocket-case of the more commonly known
homoeopathic remedies, “Mother tinctures,” or first dilutions, which
are small, light, and portable, with a small simple book of
instructions. Though generally an allopath in practice, I once saved my
own life, and have certainly helped others by a little knowledge in
diagnosing complaints and having simple homoeopathic remedies at hand
to be used in the first stages of what might otherwise have been serious
illnesses.
PRODUCING FIRE.
Every one has heard, and most believe, that fire may be easily produced
by rubbing together two pieces of wood. I have seen it done by
aboriginals, but they seldom make use of the operation, which is
generally laborious, preferring to carry lighted fire sticks for miles.
I have never succeeded in the experiment.
Sometimes, however, it is almost a matter of life or death to be able to
produce fire. The back of a pocket knife, or an old file with a fragment
of flint, quartz, or pyrites struck smartly together over the remains of
a burnt piece of calico, will in deft hands produce a spark which can be
fanned to a glow, and so ignite other material, till a fire is produced.
Also it may not be generally known that he who carries a watch has a
“burning glass” with which he can, in clear weather, produce fire at
will. All that is required is to remove the glass of your watch and
carefully three parts fill it with water (salt or fresh). This forms a
lens which, held steadily, will easily ignite any light, dry,
inflammable substance.
When firearms are carried, cut a cartridge so that only about a quarter
of the charge of powder remains. Damp some powder and rub it on a small
piece of dry cotton cloth or well-rubbed brown paper. Push a loose
pellet of this into the barrel, insert your half cartridge, fire at the
ground, when the wad will readily ignite, and can be blown into flame.
TO COPY CORRESPONDENCE.
The prospector is not usually a business man; hence in dealing with
business men who, like Hamlet, are “indifferent honest,” he frequently
comes to grief through not having a copy of his correspondence. It is
most desirable, therefore, either to carry a carbon paper duplicating
book and a stylus, or by adding a little sugar to good ordinary black
ink you may make a copying ink; then with the aid of a “yellow back”
octavo novel, two pieces of board, and some ordinary tissue paper, you
may take a copy of any letter you send.
TO PROVIDE A SIMPLE TELEGRAPHIC CODE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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