If the sleeplessness be caused by a nasty tickling cough, put a BRAN POULTICE (_see_), or similar FOMENTATION (_see_) on the back _behind_ where the cough catches. Then change cold towels _in front_ over the same place. Soap the head, and sleep will probably soon come. Where palpitation of the heart causes sleeplessness, change cold towels over the heart, fomenting the feet if necessary, and the palpitation will usually soon yield. _See_ Brain; Children's Sleep; Exercise; Head; Rest. Smallpox.--If an epidemic prevails in the neighbourhood, or a case occurs in the house, after _due and carefully performed_ vaccination of the family, the important matter to regard is _cleanliness_. Frequent and thorough washing and changing of all the clothes worn next the skin will do much to prevent possible infection. If the clothes are often changed, then, and well washed, and the skin gets a daily washing with soap and is sponged with hot vinegar, there is little danger of infection during an epidemic of smallpox, or even when nursing the disease. Acetic acid, or white wine vinegar, is even a more powerful cleansing agent than carbolic acid, and has the advantage of being non-poisonous. It is important in treatment to attack the disease early. We have known an attack completely defeated, and the patient cured, by a wet-sheet pack administered at the right time. The early symptoms are a great weariness and chilliness. In this _cold_ stage, half-a-teaspoonful of cream of tartar, in two tablespoonfuls of hot water, should be given every half-hour. Also (and this is important) wrap the feet and legs up over the knees in a large hot FOMENTATION (_see_). The head also may be packed in hot cloths. If the fever does not rise, the applications may continue. If the fever does come on, _cold_ cloths must be persistently changed on the head. This we have known _reduces_ the bodily temperature two degrees in half-an-hour, when if left alone it would probably have _risen_ two degrees. The whole body may be packed in a damp sheet, covered with dry blanket, and this continued cooling of the head still proceeded with. When the eruption has appeared, and the violent itching set in, the eruption must be persistently _soaked_ with weak ACETIC ACID (_see_), or good white wine vinegar and water. In this soaking, avoid giving the patient pain by too strong acid. The necessary healing power will be found in such a mixture as will only cause the eruption slightly to smart. It is not necessary to treat a patient all over at once. You will do better if you take one or two pimples at a time. You can then pass from part to part slowly, getting over the whole. You can use a little olive oil after this soaking with vinegar, and so keep off all danger of chill such as might occur if too much of the surface were treated at once.