The water acts as a hot poultice about the uterus and its adnexa; it is also astringent, and greatly relieves ovarian irritation and congestion. It is highly sedative, and is best used at night just before retiring. In severe cases better results will be obtained by its use twice daily. In that case one douche must be taken in the morning, but in cold weather it must never be taken immediately before going out-of-doors; there must be at least one hour between the time of taking the douche and going out into the cold air. Patients taking hot douches must be warned that the pelvic viscera are much more susceptible of chilling because of these heating procedures, and of the necessity to counteract this tendency by the wearing of woolen abdominal bands, both night and day. Ordinarily, plain hot water is all that is necessary to use, but if the vaginal discharge is irritating, one teaspoonful of borax may be added to the pint of water; or one teaspoonful of cooking salt; or one-half teaspoonful of the sulphate of zinc. =Douching the Ear.=—This procedure is made use of to remove impacted ear-wax or to relieve the pain of earache. A small fountain syringe should be used, hung not more than 3 feet above the head. The water should have a temperature of from 105° to 110° F. The nozzle must be small, and have a very fine opening, and great care must be used in its introduction not to allow the nozzle to enter beyond the external opening of the ear. A pus-basin or small dish may be used to protect the clothing from getting wet. After the procedure is finished, the ear is dried by means of a very fine handkerchief or a little absorbent cotton. CHAPTER III THE CARE OF THE SKIN AND ITS APPENDAGES The Complexion; the Action of the Bath in Health; the Proper Time to Bathe; the Care of Wash-cloths; Cleansing the Face; Protection of the Face; the Use of So-called Cosmetics for the Face; Facial Blemishes, Freckles, Liver Spots, Sallow Complexion, Pimples, Acne, Eczema, Wrinkles, and Their Treatment; the Relation of Diseases of the Skin to Internal Disorders. The Hair; Dandruff; Causes and Treatment of Premature Thinness of the Hair and Baldness; the Care of the Hair; Gray Hair. The Cosmetic Care and Treatment of the Hands; Cosmetic of the Nails; the Care of the Feet; Painful Affections of the Feet. The face is a complete index of the life of the individual written large, so that he who runs may read. By looking at the condition of the skin and the whites of the eyes we can judge very fairly of the digestion. From the dulness or brilliancy of the eyes we can make a very good diagnosis of the mental condition. From the general expression of the face we can read the kind of life that has been led by the individual, whether of pleasure, dissipation, or sorrow.