Mrs. Hale's Receipts for the Million: Containing Four Thousand Five Hundred and Forty-five Receipts, Facts, Directions, etc. in the Useful, Ornamental, and Domestic Arts
John Stuart Mill · en
867. _To make Artificial Sea Water, for bathing Children._--Take
common sea salt, two pounds; bitter purging salt, two ounces,
magnesia earth, half an ounce; dissolve all in river water, six
gallons. These are the exact proportions and contents of sea water,
from an accurate analyzation.
868. _Another method of making Sea Water._--Take common salt, half an
ounce; rain, or river water, pure, a pint; spirit of sea salt, twenty
drops. Mix it.
869. _Valuable concise Rules for preserving Health in Winter._--Keep
the feet from wet, and the head well defended when in bed; avoid
too plentiful meals; drink moderately warm and generous, but not
inflaming liquors; go not abroad without breakfast. Shun the night
air as you would the plague; and let your houses be kept from damps
by warm fires. By observing these few and simple rules, better health
may be expected than from the use of the most powerful medicines.
870. _Avoid, as much as possible, living near Church-yards._--The
putrid emanations arising from church-yards are very dangerous;
and parish-churches, in which many corpses are interred, become
impregnated with an air so corrupted, especially in spring, when the
ground begins to grow warm, that it is prudent to avoid this evil as
much as possible, as it may be, and, in some cases, has been, one of
the chief sources of putrid fevers which are so prevalent at that
season.
871. _Cautions in visiting Sick Rooms._--Do not venture into a sick
room if you are in a violent perspiration; for the moment your body
becomes cold, it is in a state likely to absorb the infection; nor
visit a sick person, (if the complaint be of a contagious nature,)
with an _empty stomach_, nor swallow your saliva. In attending a
sick person, place yourself where the air passes from the door or
window, to the bed of the invalid, not between the invalid and the
fire, as the heat of the fire will draw the infectious vapor in that
direction, and you would run much danger from breathing in it.
872. _Syncope, or Fainting._--When fainting comes on from loss of
blood, inanition, or sudden emotions of the mind, the patient should
be placed in a horizontal position, with the head gently raised.
Volatile salts should be applied to the nose, and when the patient
is sufficiently recovered, a few spoonfuls of warm cordial medicine
should be administered.
873. _Preventive of Autumnal Rheumatisms._--For the sake of bright
and polished stoves, do not, when the weather is cold, refrain from
making fires. There is not a more useful document for health to the
inhabitants of this climate, than "follow your feelings."
874. _To promote Sleep._--No fire, candle, rush-light, or lamp,
should be kept burning, during the night, in a bed-room; for it not
only vitiates the air, but disturbs the nerves of the child. Keep the
bed-chamber well ventilated--this greatly promotes healthful rest.