Fits

Pulverize equal quantities of dried sage leaves and white sugar and take some every morning before breakfast for several weeks.

Heartburn

Dissolve 1 salt spoonful of salt in half a wineglass of water and drink.

Earache

Take a small piece of cotton wool; make a depression in the center and fill with black pepper; gather into a ball and tie up; dip it in sweet oil and insert it into the ear. Almost instant relief will be experienced. Tie a flannel bandage over the head. Juice from a roasted onion is good. A piece of salt pork cut in a pointed strip inserted in the ear will give relief.

Poultices

Poultices of bread and milk, flaxseed, slippery elm, or any other kind, may be worn with more comfort, and removed with more ease, if the surface is spread over, before applying, with a little perfectly fresh lard or sweet oil. If there is much pain, a few drops of laudanum may be mixed with the poultice. Spread always on soft old cloths.

Mustard plasters, or poultices, will not blister, only draw, if mixed with the white of an egg.

How To Prevent Chaffing

To Prevent Chaffing of the skin in an invalid, which is apt to occur after long confinement in bed, especially if the position cannot be frequently changed. Bathe the parts subjected to pressure at least twice a day with alcohol. This hardens the skin, or beat the white of an egg to a stiff froth and add while beating 2 teaspoonfuls of spirits of wine. Put in a bottle and apply occasionally with a feather. If these precautions should have been neglected, and soreness of the skin already appears, it may be healed by the following ointment. Take five cents worth each of quicksilver and aqua fortis, pour together and place over a slow fire. The aqua fortis will eat up the quicksilver, but if any should remain take out. Add a pint of lard and simmer a few minutes. This salve may be applied and will be found a cure.

Bleeding At The Nose

Stand perfectly erect, throw the head a little back, place the finger on the affected side of the nose, close the mouth tightly and draw air through the free nostril as long as possible. Repeat this until the bleeding ceases.

Second

Vigorous chewing motion of the jaws will arrest bleeding at the nose. If necessary take a wad of paper and chew hard. This is effectual.

The Ears

To remove peas, beans or pebbles from the ear, syringe them out with warm water. For a discharging ear, syringe out with warm water every morning, or take a bit of cotton with very small tweezers, and cleanse the ear with this. Then blow a small quantity of Boracic acid through a quill into the ear. This acid is harmless and a cure.

Insects lodging in the ear should be floated out by filling the ear cavity with sweet oil. This will, at least, kill the intruder, and, if it does not appear, call a doctor to remove it next day.

If cotton is to be used in the ear be sure to take a piece too large to slip into the ear cavity. Deafness is sometimes caused in this way. Never wear cotton unless absolutely necessary.