Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-12-09
he FInger.EaiIs-HOw to Preserve and
Beauiify Them


THE following bliof treatise on the
management of the finger nails will, we
are sure, prove interesting to our lady
readers. 1t is from the pen of dis
tinguished surgeon chiropodist of this
country.-ED. TIMES,
The nails are placed at the extrem-
tiles of the fingers and toes to cover and
protect from injury the numerous SEN
sitive nerves OF touch. The nails of the
fingers, when we'll formed, contribute
greatly to the symmetry of the hand
They constitute in the lady an import
ant feature of personal attraction. Ac-
cording to European fashion, they
should be of an oval figure, transparent,
without specks or ridges of any kind;
the semi-lunar fold, or white half-circles,
should be fully developed, and the pei
licle, or cuticle, which forms the con-
/ fguration around the root of the nail,
thin and well defined, and when proper
ly arranged should represent, as nearly
as possible, the shape of half filbert.
Properly to arrange the nails is to cut
them of an oval shape, corresponding
with the form of the finger. They
should not be allowed to grow too long.
too short, as it allows the end of the
finger to become hittened and enlarged
by being pressed upwards against the
nails and give them clumsy appear
ance. The epidermis which forms the
semi circle around and adheres to the
nail, requires particular attention, as it
is frequently dragged on with its growth,
drawing the skin below the nail so tense
as to cause it to crack and separate into
what are called ag- nails. This is easily
remedied by carefully separating the
skin from the nail by blunt, MALT
round instrument. Many persons are
in the habit of continually cutting this
pellicle, in consequence of which it be-
comes exceedingly irregular, and often
injurious to the growth of the nail. -
They also frequently pick under the
nails with pen knife or the point of
sharp scissors, with the intention of
keeping them clean, by doing which
they often loosen them, and occasion
considerable injury. The nails should
be cleaned with brush, not too hard,
and the semi-lunar skin should not be
cut away, but only loosened, without
touching the quick the fingers being
afterwards clipped in tepid water, and
the skin pushed back with towel
This method should be practiced daily.
1t will keep the nails of proper shape,
prevent ag-nails, and the pelliclc from
thickening or becoming ragged. The
biting or picking of the nails is an un.
fortunate and pitiful habit, which can
seldom be prevented, and frequently
continues for life. In many cases they
are disfgured so as to be scarcely visi-
BILE, and that which remains Is covered
with skin, so that the top of the fingers
appears clumsy and unsightly. 1t is
most remarkable fact that middle-aged
persons who are addicted be thi. PERM
cious habit seldom or ever refrain from
it, and, when i'll thought, have their
fingers to their teeth, as if they were
gnawing a bone. The finger nails are
liable to but few accidents or diseases
that require notice, excepting ex travasa-
ton from violent pinches or severe con-
tusions, which often cause them to fall
off. Not so fortunate are the toe nails,
of WHICH we shallSpeak som other time.
The most painful disease is an inham-
matory swelling around the nail, called
paronchia, or whitlow. It sometimes
cAtcnliS W tllc IOOt, anu iS 1OtNDNeu Dy
suppuration and liberation under the
edge of the uail, &c. Many young per-
sons are subject to it periodically. 1t is
not always a local complaint, but is con-
nected with constitutional debility. To
make this article as interesting and per-
feet in as brief space as possible, we
shall conclude with the following highly
useful receipts for whitening hands and
nails, which we doubt not our fair read
ers will highly appreciate.
Take wine glassful of eau de cologne,
and another of lemon juice; then scrape
two cakes of brown windsor Dap to pow
der, aud mix we'll in mould. When
hard it will be excellent soap for white
ming the hands.
TO whiten the nailstn Diluted ulphu
ric acid, two drachms; tincture of
myrrh, one drachm; spring water, four
ounces; mix. First cleanse with white
soap, and then dip the fingers into the
mixture.
A good hand is one of the chief points
of beauty, next to the foot, and these
applications are really effective.
h6w Soldier Feels I'm Battle.