American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-02-01
USEFUL SUGGESTIONS.

PIES that. suit the celestials-Pup pies
To cure a smoky chimney, initiate a
large OK bladder with air, and tie it by the
neck to stick, and place it across the in
side about two feet from the top. The
buoyancy of the air keeps the bladder in
a circular motion, and thus prevents the
down rush of air.
THE inconvenience of frozen cisterns
and gas meters may be Obviated by put
ting lump of salt into the water once a
week, and into the closet trap the last
thing at night. The explanation is, that
water holding salt in solution requires 25
degrees of cold more than pure water to
freeze it.
As THE buckwheat season is upon us,
the following substitute for greasing the
griddle is recommended: Take turnip,
side, and, it is said, that the cakes will
come off nice and smoothly, and the
housekeeper will be rid of the disagreea-
BILE odor of burning fat.
THE FLAVOR OF BUTTER.-A German
journal says that a great portion of the
fine flavor of fresh butter is destroyed by
the usual mode of washing, and recon-
mends thorough kneading for the re-
mOval of the buttermilk, and a subse-
quent pressing in linen cloth. Butter
thus prepared is pre-eminent for its sweet
ness of taste and flavor, qualities which
are retained for long time. To improve
manufactured butter, we are advised by
the same authority to work it thoroughly
with fresh cold milk, and then to wash it
i'm clear water: and 1t is said that even old
and rancid butter may be rendered palata
BILE by washing it in water to which few
drops of solution of chloride of lime
have been added.
THE three best agents for accomplish
ing the disinfection of air after smallpox
or other contagious diseases, are sulphur
rOuS acid, iodine, and carbOlic acid. The
best method of employing sulphurous
acid is to scatter little flowers OF sulphur
upon a hrated shovel and carry it about in
the room or rooms which are to be disin
fected. Iodine may be used by simply pla-
cling little in an open glass or earthen YES
sci, and it vapOrizes readily at the ordinary
temper AZURE of a house. CarboIic acid
may be employed by sprinkling weak
solution of it on the floor of the room, or
cloths wetted in such solution may be
hung about the rooms. AS nipple appara
tus for using this acid is to have broad
rollers over dish filed with solution of
the acid. AS the upper half of the band
dries, give the rollers turn and the low
er half of the band, wet with the solution
takes its place uppermost.
QUININE has long been the chief medi-
icine for arresting and breaking up fevers.
But there are two important objections to
its general use it is very costly and it is
often greatly adulterated. On account of
its high cost, there is q strong tempta-
ton to druggists to mix other materials
with it, which destroy or hinder its pow
er. A French apOthecary has discovered
that the leaves OF the common laurel,
VIII ch are both bitter and aromatic, are
more powerful even than quinine in con-
= <1v Il,
it have proved remarkably successful.
The green leaves of the laurel are dried
by gentle heat in a close vessel, and are
afterwards reduced to fine powder. A
small portion is an ample dose. As the
laurel is very abundant, and fevers are
very common, the discovery may prove
of great value both to physicians and pa
tients.
How TO KILL AN ANIMAL WITHOUTSUF-
FERING.-Many persons would be glad to
know how to kill an animal without suf-
fering, and we venture to give the be- eft
of our experience. We are constantly
called upon to destroy horses, dogs and
cats, and have little difficulty in doing it.
For horses we use a large sponge, say six
with chloroform, which is dropped into
a bag large enough to be drawn over the
horses nose. 1t is not desirable to have
the bag "air-tight;" for, if so, suffoca-
ton is likely to ensue. In two or three
minutes the horse is unconscious, and in
eight or ten minutes dead, without suf-
fering. For dogs and cats similar pro-
cess, using small sponge and bag; or
these animals, with the saturated sponge,
may be put in a box admitting some air,
when they soon Ego to Sleep Seventy
five cents worth of chlOrofOrm will kill
horse, and twenty-five dog or cat. If
one saturation of the sponge does not
complete the work, repeat it.-Our Dumb