The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-12-23
Chapped Hands.

Some one writes to the american C9IL.
tivator as follows: People whose av-
ocations cause their hands to be much
exposed to wet and dirt almost always
suffer- from severe chapped hands. I
have used the following remedy for
many years, having also tried every new
panacea that came before the public.
These various medicaments will do well
enough for chapped and roughened
hands that are affected all over alike.
but not one will affect the deep chops or
chaps that come in the folds of the skin
and at the corners of the fnger-nails
and other parts of the hand. It would
seem as if the hardened skin could not
heal or had not vitality enough in it to
close these unsightly gaps. I have
often had my hands dry up and chap by
one days exposure to cold. I suppose
mine are like some other peoples in this
respect, and crack or chap by the action
of our cold, dry weather contracting the
skin. Whatever the cause, however, I
will warrant the cure, which is simple.
as follows: Take ordinary white resin,
say one ounce; melt it in any conven-
lent vessel Il use a patty pan); when
melted add a little lard or oil until the
resin is sufficiently softened, so that
when quite cold, and in temperature of
80 or 80 degrees, the thumb nail can be
lndented into it by using little force.
If the hands to be affected are to be used
out Of doors the consistency will be
hard enough if it is harder it will break
Or crack off and will fail if softer the
application will not adhere sufficiently
to resist washing. When you have OBJ
tanned the right consistency by means Of
the oil OF lard mix the whole thorough
", and put it by for use. When want
ed, and your chaps are paining so much
that to inhibition button seems impos-
sible, soften the wax at one spot by
holding the patty pan over lamp.
Take an ordinary match, and with the
end that has no phosphorus on it raise
up drop by dipping the match into the
melted wax hold it a moment to cool,
but do not let it get cold then touch
the chap with drop of the melted MKT
ure. You need not burn yourself, but
the wax must be melting hot. At
first you will find some difficulty
in using it hot enough to stick,
but not hot enough to burn the
flesh. Directly the drop of hot wax is
applied as above, and before it cools,
have ready a little piece of ordinary
newspaper and place it at once on the
chap. The paper will adhere firmly
and If it does not do so warm it over a
lamp until it does. Then moisten the
paper with the saliva from the mouth
or otherwise, and tear off all the out
side projecting portions, leaving the wax
alone. II properly done, the unsized
newspaper will readily receive moisture
all but that part exposed to the wax
and when dried (Which takes place in a
few seconds) you will have the most
comforting and healing plaster magma
BILE on the chap, and in ten minutes you
can go about your ordinary occupation
comparatively free from pain. Do this
at night and use no oil or grease first,
and next morning your chaps will be
vastly less infamed and quite easy. CT
course flesh will not heal in a minute.
but two or three applications will alto
gether cure them so far as any pain
! from them is concerned. I often have
daily eight or nine fingers doctored in
this manner, but my flesh will crack
and bleed in one days exposure"