The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-05-06
CARE OF THE HANDS.
Some Information That Ought
to Interest the Members of
Every Household.

10 Interest," Int IuClHDCTS VI
Every Household.
It Is claimed by many that man
owes his superiority as much to tre
hand as to the mind. Whether this be
true or not, it is certain that the hands
are necessary members of the body /;
that they play an important part in
everyone's life; that, as rule, they
speak loudly Of ones personal habits ;
and that for these reasons, if for no
others, they should be kept in present
able shape. This is very simple
matter ior the woman who can take
life easy, but for the housekeeper 1t is
quite different thing. 1t can be done
as she will find, if she will devote a
few minutes daily to their exclusive
care.
h caring for the hands, the first
thing is to keep them spotlessly clean,
which can be done the following
way, if not in the ordinary one: W~+ssn
through with the days hardest work
partially fill basin with suds of
warm, soft water and castle soap and
scrub the hands in it gently with firm
but soft fnger-brush until no vestige of
dirt is visible, even in those telltale
places, "the lines of the hand" Rinse
them we'll afterward in clear water, and
dry thoroughly with a soft towel, push
ing back, at the same time, the scarf
skin from around the base of each nail.
Then rub them briskly with each other
for FIVE minutes, not forgetting TO draw
each finger several times through the
tightly closed fingers of the other hand
but not so hard as to make the joints
crack that enlarges them.
Perseverance in this will not only
help one to retain tamperlng fingers,
but will much improve the shape OF
stubby ones 1t will restore, in great
measure, the symmetry OF finger tips
blunted by misuse or constant pressure
against some hard substance. Take
heed, ye operators of the typewrite,
| &c.
This treatment, which cleanses,
invigorates, makes the skin pliable and
the hands more shapely, should be
| followed for the first few weeks by the
application of an emollent, either
Immediately or when retiring. After
ward, it need be used only occasional
Iy, when an extra hard days work for
the hands, raw, chilly weather or some
other reason seems to make it Ieces
sary. But this treatment can be much
assisted by little timely application
of the old saying, "An ounce OF preven
ton is worth pound OF cure" Many
an unsightly mark and callous spot can
be prevented by simply donning pair
of loose, old gloves, either kid or
cotton, when sweeping, dustlng, clean
Ing CRATES. &C., and by removing fruit,
vegetable and all stains while fresh.
Stains from fruit and vegetables can
be removed by holding the stained
places, while moist from their first
washing in water which should contain
no soap, for few minutes in the flame
of several matches, lighted in success.
sion; those from more penetrating
substances, or old stains. by bathing IN
a week solution of oxalic acid. As this
is a deadly poison, 1t should be pre-
pared by reliable druggist; and the
bottle in which it is kept should be
properly labelled, tightly corked and
placed out of the reach Of little
fingers.
An excellent prescription for an
emollent is equal parts OF glycerlne
and peroxide of hydrogen it can be
applied at any time, as it will not interfere
with ones worK if given time to dry in
Should this fail, after thorough trial
to make the hands soft and white,
lotion made from equal parts of eau
de cologne, strained honey and lemor
Juice may be found eflcacious. Apply
this to the inside of an old pair OF glove:
which should be loose and withou
finger tips, and wear them nights.
These lotions are excellent remedies
for cracked and chapped hands. 1t /
claimed that there is specific for thes'
annoying complaints namely, drying
the hands thoroughly after having then
in water and not exposing them direct
ly to the outdoor air, either in summe
or winter, until they have resumed thei
e normal condition. This certainly is
E very simple remedy, as rubbing vigor
:. ously with each will quickly an
S thoroughly dry the most hands Will
o in those cases where it will not, rubin
a with soft flannel, preferably white, wi
II be found effective.