The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-12-22

Nc, DECEMBER %, Ii
work and go to bed and rest there for
a week.
Among the diseases, the spread of
which has, with reasonable degre of
certainty, been attributed to the escape
of sewer gas, are diphtheria, typhoid
fever and septicaemia, or wound infec-
tion fever. The presence of sewer gas
In house is sometimes suspected when
the silver Is found to tarnish quickly
This, of course, does not deserve the
name of a test, but it may properly
lead to an examination of the premises.
A rough test for the escape of sewer
gas may be made as follows: Pour q
half-ounce of peppermint oil into the
sewar-pipe in the cellar-that is, into
the trap-and close the drain. II the
smell Of the oil can be detected coming
from the basins, sinks or closets in the
other parts of the house, it may be
fairly assumed that sewer gas escapes
likewise. Traps Of unused basins should
be occasionally flushed with water, so
that they may not become dry by evap-
Grafton. Traps are especially likely to
be dry in houses which have for time
been untenated Sewer gas undoubted-
ly escapes under these circumstances,
and the walls become the resting-place
of numerous germs, whose spores may
be capable of producing infection. 1t is
undoubtedly safer, in the opinion of
most authorities, for a sleeping apart
ment to be furnished with wash basin
and pitcher than with the most ap-
proved and modern system of plumb
ing. A house is best furnished with as
few connected basins as possible and
those we'll trapped.
Do you know how to wash your hands ?
You may think you do; but the chances
are you don't. To begin with, a nail
brush Is fully as necessary a concomt-
ant as soap, and each set Of knuckles
should be scrubbed, and, finally, the
nails themselves, inside and out. Then
the brush should be rinsed from soap,
shaken and laid aside and the hands
rinsed. And now comes a really import
ant part, which will affect materially
the future beauty of the hands, and
that is the drying. After the whole
hand is dried, and while the fingers
are still comparatively moist, the skin
on each nail should be pressed firmly
back with dry towel and then rubbed
across; this will entirely prevent any
growth on the nail itself, and remove
superfluous thickness of the skin. Then
with pointed edge of the towel dry
the inside rim of the nail. This will
prevent roughness and the dust adher-
ing and keep them clean. Finally, when
all Is done, wipe each finger separately
to a point with smart pressure. Do
this, and you may yet rival Beau Brum-
mel
A consumptive should live in dry,
well ventilated house, in which the
sanitary arrangements are in perfect
condition. Moderation must be observed
in all things. Food must be taken
regularly and Of kind, which gives
the most acknowledgements producing
foods must be avoided. Live out of
doors in the sunshine. Avoid draughts
when within doors. Keep within doors
at night and in the early morning.
Wear clothing suited to the climate
and season. Always wear overshoes
when walking on damp ground; the
feet must always be kept dry. Battle
frequently and keep the skin active; by
much lessened. Anoint the chest with
oil (sweet oiD after bathing. Sleep-Re-
tire early; warm the sheets (by passing
a hot fiat iron between the sheets
just before the patient steps into bed),
that the body be not chilled. The
troublesome cough which is so fire.
quent after phthisical patient has re-
tired to bed is nearly always brought
on by not having the bed warm-the
sudden contact with the cold sheets
chills the surface and almost instantly
brings on a paroXysm. In many cases
1t Is advisable to disregard sheets and
sleep between blankets. No lamp OF
gas Jet should be permitted to burn in
the room before or during sleep, as the
air is apt to become vitiated from the
unnecessary using up of oxygen.
POINTS ABOUT HYGIENE:
To have plump hands.-Rub the them
with sweet oil night and morning. Exer-
else them by rubbing together. Never
i.,ht gla oil
To have plump hands - Rub them
with the juice Of preserved Strawberries
in winter, and in summer rub a ripe
berry over the face. Battle again with
very warm water.
For smooth, white skin, without diet.
ing-Bathe the face daily with butter.
milk A preparation of tincture Of ben
zoine and rose water is excellent fol
whitening purposes.
A cheap and effective remedy for grave
is sweet OLA half teacupful as one dose
A prolonged course of alkaline minera
waters has been found the best remedy
against the formation of gall stones.
Psychologists say that children Absorb
three or four times as much carbon pei
pound weight as adults. This accounts
for their eating so out of proportion tC
their weight as compared to their pa
rents.
The skins Of fruit should never be eaten
not because they are not palatable or d.
gestibe or are unhealthy in themselves
but on account Of the danger arising from
microbes which have penetrated into the
covering Of the fruit.
People who are Ill care very little fol
sweetened foods. Dishes mode savory
with salt are the most satisfying. Ho
foods should be piping hot, and cold food:
| ice cold, for the diseased appetite is crit
ical. Never prepare dish or drink be-
fore the sick.
Battle persplrlng feet night and morning
In cold water. in which alum has beer
dissolved, one ounce of alum to quart Of
water. II this treatment falls to relieve
try busting the feet night and morning
after bathing them, with a powder made
of talcum, preclpitated chalk and salicylit
acid--talcum powder, one ounce; chalk
one ounce salicylic acid, 20 grains.
| Some recent experiments In Germany
confirm the opinion of physicians that the