The record-union., 1897-01-31

A frequent cause of the neuralgia and
headache is the poison of illuminating
gas, When the house is supplied with
what is known as water gas" a re-
currence of such maladies should
prompt a very careful investigation Of
the fixtures Water gas contains a
poison of admitted virulence, and the
fact that it is colorless. tasteless and
odorless makes its power for evil the
greater Absolutely tight fixtures are
the only protection. Periodical exami-
nation is essential, for what seems Sc
cure to-day may be insecure tomorrow.
Old fixtures are likely to be loose in
screws or joints, the thread Of the
thumbscrew may be worn out and turn
at a touch to let the poison escape with
no one the wiser, or in moving furni-
ture the arm of a chandelier or side
bracket may be wrenched enough to
permit its escape. A safe plan is to
have each fixture put through what is
called the pressure test. This properly
done by a good plumber will show
quickly any defects or chances for Leak
age.
The enactment in Michigan not 1ong
ago of a law providing for teaching
in the public schools the modes by
which the dangerous communicable dis
eases are spread, and the best methods
for the restriction and prevention Of
such diseases" has attracted the IN
terested attention of all sanitists and
intelligent folk generally. 1t does not
need a savant to decide now that the
germ theory of disease is established,
that its full benefits can be secured
only through wide dissemination of cur
new knowledge. Professor Fall of the
Michigan State Board Of Health is Of
the opinion that the public school is
one Of the best means to scatter this
saving lore. He thinks children should
be taught the germ theory and some
thing of the manner by which investi-
cations are carried on. They can learn
the name of bacillus tuberculosis as
we'll as they can that of a plant or root,
and learn, too, that in proper soil a
crop of consumption is just as sure to
be had from the sowing Of consump-
tion germs as a crop of peas or pump
kins follows the sowing of the proper
seeds.
a general and justifiable complaint
is lodged against the ubiquitous small
cakes known as lady fingers" and
everywhere seen during the season
upon the tray which bears a teapot at
3 O'Clock. 1t is asked why lady fin
gers should be so generally dry and
stale, and the inquisitive wonder if it
is impossible to procure them under a
week or two in age. The trouble lies
in not knowing how to treat the cakes.
If they, or any other sort of sponge
cakes are taken while still warm frcm
the bakers oven into the excessively
cold outer air it viii be found on
reaching home that they are dry and
leathefy. Should they be set in a close
ly covered vessel as a glass jar in A
cool place, they Will soften again, ard
thus cared for last for several weeks
and be perfectly palatable. Bread also
suffers from exposure to extreme cold
and a loaf should have several layers
of paper wrapped about it if carried
any distance in winter. Otherwise it
VIII seem as hard as if it had been
baked for a week. Lady fingers. it
may be added, served as goodies at
cheerful feasts, are always a surprise
to country bred English folk when they
come over here. In rural England they
are commercially known as funeral
biscuit" and sold only for use as
mourners' refreshment with a glass of
wine after the long drive to assist at
some country funeral.
Poached eggs may be served as a deli
as follows: Poach the eggs in water. to
which good dash of lemon juice has
been added. trim each neatly and place
on a round of fried bread. Arrange on
a platter and pour around them a we'll
seasoned white sauce dust a little
chopped parsley over each egg, and
serve at once.
As a change from the more ordinary
methods OF utilizing chicken, cut the
meat into neat pieces, dip each into a
little melted butter. season with salt
and pepper, dip liz beaten egg, then in
breadcrumbs. and fry until evenly
Drowned. Serve garnished with water
cress.
A recently returned European traveller
displays triumphantly some very deli
cate mats Of gold wire which she picked
mp in London to use on her polished ia
BILE Other women who cannot shop all
over the earth find admirable subsa-
Uutes for such expensive dishholders in
the felt plate buffers that are sold at the
china stores to protect delicate plates
when they are piled in closets. These
are placed under the dolly at each
cover.
The bacon which Is one of the most
popular nursery dishes in English
households is quite different from that
usually eaten here. II is not smoked
and is home-cured, sweet and delicious
1t is sliced very thin. cooked very quick
ly TO be just done through, and is eaten
hot but not dried up on slices of bread
English physicians consider this the
best Of food for growing children and as
valuable as cod-liver oil in tissue build
mig A typical nursery breakfast in a
well-to-do English household is oat-
meal porridge with nashers OF bacon,
marmalade and cambric tea and coffee
made with much rich milk and very lit
tie sugar.
The last thing thought of in most
kitchens is the cleaning out of the
kitchen boiler. According to a plumber
the sediment cocks with which every
boiler is provided, or should be, ought
to be left open at least once week