Mother's Remedies, Thomas Jefferson Ritter [reading well .TXT] 📗

The egg shell from which the piece has been cut is then washed and kept as a receptacle for jelly or jam for the noon lunch basket. The open end being protected by a piece of paper dipped in paraffin.

339. Paint Wicker Furniture.—If you must paint wicker furniture see that you buy paint that is well mixed and thinned to the proper consistency. If too thick it gets lumpy and the paint is apt to rub off on the clothes. Porch chairs which are exposed to weather should be finished with a coat of enamel to make them last longer. The coat of enamel is also more easily dusted.

340. Bureau Drawers that Stick.—Wax is better to use on the bureau drawers that stick than soap. It works better and will not catch dirt so much.

341.—Uses for Old Envelopes.—Cut out the corners from all heavy envelopes, for they are excellent for holding coins sent by mail. They always make good corner protection.

342. To Prevent Fruit from Moulding.—A layer of absorbent cotton laid over the fruit in the mouth of the fruit cans is an excellent preventive against the mould. If mould should form, it will cling to the cotton and leave the fruit clean.

343. Linoleum or Oilcloth That is Cracked.—Linoleum that is badly cracked may be improved by a filler made of ochre and boiled flour paste. After the filling is dry the linoleum may be painted.

344. Borax as a Purifier for Ice Box.—Borax is an invaluable aid to the woman who wishes to keep her ice box immaculate. It is especially desirable for use in small refrigerators where little food is kept, and where ice is kept more for the purpose of preserving butter and milk and keeping bottled water cool. Cold water with plenty of pure borax, is preferable to hot water to use in wiping off the walls of the refrigerator. It does not heat the box and, being a germ killer, it purifies everything it touches. It may also he put in the corners of the refrigerator. Its best use of all is perhaps in keeping the receptacle for the ice itself and the outside tube in pure and sanitary condition. It may be sprinkled freely over the bottom of the ice box proper and on the rack holding the ice.

345. To Clean Gilded Surfaces.—To clean gilded surfaces, dip a soft brush in alcohol to which a few drops of ammonia water have been added, and with it go over the surface. Do not rub roughly or harshly. In about five minutes the dirt will have become soft and easy of removal. Then go over the surface again gently with the same or similar brush dipped in rain water. Now lay the damp article in the sunlight to dry. If there is no sunlight place it near a warm (but not hot) stove, and let dry completely in order to avoid streaks, taking care that the position of the article, during the drying is not exactly vertical.

[892 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

346. Hints for the Housewife.—Every housewife should have plenty of waxed paper or paraffin paper about the house. It is of the greatest value in preserving eatables from the air and keeping them properly moist. In the sandwich basket it is indispensable. Cake wrapped in it will keep moist and fresh for a much longer time than if put directly into the box. When the paper has become sticky run cold water on it, and it may be used again. Cheese wrapped up in it and put in the refrigerator will keep fresh for a week.

347. Excessive Gas Light Weakens the Eyes.—When the excessive light of the gas light or the electric bulb tires weak eyes, resort to the tallow candle. For the sick room wax candles are preferred, as they never produce smoke or smell. They seem to soothe the nerves of the invalid and in this way help to produce a restful night.

348. Handy Disinfectant for the Household.—Chlorate of lime moistened with vinegar and water, equal parts, is a handy disinfectant for the household. It can be kept in the cellar, and in case of sickness a few drops scattered around the house will purify the air.

349. For Closing Windows.—A piece of bamboo, an old blind roller, or any strong smoothly rounded stick about three feet long, with a small flat piece of wood about the same thickness, twelve inches long and covered with flannel, nailed across the ends, makes an admirable and useful article for closing top windows without either going outside or standing on a stool or a chair to reach, or straining one's self with the weight to be raised upward.

[ MEDICAL DICTIONARY 893]

MEDICAL DICTIONARY
SIMPLE and PLAIN DEFINITIONS of MEDICAL TERMS
For Reference in your Newspaper and
General Reading and Throughout this Work.

Abdomen (ab-do'men). That portion of the body, lying between the thorax
                     and the pelvis, or "belly."

Ablution (ab-lu'shun). The act of washing or cleansing.

Abnormal (ab-nor'mal). Contrary to the usual structure or condition. Not
                       normal.

Abortion (ab-or'shun). The expulsion of the fetus before the sixteenth
                       week.

Abrasion (ab-ra-zhun). A spot rubbed bare of the skin or mucous membrane.

Abscess (ab'ses). A localized collection of pus in a cavity formed by the
                  disintegration of tissues.

Absorbent (ab-sor'bent). Taking up by suction. A medicine or dressing that
                         promotes absorption.

Acid (as'id). Sour, having properties opposed to those of the alkalies.

Acidity (as-id'it-e). The quality of being acid or sour.

Acrid (ak'rid). Pungent; producing an irritation.

Acetabulum (as-et-ab'u-lum). The rounded cavity in the innominate (hip)
                             bone which receives the head of the femur.

Accoucheur (ah-kosh'er). An obstetrician. One who attends a woman in
                         confinement.

Actual Cautery (kaw'tere). Fire, a red hot iron, or the moxa, used as a
                           cauterizing agent.

Acholia (ah-ko'leah). Lack or absence of the secretion of bile.

Acupuncture (ak-u-punk-tur). The insertion of needles into a part for the production of counter-irritation.

Adhesive (ad-he'siv). Sticking or adhering closely.

Adipose (ad'ip-os). Of a fatty nature; fat.

Adjuvant (ad'ju-vant). An auxiliary remedy.

Adult (a-dult'). A person grown to full size and strength or to the years of manhood.

Affection (af-ek'shun). A morbid condition or diseased state.

Affusion (af-u'shun). The pouring of water upon a part or upon the body for reducing fever or correcting nervous symptoms.

Ailment (al'ment). Any disease or affection of the body.

Albuminose (al-bumin-os). A primary production of the digestion of a proteid, not coagulable by heat.

Aliment (al'im-ent). Food, or nutritive material.

Alimentary Canal (al-imen'ta-re). The portion of the digestive apparatus
                                  through which the food passes after
                                  mastication. The canal from the mouth
                               to the anus; gullet, stomach, bowel, anus.

Alkali (al'kal-i). A compound which forms salts with acids and soaps with
                   fats. Potash, soda, lithia, ammonia.

Alterative (awl-ter-at-iv). A medicine that produces a favorable change in
                            the processes of nutrition and repair.

[894 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

Alveolar (al-ve'o-lar). Pertaining to an alveolus.

Alveolus (al-ve-olus). Bone socket of a tooth; air sac of the lungs, etc.

Amaurosis (am-aw-ro'sis). Blindness without any visible defect in the eye,
                          from disease of the optic nerve, retina, brain.

Amenorrhea (am-en-or-re'ah). Absence or abnormal stoppage of the monthly
                             sickness.

Amniotic Liquid (am-ne-ot'ik). A fluid enclosed within the amnion which
                       nourishes and protects the foetus (unborn child).

Amputation (am-pu-ta'shun). The surgical cutting off of a limb or other
                            part.

Amylaceous (am-il-a'she-us). Starchy.

Analysis (an-al'is-is). Separation. into compound parts or elements.

Anchylosis (Ankylosis) (ang-kil-o'sis). Abnormal immobility and
                                 consolidation of a joint (stiff joint).

Anemia (an-e'me-ah). A condition in which the blood is deficient either in
                     quantity or quality.

Anastomose (an-as'to-moz). Communicating with one another, as arteries and
                           veins.

Anastomosis (an-as-to-mo'sis). The surgical or pathological formation of a passage between any two normally distinct spaces or organs.

Anasarca (an-ah-sar'kah). An accumulation of serum in the cellular tissues
                          of the body. General dropsy.

Anesthesia (an-is-the-zhe-ah). Loss of feeling or sensation of a part or
                               whole body.

Anesthetic (an-es-thet-ic). A drug that produces anesthesia, without the
                            sense of touch or pain.

Aneurism (an'u-rizm). A pulsating tumor consisting of a sac or pouch into
                      which blood flows through an opening in an artery.

Animalcule (anim-al'kul). Any minute animal organism.

Anodyne (an'o-din). A medicine that relieves pain.

Antacid (an-tas'id). A substance that counteracts or neutralizes acidity.

Antiphrodisiac (ant'af-ro-diz-e-ak). An agent that allays sexual impulses.

Anthelmintic (an-thel-min'tik). Destruction to worms.

Anthrax (an'thrax). A carbuncle.

Antibilious (an-te-bil'yus). Good against bilious conditions.

Antidote (an'te-dot). A remedy for counteracting a poison.

Antidysenteric (an'te-dis-en-ter'ik). Relieving, curing or preventing dysentery.

Antiemetic (an'te-e-met'ik). Arresting or preventing emesis or vomiting.

Antilithic (an-te-lith'ik). Preventing the formation of stone or calculus.

Antimorbific (anti-mor-bif 'ic). Preventing disease.

Antiperiodic (an'te-pe-re-od'ik). Serviceable against malarial or periodic recurrence.

Antiscorbutic (an'te-skor-bu'tik). Correcting or curing scurvy.

Antiseptic (an-te-sep'tik). A substance destructive to poisonous germs.

Antispasmodic (an'te-spaz-mod'ik). An agent that relieves spasms.

Antisyphilitic (an'te-sif-il-it'ik). Useful in cases of syphilis.

Anus (a'nus). The distal end and outlet of the rectum.

Apathy (ap'ath-e). Lack of feeling or emotion; indifference.

Apparatus (ap-ar-a'tus). A number of parts acting together in the
                         performance of some special function.

Aphasia (ah-fa'ze-ah). Defect or loss of the power of expression by
                        speech, writing, or signs.

Aphthous (af'thus). Pertaining to, characterized by, affected with
                     aphthae (thrush).

Apex (a'pex). The top or pointed extremity of any conical part.

Apnea (ap-ne'ah). The transient cessation of breathing that follows a forced respiration.

Aperient (ap-e're-nt). A gentle purgative or laxative.

Appetite (ap'et-it). A natural longing or desire, especially that for
                     food.

Areola (ar-e'o-lah). The colored circle round the nipple or round a
                      pustule. A minute space or interstice in a tissue.

Aromatic (ar-o-mat'ik). A medicinal substance with a spicy fragrance and
                        stimulating qualities.

Aroma (ah-ro'mah). The fragrance or odor, especially that of spice or
                   medicine, or of articles of food or drink.

Arthrodia (ar-thro'de-ah). An articulation or joint which allows a gliding
                           motion of the surfaces.

[MEDICAL DICTIONARY 895]

Articulation (ar-tik'u-la'shun). A connection between two or more bones whether allowing motion between them or not.

Articulated (ar-tik'u-la-ted). Connected by joints.

Arthritic (ar-thrit'ik). Pertaining to or affected with gout or arthritis.
                         Relating to inflammation of a joint.

Ascaris (as'kar-is). A worm found in the intestines.

Ascites (as-si'tez). Dropsy of the abdominal cavity.

Aspirate (as'pi-rat). To treat by aspiration. To pronounce with full
                      emission of breath.

Assimilation (as-sim-il-a'shun). The transformation of food into living
                                 tissue.

Asthenic (as-then'ik). Characterized by weakness or feebleness.

Asthmatic (az-mat'ik). Affected with asthma.

Astringent (as-trin'gent). An agent that arrests discharges by causing contraction, such as tannic acid, alum, zinc, etc.

Attenuant (at-ten'u-ant). Causing thinness, as of the blood.

Atony (at'on-e). Lack of normal tone or strength.

Atrophy (at'ro-fe). A wasting