CHAMBERS'S INFORMATION FOR THE PEOPLE. 



in most cases they create a scurf on the head, 

 which rots the hair, and requires considerable 

 trouble to get rid of. 



Pomade Divine. This is a soft and valuable 

 unguent, possessing a fine aromatic odour. Dr 

 Biddoes recommends it to be made as follows : 

 Steep twelve ounces of beef-marrow in water ten 

 days changing the water occasionally and then 

 steep it in rose-water. Put it into a jar with half 

 an ounce of flowers of benjamin, the same of 

 storax and orris-root in powder, and two drachms 

 each of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, in powder. 

 Cover the jar closely, set it in a vessel of water, 

 and put it on the fire ; and when the pomade is 

 thus melted, strain it for use. As a very small 

 quantity is ever used at a time, in general it will 

 be found much more economical to buy a small 

 pot of it than to prepare the article. 



Glycerine. This is a valuable substitute for all 

 kinds of pomatum, and may be had cheap from 

 druggists. Latterly glycerine jelly has been intro- 

 duced, and we can confidently recommend it as 

 the best application for softening the hands, and 

 some other purposes. Glycerine jelly will prevent 

 chapping of the hands in cold weather. 



Cold Cream. This is a simple and cooling 

 ointment, exceedingly serviceable for rough or 

 chapped hands in winter, or for keeping the skin 

 soft. It is very easily made. Take half an ounce 

 of white wax, and put it into a small basin, with 

 two ounces of almond-oil. Place the basin by the 

 side of the fire till the wax is dissolved in the oil. 

 When quite melted, add two ounces of rose-water. 

 This must be done very slowly, little by little ; 

 and as you pour it in, beat the mixture smartly 

 with a fork, to make the water incorporate. When 

 all is incorporated, the cold cream is complete, 

 and you may pour it into jars for future use. 

 Sears-grease, which possesses no virtue or supe- 

 riority over other animal fat, has rather an un- 

 pleasant odour, and is always sold when sold 

 at all disguised with perfumes. A factitious 

 article may be prepared as follows ; HogVlard, 

 1 6 ounces ; flowers of benzoin and palm-oil, of 

 each one half-ounce. Melt together until com- 

 bined, and stir till cold. This mixture is said to 

 keep long without becoming rancid, and may be 

 scented at pleasure. 



For moistening the hair when weak and dry, 

 the simplest and cheapest application, and one 

 that is as effectual as any, is a little pure olive oil, 

 with a few drops of essence of bergamot added to 

 keep it sweet. To keep the hands soft, and pre- 

 vent chapping, rub them well with a few drops of 

 the oil, and wipe with a dry towel. 



A very fragrant Lavender-water may be pre- 

 pared by mixing together English oil of lavender 

 and oil of bergamot, of each 3 drachms ; oil of 

 rosemary, I drachm ; oil of cloves and otto of 

 roses, of each 5 drops ; musk, 3 grains ; benzoic 

 acid, 30 grains ; honey, I ounce ; water, 3 ounces ; 

 and rectified spirit, 20 ounces. 



Eau de Cologne of superior quality may be 

 made of oils of orange, bergamot, rosemary, and 



800 



lemon, of each I drachm ; oil of neroli, half a 

 drachm ; cardamom seeds, I drachm; and rectified 

 spirit, 20 ounces. 



Spermaceti Ointment. This is a cooling and 

 healing ointment for wounds. Take a quarter of 

 an ounce of white wax, and half an ounce of sper- 

 maceti which is a hard white material and put 

 them in a small basin with two ounces of almond- 

 oil. Place the basin by the side of the fire till 

 the wax and spermaceti are dissolved. When 

 cold, the ointment is ready for use. 



The Feet Corns. To keep the feet in a proper 

 condition, they should be frequently soaked and 

 well washed. At these times, the nails of the 

 toes should be pared, and prevented from growing 

 into the flesh. Corns are the most troublesome 

 evils connected with the feet. They are of two 

 kinds soft and hard. Soft corns are those which 

 grow between the toes, and are best treated with 

 ordinary soap-plaster, or a plaster made of soap 

 and opium, or ivy leaves steeped in vinegar. 

 Hard corns, which grow on the outside of the 

 toes, are caused by friction from the shoes ; 

 and we know of nothing so likely to prevent 

 them as easy soft shoes and very frequent 

 soaking of the feet in warm water. Every method 

 of extracting corns seems but to afford temporary 

 relief, and never will be attended with complete 

 success unless attention is paid to the shoes. It 

 is very dangerous to cut corns too deep, on 

 account of the multiplicity of nerves running in 

 every direction in the toes. They may be removed 

 by the continued application of glacial acetic 

 acid, a convenient form of which is the popular 

 ' corn-pencil,' or nitrate of silver ; and the pain in 

 walking is generally relieved by wearing a 

 ' mechanical plaster,' which consists of a piece of 

 amadou or felt with a hole in the centre, which 

 is placed immediately over the corn. The 

 bunion, or swelling on the ball of the great 

 toe, is produced by the same cause as the corn 

 pressure and irritation by friction. The treat- 

 ment recommended for corns will succeed in 

 cases of bunions ; but in consequence of the 

 greater extension of the disease, the cure of course 

 is more tedious. For Chilblains in the early 

 stage an approved liniment is tincture of soap and 

 opium, two ounces ; tincture of cantharides and 

 strong solution of ammonia, of each three drachms. 

 When the skin is broken, they may be treated 

 with oxide of zinc ointment ; or with a dilute 

 solution of borax in glycerine and water, or with 

 glycerine alone slightly diluted. 



Cosmetics. These consist of washes and pastes 

 for improving the skin, and are in general highly 

 objectionable ; for the greater number contain 

 poisonous ingredients, and while removing from 

 the surface any discoloration, drive the disease 

 inward, and therefore do much more harm than 

 good. Lotions for pimples, freckle-washes, milk 

 of roses, rouge, and all such trash, we studiously 

 discommend. The best of all purifiers is water 

 with a sponge ; the best beautifiers are health, 

 temperance, exercise, and GOOD-TEMPER. 



