THINGS WORTH KNOWING. 261 



How to Arrest Coughs. 



Any sensible person will always endeavor to suppress cough- 

 ing, sneezing and other morbid phenomena of respiration, as such 

 actions sometimes become annoying to others and are therefore pro- 

 portionably distressing to the subject of the affection. We have 

 sometimes heard an eloquent minister pause a few moments in his 

 sermon and, with eyes directed to the spot whence the cause of the 

 interruption proceeded, request that an effort might be made to 

 arrest it. What would have been given under such circumstances 

 to know that by simply pressing the nerves in front of the ear, the 

 cough would occasion no further trouble. Hard pressure on the 

 roof of the mouth, or on the nerves of the lip in the neighborhood 

 of the nose, will have a similar effect; the latter is well known to 

 prevent sneezing. Hiccough also, though in a less degree, is 

 arrested by pressure in the front of the ear. Children and possibly 

 a few vain and selfish persons might be unwilling to try such simple 

 expedients, preferring the observation or sympathy which they 

 sometimes endeavor to secure by some idiosyncrasy of the kind. 

 But that the will exerts a forcible power in the matter is very evi- 

 dent ; and thus the apparently arbitrary threats, " Whoever coughs 

 will go to bed at seven to night," " The first patient who coughs 

 will be deprived of his food to-day," sometimes resorted to in the 

 case of children and patients, are fully justified by the results. We 

 are assured that a French nurse employed this means of arresting a 

 cough with great success. 



Keep Ammonia in the House. 



No housekeeper should be without a bottle of spirits of am- 

 monia, for besides its medical value it is invaluable for household 

 purposes. It is nearly as useful as soap, and its cheapness brings it 

 w : thin reach of all. Put a teaspoonful of ammonia into a quart of 

 warm soapsuds, dip in a flannel cloth, and wipe off the dust and 

 fly-specks, and see for yourself how much labor'it will save. No 

 scrubbing will be needful. It will cleanse and brighten silverware. 

 To a pint of suds add a teaspoonful of the spirits, dip in youi 

 silver spoons, forks, etc., rub with a brush and polish with chamois 

 skin. For washing windows it is very desirable; put a few drops 

 of ammonia on a piece of paper and it will readily take off every 

 spot or finger-mark on the glass. It will take out grease-spots from 

 every fabric; put on the ammonia nearly clear, lay blotting-papei 

 over the place and press a hot flat-iron on it for a few moments. 

 A few drops in water will clean laces and whiten them as well ; also 

 muslins. Then it is a most refreshing agent at the toilet-table; a 

 few drops in the water cleanses the hair from dandrutf and dust, 

 Added to the foot-bath it entirely absorbs all noxious smells so often 

 arising from the feet in warm weather. 



