714 PLAIN FACTS FOR OLD AND YOUNG 



a piece of gutta-percha tissue, and laid over the burn. 

 The application should be changed once or twice daily. 



When we hear a man extolling this or that remedy 

 for disease, and claiming that he has been cured in 

 some magical way of a disorder generally conceded to 

 be incurable, let us remember that there is a very great 

 difference between being well and feeling well. There 

 is a very large class of remedies the sole effect of which 

 is to make a sick man feel better, but which have no 

 real influence upon the progress of a disease, unless 

 it be to hasten it by using up the patient's vitality, 

 and deluding him into foolish expenditures of strength 

 under the belief that he is well, when he is really no 

 better, but only feels better. 



The best means to avoid the infection of a conta- 

 gious disease when unavoidably exposed, are the follow- 

 ing : Always have good ventilation in the room. Never 

 stand between the patient and the fire, but always be- 

 tween him and a fresh-air inlet. Never while in the 

 room swallow any saliva; and after leaving, rinse out 

 the mouth, blow the nose, and wash the hands and face. 

 Keep up good general health by good food, exercise, 

 and temperance. In addition to these recommenda- 

 tions, it is well to filter all the air you breathe while 

 in the sick-room by tying a handkerchief over the 

 mouth and nose. 



If a seed or other foreign substance has gotten into 

 the ear, do not try to remove it by introducing a knit- 

 ting-needle or by any similar means. The only safe 

 plan is to syringe the ear with warm water, leaning 

 the head to one side so the object may drop out if loos- 

 ened. If a pea or a bean has been in the ear so long 

 that it has swelled, and hence cannot be dislodged by 

 syringing, it may be contracted by holding alcohol in 

 the ear for a short time. If an insect gets into the 

 ear, pour in a little oil, which will suffocate it, when 

 it may be removed by syringing. 



Test for Impure Water.— Discard as dangerous, 

 water which will not stand the following test: 



