WAYS AND MEANS 



boots, and thereafter are worse off than if 

 so lightly clad and shod that, when out of 

 the water, you are in process of drying off. 

 A composite picture comes out on the plate 

 of not a few elderly gentlemen, reclining 

 on the shingle with legs heaved uncomfort- 

 ably heavenward, laboriously emptying 

 their water-logged boots up their trousers 1 

 A useful thing to have by one is a piece of 

 thick adhesive felt, out of which a round can 

 be cutwithahole in it of size and shape to 

 cover bruise or blister. This quenches a 

 pain that would grow to torture and gives 

 the spot a chance to rest and heal. Whilst 

 meditating human ills, an efficient substi- 

 tute for a hot-water bag may be suggested. 

 It has relieved internal miseries; perhaps 

 saved life. Make a fire on the sand, and 

 keep applying the heated sand in towels or 

 handkerchiefs at the highest temperature 

 bearable. I favour walking off a sprain, 

 notwithstanding the horrid language it 

 provokes from the patient; if too severe for 

 the solvitur ambiilando cure, nothing helps 

 so much or so quickly as soaking in hot and 

 cold water alternately, to the limit of en- 

 durance in each case. Capsicum vaseline, 

 or another of the rubefacients, has most of 

 the virtues of a mustard-plaster, and others 

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