104 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



[No. 3 



and the razor made, in reality, worse than before. 

 There is only one way to manage this wire-edge 

 so as to enjoy the luxury of easy shaving in lull 

 perfection. Time is the best and only doctor; 

 therefore, bear in mind this direction: after the 

 razor is sharpened as above directed, wipe it per- 

 fectly dry, not touching the edge with any thing, 

 and above all things, not touching it on a strap; 

 put it in the case or wrap ii up, and put it away. 

 The longer it remains untouched, the better; but 

 three months at least will be required, for time to 

 take off this wire-edge. How time acts upon the 

 razor's edge is not the question, (although it ad- 

 mits of explanation ;) the fact is what we want ; 

 and who ever will try it will find it so. After let- 

 ting the razor remain three months or longer un- 

 toioched, it is now fit for a shaving; but before be- 

 ginning, tie one end of a silk handkerchief to 

 something, holding the other in the hand, and 

 strap the razor sometime on it, then on the palm 

 of the hand; let the razor be cold during this 

 strapping, as we want a little briltleness about it, 

 that any particles of wire-edge which might still 

 remain may break off, thus preventing them from 

 sticking on the strap and spoiling it. Now dip the 

 blade in boiling hot water and apply it to the 

 smooth side of one of Mechis' magic straps, lath- 

 ering the face and dipping the razor in hot water 

 as usual; and the beard may be mowed off not 

 only so easy that it cannot be felt, but the razor 

 will shave so perfectly easy and smooth, that it will 

 shave the beard lower than the surface of the skin. 

 is as absolutely necessary, if we wish to shave in 

 full perfection, to dip the razor in boiling hot wa- 

 ter while strapping, as it is while honing it. 



Now there is another important item to be no- 

 ticed, if we wish to shave easy, no matter how 

 good the razor is, and how well all these prepara- 

 tory steps are followed. Constant use injures the 

 temper of the razor, and if it is not rested it will 

 fail to perform well. Metals when frequently 

 strained loses their tone, and require time to reco- 

 ver. A spring in constant use weakens, but re- 

 covers from rest. Sportsmen know, that by very 

 often shooting, their guns and rifles become what 

 they call crazy, and will not shoot well until they 

 are rested. Razors that are kept in constant use 

 are so often heated with warm water, and thereby 

 expanded and put on the strain, that after a while 

 they lose their tone or temper, so that they will 

 not bear as good an edge as they before did. It 

 requires something like three months rest for them 

 to recover their temper again. So that if the plan 

 be adapted of always using several razors, and 

 whenever one is honed, letting it remain three 

 months or more before it is used, it will also reco- 

 ver its temper, and it will not become too soft 

 from constant use. Not only will the man who 

 has a rough beard find benefit from the position I 

 lay down, that steel or other metals are not fit for 

 use immediately after tempering, but others who 

 have use for well-tempered instruments or tools, 

 will derive benefit from observing it. The farmer 

 who will, as soon as he has finished his crop, have 

 all his ploughs pointed and tempered, and put up 

 till next year, will find that the points that he has 

 had on a year will last nearly twice as long as 

 those that are put on and put into immediate use. 

 But why does the razor shave more easy by 

 dipping in hot water? It cannot be liom its sof- 

 tening or melting eti'ect on the beard ; for, after 



the beard has been well lathered with soap and 

 warm water, it is hardly presumable, that what 

 heat might be in the razor blade would soften it 

 much more. In addition to which, it is perhaps 

 noticed by most of men who have hard beards, 

 that the razor will not shave so well if it is too 

 hot; to shave easy, it must be dipped in hot water, 

 and then getting cnol before it is applied to the 

 face. Two reasons should be given in explanation: 

 first, because when the razor is used cold the tem- 

 per is so hiirh and the edge so fine, or thin, that it 

 will fly and become fiill of little gaps ; whereas, 

 by dipping it in warm water the heat expands it 

 and gives it a liille toughness, or by softening it 

 a little lakes away that extreme britlleness which 

 makes it break. Shave with a razor that is hot 

 and one that is cold, and examine them with a 

 powerful microscope, and the difference will be 

 very plain. Again, if we consider the shape of a 

 razor blade, and consider that heat expands, the 

 back is much thicker than the edge, and will re- 

 tain its heat loncer; therefore, the back more 

 heated and expanded than the edge, would cause 

 the edge to be on a strain and brought lo a more 

 perfect edge. In dissecting out large tumors and 

 other surgical operations, where very sharp knives 

 were required, I have always kept the knives in 

 a bowl of hot water, and changed them as they 

 became cool. 



I will now give you a medical prescription, if 

 you do not think it too much out of place. 1 would 

 wish it published, too, for those who may be so 

 unfortunate as to have use for it. II' it acts as 

 kindly with them as it has with me, it will be in- 

 valuable. Having to practice physic in a rough 

 country, I had to ride on horse- back. Although 

 I always secured the most easy saddle-horses 

 1 could procure, yet I soon found constant riding 

 produced piles. I could not begin to describe 

 how much this wretched disease has pestered 

 me, not only in point of the distressing pain I 

 suffered, but at the very times when I was most 

 busy, and my services most wanted, this unwel- 

 come affliction would be most afflicting. After 

 disabling me from attending to business, or caus- 

 ing so much pain that I felt like any thing else 

 more than attention to professioi:al duties, I 

 thought I had tried every plan that the ingenuity 

 of man could suggest, without doing much good 

 or harm. Asa iast resort, that nothing should be 

 left untried, i sent to an old woman, who was no- 

 ted for curing piles, lor some of her infallible oint- 

 ment. Fearing I might lose confidence in the old 

 witch's remedy, which she aflirmed never failed, I 

 used it as she directed, without examining its com- 

 position.* As it did no good, 1 then examined it, 

 and found it to be lard, rubbed with a lead pestle. 

 As my own treatment, as well as all other plans 

 suggested by medical men, did no good, I endea- 

 voured to become reconciled to endure it, hoping 

 at any rate, it would get no worse. In this I was 

 disappointed, for although the many remedies tri- 

 ed did not cure, yet they kept it at a check; lor so 

 soon as I gave over trying, it became rapidly 

 worse. I now, from theorising on the disease, 

 concluded to try a plan which, to me, was new. 

 I have never, that I recollect of", seen or heard of 

 its being tried before ; but be it old or new, its suc- 

 cess is the object. AVhen tried, it acted as a balm, 

 and so far, as a perfect cure. It is this : Take a 

 piece of patent lint^ or linen cloth, spread upon it 



