^4 THE HOUSEHOLD. 



of strong coffee be swallowed aa soon as the stomach ia quiet. These yery 

 common articles nullify a larger number of virulent poisons than any 

 medicines in the shops. 



(3) Great quantities of Paris green are used during some seasons of the 

 year, and as accidents may happen, it is well to know the antidote for the 

 poison. Paris green owes its deadly properties to arsenic, as does London 

 purple. Should either of these bo taken into the stomach, let the person 

 drink copious draughts of milk, or raw egga beaten up, and as soon as pos- 

 sible give an emetic, mustard is as good as anything, and keep up the action 

 of Asppfiiting by giving milk between the paroxysms of vomiting. When the 

 stomach no longer rejects what is swallowed, give a good dose of castor oil. 



(4) It cannot be too generally known that the ordinary calcined magnesia, 

 mixed with water, is considered a certain antidcto to numerous poisons, 

 especially those of metallic origin, such as arsenic, corrosive sublimate, sul- 

 phate of zinc, etc. In cases of this deplorable kind, two or three teaspoon- 

 fuls of magnesia, mixed with water, should bo at once administered, which, 

 in all probability, vrHl save the joatient until the doctor comes. 



(5) Hundreds of lives have been saved by a knowledge of this simple 

 receipt. A large teaspoonful of made mustard mixed in a tumbler of warm 

 water, and swallowed as soon as possible; it acts as an instant emetic, suf- 

 ficiently powerful to remove all that is lodged in the stomach. 



(G) A standing antidote for poison by dew, poison-oak, ivy, etc., is to take 

 a handful of quicklime, dissolve in water, let it stand half an hour, then 

 paint the poisoned parts with it. Three or four applications will never fail 

 to cure the most aggravated cases. 



(7) The only safe and immediate remedy within the reach of a non-pro- 

 fessional, in case of poisoning with prussic acid, is to pour a stream of cold 

 water, from aa elevation, upon the head and spine of the patient. 



(8) If a person has taken an over-dose of laudanum, very strong coffee is 

 a specific antidote. Keep the patient on his feet and keep him walking. 

 Sleep is fatal under such circumstances. "^ 



Dangers of CliiildUood. — Childhood is the period during which the 

 foundations of the physical structure are laid. It ends, at the age of about 

 fourteen, with the completion of the permanent teeth. It is characterized 

 by almost absolute dependence on the parents, and therefore the responsi- 

 bility rests upon them whether the foundations of the superstructure shall 

 be good or bad, and, indeed, whether there shall be any superstructure! 

 The fact that one-half of all who are born die within this period, Avhtle mul- 

 titudes of adults find, when it is too late, fatal defects in the very ground- 

 work of their constitutions, is a fearful witness against the competency of 

 most parents for the care of children. What farmer would employ a hand 

 that let one-half of all his calves, colts and lambs die ? In the matter of food, 

 if milk fails the mother, how few mothers know what to give the child! How 

 few know that many of the compounds sold as "Infants' food" contain 

 no food whateverl and that cow's milk, harmful when taken alone, is gen- 

 erally safe with a certain proportion of lih:o water! How few mothera know 

 that too protracted nursing will result in "rickets ? " That overfeeding all 

 through childhood is a prolific source of disease ? and that, in case of most 

 bowel complaints, a spare diet for a few days is better than all medicines ? 

 In our climate, where the mercury ranges through 140 degrees and often 

 varies between the extremes suddenly and violently, hqjr little do mothers 

 real'ze the importance of aiding nature, with clothing and food, so that the 



