428 THE HonsSnOLD^ 



circulation of the blood to and from the head. To equalize the circnlaticM 

 and prevent inflammations the head shoiild be kept cool and the extremities 

 warm. Cooling lotions of arnica or witch hazel and water or simply water 

 should be applied to the head on thin cloths, well wrung out so as not to wet 

 the pillows and bed-clothes. Not more than two or four thicknesses of linen 

 should be used, because thick cloths prevent evaporation, and what was 

 intended to cool the head acts as a poultice and makes the head hotter. Ice 

 and cold water should not be used unless the head be very hot, as it is 

 believed children have been killed by the application of pounded ice to the 

 head. 



Bottles of hot water or hot irons are all that is necessary, besides the bed- 

 clothing, to heat the extremities. All applications of mustard and other 

 irritants possess no advantage over these, and have the disadvantage of dis- 

 turbing the sufferer. Should the patient's face be very pale, and signs of 

 fainting appear, camphor or ammonia should be applied to the nostrils, and 

 a little brandy or wine be given. 



Then the room should be made as quiet as possible and every means 

 used to invite " Nature's sweet restorer," sleep. We know the popular idea 

 is that patients suffering from any injury to the head should be kept awake 

 by all means; and it is mainly to combat this erroneous notion that we are 

 prompted to write out these directions. 

 ■ No injury — or degree of injiiry — of the head contraindicates the sufferer's 

 sleeping. In fact positive harm may be done in trying to prevent sleep. 

 Rest is what the brain and blood vessels want moi-e than any other thing; 

 and, if not allowed, what would have passed off in a few hours or days may 

 be prolonged into mflammation, with all its dangerous consequences. 



Of course the air of the room should be kept pure— windows and doors 

 open if the weather permit — and the presence of persons not absolutely 

 necessary forbidden. 



Cancer. — (1) The following is said to be a sure cure for cancer: A piece 

 of sticking plaster is piit over the cancer, with a circular piece cut out of the 

 ceutci', a little larger than the cancer, so that the cancer and a small circular 

 rim of healthy skin next to it is exposed. Then a plaster, made of chloride 

 of zinc, blood root and wheat ilour, is spread on a piece of muslin, the size 

 of this circular opening, and applied to the cancer for twenty-four hours. 

 On removing it, the cancer will be found biirned into, and appear of the 

 color and hardness of an old shoe sole, and the circular rim outside of it 

 will appear white and parboiled, as if scalded by hot steam. The wound is 

 now dressed, and the outside rim soon separates, and the cancer comes out 

 in a hard lump, and the place heals up. The plaster kills the cancer, so 

 that it sloughs like dead flesh, and never grows again. The remedy was 

 discovered by Dr. King, of London, and has been used \v him for several 

 years with iinfailing success, and not a case has been known of the 

 reappear!.nce of the cancer when this remedy has been api)liod. 



(2) An old Indian eaucer doctor in Oregon pronounces this a sure cure: 

 Take common wood sorrel, bruise it on brass, spread it in the form of a 

 poultice, and apply as long as the patient can bear; then apply bread and 

 milk poultice until the patient can bear the wood sorrel again. Continue 

 this until the cancer is drawn out by the roots. 



(3) Take the blossoms of red clover and make tea of them, and 

 iriv.k freely. It will cure cancer in the stomach as well as on the 

 auri'ace. 



