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SCOUTING FOR GIRLS 
In giving pills, capsules, tablets give a drink o f water 
first to moisten the tongue and throat. This helps them 
to slip down more easily. 
If there is danger of a pill or tablet choking the pa- 
tient, crush the pill or tablet between two spoons. 
When medicines are taken by spoon, the spoon should 
be licked by the patient in order to get the full amount. 
Nearly all medicines should be mixed with water, and 
should be followed with a drink of water unless orders 
are given to the contrary. 
Keep all medicines tightly corked. 
Buy medicines only in small quantities, as most of them 
lose their strength in time. 
In buying vaseline or cold cream it is better to have 
it in a tube than in jars. Being opened and dipped into 
constantly soon makes the contents of a jar unclean. 
Common Remedies 
Such remedies as the following are to be found in 
many homes. 
Castor oil, clove oil, vaseline, baking soda (this is 
the same thing as bi-carbonate of soda or saleratus), salt, 
lime water, alcohol, camphorated oil, spirits of camphor, 
flaxseed, aromatic spirits of ammonia. Do not confuse 
this latter remedy with ammonia water used for cleans- 
ing things. 
Castor oil should be taken in these doses: 
Baby, 1 to 2 teaspoonfuls. 
Older children : 1 tablespoonful. 
Adult : 1 to 2 tablespoonfuls. 
There are many ways of taking castor oil. Heat the 
glass or spoon, put in some orange or lemon juice, then 
the oil, then more juice. Open the mouth wide and put 
the oil far back. Have more juice at hand to swallow im- 
mediately after. Chilling the mouth by holding a piece 
of ice in it for a few minutes also helps to disguise the 
