Uses for Lemons

Dirty straw hats become clean when wet with lemon juice and brushed with cornmeal.

Ink stains and rust spots vanish when moistened with the juice and hung into the sun.

Fruit-stained hands become white with the application of lemon juice.

Indigestion is relieved by the juice of half a lemon and a little salt in a cup of hot water.

Source: 1001 Household Hints, Ottilie V. Ames

To Purify Foul Apartments

To one tablespoonful of common salt placed in a tumbler, add a large pinch of manganese, powdered fine. Turn over it a quarter of a wine-glass of strong vitriolic acid. Do this at an interval of a few minutes, four or five times; then place the tumbler on the floor of the room that requires fumigating, and leave it for a day or more, closing all the doors and windows tightly. The vapors formed by it will destroy all the foul odors, and sweeten the most filthy air.

Source: Household Hints and Recipes, Henry T. Williams

When Too Much Salt Has Been Used

When you have accidently used too much salt, the effect may be counteracted by adding a tablespoon of vinegar and a tablespoon of sugar.

Source: 1001 Household Hints, Ottilie V. Ames

Stings

Extract sting if it remains imbedded in flesh. Apply household ammonia, diluted with a little water, or solution of bicarbonate of soda (1 tsp. soda to 1 cup water).

Mud, wet salt, slice of onion, arnica, witch hazel, camphor are soothing. If there is much swelling, apply cracked ice. Apply spirit of camphor or alcohol to mosquito bites.

Source: The Mary Frances First Aid Book, Jane Eayre Fryer

Phalon’s Instantaneous Hair Dye

To one ounce of crystallized nitrate of silver, dissolved in one ounce of concentrated aqua ammonia, add one ounce of gum arabic and six ounces of soft water. Keep in the dark. Remember to remove all grease from the hair before applying the dye.

There is danger in some of the patent hair dyes, and hence the Scientific American offers what is known as the walnut hair dye. The simplest form is the expressed juice of the bark or shell of green walnuts. To preserve the juice a little alcohol is commonly added to it with a few bruised cloves, and the whole digested together, with occasional agitation, for a week or fortnight, when the clear portion is decanted, and, if necessary, filtered. Sometimes a little common salt is added with the same intention. It should be kept in a cool place. The most convenient way of application is by means of a sponge.

Source: The White House Cookbook, F.L. Gillette

Sore Throat

At night wrap a cloth wet in alcohol around outside of throat. Gargle with salt and water (1 tsp. to a glass), or borax and water in same proportion, or hot tea, or with the following—

Gargle:

2 tbsp. vinegar,
1 tbsp. salt,
Water to fill a tumbler.

If persistent, see doctor.

Source: The Mary Frances First Aid Book, Jane Eayre Fryer

Poison Ivy Rash

The poison ivy plant has three leaves in clusters.

Do not scratch. Mop on rash a saturated solution of Epsom salt (as much as can be dissolved in a cup of water); or, wash with saturated solution boric acid. Allow it to dry in the air.

Lime water may be used in place of boric acid.

Wash the affected surface every day, dry and repeat treatment.

Sweet fern tea is very good. Steep the sweet fern in boiling water an hour, and apply to rash.

Source: The Mary Frances First Aid Book, Jane Eayre Fryer

Nosebleed

Head in upright position. Raise arm on bleeding side. Loosen collar. Apply ice in a cloth to bridge of nose and back of neck. A roll of paper under upper lip. Snuff cold tea up nose, or salt water, 1 tsp. to cup water, or the same of powdered alum.

If bleeding continues, tie a small wad of cotton with thread; dip it into peroxide of hydrogen, and plug nostril by pushing the cotton gently with a pencil. The thread is used to withdraw cotton.

If these means fail, send for doctor.

Source: The Mary Frances First Aid Book, Jane Eayre Fryer

Cure for a Wen

Wash it in common salt, dissolved in water, every day and it will be removed in a short time.

Source: 76: A Cook Book

Hives (Nettle Rash)

For itching, rub into them common table salt, or bathe with equal parts vinegar and water.

Hives indicate stomach trouble. Give citrate of magnesia.

If hives persist, give 1/2 tsp. table salt in water or 1/4 tsp. cream of tartar in 1/4 glass of water three times a day for three days.

If hives still persist, consult doctor.

Source: The Mary Frances First Aid Book, Jane Eayre Fryer