Dissolve two ounces of borax in three pints of warm water. Before the water is quite cold, add one teaspoonful of spirits of camphor. Bottle the mixture for use. One wine-gla.s.s of the mixture, added to half a pint of tepid water, is sufficient for each application. This solution used daily, beautifies and preserves the teeth.

FOE WHITENING THE HANDS.

A wine-gla.s.s of cologne and one of lemon-juice strained clear. Sc.r.a.pe two cakes of brown Windsor soap to a powder and mix well in a mould.

When hard, it is fit for use, and will be found excellent for whitening the hands.

Wear during the night, large cloth mittens filled with wet bran or oatmeal, and tied closely at the wrist. Persons who have a great deal of house-work to do, may keep their hands soft and white by wearing bran or oatmeal mittens.

TO REDUCE THE FLESH.

A strong decoction of sa.s.safras, drank frequently, will reduce the flesh as rapidly as any remedy known. A strong infusion is made at the rate of an ounce of sa.s.safras to a quart of water. Boil it half an hour very slowly, and let it stand till cold, heating again if desired. Keep it from the air.

SMOOTH AND SOFT HANDS.

A few drops of glycerine thoroughly rubbed over the hands, after washing them, will keep them smooth and soft.

TO MAKE TINCTURE OF ROSES.

Take the leaves of the common rose and place, without pressing them, in a gla.s.s bottle, then pour some spirits of wine on them, close the bottle and let it stand till required for use. Its perfume is nearly equal to that of ottar of roses.

SOFT CORNS.

A weak solution of carbolic acid will heal soft corns between the toes.

BURNED EYEBROWS.

Five grains sulphate of quinine dissolved in an ounce of alcohol, will, if applied, cause eyebrows to grow when burned off by the fire.

TO RESTORE GRAY HAIR.

A recipe for restoring gray hair to its natural color, said to be very effective when the hair is changing color, is as follows: One pint of water, one ounce tincture of acetate of iron, half an ounce of glycerine, and five grains sulphuret pota.s.sium. Mix and let the bottle stand open until the smell of the pota.s.sium has disappeared, then add a few drops of ottar of roses. Rub a little into the hair daily, and it will restore its color and benefit the health.

Bathing the head in a strong solution of rock salt, is said to restore gray hair in some cases. Make the solution two heaping tablespoonfuls of salt to a quart of boiling water, and let it stand until cold before using.

A solution made of a tablespoonful of carbonate of ammonia to a quart of water is also recommended, wash the head thoroughly with the solution and brush the hair while wet.

TO TAKE STAINS OUT OF SILKS.

Make a solution of two ounces of essence of lemon, and one ounce oil of turpentine. Rub the silk gently with linen cloth, dipped in the solution.

To remove acid stains from silk, apply spirits of ammonia with a soft rag.

TO TAKE INK-SPOTS FROM LINEN.

Dip the spotted part of the linen in clean, pure melted tallow, before being washed.

TO REMOVE DISCOLORATION BY BRUISING.

Apply to the bruise a cloth wrung out of very hot water, and renew frequently until the pain ceases.

TO CLEAN KID GLOVES.

Make a solution of one quart of distilled benzine with one-fourth of an ounce of carbonate of ammonia, one-fourth of an ounce of fluid chloroform, one-fourth of an ounce of sulphuric ether. Pour a small quant.i.ty into a saucer, put on the gloves, and wash, as if washing the hands, changing the solution until the gloves are clean. Rub them clean and as dry as possible with a clean dry cloth, and take them off and hang them where there is a good current of air to dry. This solution is also excellent for cleaning ribbons, silks, etc., and is perfectly harmless to the most delicate tints. Do not get near the fire when using, as the benzine is very inflammable.

Washing the gloves in turpentine, the same as above, is also a good means of cleaning them.

PERSPIRATION.

To remove the unpleasant odor produced by perspiration, put two tablespoonfuls of the compound spirit of ammonia in a basin of water, and use it for bathing. It leaves the skin clear, sweet and fresh as one could wish. It is perfectly harmless, very cheap, and is recommended on the authority of an experienced physician.

TO REMOVE FLESH WORMS.

Flesh worms, or little black specks, which appear on the nose, may be removed by washing in warm water, drying with a towel, and applying a wash of cologne and liquor of potash, made of three ounces of the former to one ounce of the latter.

CHAPPED LIPS.

Oil of roses four ounces, white wax one ounce, spermaceti half an ounce; melt in a gla.s.s vessel, stirring with a wooden spoon, and pour into a china or gla.s.s cup.

RECIPES FOR THE CARE OF THE TEETH.

A remedy for unsound gums, is a gargle made of one ounce of coa.r.s.ely powdered Peruvian bark steeped in half a pint of brandy for two weeks.

Put a teaspoonful of this into a tablespoonful of water, and gargle the mouth twice a day.

The ashes of stale bread, thoroughly burned, is said to make a good dentifrice.

The teeth should be carefully brushed after every meal, as a means of preserving a sweet breath. In addition, a small piece of licorice may be dissolved in the mouth, which corrects the effects of indigestion.

Licorice has no smell, but simply corrects ill-flavored odor.

A good way to clean teeth is to dip the brush in water, rub it over white castile soap, then dip it in prepared chalk, and brush the teeth briskly.

To beautify the teeth, dissolve two ounces of borax in three pints of boiling water, and before it is cold, add one teaspoonful of spirits of camphor; bottle for use. Use a teaspoonful of this with an equal quant.i.ty of warm water.

TO MAKE COLD CREAM.