Boil castor-oil with an equal quantity of milk, sweeten it with a little sugar, stir it well, and, when cold, give it to children for drink.  They will never suspect it is medicine; and will even love the taste of it.

As molasses is often given to children as a gentle physic, it will be useful to know that West India molasses is a gentle cathartic, while sugar-baker’s molasses is slightly astringent.

If a fellon or run-round appears to be coming on the finger, you can do nothing better than to soak the finger thoroughly in hot lye.  It will be painful, but it will cure a disorder much more painful.

Whiskey, which has had Spanish-flies in soak, is said to be good for ring-worms; but I never knew an instance of its being tried.  Unless too strong, or used in great quantities, it cannot, at least, do any harm.  Washing the hands frequently in warm vinegar, is good for ring-worms.

When the toe nails have a tendency to turn in, so as to be painful, the nail should always be kept scraped very thin, and as near the flesh as possible.  As soon as the corner of the nail can be raised up out of the flesh, it should be kept from again entering, by putting a tuft of fine lint under it.

As this book may fall into the hands of those who cannot speedily obtain a physician, it is worth while to mention what is best to be done for the bite of a rattlesnake:—­Cut the flesh out, around the bite, instantly; that the poison may not have time to circulate in the blood.  If caustic is at hand, put it upon the raw flesh; if not, the next best thing is to fill the wound with salt—­renewing it occasionally.  Take a dose of sweet oil and spirits of turpentine, to defend the stomach.  If the whole limb swell, bathe it in salt and vinegar freely.  It is well to physic the system thoroughly, before returning to usual diet.

GRUEL.

Gruel is very easily made.  Have a pint of water boiling in a skillet; stir up three or four large spoonfuls of nicely sifted oat-meal, rye, or Indian, in cold water.  Pour it into the skillet while the water boils.  Let it boil eight or ten minutes.  Throw in a large handful of raisins to boil, if the patient is well enough to bear them.  When put in a bowl, add a little salt, white sugar, and nutmeg.

EGG GRUEL.

This is at once food and medicine.  Some people have very great faith in its efficacy in cases of chronic dysentery.  It is made thus:  Boil a pint of new milk; beat four new-laid eggs to a light froth, and pour in while the milk boils; stir them together thoroughly, but do not let them boil; sweeten it with the best of loaf sugar, and grate in a whole nutmeg; add a little salt, if you like it.  Drink half of it while it is warm, and the other half in two hours.

ARROW-ROOT JELLY.