[Transcriber’s Footnote 1:  Cloth coated with adhesive substance to cover cuts or scratches on the skin.]

Earache

Take the heart of an onion, heat it in an oven, and put it in the ear when hot, but not so hot as to burn the ear.  This not only relieves the earache, but helps to send the sufferer to sleep.  Hold hot water bag to ear.

Inflamed Eye

Wring a towel in water hot as the hands will bear; lay on the eyes and change frequently.  Bathe with saturated solution of boric acid crystals.

Great relief is felt by opening the eyes in tepid or very warm boracic solution.  Even if it is strong enough to smart, no harm will result.

If inflammation is caused by a foreign substance, rub the other eye, in order to make both eyes water.  If the speck can be seen, it can generally be taken out by twisting a small piece of gauze or cloth around a toothpick and drawing it over the speck, or by twisting up a piece of paper like a lamp lighter and, after wetting the tip of it, wiping it against the speck.  If it is under the upper lid, pull the lid away from the eyeball, and push the under lid up underneath the upper one.  In this way the eyelashes of the lower lid will generally clean the inside of the upper one.  An eye-tweezers for removing a piece of grit from the eye is made by folding a piece of paper in two.  With a sharp knife cut it to a point at an angle of 30 degrees and slightly moisten the point in clean water.

Feet

It is a good thing to dry-soap your feet and the inside of your socks before putting them on for a hike or tramp.  This is an old army trick.  If your feet perspire freely, powder them with boric acid powder, starch, and oxide of zinc in equal parts.  Wash the feet every day, best on turning in at night.

To prevent the nail growing into the toe, take a bit of broken glass and scrape down the top of the nail until it is quite thin, and in time the corners begin to grow out, and no longer hurt the toe.  Toenails should be cut square and not encouraged to grow in by side trimming.  A good plan is to make a “V” shape notch on the middle of the top of each toenail, which will close up naturally, and, in so doing, draw the sides up and inward.

Headache

Headache comes from indigestion or from the sun.  A boy will overeat and then play under the hot sun—­result, headache.  Have the boy lie down and sleep, if possible, using cloths dipped in cold water to drive the blood away from the head.  A remedy recommended by the great John Wesley is to lay very thin slices of lemon rind on either temple.

Hiccough

Take a deep breath and hold it as long as possible, or make yourself sneeze.

Ivy Poisoning

Mix some baking powder with water, or rub on wood ashes.  Wash with alcohol.  Be careful not to spread by scratching.

Rusty Nail

Better call a physician.  Puncture with nails and such things, especially if rusty, should be squeezed and washed with sulphur-naphthol or hot water poured into the hole.  If too small, this may be slightly enlarged.  Cauterize with carbolic acid, then with pure alcohol.  Keep the wound open for a few days.  Run no risk with a rusty nail wound.  Attend to it immediately.