Original White House Cookbook

Cure for Hiccough: — Sit erect and inflate the lungs fully. Then, retaining the breath, bend forward slowly until the chest meets the knees. After slowly rising again to the erect position, slowly exhale the breath. Repeat this process a second time, and the nerves will be found to have received an access of energy that will enable them to perform their natural functions. To Keep out Mosquitoes and Rats: — If a bottle of the oil of penny-royal is left uncorked in a room at night, not a mosquito, nor any other bloodsucker, will be found there in the morning. Mix potash with powdered meal, and throw it into the rat-holes of a cellar, and the rats will depart. If a rat or a mouse get into your pantry, stuff into its hole a rag saturated with a solution of cayenne pepper, and no rat or mouse will touch the rag for the purpose of opening communication with a depot of supplies. Salt will Curdle New Milk ; hence, in preparing porridge, gravies, etc., the salt should not be added until the dish is prepared. To Prevent Rust on Flat-Irons: — Beeswax and salt will make your rusty flat-irons as smooth and clean as glass. Tie a lump of wax in a rag and keep it for that purpose. When the irons are hot, rub them first with the wax rag, then scour with a paper or cloth sprinkled with salt. To Prevent Rust on Knives: — Steel knives which are notin general use may be kept from rusting if they are dipped in a strong solution of soda : one part water to four of soda ; then wipe dry, roll in flannel and keep in a dry place. Flowers May be Kept Very Fresh over Night if they are excluded from the air. To do this, wet them thoroughly, put in a damp box, and cover with wet raw cotton or wet newspaper, then place in a cool spot. To Sweeten Milk: — Milk which is slightly turned or changed may be sweetened and rendered fit for use again by stirring in a little soda. To Scour Knives Easily: — Mix a small quantity of baking soda with your brick-dust and see if your knives do not polish better. To Soften Boots and Shoes: — Kerosene will soften boots and shoes which have been hardened by water, and render them as pliable as new. Kerosene will make tin tea-kettles as bright as new. Saturate a woolen rag and rub with it. It will also remove stains from clean varnished furniture. Faded Goods: — Plush goods and all articles dyed with aniline colors, which have faded from exposure to the light, will look as bright as new after sponging with chloroform. Choking: — A piece of food lodged in the throat may sometimes be pushed down with the finger, or removed with a hair-pin quickly straightened and hooked at the end, or by two or three vigorous blows on the back between the shoulders. To Prevent Mold on the Top of Glasses of Jelly, lay a lump of paraffine on the top of the hot jelly, letting it melt and spread over it. No brandy paper and no other covering is necessary. If preferred the paraffine can be melted and poured over after the jelly is cold. To Preserve Ribbons and Silks : — Ribbons and silks should be put away for preservation in brown paper ; the chloride of lime in white paper discolors them. A white satin dress should be pinned up in blue paper with brown paper outside sewn together at the edges.