Hilda's diary of a Cape housekeeper

To put coals on fire noiselessly.— “ Of course you know of the plan of having a housemaid’s glove, which is easily slipped on, by the coal-scuttle, so as to take up individual pieces of coal if the fire has to be kept in— it makes less noise. Some people have the coal brought in wrapped up in a piece of newspaper, and put on a packet at a time, but I prefer gloves, as the coal sometimes falls when the paper burns (rag would be better than paper). You can often encourage a fire to burn up and avoid the crackling of sticks by putting a piece of lump sugar in the fire, as it burns with a good deal of flame.” Cold hands disagreeable.— “ I always warm my hands on a jug of hot water before changing sheets or touching my patient. Fanning is another thing which requires a little practice • NURSING HINTS App. Never fan backwards and forwards, it blows the air back again, and is suffocating when breath is short. FFan from above, downwards, which is least trouble to the breath. “ Sponging the patient’s hands is often a great relief — when done slowly — one finger at a time, and specially the front of the wrist, in lukewarm water, with a little eau-de-cologne or rose-water (strong scent); it will sometimes send a feverish patient to sleep. It gives them no trouble ; there is no paraphernalia, only perhaps one end of a soft towel wet and the other dry. “ Bran Poultice. — Bran and salt made very hot in a bag of thin material is effective as a poultice. (One could have two bags and use them alternately.) “ I have found it useful to prepare beforehand something to say — to tell — even a fairy tale — when you are going to do the morning toilette or anything wearisome. Even if your patient does not listen, the voice is soothing, and takes off attention from the discomfort. “Nurses should never whisper. — Never whisper in a sickroom ; it disturbs the patient, who makes an effort to hear ; merely speak low in an ordinary voice.” Fomentation of Poppy Heads and Camomile Flowers. — Ingredients — 4 ozs. poppy heads. 2 ozs. camomile flowers. 2 pints boiling water. Break the heads, pour boiling water over them, boil for six or seven minutes, add the camomile flowers, boil for three minutes longer, strain, and keep it hot ; dip pieces of flannel into the mixture and apply externally to the affected parts. For face-ache this is excellent. u HOUSEHOLD HINTS. Glove-cleaning^ Fluid. — I gallon deodorized benzine. I oz. chloroform. ^ oz. sulphate of ether. I oz. alcohol. Mix all well together ; put the gloves on and clean on the hand with a flannel rag. One wineglassful of fluid will clean a pair of gloves. When cleaned draw off the gloves and dry them on a bath towel. Water Supply. — Where constant natural springs do not exist, artesian wells, tanks for rain-water, dams and other ways are resorted to for a good supply. It is a good plan to send a specimen of well or spring water to be tested by a good chemist before using for drinking supply ; or whenever there is any doubt of the purity of the water, always to boil what is used not only for drinking but for washing-up purposes and cooking. No addition of spirits, etc., makes water more wholesome to drink. Sanitary Arrangements. — Health is so important that the following extract may be useful to those at a distance from towns — “ The safest arrangements for the country are no doubt HOUSEHOLD HINTS