The kitchen sink-drains and cellar should be well attended to. Clean
out the drains and sprinkle well with a strong solution of copperas
water; place chloride of lime in earthen dishes and set them on the cel-
lar, bottom in some out of the way corner where it will not get dis-
turbed. Chloride of lime and copperas are both good disinfectants. At
this season of the year the old saw, "an ounce of prevention is worth
a pound of cure," should strike each one of us very forcibly, and we
should act accordingly.
Among other annoyances in the summer are flies. A few branches
of elderbush if hung in the room is said to keep flies out, for they shun
it as we would a pestilence. Keep the dining-room free from crumbs
or eatables only when meals are in progress, and every morning darken
the room, except one window, and drive the flies out through the light
aperture. A good " fly sweeper " can be made by taking wrapping paper,
cutting it up into small strips, narrow but long, and tying one end of the
paper strips to the end of a broom handle. A vigorous use of this will
soon clear a room of flies.
Mosquitoes can be got rid of in rooms by the smoke of insect-pow-
der burnt on a hot shovel. When it is not easy to get fire, put a bit of
gum-camphor on a shovel, light and the gum will catch as quickly as
alcohol; then sprinkle a tablespoonful of insect-powder (pyrethrum) on
the flame, let it take fire and blow out the blaze, close the windows and
let the smoke rise for five minutes. It will not injure walls or furniture
and does not harm human beings, though obnoxious to insects. Hang-
ing a cloth on which a teaspoonful of carbolic acid is poured, at the
head of the bed, will keep mosquitoes away, and many have repeat-
edly gained a good night's sleep by this means when others failed.
Take care to place the cloth or sponge so that there is no danger
of touching it with the face or hands in the night, as the acid burns like
caustic.
A wash of fifteen or twenty drops of common carbolic acid in a half-
pint of water will immediately relieve the smart of mosquito bites, hives,
prickly heat and all irritations of the skin common in summer. As the
strength of carbolic acid commonly sold varies, the dilution should be
tested before using by wetting a small spot of skin. If it causes
any burning in a moment or so, it is too strong and more water must
be added.
A Large Sponge hung in the room at night or in the day time, if it
can be, behind a convenient screen, and kept constantly wet, will greatly
assist in keeping a room cold, or a wet cloth hung in the window over
the blind will cool the room as if a shower had fallen ; all know how
fresh water sprinkled on the pavement in front of the windows and
doors will freshen the hot, dry air.
In Tropical Countries, where ice is almost unknown, the natives cool
THE ART OF KEEPING COOL. 345
their drinking water by suspending earthen jars filled with it in a brisk
current of air, which process is said to cool it thoroughly and rapidly.
A wet handkerchief, sponge or green leaves worn in the hat, when
one is exposed to the sun, will prevent sunstroke under the most intense
heat.
Page 305
Presented as published in 1886. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
The kitchen sink-drains and cellar should be well attended to. Clean out the drains and sprinkle well with a strong solution of copperas water; place chloride of lime in earthen dishes and set them on the cellar, bottom in some out of the way corner where it will not get disturbed. Chloride of lime and copperas are both good disinfectants. At this season of the year the old saw, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," should strike each one of us very forcibly, and we should act accordingly.
Among other annoyances in the summer are flies. A few branches of elderbush if hung in the room is said to keep flies out, for they shun it as we would a pestilence. Keep the dining-room free from crumbs or eatables only when meals are in progress, and every morning darken the room, except one window, and drive the flies out through the light aperture. A good " fly sweeper " can be made by taking wrapping paper, cutting it up into small strips, narrow but long, and tying one end of the paper strips to the end of a broom handle. A vigorous use of this will soon clear a room of flies.
Mosquitoes can be got rid of in rooms by the smoke of insect-powder burnt on a hot shovel. When it is not easy to get fire, put a bit of gum-camphor on a shovel, light and the gum will catch as quickly as alcohol; then sprinkle a tablespoonful of insect-powder (pyrethrum) on the flame, let it take fire and blow out the blaze, close the windows and let the smoke rise for five minutes. It will not injure walls or furniture and does not harm human beings, though obnoxious to insects. Hanging a cloth on which a teaspoonful of carbolic acid is poured, at the head of the bed, will keep mosquitoes away, and many have repeatedly gained a good night's sleep by this means when others failed. Take care to place the cloth or sponge so that there is no danger of touching it with the face or hands in the night, as the acid burns like caustic.
A wash of fifteen or twenty drops of common carbolic acid in a halfpint of water will immediately relieve the smart of mosquito bites, hives, prickly heat and all irritations of the skin common in summer. As the strength of carbolic acid commonly sold varies, the dilution should be tested before using by wetting a small spot of skin. If it causes any burning in a moment or so, it is too strong and more water must be added.
A large sponge hung in the room at night or in the day time, if it can be, behind a convenient screen, and kept constantly wet, will greatly assist in keeping a room cold, or a wet cloth hung in the window over the blind will cool the room as if a shower had fallen; all know how fresh water sprinkled on the pavement in front of the windows and doors will freshen the hot, dry air.
In tropical countries, where ice is almost unknown, the natives cool
THE ART OF KEEPING COOL. 345
[illustration: THE ART OF KEEPING COOL. 345]
their drinking water by suspending earthen jars filled with it in a brisk current of air, which process is said to cool it thoroughly and rapidly. A wet handkerchief, sponge or green leaves worn in the hat, when one is exposed to the sun, will prevent sunstroke under the most intense heat.