FoodNet

The housekeeper's companion

1883

Page 268

Presented as published in 1883. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
Spirits of salvolatile is also very useful for local application in slight cases of stings. Should, however, the inflammation spread much, poultices of linseed-meal s?iould be applied. Should the wound have been inflicted by a snake or other venomous insect, and the system be at all affected, if the patient seem faint or prostrated, stimulants should be given freely, thus: Spirits of salvolatile, i drachm; water to i ounce; every hour; or brandy and water, if the ammonia be not at hand. If the bite proceed from some animal, whose bite is known to be of a dangerous nature, nitrate of silver should be freely applied to the wound as quickly as possible. If the wound be on a limb, it will be as well to tie a handkerchief or other ligature tightly round it above the part bitten. The venomous effect of certain snake bites, as that of the cobra di capello, are so rapid in their development that, unless speedy or immediate aid be rendered, the patient will stand but little chance of recovery. The bite of the adder is occasion- ally followed by very serious symptoms. The bite, or rather the stings, of certain scorpions are often of a severe nature. In nearly all cases of snake-bite, the symptoms consist in a fearful state of depression, during which, unless the strength be sup- ported, the patient will sink. If the wound be inflicted on one of the limbs, a ligature should be very tightly tied round it above the wound. The object of the treatment, as above stated, is to support the strength of the patient until the poison shall have passed out of the system. Stomach-Aclie: i. In Children; 2. In Adults. — i. To begin with this very " common heritage " of infantine and MEDICINAL. 367 childish ''woe," first and foremost show your sense, as far as a fond (and foolish?) papa or mamma can be supposed to show it, by preventing the " little ones " from eating and drinking what you know, and they- don't know, to be a likely fons et origo malorum. For instance, prevent their eating raw and unripe fruit; going into the garden and picking and swallowing green peas, sour gooseberries, and so on; in short, keep them on their proper diet, eggs and milk, in especial, the only two perfect/^/- se kinds of food; good brown bread, made at home of whole-ground wheat, infinitely more nourishing than the fine white bread, too often adulterated, for the sake of the color, with alum, to the ruin of the teeth and confinement of the bowels; Scotch oatmeal porridge, with plenty of milk, not odious salt and the like. N. B. — Do not expect your young child to thrive on tea and white bread and butter only; still less on buttered toast. A growing child needs something bet- ter at breakfast than that. If you yourself know nothing about the proper diet for a child, then buy one of the London Hospital Pharmacopoeias, particularly one of the "Children's Hospital Pharmacopoeias," at the end of which a proper dietary for a child, according to its age, is given.