neck.

A gargle for sore throat may be made by dissolving half a teaspoonful of
chlorate of potash in a cupful of warm water. Gargle the throat with
this every hour or two during the day, but do not swallow the mixture.
After this has been used for a day or two, then a solution may be made
by adding a teaspoonful of pulverized alum to a cupful of warm water;
this is applied to the inflamed sides of the throat by means of a swab.
Gargling the throat with a solution of ordinary extract of witch hazel,
one part, and water two parts, also very useful.

=Croup.=--As a rule, croup may be quickly cured by the use of either hot
or cold water. Immediately the child begins to breathe hard and cough
with a dry, hollow, barking cough, wring out a towel from cold water and
apply around the throat, covering this with a dry towel. The wet towel
should be changed in a few minutes, just as soon as it becomes a little
warm. Often before the second cloth is removed the spasm will be broken,
and the danger passed. _Cool_ water will not answer; it must be _cold_.
If the spasm does not break, and the breathing does not become easy
within fifteen or twenty minutes, then change to hot water. Wring out
the cloth from water as hot as can be borne and apply about the neck,
changing in a few moments, and so on.

=How to Lose Flesh.=--I have often been asked whether it were possible to
have the flesh reduced without in any way affecting the general health.
If the person be only slightly heavier than usual, and is in the best of
health, it certainly seems wrong to experiment in any way to reduce the
weight, especially when this is done only to better follow the dictates
of fashion.

If, however, the excess of flesh is becoming so great as to be
uncomfortable, to interfere with the regular work, or to cause weak
action of the heart, etc., then something should be done. There are a
few rules which a person may follow to advantage in such cases, although
the change should be made gradually.

So long as a person continues to gain in flesh, it is positive evidence
that more food is being taken than necessary. Therefore the first rule
is that the quantity of food should be gradually diminished.

The second rule is that exercise should be taken regularly. This will
keep up the general health, while it will cause the fat to be more
evenly distributed over the body. Another rule is to keep the bowels
well open, so that there may be at least two movemen