f a pint of
water, until the half pint is reduced to a gill, then stir into it
enough Indian meal to thicken it.

_A Mustard Poultice._--Into one gill of boiling water stir one
tablespoonful of Indian meal; spread the paste thus made upon a cloth
and spread over the paste one teaspoonful of mustard flour. If you
wish a mild poultice, use a teaspoonful of mustard as it is prepared
for the table, instead of the mustard flour.

Equal parts of ground mustard and flour made into a paste with warm
water, and spread between two pieces of muslin, form the indispensable
mustard plaster.

_A Ginger Poultice._--This is made like a mustard poultice, using
ground ginger instead of mustard. A little vinegar is sometimes added
to each of these poultices.

_A Stramonium Poultice._--Stir one tablespoonful of Indian meal into a
gill of boiling water and add one tablespoonful of bruised stramonium
seeds.

_Wormwood and Arnica_ are sometimes applied in poultices. Steep the
herbs in half a pint of cold water and when all their virtue is
extracted stir in a little bran or rye meal to thicken the liquid; the
herbs must not be removed from the liquid.

This is a useful application for sprains and bruises.

_Linseed Poultice._--Take four ounces of powdered linseed and
gradually sprinkle it into a half pint of hot water.

A REMEDY FOR BOILS.

An excellent remedy for boils is water of a temperature agreeable to
the feelings of the patient. Apply wet linen to the part affected and
frequently renew or moisten it. It is said to be the most effectual
remedy known. Take inwardly some good blood purifier.

CURE FOR RINGWORMS.

Yellow dock, root or leaves, steeped in vinegar, will cure the worst
case of ringworm.

[Illustration]

HEALTH-SUGGESTIONS.

HOW COLDS ARE CAUGHT.

A great many cannot see why it is they do not take a cold when exposed
to cold winds and rain. The fact is, and ought to be more generally
understood, that nearly every cold is contracted indoors, and is not
directly due to the cold outside, but to the heat inside. A man will
go to bed at night feeling as well as usual and get up in the morning
with a royal cold. He goes peeking around in search of cracks and
keyholes and tiny drafts. Weather-strips are procured, and the house
made as tight as a fruit can. In a few days more the whole family have
colds.

Let a man go home, tired or exhausted, eat a full supper of starchy
and vegetable food, occupy h