Bellows Falls Times

Miscellany

Importance of Presence of Mind.

1. If a man faints, place him on his back, and let him alone.

2. If any poison is swallowed, drink instantly half a glass of cool water, with a heaping teaspoonful each of common salt and ground mustard stirred into it; this vomits as soon as it reaches the stomach; but for fear some of the poison may remain swallow the white of one or two raw eggs, or drink a cup of strong coffee, these two being antidotes for a greater number of poisons than any dozen other articles known, with the advantage of their always being at hand; if not, a pint of sweet oil, or lamp oil, or "drippings," or melted butter, or lard, are good substitutes, especially if they vomit quickly.

3. The best thing to stop the bleeding of a moderate cut instantly, is to cover it profusely with cob-web, flour and salt half and half.

4. If blood comes from a wound by jets or spurts, be spry, or the man will die in a few minutes, because an artery is severed; tie a handkerchief loosely around, near the part between the wound and the heart; put a stick between the handkerchief and the skin, and twist it around until the blood ceases to flow; keep it there until the doctor comes; if in a position where the handkerchief cannot be used, press the thumb on a spot near the wound, between the wound and the heart; increase the pressure until the bleeding ceases, but do not lessen the pressure for an instant until the physician arrives, so as to glue up the wound by coagulation or cooling of the hardening blood.

5. If your clothing takes fire, slide the hands down the dress, keeping them as close to the body as possible, at the same time sinking to the floor by bending the knees; this has a smothering effect upon the flames; if not extinguished or great headway gotten, lie down on the floor, and roll over and over; or better, envelope yourself in a carpet, rug, bed cloth, or any garment you can get hold of, always preferring woolen.

6. If the body is tired rest; if the brain is tired, sleep.

7. If the bowels are loose, lie down in a warm bed, remain there and eat nothing until you are well.

8. If the action of the bowels does not occur at the usual hour, eat not an atom until they do act, at least for thirty-six hours; meanwhile, drink largely of cold water or hot teas, and exercise in the open air to the extent of a gentle perspiration, and keep this up until things are righted; this suggestion, if practiced, would save myriads of lives every year both in city and country.

9. The three best medicines in the world, are warmth, abstinence and repose.-Hall's Journal of Health.