spirits of turpentine, may be pressed upon the surface for a few
minutes, and retained by a moderately tight bandage; but if the blood
spirts out violently, it shows that an artery is wounded, and it must be
held very firmly till a surgeon arrives. But when the blood seems to
flow equally from every part of the wound, and there is no reason
therefore to suppose that any considerable vessel is wounded, it may be
permitted to bleed while the dressings are preparing. The edges of the
wound are then to be gently pressed together, and retained by straps of
sticking plaster. These may remain on for three or four days, unless the
sore becomes painful, or the matter smells offensive, in which case the
straps of plaster must be taken off, the parts washed clean with warm
water, and fresh slips of plaster applied, nicely adjusted to keep the
wound closed. The slips must be laid over the wound crossways, and reach
several inches beyond each side of it, in order to hold the parts firmly
together. By keeping the limb or part very still, abstaining from strong
liquors, taking only light mild food, and keeping the bowels open, all
simple wounds may easily be healed in this manner. But poultices, greasy
salves, or filling the wound with lint, will have an opposite effect.
Even ragged or torn wounds may be drawn together and healed by sticking
plaster, without any other salves or medicines. A broken shin, or slight
ruffling of the skin, may be covered with lint dipped in equal parts of
vinegar and brandy, and left to stick on, unless the place inflames; and
then weak goulard is the best remedy. Common cuts may be kept together
by sticking plaster, or with only a piece of fine linen rag, or thread
bound round them. The rag applied next to a cut or wound of any kind,
should always be of white linen; but calico, or coloured rags, will do
quite as well for outward bandages. Important wounds should always be
committed to the care of a skilful surgeon.
SLUGS. These reptiles do great damage in fields and gardens, especially
to crops of lettuces, cabbages, or turnips. Their track is perceived by
the shining and slimy substance which they leave behind them. There are
several kinds of these little animals. The white and brown leathery kind
often even destroy the strong stems of young cabbage, and other similar
plants. The destruction of them has been suggested to be effected by the
use of tar-water, sprinkled over the ground; and also by having recourse
to lime, in the preparation of the land for such crops. They conceal
themselves in the holes and crevices, only making their appearance early
in mornings and late in the evenings. The white slug or snail is
likewise very destructive to young turnip crops, by rising out of the
holes of the soils, on wet and dewy mornings and evenings. Rolling the
ground with a heavy implement, before the sun rises, has been advised as
a means of destroying them in these cases. Slugs of this sort are
likewise very destructive, in some districts, to the roots of corn
crops, during the day-time, in the early spring months, while they lie
concealed in the ground, by eating and devouring them; and by coming out
in the evenings, and during the night-time, to commit ravages on the
blades, and other parts above the ground. Numbers of them are sometimes
met with upon the same plant, and they may easily be extirpated and
removed from the land by the above practice, while they are at work,
especially in moon-light seasons, and any further injury to the crops
be guarded against. Warm moist weather is always a great encouragement
to their coming out of their hiding-places; and advantage should
constantly be taken of it for their extermination, as they suddenly
retire under ground during the time of cold. The strong lands of other
places are occasionally much infested with them in the pea, bean, and
rye crops and stubbles, as well as clover roots, when a wheat crop is
put in upon them. The slugs, in some cases, are of about half an inch in
length, having their backs of a blueish cast in the skin part, and their
under parts wholly of a white appearance. A mixture of sulphur and lime,
made so as to be conveniently applied, has been found to be highly
destructive of them in general.--The use of lime-water has lately been
advised as an excellent and cheap mode of destroying slugs in gardens,
as well as fields, in the second volume of the Transactions of the
Horticultural Society of London. It is found to be far preferable, in
this intention, to quicklime, which is liable to become too soon
saturated with moisture, and rendered ineffectual. The manner of
employing the water is after it has been newly made from stone lime, by
means of hot water poured upon it, to pour it through the fine rose of a
watering-pot over the slugs, which have been collected by means of
pea-haulm, or some other similar substance, laid down on the ground in
portions, at the distance of about a pole from each other. In proper
weather, the slugs soon collect in this way, in great numbers, for
shelter as well as to get food. When a boy takes up the substance, and
by a gentle shake leaves the whole of the slugs on the ground, another
person then pours a small quantity of lime-water on them, and the boy
removes the haulmy material to some intermediate place, in order that
the same practice may be repeated. By persevering in this method for a
little while, the whole of the slugs may be destroyed, as the least drop
of the water speedily kills them. This practice, it is supposed, will be
found highly beneficial in the flower-garden, as by watering the edgings
of box, thrift, or other kinds, the slugs will be killed with certainty,
even when the weather is moist. The application is considered simple,
the effect certain, and the expence trifling, whether in the garden or
the field; a few pots only being required, in the latter case, to the
acre, which can be made with a very small quantity of lime. And the
labour is not of any material consequence, so that the whole charge will
not, it is imagined, exceed five shillings the acre.--To prevent slugs
from getting into fruit trees. If the trees are standards, tie a coarse
horse-hair rope about them, two or three feet from the ground. If they
are against the wall, nail a narrow slip of coarse horse-hair cloth
against the wall, about half a foot from the ground, and they will never
get over it, for if they attempt it, it will kill them, as their bellies
are soft, and the horse-hair will wound them.
SMALL COAL. There is generally a great waste in the article of coal,
owing to the quantity of dust found amongst it; but this if wetted makes
the strongest fire for the back of the grate, where it should remain
untouched till it is formed into a cake. Cinders lightly wetted give a
great degree of heat, and are better than coal for furnaces, ironing
stoves, and ovens. They should be carefully preserved and sifted in a
covered tin bucket, which prevents the dispersion of the dust.
SMALL POX. Previous to the appearance of the eruption, the patient
should be kept in a cool dry apartment, and abstain from all animal
food, cheese, and pastry. The diet should consist of cooling
vegetables, ripe fruit, pearl barley, and sago. The drink may be barley
water, with a few drops of vinegar or cream of tartar, or lukewarm milk
and water; but neither beer nor wine must be allowed. In case of an
obstruction of the bowels, mild laxatives or clysters may be given; and
if the throat be affected, it should be gargled with vinegar and water.
Warm fomentations should be applied to the neck, and mustard poultices
to the feet. After the eruption has made its appearance, the recovery of
the patient may be chiefly entrusted to nature, while proper attention
is paid to diet and regimen. But if the pustules begin to disappear,
blisters ought to be immediately applied to the calves of the legs, and
parsley-root boiled in milk should frequently be eaten, in order to
encourage the eruption. When the pustules suddenly sink in, it denotes
danger, and medical assistance should speedily be procured. In case of
inoculation, which introduces the disease in a milder form, and has been
the means of saving the lives of many thousands, a similar mode of
treatment is required. For about a week or ten days previous to
inoculation, the patient should adhere to a regular diet; avoiding all
animal food, seasoned dishes, wine and spirits, and should live
sparingly on fruit pies, puddings, and vegetables. The same regimen must
be observed as in the former instance, during the progress of the
disease, and then, but little medicine will be required.
SMALL RICE PUDDINGS. Wash two large spoonfuls of rice, and simmer it
with half a pint of milk till it is thick. Put in a piece of butter the
size of an egg, and nearly half a pint of thick cream, and give it one
boil. When cold, mix four yolks and two whites of eggs well beaten,
sugar and nutmeg to taste. Add grated lemon, and a little cinnamon.
Butter some small cups, and fill them three parts full, putting at
bottom some orange or citron. Bake them three quarters of an hour in a
slowish oven. Serve them up the moment they are to be eaten, with sweet
sauce in the dish, or in a boat.
SMELL OF PAINT. When a room is newly painted, place three or four tubs
full of water near the wainscot, and renew the water daily. In two or
three days it will absorb all the offensive effluvia arising from the
paint, and render the room wholesome. The smell of paint may also be
prevented, by dissolving some frankincense in spirits of turpentine over
a slow fire, and mixing it with the paint before it be laid on.
SMELLING BOTTLE. Reduce to powder an equal quantity of sal-ammoniac and
quicklime separately, put two or three drops of the essence of bergamot
into a small bottle, then add the other ingredients, and cork it close.
A drop or two of aether will improve it.
SMELTS. This delicate fish is caught in the Thames, and some other large
rivers. When good and in season, they have a fine silvery hue, are very
firm, and have a refreshing smell like cucumbers newly cut. They should
not be washed more than is necessary merely to clean them. Dry them in a
cloth, lightly flour them, and shake it off. Dip them in plenty of eggs,
then into bread crumbs grated fine, and plunge them into a good pan of
boiling lard. Let them continue gently boiling, and a few minutes will
make them a bright yellow-brown. Take care not to take off the light
roughness of the crumbs, or their beauty will be lost.
SMOKED HERRINGS. Clean and lay them in salt one night, with saltpetre;
then hang them on a stick, through the eyes, in a row. Have ready an old
cask, in which put some saw-dust, and in the midst of it a heater
red-hot. Fix the stick over the smoke, and let them remain twenty-four
hours.