Medicine. 15
How to carry Medicines.-The medicines should be kept in zinc pill-boxes with a few letters punched both on their tops and bottoms, to indicate what they contain, as Emet., Astr. &c. It is more important that the bottoms of the boxes should be labelled than their tops ; because when two of them have been opened at the same time, it often happens that the tops run a risk of being changed.
It will save continual trouble with weights and scales, if the powders be so diluted with flour, that one Measure each shall be a full average dose for an adult ; and if the measure to which they are adopted be cylindrical, and of such a size as just to admit a common lead-pencil, and of a determined length, it can at any time be replaced by twisting up a paper cartridge. I would further suggest that the powders be differently coloured, one colour being used for emetics and another for aperients.
Lint, to make.-Scrape a piece of linen with a knife.
Ointment.-Simple cerate, which is spread on lint as a soothing plaister for sores,, consists of equal parts of oil and wag ; but lard may be used as a substitute for the wax.
Seidlitz powders are not often to be procured in the form we
are accustomed to take them in, in England ; so a recipe for making 12 sets of them, is annexed:-121 oz. of Carbonate of Soda and 3 oz. of Tartarised Soda, for the blue papers ; 7 drachms of Tartaric Acid, for the white papers.
Bush Remedies.-Emetics.-For want of proper physic, drink a charge of gunpowder in a tumblerful of warm water or soap-suds, and tickle the throat.
Vapour-baths are used in many countries, and the following
plan, used in Russia, is often the most convenient. Heat stones in the fire, and put them on the ground in the middle of the cabin or tent; on these pour a little water, and clouds of vapour are given off. In other parts of the world branches are spread on hot wood-embers, and the patient is placed upon these, wrapped in a large cloth; water is then sprinkled on the embers, and the patient is soon covered with a cloud of vapour. The traveller who is chilled or over-worked, and has a day of rest before him, would do well to practise this simple and pleasant remedy.
