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Home Remedies and First Aid

On the second shelf of the cabinet there should be space for at least ten bottles of medicine. The ones to be described will meet nearly every emergency of first aid or request of the doctor. In smaller towns all of these remedies should be available at a moment's notice. And they are nearly as important in the cities, for it is sometimes very difficult to procure any of these remedies at night when most drug-stores are closed. All of the bottles should be plainly and clearly labeled. The ten remedies usually recommended for household use are:

Alcohol-(Although pure grain alcohol can not be obtained except by a physician's special prohibition certificate, and he is not allowed to prescribe more than eight ounces at a time, the medicated alcohols sold in drug-stores answer all the purposes of pure grain alcohol for sponging, cleansing, compresses, etc. A six-ounce bottle of medicated alcohol will be sufficient for all uses of the sick-room.)

Aromatic Spirits of Ammonia to be used as a stimulant in case of faintness or after fainting.

Camphorated Oil for use in rubbing the chest, etc., during bronchitis or heavy colds.

Cascara is a good and harmless laxative.

Castor Oil to be used not as a laxative, but as a purgative, in cases when the bowels and intestines are to be entirely cleaned out in a short space of time.

Linseed Oil and Lime Water (Carron Oil) to be used for scalds and burns.

Spirits of Camphor can be effectively applied to cold sores, and for general use with colds.

Sirup of Ipecac-a half to a whole teaspoon will cause vomiting, in smaller doses good for colds.

Boric Acid is excellent as an eyewash or as a wet application to sores.

Sweet Spirits of Nitre in prescribed doses will reduce fever. Bicarbonate of Soda for acid stomach and mild indigestion. Mustard when mixed with flour is excellent as a counterirritant or as a plaster on the chest.