Newspaper Page Text
CREEPING UP THE STAIRS.
In the softly falling twilight
Os a weary, weary day,
With a quiet step I entered
Where the children were at play;
I was brooding o’er some trouble
Which had inet me unaware*.
When a little voice came ringing,
“Me is creepin’ up the stairs.’’
Ah, it touched the tenderest heartstrings
With a breath and force divine,
And such melodies awakened,
As no wording can define!
And I turned to see our darling,
All forgetful of my cares,
When I saw the little creature
Slowly creeping up the stairs.
Step by step she bravely clambered
On her little bands and knees,
Keeping up a constant chattering,
Like a magpie in the trees;
Till at last she reached the topmost,
When, o’er all her world’s affaire,
She delighted stood a victor
After creeping up the stairs.
Fainting heart, behold an image
Os man's brief and strugling life.
Whose best prizes must be captured
With a noble, earnest strife.
Onward, upward, reaching over.
Bending to tho weight of cares;
Honing, tearing, still expecting,
We go creeping up the stairs.
On their steps may be no carpet,
By their sides may be no rail;
Hands and knees may often pain us,
And the heart may almost fail,
Still above there is a glory,
Which no sinfulness impairs,
With its rest and joy forever.
After creeping up the stairs.
Selected.
STAINBACK WILSON, M. D„ ATLANTA, GA.
Note.—Questions pertaining to health
and disease will be answered in this paper
when it can be done with propriety. When,
from the nature of the case, or other rea
sons. a private answer is desired, a lull de
scription should be sent. Address as above,
writing my name in full, and enclose
stamp.
WHAT TO DO FIRST TN ACCI
DENTS AND EMER
GENCIES.
Accidents, or mishans, (things falling in
on us, and beyond ourcontrol) are liable to
occur in the “best regulated families.”
Among these are floods, cyclones, and the
disasters from agents over which man has
no power; and which should be regarded
not as accidents in the ordinary accepta
tion of the word, but as Providential
occurrences in accordance with the laws of
nature. But when a railroad switch is
misplaced; when a false signal is given
through carelessness or inattention, and a
train is wrecked, it is wrong to call this an
accident—it is a natural consequence re
sulting from the unfaithfulness of the watch
man or switchman.
A man eats too much, and as a conse
quence his brain has an overflow of blood,
or is congested, and he dies of apoplexy or
some other disease caused by his gluttony.
A child is fed with food unsuited to its
age, and dies of convulsions, fever, or
diarrhoea: a woman goes to a party in a
low-necked and short-sleeved dress ; dances
in a close room till midnight; eats an in
digestible supper; resumes the dance the
remainder of the night, and about daylight
goes out in the cool air.and as a consequence
dies of catarrh, dyspepsia, or some disease
peculiar to her sex; and strange to say, the
friends gather around the graves of this
man, this child, and this woman, and com
plain in piteous, and sometimes even in re
bellious tones, of what they call a “myste
rious dispensation of Providence.” Now
the truth is there is no mystery about these
deaths, if properly understood. They are
the natural and inevitable result of viola
tions of the laws of health, which are as
immutable as gravitation or any of the
physical laws.
But real accidents, such as scalds, burns,
chokings, cuts, bruises, bites, stings, etc..
will occur, and especially among children ;
and as in many of these cases something
must be done right away to relieve pain, or
even to save life, mothers should know
• what to do and how to do it, in the absence
of a physician. Having this knowledge,
his services may often be dispensed with
entirely; or much relief afforded until his
arrival. Such knowledge is far more use
ful than any other to mothers—who should
be their own physicians, so far as knowing
what to do first in the more common
accidents. This knowledge I propose to
give as briefly and plainly as possible.
Want of Breath.—lncases of hanging,
when the neck is not broken by the fall, death
ensues from strangulation,or wantof breath.
In the same way, breathing is temporarily
suspended ( or even permanently, resulting
in death ) from stoppage of the breathing
from any cause, such as choking, inhali. g
noxious gases, etc.
A woman who wears corsets or tightly
fitting dresses is in a state of partial sus-
pension of life for the want of sufficient air
in hei lungs; and this constant diminished
supply of air, this “want of breath,” will as
effectually kill her in the end as hanging
by a rope; and there is no remedy, except
to cut the little cords that bind her corset.
So, directions lor resuscitation in such
cases are unnecessary.
Casks of Hanging are not likely to
require the interference of mothers except
when a child gets caught in some very pe
culiar predicament, as children sometimes
do; or in attempted suicide. Os course, the
first thing to do in such cases is to “cut him
down” and not run off for help, or wait for
the coroner,as has sometimes been done in
the thoughtless excitement of the moment.
If lite is not extinct, and if there is reason
to believe that the suspension has not been
long continued, the next thing is to prac
tice artificial breathing, which will here
after be described.
Death from Drowning is caused by
‘ want ot breath”—suspension of the func
tions of the lungs, and not by swallowing
water as some suppose.
The first thing in these cases is to remove
the body from the water, without waiting
for the coroner, as was once done when a
woman was found floating in the water.
Having removed the body from the wa
ter, all clothing that might bind the neck,
chest or waist should be loosened, or remov
ed; and the body should be turned over on
the face, supporting the head by a hand on
the forehead; then run a finger inside the
mouth and throat to remove any mucus in
them. Then resort to artificial respiration,
yet to be discribed as applicable to all cases
of suspended animation from want of
breath.
Chokivq From the lodgment of a
bone, or from something too large to pass
down the gullet or swallow causes death,
or temporary suspension of life by pressing
on the air passages. So that the patient, as
in other cases,dies for want of breath. In
these cases the fir.-t.ar.d about the only thing
that can be done is to push the obstructing
substance down, or p.<ll it out The push
ing down will generally be most successful
It may be d ne with the fingers alone,
or with the finger rapped with a thin cloth
or handkerchief, or almost anything not too
large and rough to push down the throat.
A whalebone with a piece of sponge fasten
ed to the end, is recommended by medical
writers, but except when the abstract on is
only partial, there is no time fi r-manufac
turing instruments. Os course the common
expedients of thumping on the back, and
drinking water wdl occur to every mother.
Inhaling Noxious Gases cau-es
death partly by poisoning the blood, but
mainly and more directly by spasmodic
closure of the air-passages resulting from
the irritating character of the gases. So,
we may say that the fatal effects ensue, as
in the other cases, from want ot breath.
The treatment consists in dashing cold
water over the patient, foil 'Wed by heat,
and vigorous rubbing to restore the circu
lation, and above all, by artificial respira
tion, which will now be described.
How to Restore Breathing.—After
ing the clothing, turning over on the face,
etc., in cases of drowning, as directed under
that head, the patient should be laid on the
back, with a block of wood, or something
of the kind under the shoulders so as to
elevate them, and make the chest pr >mi
nent. The tongue should then be drav n
oit of the mouth, aid held by an assistant
cloth being wr»pped around it to prevent
slipping. Artificial respiration is then
performed as follows: The person operat
ing kneels at the head of the patient, grasps
the arms ot the subject near the elbows,
stretches them out full length from the
sides of the body, sweeps them slowly
around over the head till they meet above
it; and then a good strong pull is made on
the arms, and they are brought down to
the sides of the patient’s chest, and firm
pressure is made on the lower short ribs.
The arms are then carried back slowly over
the head, and the same movements are
repeated, making about fifteen of these
movements in a minute. They should be
continued till the heart ceases to beat, and
all hope ot resuscitation is gone, as some
remarkable recoveries have rewarded per
severing efforts to restore the breathing.
The practice of artificial breathing is rath
er too much for the strength of a woman,
but she can learn how it is done and direct
others. While this is practical, warmth
should be applied to the extremities, and
they should be vigorously rubbed to restore
warmth and circulation to the body.
Warmth should be applied by hot sand,
if on the sea beach, and in every possible
way. As soon as the patient is sufficiently
restored, a spoonful of brandy or whisky
should be given at short intervals.
These directions apply to all cases of
suspended breathing from any oi the causes
mentioned.
Dead Drunk,—This is a condition in
which hardly any of our feminine readers
will be found; but they may have the sad
misfortune to find some one in this deplora
ble predicament. It is difficult to distin
guish a dead drunk from apoplexy; but a
knowledge of the habits of the patient, and
the smell of the breath, (with both of which
some w. men know more, alas I than any
physician) will tell the tale. In these
cases, prevention by abstenence from in
toxicating drinks, is certainly better than
cure. But the poison having bten taken,
the next best thing is to get it out as soon and
speedily as possible. If the stupid wretch
can be induced to swallow, he should be
given a teaspoonful each of mustard and
table salt, dissolved in warm water; and
this should be repeated at short intervals
till he vomits. This should be followed by
a drink of vinegar and water, a cup of hot
coffee; or better than either, a cup of sweet
milk which has a wonderful effect in neu
tralizing alcoholic poisoning, and counter
acting its effects.
To take the alcohol out of the system en
tirely, to counteract its effects, and to “ sober
up after a debauche,” nothing will compare
with the Turkish or hot-air bath.
Freezing.—The parts most exposed to
“frost-bite ”or partial freezing, are the
fingers, toes, nose and ears. When these
parts have been exposed to great cold fora
length of time, the heat should be restored
gradually. This is best done by rubbing
them with a cold wet cloth ; or with snow or
ice, raising the temperature of the applica
tions until they are as warm as the body.
When the whole body has been greatly
chilled, hot coffee or tea should be taken ;
and in extreme cases, brandy or whisky,
provided the sufferer from cold can remain
in doors, after taking these stimulants; for
the excitement caused by them is always
followed by a corresponding depression ;
and therefore alcoholic drinks are no pro
tection against long exposure to cold. This
is well established, not only by science, but
bv facts, notable among which is the expe
rience of Dr. Kanein his Arctic Expedition.
Burns.—l have before given some of the
best remedies for burns, but there are some
things connected with them that cannot be
too strongly impressed. When the clothes
are on fire, do not attempt to pull them off.
It is better to try to smother the flame, and
putout the fire by throwing a coat, blanket,
or any thick covering around the pat'ent,
so as to exclude the air. When thus wrap
ped around, the sufferer should be thrown
flat down on the floor, to prevent the ascen
sion of the flame to the breast, neck and
face.
The remedies for burns are numerous;
'but there is nothing better than cloths sat
urated with equal parts of linseed oil and
lime water, and used as directed in a pre
vious number. The great object is the ex
clusion of theair, which is highly irritating
to the tender surface. This may be done
by sprinkling the parts with flour or bak
ing soda, or covering with white of eggs,
bats of cotton, etc., in the absence of the
linseed oil and lime water, which should be
used as soon as it can be obtained The
idea of using something stronger than fire
to “draw the fire out” is absurd, and a
relic of the “ Dark Ages.” The things to
do are to exclude the air, and to reduce the
inflammation. This is best done by put
ting pieces of ice" Over the dressings cover
ing the burn, or by keeping them wet with
C Id water. But if the burn is very exten
sive, involving a considerable portion of
the body, the cold applications are not free
from danger, and a physician should be
called.
For burns of the extremities, nothing is
as good as to plunge them into a bucket of
cold water, and keeping them there till the
pain subsides. Then cover with wet cloths,
keep cold all the time; and if not sufficient,
plunge them in cold water again and again,
according to the pain and inflammation.
Sun stroke, cuts, sprains and other inju
ries reserved for another time.
TO MAKE THE HAIR GROW.
The following is recommended as one of
the best: Take oil of cajeput 40 drops;
half ounce of tincture of nux vomica ; one
drachm of tincture of red pepper; 20 drops
of oil of burgamot; four ounces ot olive oil.
or casior oil. Rub well into the roots of
the hair once a day. Simple cold water
rubbed well into the roots of the hair every
night and morning, is an excellent hair
tonic.
Neuralgic Pains.—Nearly one-half
the population are more or less afflicted
with neuralgic pains. Instead of sending
for the doctor, who will probably prescribe
a plaster and a dose of medicine,' we advise
the sufferer to heat a flat-iron, put a double
fold ot flannel oil the painful part, then
move the iron to and fro on the flannel.
The pain will cease almost immediately.
We have so-n the most painful cases of
neuralgia relieved in less than ten minutes.
—Family Doctor.
For the “wild,” or ingrowing eyelashes,
asked about in last issue, nothing better
can be done than to extract them.
BLEEDING FROM THE NOSE.
This would come properly under the
head of cutsand other forms of hemorrhage
of which I propose to treat hereafter; but,
as Mrs. M. A. Laughlin has appealed to
“Our Doctor” for help in this matter, 1 will
give directions, for this common and some
times serious trouble, here.
The cotton “dipped in alum” used by
her is among the best remedies. I presume
she means alum water. A better way to
use the alum is to powder it very finely
with an equal part of white sugar, also fine
ly pulverized, and then use as a snuff up
the nose, or blow strongly in through a
glass tube.
A better remedy, perhaps, than the alum,
is to snuff vinegar up the nose, or to soak
cotton in the vinegar and push it up the
nose. Sometimes when the nose is stopped
in front, it continues to bleed from the back
part into the throat. In these cases the
nose must be plugged up in the back part
where it opens into the throat; but this is
an operation that can hardly be performed
without the aid of a physician.
Bathing the feet in hot water should not
be neglected; and when the patient is
greatly debilitated, a course of iron tonics,
such as the tincture of iron,should be given
for a length of time, to enrich and thicken
the blood. If the patient is of full habit
a fruit and vegetable diet is better than
medicine.
BY LENA THATCHER.
TERMS IN CROCHET.
Ch—Chain; a series of loops, each drawn
through the preceeding one. SI st—Slip stich;
put needle through the work, thread over the
needle, draw it through the stitch on the needle.
Sc—Single Crochet: having a stich on the
needle, put the needle through the work,
the stitch on the needle, and draw the thread
through. De—Double Crochet: having a stitch on
the n.'edle, put the needle through the work, and
draw a stitch through, making two stitches on
the needle, l ake up the thread and draw through
both these stitches. Tc—Treble Crochet; hav
ing a stitch on the needle, take up the thread as
if for a stitch, put the needle through the work,
and draw the thread through, making three on
the needle. Take up the thread and draw through
two.then take up the thread and draw through the
two remaining; P— Picot: work three chain and
one singlecrochet in first stitch of tbecbain.
EASY CROCHET EDGING.
Make a chain of 26 stitches; turn, Ist
Row—One de in 4th st of chain ; 1 ch,skip
1.1 de in each of the remaining 21 sts;
turn.
Secondßow—Six ch, Ide in top of last de,
2ch, skip 2, 12dc in each of the next 12sts,
2ch, skip 2, 4dc in next 4sts, Ich, skip 1, 2
de in next2sts; turn.
Third Row—Three ch. Ide, Ich. skip 1,
Lsdc in next 15 sts; *2ch, skip 2, Ide in
next st,* repeat from *to* once morejturn.
Fourth Row—Six ch, Ide in lastdc,*2ch,
skip 2, ldc in next st* repeat from *to*
once more, 2ch, skip 2, 6dc in next 6sts 2ch,
skip 2, 4dc in next 4sts, Ich, skip 1, 2dc in
next 2sts; turn.
Filth Row—Three ch, Ide, Ich, skip 1, 9
de in next 9sts, *2ch. skip 2, Ide in next
st,* repeat fr< m *to* 3times more; turn.
Sixth Row—Six ch, Ide in last de, *2ch,
skip 2, ldc in next st,* repeat from *to* 4
times more, 2ch, skip 2, 4dc in next 4sts, 1
ch, skip 1. 2<lc in next 2sts; turn.
Seventh Row—Three ch, Ide, Ich, skip 1,
ldc in each of the next 21sts; turn.
Repeat trona 2nd Row.
SCALLOP LACE.
Chain 5 stitches.
First Row Two de.in 4th st of chain,
ch 1, 2dc in same st (this makes a shell) ldc
in last st, ch 3; turn.
Second Row—Shell in shell, ch 4; turn.
Third Row—Shell in shell, ldc in ch, ch
3; turn.
Fourth Row—Shell in shell, ch 1, 12 de
in ch 4, chi, catch with sc in 3ch, ch 3; turn.
Fifth Row—One de and Ich between
each 12dc, chi, shell in shell, ldc in ch 3;
turn.
Sixth Row—Shell in shell, ch 2, ldc and
Ich between thedcin last row; turn.
Seventh Row—One de, 3ch, Ist. between
de in last row, ch 3, shell in shell,ldc in ch;
turn.
Begin at 2nd row.
Maxie was the little six-year-old daughter
of a clergyman who had taken great pains
with her religious instruction, and had held
before her the goodness of the Supreme
Being, so that she should have in her mind
always his kindness and mercy as well as
power. One morning her mother, passing
theopen door of the rpom in which the child
was playing, saw Miss Maxie standing on a
chair before the mirror, with her face close
to it, scrutinizing her little phiz with earn
estness, and with a long sigh she r< marked:
“I don’t see how God could have given
me such a nose. hen he knows how partic
ular I am. "—Exchange.