194 RULES FOR THE PRESERVATION OF HEALTH. bodily functions. Therefore, an equal bodily temperature should be maintained by exercise, by clothing, or by fire. dangerous, or, better still, to destroy FIRE CONSUMES THE OXYGEN of the air, and produces noxious gases. Therefore, the air is less pure in the Rules for the Preservation of presence of candles, gas, or coal fire, Health. PURE ATMOSPHERIC AIR is composed of nitrogen, oxygen, and a very small proportion of carbonic acid gas. Air once breathed has lost the chief part of its oxygen, and acquired a proportionate increase of carbonic acid gas. Therefore, health requires that we breathe the same air once only. THE SOLID PART OF OUR BODIES is continually wasting and requires to be repaired by fresh substances. Therefore, food, which is to repair the loss, should be taken, with due regard to the exercise and waste of the body. THE FLUID PART OF OUR BODIES also wastes constantly; there is but one fluid in animals, which is water. Therefore, water only is necessary, and no artifice can produce a better drink. THE FLUID OF OUR BODIES is to the solid in proportion as nine to one. Therefore, a like proportion should prevail in the total amount of food taken. LIGHT EXERCISES AN IMPORTANT INFLUENCE upon the growth and vigour of animals and plants. Therefore, our dwellings should freely admit the sun's rays. DECOMPOSING ANIMAL AND VEGE- WARMTH IS ESSENTIAL to all the than otherwise, and the deterioration should be repaired by increased ventilation. THE SKIN IS A HIGHLY-ORGANIZED MEMBRANE, full of minute pores, cells, blood-vessels, and nerves; it imbibes moisture or throws it off, according to the state of the atmosphere and the temperature of the body. It also "breathes," like the lungs, (though less actively). All the internal organs sympathise with the skin. Therefore, it should be repeatedly cleansed. LATE HOURS AND ANXIOUS PURSUITS exhaust the nervous system, and produce disease and premature death. Therefore, the hours of labour and study should be short. MENTAL AND BODILY EXERCISE are equally essential to the general Health and happiness. Therefore, labour and study should succeed each other. MAN WILL LIVE MOST HEALTHILY upon simple solids and fluids, of which a sufficient but temperate quantity should be taken. Therefore, overindulgence in strong drinks, tobacco, snuff, opium, and all mere indulgences, should be avoided. SUDDEN ALTERNATIONS OF HEAT AND COLD are dangerous (especially There to the young and the aged). fore, clothing, in quantity and quality, should be adapted to the alternations of night and day, and of the seasons. And therefore, also, drinking cold water when the body is hot, and hot tea and soups when cold, are produc tive of many evils. VII. CLOTHING. What should be Worn next the close and even. Pass the hand lightly Skin?-The primary consideration in in the contrary direction to the nap, dress is what should be worn next to and if the feel is soft and silky witathe skin? We answer- wool, de-out harshness, you may conclude the cidedly, and for the following reasons: cloth is made of fine wool. Very -Linen, by all its compactness retains " satiny" cloths spot with the rain. the perspired matter, so that shirts Take up a piece of cloth in both hands, worn for some days will exhale a sen- and fold a little piece between the sation of coolness, indicating an ob- thumb and forefinger of one hand; structed circulation. Silk attracts less pull the cloth sharply with the other humidity than linen, and is, therefore, hand, and if the sound produced by still more objectionable. Wool, by the slipping of the fold is clear and the gentle friction and moderate heat sharp, the cloth is of good quality. which it excites, promotes perspira- Do not choose large patterns if you tion, and absorbs the matter thrown are short, and if you are stout do not out from the skin, without clogging wear checks or plaids. the pores. Cotton increases warmth Clothes for Traveling.-Every traand perspiration; but having the pro- veller should wear flannel next the skin perty of retaining the discharged both in hot and cold climates. Linen humours, is too apt to throw the same is very improper, for when the wearer back again into the system, and there- is wet with rain or perspiration, it by hurting the animal fluids. It is, strikes cold to the skin; coarse calico however, during active exercise that sheets, for fine, hot, dry weather, and the different effects of the substances flannel for damp, windy, or cold, may are more plainly seen. When the be considered generally appropriate. body is covered with woollen, though A poncho is very useful, for it is a sheet perspiration is increased, the matter as well as a cloak, being simply a thrown out passes through the flannel into the air, leaving the skin dry and warm. If, under the same circumstances, linen is warm, the perspiration instead of being dispersed, remains, and causes a disagreeable sensation. Flannel has also this advantage those who perspire profusely will not easily catch cold on going into the open air. This is not the case with linen shirts, which will produce chilliness, followed by fever. Flannel when first used is apt to irritate the skin, and so cause an uneasy feeling; this soon goes off, and it becomes at length comfortable and even pleasant. Flannel is suitable to all seasons. Worsted socks and stockings, varied in thickness, according to the season, are on all accounts the best. : In Choosing Cloth for Clothes see that the fabric is fine and the texture blanket with a slit in the middle to admit the wearer's head. Cloth is made waterproof, as directed (see Receipt) and also by rubbing soapsuds into the wrong side, and working well in; when dry do the same with a solution of alum. A thick tweed shooting costume is the most comfortable and best dress for all except damp or tropical climates. If you are likely to have much riding, leather or moleskin trousers are useful, or tweed trousers may be covered down the insides of the legs with leather. A blouse or jacket, cut short to clear the saddle, is capital either for walking or riding. Another "indispensable" is a thick lined dressing gown. It is equally good to wear in the evening and for sleeping in. Thick worsted socks only should be worn, whether the climate be hot or cold. It is im portant to keep the clothes as dry as possible, and if on the water a capital plan is to dip the wet clothes in the salt water, wring them out, and put them on again. This, we are told on good authority, feels like a change of dry clothes. To Brush Clothes.-If a coat be wet let it be quite dry before brushing it. Rub out the spots of dirt with the hands, beat it lightly with a small cane. Then lay it out on a board or table, the collar to the left hand, and brush, briskly and smoothly, the right way of the cloth. Brush first the shoulders, back and sleeves, and then the skirts. Last the insides and the collar. Waistcoats and trousers are brushed straight down, taking care they are quite dry, and rubbing out spots of mud, &c., before brushing down. You should have two brushes, one hard and the other soft, the former of which should be used as little as possible, and never for "faced" cloth. Should there be spots of tallow grease on the clothes, take it off with the nail; or, if that cannot be done, take a hot iron, cover the part where the grease is with some thick brown paper, and run the iron over the spot. This will draw the grease into the paper. Repeat this process until no more grease comes. Ordinary grease-spots or marks on the collar or lappels may generally be removed by a little soft soap, or a little ox-gall or curd soap. Fruit and wine stains may frequently be taken out by holding the part over an ordinary brimstone match, lighted; or by water with a little salts of lemon, muriatic or oxalic acid in it. These last must not, however, be applied to delicate colours. For the stains of acids wash the part with a little spirits of hartshorn or liquidammonia. Ox-gall is one of the most valuable articles for cleansing woollen and other articles; it combines readily with all greasy substances, and assists powerfully the action of soap, which may in many cases be dispensed with. Silks and all other articles of even the most delicate colours may be cleaned with it. The chief objection to its use is its disagreeable smell; this is got rid of thus: Boil a quart of the gall, skimming it frequently, then add one ounce of powdered alum; leave on the fire until thoroughly combined. Set the mixture to cool, and pour it, when cold, into a bottle which is to be loosely corked. Proceed exactly in the same way with another quart of gall, using one ounce of common salt instead of alum. The two bottles are to be put by for three months in a room of moderate temperature; a thick sediment will be deposited, but, as a good deal of yellow colouring matter still remains, the contents of the two bottles, carefully poured off from the sediment, are to be filtered separately, and then mixed in equal parts, a portion at a time. The colouring matter will be precipitated, leaving the gall perfectly pure and colourless. It is then to be again filtered, bottled and tightly corked, and kept in a cool place for use. In this state it preserves all its detergent properties, is free from smell, and does not spoil with keeping. Mending Clothes. Things neatly mended last four times as long as those carelessly repaired. Too much pains cannot, therefore, be expended on the prosaic but very necessary operation of "mending clothes." A piece of each material should be reserved, in making up dresses, &c., for repairing when needed. All things should be periodically examined, and rents sewn up before they go farther. When the linen is looked out for the wash it should be examined to see if there is anything wrong, and after washing, &c., all buttons should be looked to, and made tight and secure. If chamber towels are wearing thin in the centre, cut them in halves, sew the edges together, and hem the cut-now the outside edges. Sew up torn linings, rebind frayed edges, and replace broken strings, buttons, and hooks, directly seen, or the trouble will be greatly increased. Never forget the well-known aphorism, "A stitch in time saves nine." Altering Clothes.-In altering clothes for children from those of adults take the pattern of the best fitting things and copy exactly. Some practice, knowledge, and physical strength are required to do this tailors' work, and therefore without these essentials it had becter be left alone. The right way to proceed cannot be taught in books, and even when learned is seldom worth the trouble. Clothes Closets, Drawers, &c. When moths have infested these places rub them well with a strong decoction of tobacco, and sprinkle them often with spirits of camphor. surd, as to dress a babe or young child in tight garments; but they should be of materials suited to the season. It is not necessary to give direction for the cutting or making of children's dresses, as almost every mother or elder sister knows how to cut out and make simple frocks, jackets, &c.; and when that knowledge has not been obtained in youth, a few lessons from a practical dressmaker will suffice. Carefully avoid the absurdity of swaddling a child's body in heaps of flannel and warm stuffs, and leaving its legs and arms bare. Too many clothes, however, are as mischievous as too few. Contrast in colours is of no slight importance. Light colours and thin materials for summer; bright warm colours, and stout cloth for winter. The head should be cool, and the feet well shod. Long clothes and caps for infants are happily going out of fashion, and a more rational style of dress adopted by all sensible mothers. Tight Lacing.-Avoid all tight bandages-as stays, garters, belts, &c. They impede the free circulation of the blood, and in thousands of cases produce disease and deformity. More harm has been done by tight-lacing, than by all the other vagaries of fashion put together. Black Clothes may be Restored if threadbare about the elbows, cuffs, knees, &c., by the following process: -The clothes must be soaked in cold water for half an hour, then taken out of the water, and put on a board, and the threadbare parts of the clothes rubbed with a teazel, or half-worn hatter's "card," filled with flocks. When this is done, hang the coat up to dry, and with a hard brush lay the nap the right way. This is said to be the method which is pursued by the dealers in oid clothes, and it greatly improves the appearance of the garments. Ladies' Dress.-The secret of dressing well, simply consists in knowing the three grand unities of dress--your own position, age, and pecularities, and no woman can dress well who does not. Dress should be simple, elegant and becoming, without appearing so expensive as to evidently be beyond the circumstances of the wearer. Consider well before you purchase whether the new silk, tonnet, shawl, or ribbon matches your complexion, is adapted to your height and figure, and, above all, that it is graceful and pretty- not merely fashionable. You must also adapt, as much as possible, your new purchases to the things you already have, so as to show no bad contrasts. Dress with regard to your station in life, your age, and your ap- Keep your Feet Warm.-If you do pearance. not do this, the blood accumulates toChildrens' Clothing should be well-wards the head, and sensation of chileut, but sufficiently loose to allow fair hiness is felt over the whole body, and play to the limbs. Nothing is so ab- the general comfort interfered with. The Covering of the Head should be very light, as well for men as for women, and if children were more often allowed to go bare-headed into the open air, the practice would much invigorate their constitutions, and render them less susceptible of cold. No one, however, should go uncovered in sunshine. Black hats, though generally worn, are not so good a defence against the power of the sun as hats or caps of any other colour. 198 VIII. LAW. Directions for Securing Copy rights. Under the revised Act of Congress, which took effect July 8, 1870.A printed copy of the title of the book, map, chart, dramatic or musical composition, engraving, cut, print, photograph, chromo, or design for a work of the fine arts, for which copyright is desired, must be sent by mail, addressed, "LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS, "Copyright matter." A fee of fifty cents, for recording the title of each book or other article, must be inclosed with the title as above, and fifty cents in addition (or one dollar in all) for each certificate of copyright under seal of the Librarian of Congress, which will be transmitted by return mail. Within ten days after publication of each book or other article, two complete copies of the best edition issued must be mailed to perfect the copyright, with the address, "LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS, "WASHINGTON, D.C. 'Copyright matter." If the above direction is complied with, both books and titles will come free of postage, and postmasters will give receipt for the same if requested. Without the deposit of copies above required, the copyright is void, and a penalty of twenty-five dollars is incurred. Copyrights recorded at a date prior to July 8, 1870, in any district clerk's office, do not require re-entry at Washington. But one copy of each book or other article published since March 4, 1865, is required to be deposited in the Library of Congress, if not already done. Without such deposit, the copyright is void. No copyright is valid unless notice is given by inserting in the several copies of every edition published, on the title page or the page following, if it be a book; or if a map, chart, musical composition, print, cut, engraving, photograph, painting, drawing, chromo, statue, statuary, or model or design intended to be perfected and completed as a work of the fine arts, by inscribing upon some portion of the face or front thereof, or on the face of the substance on which the same is mounted, the following words, viz.: "Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year by in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington." The law imposes a penalty of one hundred dollars upon any person who has not obtained copyright, who shall insert the notice "entered according to Act of Congress," etc., or words of the same import, in or upon any book or other article. Any author may reserve the right to translate or to dramatize his own work. In this case, notice should be given by printing the words, Right of translation reserved, or All rights reserved, below the notice of copyright entry, and notifying the Librarian of Congress of such reservation, to be entered upon the record. Each copyright secures the exclusive right of publishing the book or article copyrighted for the term of twenty-eight years. At the end of that time, the author or designer may secure a renewal for the further term of fourteen years, making forty-two years in all. Applications for renewal must be accompanied by explicit statement of ownership, in the case of the author, or of relationship, in the case of his heirs, and must state definitely the date and place of entry of the original copyright. 1 The time within which any work |