A WORKING WOMAN.—Before you marry you should ask your intended husband to insure himself against accidents. There are many clubs in every town which a working man can join, and by paying a few pence weekly obtain so much a week when he is incapacitated by illness or accident. Most working men do this, and considering how liable they are to be disabled for a time, it is only right that they should insure themselves before marrying. In hospital practice if a patient does not belong to a club, the usual reason is either that he is single or else that he has once belonged to a club, the treasurer of which bolted. Unfortunately this is a very common method of swindling, but if a man looks out for a thoroughly well-going company and pays a reasonable premium he may feel fairly sure of getting his money if he should become incapable of work. If your husband does not belong to a club, what are you to do if he breaks his arm or his leg, an accident to which he is particularly liable?
PLEASE HELP ME.—One teaspoonful of Eau de Cologne to every four ounces of water. Sponge the hands with this preparation. You must not use soap with Eau de Cologne.
PEGGIE.—Perhaps it would be better to tell you how to prevent chilblains first, before going on to describe how they can be cured. Always wash your hands in warm water, and use a good toilet soap. After washing, dry your hands well. Always wear woollen gloves throughout the winter, and, lastly, try by general hygienic measures to improve your circulation. When the chilblains first begin to show, sponge the fingers with equal parts of spirit and water, or apply a little tincture of benzoin, and wrap the hands up in cotton-wool. By these measures you may prevent the chilblains from bursting. If, in spite of all precautions, the chilblains do break, they should be treated as any other kind of open wound. Above all, they should be kept scrupulously clean, and bathed in hot solution of carbolic acid (1 in 60). They may then be thickly dusted over with powdered boracic acid and bandaged.
J. M. ELLIS.—The address of your letter was the correct one. If you do not receive a reply, we advise you to write again, as it is always possible for secretaries to overlook letters or make mistakes. Let us know if a second appeal produces no result.