Part 4 — ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

MEDICAL.

A Lover of the “G. O. P.”—The question you ask we have answered many times before. Still, as we have not yet discussed the subject in this year’s volume, we will go over the old ground again, adding a little new matter which has come to our knowledge during the past few months. The question of the causation and cure of constipation is mainly a question of diet. A few weeks ago we gave a long answer on the treatment of indigestion. Read this and follow the advice there laid down. But, besides, take plenty of green vegetables and fruit, especially before breakfast. Stewed prunes, figs, dates, tamarinds, etc., are very useful for this complaint. You should also drink a fair quantity of fluid with your meals. In indigestion we restrict fluids; but in constipation we do the reverse, unless severe indigestion is present besides. Not only is highly-digestible food not necessary in your condition, but food which is not so digestible, but which contains a quantity of non-digestible material is better. Exercise in moderation every day is essential. An active occupation is preferable to a sedentary one. Last, and least important, is the question of drugs. Never take drugs unless absolutely necessary. When you have to take them, take a pill of aloes and nux vomica, or a small dose of calomel and bicarbonate of soda. The latter, which is from physiological considerations the most reasonable drug to take, is also the most effective, the least unpleasant, and the least dangerous, but it must only be taken occasionally.

Student.—The little blisters which come out on the eyelids and produce a pricking sensation for about an hour or two and then go away, are, we think, experienced by everybody, especially after using the eyes too long or after reading too small print. Indigestion has nothing to do with them.

Edna.—You need not worry yourself about the trouble of getting the pills. These are frequently used, and most chemists keep them already made up. You cannot possibly make pills yourself without a machine. We have already published an article on blushing, where you will see that it is only in very few cases that internal medication is of any avail.

Fralda.—We are afraid that you cannot do very much for your finger. The hardness and induration left after a severe chilblain is often very difficult to remove. If the chilblain has destroyed the deeper structures, as it does sometimes when untreated, especially in persons with feeble circulations, it will leave a hard knotty scar which nothing on this earth will remove. The best thing for you to do is to massage the finger every day. This will probably reduce the swelling, even though there may be a considerable amount of scar tissue present, which latter is, of course, absolutely incurable. Always wash in warm water and clad yourself warmly in cold weather.

Mignonette.—Cascara sagrada is a comparatively new drug. It is a liquid extract made from the bark of Rhamnus Purshiana by maceration in water and alcohol. Syrup of buckthorn is a country preparation of the bark of Rhamnus Frangula. It is far less efficacious than cascara. The dose of cascara sagrada is from one-half to two teaspoonfuls. It is a useful aperient in many cases.

Afflicted.—We published an article on blushing and nervousness a short time back. Of course your heart may be diseased; but remember that very many diseases of the heart are not very serious, and if care be taken, do not in any way interfere with or limit life. There is only one form of valvular disease of the heart which ever kills suddenly. This is aortic regurgitation—a form of disease very uncommonly due to rheumatism.

Inquirer.—The public must be getting rather tired of nostrums guaranteed to “cure all diseases of the stomach, bowels, liver and kidneys.” The fact that there are some hundreds of patent preparations sold to cure everything is sufficient to prove that the “elixir of life” still remains undiscovered. That any drug will ever be discovered that will cure every disease, even of one organ, is hardly conceivable. We cannot understand how any agent could cure two diametrically opposite conditions. Do you think that millions would die of diseases of the stomach, liver and kidneys, if a cure for them could be obtained for 1s. 1½d. per bottle—cure guaranteed after taking two bottles—that is, for 2s. 3d.?

Olive Mary.—1. A few weeks ago we gave a résumé of the treatment of indigestion such as you suffer from. If you read this column carefully, you cannot help finding many dozens or hundreds of answers concerning diet and digestion.—2. You will find the following very useful:—five drops of essence of ginger, and ten drops of compound tincture of cardamons in a wineglassful of water. This may be taken occasionally as required. Do not take it regularly, and leave it off as soon as you can. You will soon get the upper hand of your indigestion if you carry out our instructions carefully.

Mater.—Knock-knees are very common. They are almost invariably caused by rickets in childhood. The treatment for the condition varies with its severity. If very severe an operation may be required to straighten the legs. If slight, the deformity may often be cured by splints.

From a Male Reader.—There is nothing known which will remove hair or prevent it from growing. When we say nothing, we mean nothing which is in any way possible in your case. You can lighten the colour of your hair and so make it less noticeable with peroxide of hydrogen.

Sefton Park.—“Musical stammering” is the same affection as “writer’s cramp,” the only difference between them being due to the different purposes to which the hand is put. There is a very large number of affections of the nervous system called “habit spasms” or “occupation neuroses.” An example will illustrate the cause and treatment of all. So let us take your complaint, “musical stammering.” A pianist discovers one day that she cannot play properly, that her finger persists in striking the same note constantly. Her arm undergoes spasms which prevent her from moving her fingers over the keys. She has an attack of “musical stammering.” What is the cause of this? Well, this question cannot be directly answered. Let us see what possible factors have led up to the present outbreak. Obviously the first is her occupation. Then she has been practising very long. The five-finger exercise is monotonous. The brain, which at first gave its attention to the notes, is now fagging. The mind no longer controls the hands. The exercise ceases to be a voluntary act. It has become a series of involuntary reflexes which require little effort to continue, but a considerable amount of volition to stop. The hand becomes tired and its muscles and nerves exhausted. Now, no longer will they respond rhythmically to the stimulus of striking the finger, they undergo spasms and twitchings. It is very difficult to say which causes the spasms—the brain or the nerves of the arm. But be this as it may, it is an affection which is most difficult to eradicate. It occurs chiefly in members of neurotic families, and, occasionally, is only present when the health is impaired, but it may develop in anybody who is in perfect health. Now for a few words about the prevention and cure of “musical stammering.” Of course we cannot give you any absolute cure for the condition, and you have not been unreasonable enough to demand one. Drugs may be put out of the question as being totally useless. The same may be said of dieting. Locally, mild electrical stimulation and massage of the arms are sometimes useful. The former agent is often quite useless, and sometimes makes the condition worse; massage never does any harm. The usual treatment adopted is to give up the occupation connected with the malady and do something else. This is not always possible, and, besides, it is rather fighting shy of the evil and not treating it. The best form of treatment, we feel certain, is mild and careful exercise. For instance, in your case, practise for five minutes; if this brings on “stammering,” leave off at once; if it does not, practise for the five minutes and then leave off. You might practise twice a day. Every week you should add one minute more to the time you practise, till you have got to practise for two separate half-hours daily. The chief points to remember are these:—on the slightest return of symptoms cut down the time by two or three minutes; if the symptoms do not return, increase the time very gradually; never practise unless you can give the whole of your mind to the work—as soon as the brain begins to fag you are in danger, and even if you were not, the practising done is of no value whatever. If this form of treatment fails there is little left, except giving up music altogether, at all events for some years.

STUDY AND STUDIO.

Lizzie van Hardenbroek (Algiers).—We thank you heartily for your very pleasant letter. The English and handwriting are admirable, considering that you are a foreigner.—1. Your quotation is from Milton’s poem “On His Blindness.” You may perhaps know that our great poet, who had from childhood injured his eyesight by excessive study and strain, became totally blind in about the forty-seventh year of his age. As you may have difficulty in procuring it, we transcribe the whole sonnet, which is one of the most beautiful in the English language:—

Fiddler.—We can only confirm your own modest opinion, that your composition is very incorrect. There appears to be no melody, and it is without meaning or coherence. We can, however, give you one word of praise, for the music is most beautifully copied. You should study the laws of musical composition. Davenport’s Elements of Music, and Harmony, are the best books for you to procure.

Olive.—The literal Latin words for “Love conquers” are “Amor vincit,” but as a motto it reads better “Omnia vincit amor”—“Love conquers all things.”

Victoria.—1. Your writing has a small and cramped appearance, and you do not form your letters well. The tails of your g’s, y’s, &c., are too long. You write very clearly, and might easily improve with care.—2. We do not give the private address of the authoress in question, but letters sent to the office of The Girl’s Own Paper would be forwarded to her. Ethel Rimmer’s question has been already answered, though we thank you for your kindness.

Snowdrop.—1. Yes; we are afraid we must confirm the opinion of your relations, that your writing is very bad; but do not despair! Purchase some good copybooks and practise every day.—2. “The Anchor’s Weighed” is a very well known nautical song, and you could purchase it in a cheap form by inquiring at any music shop, so that it is hardly necessary for us to print all the words here.

Joyce.—The play to which you refer, “The Witches’ Curse,” is by Miss Alcott, the author of Little Women, and you can procure it separately; “The Witches’ Curse and Other Plays, by Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy.” Inquire at your bookseller’s. We have seen it prettily acted by children.

Hilda Quelch.—1. Write to the Registrar, University of London, Burlington Gardens, W., for a syllabus of the Matriculation exam.—2. Your writing does not strike us as “babyish,” but it is a little small and cramped. We do not admire the backward slope; but if you wish to retain that, you may still acquire greater freedom by practice and care. Two questions are our limit. We thank you for your kind little letter and assure you of our good wishes.

OUR OPEN LETTER BOX.

Stanmore’s query concerning some verses is answered by Dorothy A. Cross and “Nell.” The authoress is said by the former to be Miss M. E. Manners, though the lines are printed anonymously. Nell encloses a similar poem, which we print verbatim.

The Forget-Me-Not.

Ninette (Budapesth) has four answers. N. E. Coote tells her she will find “The Song of the Shirt” and “Somebody’s Darling” in No. VI. Royal Reader. F. W. Stone refers her to Bell’s Standard Elocutionist, published by Hodder and Stoughton. “Rosebud” says the poems are both in The Art of Speaking, by Harold Ford. Edith Walpole, 58, Talgarth Road, West Kensington, London, refers her to vol. v. of The Royal Reader, but offers to copy out and send both poems to Ninette.

Janet wishes to know the title and author of the song in which these lines occur—

E. M. W. seeks the authors of the two following quotations, and the poems from which they are taken:—

INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE.

⁂ We have to request our correspondents kindly to refrain from sending us letters stamped with 2½d. stamps for us to forward to foreign subscribers. This waste of trouble and of postage distresses us, and we must repeat that we cannot undertake any postal business whatever in connection with this column. We keep no register of addresses, so are unable to forward letters, nor can we engage to return them to the writers. If addresses are not sent for publication on the one side, they must be so sent on the other. We refer our readers to The Girl’s Own Paper for April, 1898, where we endeavoured to explain our method of procedure.

Miss Sissie Redmond, Shortlands, Folkestone, aged fifteen, would like to correspond with Miss Anice Cress, also to exchange stamps with girl collectors living abroad. She is an enthusiastic collector and has about 4000 stamps.

O Mimosa San has offers of correspondence, with a view to exchanging picture postcards, from Miss Bessie Golding, 9, Handford Street, Derby; Miss Lizzie van Hardenbroek, Hôtel Continental, Mustapha Supérieur, Algiers, Africa; Miss Ethel Miller, Effra Dene, Church Road, Brixton Hill; and Miss Eva Miller, Luthergasse 4, Graz, Styria, Austria. (We imagine this identity of name is only a coincidence.) Will “O Mimosa San” write to these addresses? Miss van Hardenbroek, whose house is near Utrecht, would like to send “O Mimosa San” three Dutch and three Algerian postcards for six Russian ones.

Edith Walpole should write direct to Miss Valentine Massaria, whose address we published.

Miss Inquisitive has an answer from Miss Islay Campbell, “Newhouse,” 25, Sinza Road, Shanghai, China, who would be pleased to correspond with her.

Nellie would very much like to correspond with a girl of her own age (nineteen) who works with her hands, and if possible lives in the country, as “Nellie” lives in London.

Japonica would be glad if some educated French girl of good family, aged about twenty, would send her address to this column. “Japonica” suggests writing alternate French and English letters, her correspondent doing the same; each to return the other’s letters corrected, when necessary.

Miss Dorothy A. Cross, Minterne, Cerne, Dorset, aged fourteen, fond of history, French, general reading, and bicycling, wishes for a French correspondent of about the same age and tastes.

Miss van Hardenbroek, whose address we give in the answer to “O Mimosa San,” wishes to exchange old Dutch and French stamps with the three-cornered stamps of the Cape of Good Hope, if any reader of The Girl’s Own Paper has the latter.

Miss Hilda Quelch, Stanley Lodge, Bedford Road, South Woodford, Essex, would like to correspond with a French girl.

GIRLS’ EMPLOYMENTS.

Wood Violet (Home Occupation).—As you wish to do something in your spare time at home and do not need to earn your living, perhaps it would be best to learn some handicraft. We would suggest lace-making, flax spinning, cane basket weaving, or repoussé metal work. By applying to the Secretary, Home Arts and Industries Association, Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, W., you would probably hear of some classes that you might join.

A Reluctant Home-Bird.—It is natural and proper that you should wish to be fully employed now that you are young and vigorous. And it is manifestly not easy to find work enough for several daughters to do at home. At the same time you must remember that you have had one or two chances of outside occupation already. You have not cared for hospital nursing; but as you say you “love children,” how would it be to be trained either as a children’s nurse (at the Norland Institute), or as a kindergarten teacher? If you were interested in work among poor children, and did not require much salary, we would suggest that some of the London Boards of Guardians are inclined to appoint young ladies of about your own age as matrons of small cottage homes for pauper children. Much useful work might be done by ladies acting in this capacity. But we do not think this is quite the career for you. Travelling companionships are so scarce that we do not advise you to seek one. And it is difficult to know otherwise how you are to see the world as you desire. If money enough could be spared for you to live at some home for working ladies in London (e.g., the Beechwood Club, 6, Oakley Street, S.W.), it might be worth while for you to come up and to study shorthand and typewriting with a view to seeking work as a newspaper reporter. A secretaryship, we fear, would be put almost out of reach by the circumstance of your handwriting not being first rate. But you appear to have some natural aptitude for literary expression, and it is just possible—though we should not like to hold out any definite hope—that you could obtain a little journalistic work.

Rubes (Table Decoration).—This is a precarious employment, and naturally much affected by the London Season. We do not strongly advise any girl to adopt it who is in need of a regular income. Pupils are taken by the Women’s London Gardening Association, 62, Lower Sloane Street, S.W.

The Stewardess.—The principal steamship companies are those to which you should apply for a post as stewardess; but successful applicants are usually the widows or daughters of the companies’ officers.

Netta (Book-keeping).—At twenty-eight you are by no means too old to learn book-keeping. You might attend classes at the Birkbeck Institute, or at almost any polytechnic, and then present yourself for one of the Society of Arts’ examinations. Your handwriting is decidedly good, and would serve as a recommendation for secretarial work.

An Irish Girl (Gardening).—Lady gardeners are decidedly in request, and you would not do at all unwisely to study at the Horticultural College, Swanley, Kent. It is probably Kew Gardens in which your friends have told you that ladies were employed. To be trained at Swanley would cost about £70 a year for board, lodging, and tuition.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Britannia.—The stains you describe are probably of the nature of a dye, in which case you can do nothing for them. You might show them to a cleaner, or have the garment dyed a darker colour.

A. D.—The training classes held by the Home Arts and Industries Association for voluntary teachers and others, at the Albert Hall, have now opened for the Autumn Session. Bookbinding, carpentry and wood-carving, inlaying and marquetry, metal repoussé and basket-making are taught. Particulars can be obtained from the Secretary at the Royal Albert Hall, S.W.

Lily of the Valley.—To turn your light straw hat black there are several things; but the best is, we think, Berlin black, to be obtained from any oil shop.

Annette.—We regret that it is not in our power to help you to dispose of clothes, either old or new ones.

Miss A. A. L.—Nearly all large drapers sell waterproof garments, and the fashions in cloaks and mantles change every season.

Chapeau.—The velvet must be taken off the hat and steamed over boiling water in order to take out the spots. Hold the wrong side of the velvet over the steam, and afterwards go over the velvet with either a velvet brush or a piece of black crape to raise the pile again. The velvet must not be wetted in the operation, only steamed enough to raise the pile.

Fanny G.—It is not unusual for a girl to pay a visit to the family of the man to whom she is betrothed; nor is there anything wrong in it, as she should know something of them before marriage.

M. E. W.—Unless in use, you had better try to dispose of the water-bed. It will answer no purpose to put it away, and it is useless save in sickness. They will allow you for it, where you procured it, as second-hand.

Veilchen.—1. As a general rule it is better to take all such kindly attentions as meaning nothing beyond what appears on the surface. A man very often walks home with a girl out of kindness only; and there is no harm in his doing so, as in the country, where the roads are lonely, he may feel obliged to do it. If your family object to it, and if you feel it unpleasant, have one of the servants sent to meet you. It is well to discourage self-consciousness, and to accept such attentions as they are, probably, meant; that is, as the natural acts of kindness which a man feels it right to offer to a woman in need of them.—2. There are plenty of good hair washes which you can make yourself. Dr. Erasmus Wilson’s is excellent—

℞Eau de Cologne8oz.

Tincture of cantharides1“

Oil of English Lavender½drachm.

Oil of rosemary½”

Mix in a bottle, and shake well.