Miss Pert.—We think you are quite right in supposing that your throat is really the cause of your trouble. Deafness is an exceedingly common complication of catarrh of the throat. The ear communicates with the back of the nose through the eustachian tube, and when the mucous membrane of the nose or throat is inflamed, the end of the tube is very apt to share in the condition, and so deafness results. Deafness from this cause is often exceedingly intractable. The treatment of the condition resolves itself into two parts—the treatment of the throat, and the treatment of the ear. Of these, the former is by far the more important. Perhaps it may be necessary to remove enlarged tonsils or adenoids, or to destroy little growths in the nose or back of the throat, or perhaps no such severe measure may be necessary, and the throat condition may yield to medicated applications. We advise you to wash out your throat and nose daily with a lotion made by dissolving one teaspoonful of the following powder in a teacupful of tepid water—of borax, bicarbonate of soda, and chlorate of potash, finely powdered, one part each to three parts of finely powdered white sugar. After having thoroughly washed your nose and throat with this lotion, spray out your throat and nose with solution of menthol in paraleine (1 in 8) used in an atomiser. Having well sprayed, close your nostrils with your hand and blow up into your ears. This last little manœuvre is of great value, for it helps to unstop the eustachian tube, and it carries some of the menthol up into them. When you hear a gurgling during this action, it is a sign that the tube is pervious though not quite healthy. If the tube is quite normal, a single click will be heard in both ears. You want our opinion upon the chloride of ammonium inhaler. Here it is. We thoroughly and absolutely disapprove of it. Theoretically it is all right, but in practice it has been our experience that it does far more harm than good. It is true that finely-divided chloride of ammonium is a very valuable application to diseased mucous membranes. But the reason why the inhaler is harmful is, that it is impossible to obtain chloride of ammonium vapours free from either the vapour of ammonia or of hydrochloric acid. And these do far greater harm than the ammonium chloride can do good.

Molly.—We do not advise the biscuits you mention. Of course they are indigestible since they cannot be digested at all! They are occasionally given for wind and tainted breath arising from indigestion, etc., but they are open to grave objections, and we really cannot see their value.

A. G.—We have so frequently detailed the treatment of anæmia that it is not fair to other correspondents to occupy our space, which is very much limited, by going over the same ground again. Look up the back correspondence, and you will find all about anæmia. Do not take quinine and iron, for this mixture is exceedingly indigestible, and anæmic girls must be very careful of their digestions. The best preparations of iron to begin with are dialysed iron, syrup of hæmaglobin, or Robin’s peptonate of iron; the two last drugs are French preparations, and are rather expensive.

Diana D.—The pain in the left side of your chest may be due to many causes, by far the most likely of which is indigestion. Possibly the illness you had last year was pleurisy.

Poppy.—1. A pale and sallow complexion may either be a natural condition, or else, as is more probable, a symptom of some abnormal state. In anæmia, severe indigestion, constipation, and some more serious affections, a sallow complexion is a common feature. You say you are quite healthy; this excludes most abnormal conditions. But the third mentioned trouble is not excluded by that remark, and as constipation is the commonest cause of a sallow complexion, we think that that is what is troubling you. Just lately we discussed the treatment of this complaint at full length.—2. Do not use any cosmetics. We do not know the preparation you mention, but we strongly dissuade you from using it all the same. The less you have to do with patent proprietary articles the better you will be.

GIRLS’ EMPLOYMENTS.

Marion (Stewardess).—You should apply at the offices of some of the principal steamship companies, and inquire whether there is likely to be a vacancy which you might fill. Preference is usually given to women who are related to men in the companies’ employ. Nursing experience is also a strong recommendation to an applicant. Salaries vary from £1 10s. to £3 10s. a month with board, and the gratuities of passengers on first-class lines make an important addition to the fixed payment.

Veritas (Addressing Envelopes).—This kind of work is occasionally given out by the law stationers in London, but it tends to become superseded by typewriting. You must forgive us for saying that your handwriting is not very well adapted for the purpose. It is almost essential to write a neat clerkly hand.

Daisy in the Field (Nursing).—See our reply to “Louise” (April 15). It is rather a jump from the kitchen to the Army Nursing Service, is it not? Still, if you feel that you would make a better nurse than cook, you are right in trying to realise your ambition. We advise you to take the full three years’ training at some large general hospital, and at the end of that time you will be in a position to decide what to do next. District and rural nursing we would commend to your notice, for the poor in our large towns and villages want skilled attendance almost as sorely as wounded soldiers, and have very few chances of getting it.

A Scotch Reader (Teaching Cookery).—Since you cannot hear of a vacancy in Scotland, it might be wise to apply to some of the English educational bodies. We would suggest your writing to the Clerk of the London School Board, Victoria Embankment, and the Secretary, Technical Education Board, London County Council, St. Martin’s Lane, London. Study also the advertisements in such papers as the Schoolmaster, Schoolmistress, Church Times, and the Guardian. You might see an advertisement for a cookery teacher in one of those journals. Be careful in applying for a post to make a full statement of your qualifications and previous experience (if any) as a teacher. There is a tendency at the present time to prefer teachers who can give instruction in all housewifery subjects to those who can teach cookery only.

Lucy Hood, Germany (Club for Teacher of Singing).—1. We do not know of any residential club in London for teachers only; but there are many excellent homes and clubs for women who are earning a living in various ways. Among these we may mention the Ilchester Club, Ilchester Gardens, Hyde Park, W. (not intended, however, for professional women exclusively), the Beechwood Club, 6, Oakley Street, Chelsea, and the Y. W. C. A. Home for Working Ladies, 91, Great Portland Street, W.—2. We do not advise you to pay fees to an agent in order to obtain pupils. You should not establish yourself in London unless you have the promise of a pupil or two already. In the musical profession social interest is a great advantage. Then the mothers of your pupils could help you by speaking of you to their friends, and still more by giving an “At Home” occasionally, at which you might sing. London teachers very often give concerts at which their musical colleagues and pupils perform. These concerts usually entail expense, but they are regarded in the profession as valuable advertisements.

Myrtle (Writing).—If by writing you mean copying, you would certainly not earn a living by such means; and if, on the other hand, you mean literary work, you will need to obtain a better education than most girls have at your age of 16½. You can hardly be expected to earn a living without being taught any special kind of work. But many occupations can be learnt without great expense. You could learn, for instance, cookery or dairy-work at some of the County Council classes; or you could be trained as an elementary school teacher, after passing the Queen’s Scholarship Examination. The Post Office branch of the Civil Service is also worth considering, especially as you write a good clear hand, and are fond of any occupation that entails writing. In any case it would be worth while to try to pass the examination. Probably some Board School teacher in your neighbourhood would coach you for it out of school hours, if there is no institution in your neighbourhood that you could attend for the purpose.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Sunday School Teacher.—The passage to which you refer is easily explained (“Put Thou my tears into Thy bottle,” Psalm lvi. 8). The practice of preserving tears in bottles is of very ancient Eastern origin. It was done in Egypt as elsewhere, and it exists down to the present day in Persia. In that country it constitutes an important item of funeral ceremonials, when every mourner is presented with a sponge with which to mop the eyes and cheeks; and after the burial is over, these are taken by a priest, who squeezes the tears into a bottle. These sacred tears of mourners are supposed to possess healing properties, and to be more efficacious than any means of cure for several forms of Persian diseases.

Minka.—There have been such terrible and fatal accidents from using preparations of petroleum for the hair that it is illegal to employ it in this country. “Koko” is a patent, and of it we have had no personal experience.

A. Poodridge.—As we have often told inquirers, “pouring oil on troubled waters” is not a quotation—it is an existing fact; and the use of oil for this purpose obtains at sea. Only a week or two ago oil was employed on the Channel to enable passengers to land.

Thriftless.—We think that the United Sisters Friendly Society would suit you. It was founded some years ago in order to enable women dependent on their earnings to make provision for sickness and old age, and to secure at death a sum of money for burial expenses. All women of good health and character between the ages of sixteen and forty-five are eligible for membership; also the Work and Leisure Court, No. 15. For both of these, address Miss Edith M. Maskell, 7c, Lower Belgrave Street, London, S.W. The names of the Trustees of these two Societies are a sufficient guarantee for their stability and honesty.

Karoleen.—If you cannot find the card-game you require at one of the large bazaars, we do not know where else you could look for them. Perhaps the bazaar at which you inquire would endeavour to procure them for you in London.

Slogger.—You may find illustrations from photographs of some of the most distinguished men amongst cricketers in some of the recent magazines; but you have only to order any you require at a photograph shop, and they will send you a collection from which you may make a selection.

Flora.—We could not take the responsibility of recommending any security for the investment of money. We do not think a ground rent could be purchased for so small a sum. The Post Office Savings Bank appears to us the most suitable.

Fluff.—Do you mean the famous and beautiful Duchess, or her successor? In any case, you can only inquire at one of the photograph shops where the windows are full of notables of every description.

Becky Sharp.—Fine soft hair can easily be made to lie as you wish; but the coarse, stiff, pigs’-bristle sort can only be forced into place by the use of some sort of bandoline, formerly much in use, especially at a windy seaside place. You had better consult a hairdresser.

Tomuel, Mab, and others, are very anxious to get rid of the rats which infest their houses, but that their death should be painless. We fear any death by poison would be painful, and so it would be by traps; but then the rats are peculiarly obnoxious, so we have to make a choice of two evils. We are told of an old recipe, viz., half a pint of plaster of Paris, mixed with a pint of oatmeal, is an excellent means of killing them. The best plan, however, is to try to stop up all the holes by which they enter with broken glass and tin, and to keep them stopped. To do this may be more expensive, but it will be more satisfactory, if you have scruples about the cruelty of killing them.

An Ignorant One.—John Smith. Esq., Mayor of Blackford, would be the proper address. In speaking to him, we believe he is addressed as “Mr. Mayor.” You would write to him as “Dear Sir,” or “My dear Sir,” and after signing yourself, would add below his name and address, “John Smith, Esq., Mayor of Blackford.”

Daisy.—Leave two of your husband’s cards where you call, if the lady be at home; in case of an afternoon party, leave your own and his on the hall table as you go out. White is generally worn for confirmation.

A Troubled Mind.—Tell the person who wishes to be engaged to you that you would like to see more of him personally, and so have opportunity for a fuller interchange of thought, and that you think he also should have a better acquaintance with you, before entering into any definite engagement, for fear of disappointment; in the meantime that (with your mother’s sanction) you and he might correspond with a view to render that prospective engagement a wise and happy one. Try some “Berlin black” on your grate.

New Housekeeper.—1. In a general way, house-linen of the best kind is now marked in cross-stitch. It may in the case of table-linen be embroidered in satin-stitch. Marking-ink is used for the commoner articles only.—2. The Girls’ Own Cookery Book, price 1s., was issued some years ago, and is an excellent manual.

FOOTNOTES:

[Transcriber’s note—the following changes have been made to this text:

Page 523: Arther to Arthur—“Arthur S. Way”.]