Freda.—Of the cause of exophthalmic goître but little is known for certain. Worry or anxiety often precede the onset of the disease. Unlike ordinary goître this affection is not limited in any way to certain districts, but occurs in every part of the country. "Is it curable, and if so, how long should a moderate case take to cure?" Yes, many cases do recover. When the disease is very marked, recovery is unusual. But now that surgeons have directed their attention to the disease there is every reason to believe that the severer grades of the affection may yield to operative treatment. We can no more tell you how long an attack of exophthalmic goître will last than we could tell you the day of your death. Sometimes the disease disappears in six months or a year, often it drags on for many years. As a rule, if the symptoms develop rapidly, the disease runs a rapid course. Men are comparatively rarely attacked. We can, however, call to mind a fair number of cases of exophthalmic goître in the male sex. Unmarried women of from twenty to thirty years of age are the usual victims of this disease.

Worried.—1. In all probability your sister would get better and stronger after marriage. Of course it depends a good deal upon the cause of her malady. She had far better go to her family doctor and get his advice upon the matter. We cannot take the responsibility of giving a definite answer to your question from such a very scanty amount of information.—2. There are so many books on travel and science, suitable to ordinary readers, that it is rather difficult to choose any particular volume. One of the best books on science for a beginner—that is, a person who is beginning to read science—is a little work called Ants and their Ways, by the Rev. Farren White. It is a charming little volume which will instil into anyone who reads it the habit of observation—so all-important in science. The book is very moderate in price. It is published by the Religious Tract Society. If you turn to the advertisement sheets at the back of this paper you will see notices of a number of very good books on both science and travel.

Matron.—Obviously the book you want is the British Pharmacopœia. This gives definite instructions how to make up every official preparation. There is a new edition just published. For the drugs which are not in the British Pharmacopœia, Squire's Companion to the British Pharmacopœia may be consulted. You will do well to thoroughly master the decimal measures, and to use them exclusively, as they are now official and will alone be used in the future. The old and confusing apothecaries' measures are now out of date.

Alta.—For the bites and stings of midges, etc., rub a little dilute ammonia on the bite. This usually relieves the pain instantly. It is better to put a drop of dilute carbolic acid (about 1 in 100) upon the bite after using the ammonia. The reason for this is that the trouble from an insect's bite is dependent upon two causes. In the first place the insect actually drops poison into the bite. This, which is usually formic acid, makes the wound smart at once, but its effect passes off in a little time. Ammonia neutralises this acid and so gives instant relief. But there is a second cause of trouble which is far more serious. The bite of a fly has caused more deaths than you would think, and from this reason. Flies of all kinds are given to feed on garbage, and as they have not yet learnt to use a toothbrush, their mouths are always swarming with germs. Usually these germs are not of a very virulent kind. But suppose that a midge has been eating the carcase of an animal which has died from peritonitis. That fly is now more deadly than a viper, for on its tongue it has a poison which is capable of rapid increase if it ever finds a suitable home. If this fly bites you, you may die from the bite. Everyone knows that often an insect sting or bite does not ache or swell at first; but after several hours the place becomes hot and swollen, and if the place bitten be the hand, the arm begins to swell and the glands in the armpit enlarge. In this case a mild dose of microbes has been innoculated. Ammonia will not in most cases destroy these microbes. Therefore, we say, put a drop of dilute carbolic acid on the place as soon as you can. The ammonia simply relieves a little itching (for the poison of the insect itself is rarely dangerous), but the carbolic acid destroys organisms which are capable of great mischief. Rubbing the face and hands with oil of eucalyptus, or paraffin, will sometimes prevent insects from coming near you.

Lily, My Queenie.—1. Is the skin round your eyebrows scarred? Hair never grows on scars, nor can it be made to do so by any means in our power. If there are no scars, try a little white precipitate ointment applied carefully to the eyebrows.—2. Moles cannot be cured. They can be removed by operation. If they are large and noticeable it is better to have them removed. Otherwise leave them severely alone.

Pearl.—Take our advice and see a doctor at once. Severe headache is a very common symptom, and though it is usually caused by some trivial ailment, it is often the only subjective sign of a serious disease. Your attacks suggest megraine, but they might be due to far more serious things. Without a complete personal examination no man living could diagnose your malady.

Fox.—What size corsets do you wear? Tight lacing is, or rather was, a very common cause of fatness about the face. What age are you? It is very common for women to get double chins and extra plump cheeks when they have passed their thirtieth year. Very many diseases cause fatness of the face. Kidney disease is one of the commonest of these. All we can advise you to do is to be careful about your diet. Avoid farinaceous puddings and sweets. Take plenty of exercise. No drug is of much good in obesity of any kind. Some of the mineral waters, especially Vichy, are sometimes useful to stout persons.

A Weary and Careworn Girl.—We are exceedingly sorry that we could not answer your letter earlier. The troubles that you have gone through are enough to depress any girl of twice your age. We think that all your sufferings are due to nervousness resulting from being "run down." What the impediment in your speech is, is not quite clear from your letter. Probably it is far less than you imagine, else your mother would certainly have noticed it. The difficulty which you find in commencing to talk is due to nervousness. As your health improves, and as you grow older this will tend to disappear. We will publish an article on blushing and nervousness next month. To the last of your questions your clergyman would be more competent to give you an answer than ever we could be. Go to your pastor and tell him your troubles. He is sure to be able to comfort you in your affliction and to help you to bear your cross with patience for the sake of Him who laid down His life for you.

Croyden.—The habit of taking acids to cure indigestion is greatly to be deprecated. Acids and bitters are very useful in some forms of indigestion, but they should never be taken unless ordered by a physician. Alkalis, such as bicarbonate of soda, are on the other hand of great value in the majority of cases of indigestion. Indeed we will go further than this: we have never met with a case of indigestion from any cause which was not benefited, sometimes only temporarily, by alkalis. We have seen very few cases of indigestion which have been relieved by acids. Our candid opinion is that the habit of taking acids and bitters to cure disorders of the stomach or loss of appetite, is a very fertile cause of the life-long indigestion so common nowadays.

Black Eyes.—In an answer to "Fair Isobel," which was published some months ago, the treatment of blackheads was thoroughly discussed.

Emily Phelps.—Your glasses do not suit you. Go to an oculist and get his prescription for another pair. Your symptoms are very common in people who use unsuitable spectacles.

Buttercup.—Bunions are due to the pressure of badly-fitting boots. In the human foot the great or innermost toe bends away from the other toes. This gives to the inner border of the foot a direction slanting inwards towards the middle line of the body. Most boots are made with their inner border slanting outwards away from the middle line so as to meet the outer border of the boots at a more or less acute angle. We have therefore the great toe naturally tending to depart from its fellows, and we have the boot forcing the great toe towards, and possibly under or over, the other toes. The boot is an unyielding structure. The inner border of the foot is also practically unyielding, except at one spot, the joint of the great toe. The first toe is therefore forced inwards and its joint projects as an angle. The boot presses upon this joint, a corn forms, inflammation is set up, and the joint becomes diseased, forming a bunion. When once a bunion has developed, it is no good talking about its prevention. We must attempt to cure it, and it is not so very difficult to cure it, and keep it cured, if you fully understand how it originated. A bunion is caused by pressure upon the joint. The cure of the bunion consists of removing the pressure from the joint. To do this you should wear boots in which the inner border slopes away from the centre of the boot. We advise you to get a pair of boots of this shape made for yourself. If the bunion is intractable, you may need a "post" in the boot between the great and the second toe. Keep your foot scrupulously clean, and take a foot-bath every evening.

J. S. N.—As your mother died from heart disease, it is no wonder that you imagine your own symptoms to be likewise due to heart trouble; but the symptoms you mention are all characteristic of simple dyspepsia; not one of them is common in heart disease. When you say "at times my pulse beats very fast and sometimes irregularly," we presume that you mean that you feel your heart beating fast or irregularly, in other words, that you have palpitation. When the heart is beating fast or irregularly, as it frequently does in heart disease, it produces no symptoms which might inform the sufferer of her state. It is only by feeling the pulse that irregularities in its action can be detected. We will not say that heart disease is not hereditary, but the importance of this factor has been greatly over-estimated. Disease of the heart is very frequently due to rheumatic fever; and the tendency to rheumatism is; to a certain extent, hereditary. You will find plenty of information about indigestion in our last year's volume.

Esther.—We can well understand that you feel a little nervous about your chest, when you tell us that both your parents died of phthisis. You know that the risk of your developing the disease is considerable, yet it by no means follows that you will get phthisis. By no means are you certain to get phthisis. You must be very careful about yourself, and the least bit of a cough or cold which may attack you must be carefully attended to. Indeed we advise you to call in your family doctor the moment that you have any cough or other untoward symptom. Certainly you would do well to spend your winters in Switzerland.

Canary.—1. A little dumb-bell exercise every morning will improve the form of your back and shoulders. The dumb-bells should be made of wood and not weigh more than two pounds each. Heavy bell exercise is very dangerous. It has always been considered beautiful for women to possess broad hips.—2. Why? Why do so many of our correspondents call themselves "constant readers"? Perhaps it is that they think that by using that pseudonym they will get answered sooner, or perhaps it is merely from lack of sufficient imagination to think of some phrase less commonplace.

E. M. Walker.—Cinnamon is more at home in the pantry than in pharmacy. The only medicinal action it possesses is that of all aromatic substances. It is occasionally used as a stomachic, but its chief use is for flavouring. Sometimes it is given for diarrhœa as it is a mild astringent. Cinnamon has no action on cancer, neither has any drug the slightest effect upon the course of this disease. Indeed one might put down the medicinal action of cinnamon at zero.

Mabel B.—It is not at all uncommon for the hair to fall out after a severe illness. It is, however, rare for permanent baldness to result. Usually after combing out in large quantities for some weeks or months the hair grows quickly and luxuriously again. A mildly stimulating hair-wash is often useful in these cases. Brilliantine, bay rum or rosemary hair-washes are suitable. We much doubt whether taking cod-liver oil would have any effect upon your hair, but it might help to restore your strength.

Florrie.—1. We know of no recipe which will remove hairs from the face without doing serious damage to the skin at the same time.—2. Try sulphur soap for a shiny face. Do not use face powder.

Helena.—Read the answer to "Florrie" above. The Laws of Libel prevent us from giving you our opinion on the preparation which you mention. We are allowed, however, to warn you to have nothing to do with any patent medicine of which you do not know the composition. It has not been our experience that peroxide of hydrogen makes the hair grow quickly.

STUDY AND STUDIO.

Irish May Flower.—It is rather difficult to dispose of such sketches as you describe. We should suggest that you took them to any picture dealer in your neighbourhood, and asked him to try to sell them for you. Or you might write to the Irish Ladies' Work Society, 47, George Street, Kingstown, inquiring if that would be of any use to you.

Mabel Entwistle.—We are very glad that you have been enabled through our means "to make the acquaintance of two extremely nice French girls." Your writing we like very much. It is clear, definite, and has a character of its own. If we gave any hint for its improvement, it would be to avoid the lapses in the middle of a word, making the writing flow consecutively.

La Petite Violette.—We have not forgotten you, and are very glad you have taken up some special study. We have placed your request in "Our Open Letter Box."

Wild Rose.—1. Your first quotation is from Tennyson's In Memoriam, xxvii., stanza 4.

"I hold it true, whate'er befall, I feel it when I sorrow most, 'Tis better to have loved and lost, Than never to have loved at all."

2. Look through the poetry of Thomas Moore for your second extract, and if you cannot find it there, send it again and we will place it in "Our Open Letter Box."

Catalina.—1. Apply to the Church Sunday School Institute, Serjeant's Inn, Fleet Street, E.C., or to the Sunday School Union (undenominational), 57, Ludgate Hill, and you will receive the fullest information. The lessons for each Sunday are set forth in certain inexpensive books in detail, with comments and information upon every verse. In addition to these "lesson helps" you should read and study books upon the Old Testament and upon the life of our Lord, such as Farrar's Life of Christ. The Religious Tract Society has published one (The Life of Jesus Christ the Saviour, by Mrs. S. Watson), which is not too ambitious, and might help you. The net price is 3s. 9d.—2. Your writing is good for your age, but might be improved if the tails to your "g's," "y's," etc., were less straggling.

Erin-go-bragh.—1. We have inserted your request, but (as you give a pseudonym) not your address.—2. Your handwriting is too upright and irregular, but there is the foundation of a good hand in it.

Exile of Erin.—The "Fragment" you enclose is above the average of poems submitted to us, but your metre does not flow quite smoothly enough. You should avoid too many monosyllables in these long lines.

L. A. T.—We should advise you to read Homer's "Odyssey," translated by Butcher and Lang, and if you find difficulty in understanding it, a "Primer" on the subject as well. But we think you will enjoy it. As for Plato, read "The Trial and Death of Socrates," translated by Dean Church, and consult a small history of Greece on the period (399 B.C.) Do not attempt too much at once, nor read Plato's deeper "Dialogues" to begin with. Your letter, which you ask us to criticise, is clearly written, with only one mistake in spelling.

Miss Bealey.—We undertake no communication by post (see "Rules" in our November part and elsewhere). You will find the "Home Reading Union" an excellent society; apply to the Secretary, Surrey House, Victoria Embankment. Consult this column for amateur societies occasionally mentioned.

Miss Florence E. Smith calls attention to the "Bedford Practising Society," of which she is secretary. She will be delighted to send particulars to any fellow reader of the Girl's Own Paper. Address to her at Winfrith, The Crescent, Bedford.

Hoffnung.—Many thanks for your letter. By all means try again.

INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Mademoiselle Marguerite Gontard (address "Nikopal Mariopol Co., Mariopol, South Russia, Engineer Prauss for M. Gontard"), wishes to be put into communication with a young English lady, resident in either of the continents of Asia, Africa, America, or Australia. She desires to correspond with her either in English or French. We thank Mademoiselle Gontard for her pretty English letter. She may certainly write to us in French if she prefers to do so.

"Erin-go-bragh" would like to correspond with a French girl of about her own age—twenty-one.

Florence writes a kind letter from which we quote a sentence. "I am wondering whether some little girl belonging to the readers of our Girl's Own Paper would care to have an older friend to write to; she would receive in return sympathy if in trouble, and an interest would be taken in all she might care to confide to one whom she could perhaps learn to look upon in the light of an elder sister." We regret that it is against our rules to undertake direct postal communication; but if any little girl sends us her address, we will insert it here for "Florence" to see. Perhaps some lonely, or motherless, or sad little girls might be glad to find a friend.

OUR OPEN LETTER BOX.

La Petite Violette wishes to find a poem with a refrain to each verse "Belle Marquise." She saw a quotation from it as a heading to a chapter in a book entitled Woman and the Shadow.

Miss M. A. C. Crabb and Elpis answer Lennox by referring the verse she quotes—

"Alas! how easily things go wrong,"

to a poem in the 19th chapter of George Macdonald's "Phantastes: a Faerie Romance." They agree in saying that the second verse is not by the same pen.

Peterkin, Gertrude Ashworth, Klondyke, B. D. Ward, M. E. Bates, "Stick," R. M. Cooke, Mabel Entwistle and "The Eldest Girl," inform Ethel Rimmer that Christina Rossetti's poem beginning—

"When I am dead, my dearest, Sing no sad songs for me,"

has been set to music by Malcolm Lawson, and is entitled "Hereafter," in keys E♭ and G. It appeared in the June number of the Strand Musical Magazine for 1895. "A Lover of the 'G.O.P.'" says it has been set to music by C. A. Lee, either for a soprano or an alto voice.

R. C. R. suggests to Gold Dust that the poem "Tit for Tat" is contained in "Original Poems for Infant Minds," by Jane Taylor, her sisters and brother. If this is the poem sought for, we may add that the volume is published by Routledge.

One of the First Readers, Azie, asks for the author of a poem entitled "Maggie and the Angels," containing two lines—

"Maggie, are they the angels? And be they always there?"

Perseveranza would be glad to know the publishers of a picture-book of performing frogs or cats from which she could copy for painting on dessert doyleys.

L B. N. R. wishes to know the author of the following lines—

"There is a river which flows for ever, And the flowers that bloom on its banks Grow bright, as they glitter in grateful endeavour To vie in a perfume of thanks."

MISCELLANEOUS.

Edith.—The origin of the Lions as a device on the Royal Arms we trace to William the Conqueror, who introduced those of Normandy. These two original Lions were supplemented by a third, added by Henry III., it is generally supposed, for Aquitaine.

Mater.—To make an economical Christmas cake, take half a pound of butter, place in a bowl, and break five eggs over it, stirring continuously, while a second person sifts in slowly a pound and a half of currants (well washed, dried, and carefully picked), three-quarters of a pound of flour, and two ounces of citron peel chopped to moderately small pieces. Place in a papered shape—not buttered—several folds of paper being laid at the bottom of the tin, and bake in moderately hot oven during three hours.

Semper paratus.—We answer two questions, and you have asked nineteen! It is impossible to describe the several Scotch tartans otherwise than by coloured illustrations. These you will find in a book published by W. and A. K. Johnston (Edinburgh and London), entitled, The Scottish Clans and their Tartans, now in its second (if not third) edition. Some account of every Clan is given.

Anxious.—Rheumatism will, no doubt, be made worse by exposure to damp and draughts; but the origin is in acidity, which crystallises in the joints and muscles. You should abstain for a time from butchers' meat, and from sweet things. Attend to the action of the liver, which may be torpid; and if the pain be in the arms and shoulders, you should perform all kinds of exercises with them, and employ friction and rubbing with suitable embrocation. If you do not perform exercises, the joints and sinews will become stiff.

A. E. C.—Noah's Ark, by Darley Dale, is published as a book by F. Warne, Bedford Street, Strand. Price 3s. 6d.

Helen of Troy.—You will find several families of the name Marshall—though not necessarily related—in Burke's Landed Gentry. Perhaps you can claim your connection with one of them. The first on the list is G. H. Marshall, of Patterdale Hall, Westmoreland, descended from John of Yeadon Hall, Co. York, who made a large fortune from the mechanical improvements in a branch of the linen manufacture. There is Marshall of Treworgley, Cornwall; Marshall of Penwortham Hall, descended from M. of Ardwick, near Manchester; Marshall of Ward End House, Co. Warwick, descended from M. of Perlethorp, Co. Nottinghamshire; and Marshall of Broadwater, Surrey, apparently the oldest family of that name, anciently spelt Marchal, and long resident in that county. None of these families have the same arms, nor crest. The first-named (of Patterdale) has none ascribed to them in the Landed Gentry. You had better consult the second volume in some library.