It must, however, never be forgotten, that neither chloride of lime, nor any fumigation whatever, will destroy infection, or make it safe to go near persons sick of any description of fever, without fresh air and constant cleanliness. But if all these are observed, the danger of fevers spreading would become very small.

The Physician, in Irish Society's " Reading Book.”

"GETTING BETTER," AND SICK, COOKERY.

A PERSON recovering from sickness must be restricted, at first, to sago or arrow-root, or light bread-puddings, or a small cup of chocolate; next in order, light calf's-foot jelly, chicken-broth, or beef-tea; then eggs, boiled not more than two minutes and a half,— —or any soft vegetables in season; then roasted chicken, partridge, or fish perfectly fresh. The doctor, however, should always be asked his opinion of the diet best suited to the particular case of the patient.

Cold meat is an unsafe article of food for invalids; veal, and especially veal-pie, is, in the summer season, often very unwholesome long before it is disagreeable to the taste.

Raw oysters ought never to be given to patients: it is true that they are taken without harm, and even with advantage, by many; but the instances of bad consequences, from whatever cause they may arise, are so numerous, that no prudent nurse will, on any occasion, deviate from the rule laid down.

The very best drink for a convalescent is toast-and-water, to which, very gradually, a little good wine may be added.

COOKERY FOR THE SICK.

Gruel.WELL mix a tablespoonful of oatmeal (which will weigh just one ounce) in a basin, with a quarter of a pint of cold water, till it is quite smooth; then gradually

pour over it about half a pint of boiling water, stir, and mix; then put all into a clean saucepan, and stir it over the fire till it boils; strain it through a sieve into a clean cup, and have a little bit of toast to eat with it: some people season gruel with salt, others with sugar and a little bit of butter. This quantity will only make a cupful; and sick people should only eat a little at a time, and have it made fresh each time.

Groat or Grit Gruel. About half a pint of groats to three quarts of cold water, boiled down to two quarts, and strained. The groats will make another quart by being boiled again. This gruel, with a little salt or sugar, is the most proper food for lying-in-women for the first four days.

Caudle is made like gruel, only mix your oatmeal with half a pint of good mild beer, and stir it into the boiling water, with a pinch of allspice finely ground; and when boiled enough, add a tablespoonful of moist sugar.

Flour Caudle is very good food for infants who have weak bowels. Rub quite smooth one dessert spoonful of fine flour into five large spoonfuls of pure water; boil five spoonfuls of new milk, with two lumps of white sugar, and pour boil. ing over the flour and water; then stir it over the fire for twenty minutes.

Barley Water. Boil an ounce of pearl barley for a few minutes, to cleanse it; then having poured off the water, put a quart of fresh water on it, and simmer for an hour; put in a bit of sugar, and a little fresh lemon-peel- if likely to be too thick, add more water. Lemon-juice is sometimes added, according to taste, after straining.

Toast Water. Toast slowly a small piece of bread till very brown and hard, but do not suffer it to catch fire or become black-plunge it in a jug of cold water (not pour the water over the toast), and cover it up.

Soda Water.

Put a wineglassful of water into a large glass, and dissolve in it a small teaspoonful of carbonate of soda squeeze into it the juice of a lemon till it hisses and rises up, then drink it off quickly it is a very pleasant drink in fevers, and may be taken every three or four hours.

White Wine Whey is useful to promote perspiration. Put half a pint of skim milk on the fire, and the moment it

COWS

boils pour in white wine, as much as will curdle it lip wine is best, and a wineglassful will be enough; stand the saucepan on the hob till the curd settles, and do not stir it. then pour off the clear whey, and drink it warm in bed: if the white wine is strong, lower the whey before drinking with a little hot water- add sugar, if wished. Whey is made also with lemon-juice or vinegar, instead of wine.

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To Boil an Egg in the Shell. Put an egg gently into a saucepan of boiling water, and let it boil for three minutes, and no longer-take it out with a spoon. This, with a slip of toast, and a little salt, is very nice for a convalescent.

A nourishing Drink for those who are Weak, and have a Cough. Beat a fresh-laid egg, and mix it in a quarter of a pint of new milk warmed, with a spoonful of rosewater, and one of capillaire, and a grate of nutmeg beat it up a little, but do not put it over the fire after mixing. Take it at bedtime.

Shank Jelly. Soak twelve shanks of mutton four hours, then brush and scour them very clean; put them in a saucepan, with an, onion, herbs, a bit of well-toasted bread, thirty black peppers, and a bit of mace; add three quarts of water, and set them close covered on the hob to simmer as gently as possible for five hours; strain off, and put it in a cold place. It is remarkably good for weakly persons.

Beef Tea. Cut a pound of fleshy beef, without a bit of fat, in thin slices and chopped; pour over it a quart of water, and simmer for twenty minutes after it has once boiled and been skimmed. It is usual to season it only with salt.

Arrowroot should always be of the best quality, even if a penny an ounce dearer, as it is of great importance it should be genuine when required for those whose bowels are weak. It may be made either with milk or water; a large dessert spoonful will make half a pint. Rub it very smoothly with a little of the milk (or water) gradually, and then stir into it the remaining liquid while boiling; let it all boil up a minute. When made with milk, boil a bit of cinnamon to flavour it-lemon-peel and sugar. Sometimes wine is added to arrowroot when made with water; a spoonful added to a cupful when made.

Sago should be soaked an hour in cold water, strained off; and simmer in a quart of water a large spoonful of the berries

till quite tender; when it has boiled away to a pint, add sugar, nutmeg, or lemon-peel, and a glass of white wine, and boil all up. Sago is also often boiled in milk, and sweetened. A weak person should stir a spoonful or more of sago milk into his coffee or tea. instead of plain milk.

Treacle Posset. Into half a pint of boiling milk, or milk and water, stir a large tablespoonful of treacle; let it boil up quickly; then stand aside for the curd to settle; and when it has done so, strain it off.

Bread Pudding. - A piece of crumb of bread, the size of a duck's egg, crumbled into as much boiling milk as will just soak it; while boiling hot, stir in gradually a well-beat egg, a little sugar, and nutmeg: butter a small tea cup, and exactly fill it up with the bread mixture; tie it over with a nice clean cloth buttered (not floured), put it into a saucepan of water fast boiling, and let it boil twenty-five minutes. Batter Pudding. Beat an egg very fine; mix to it one tablespoonful of flour thoroughly smooth, and then a tablespoonful or rather more of milk, a small pinch of salt, and dust of nutmeg; butter the very small teacup and cloth, and boil it half an hour.

Ground-Rice Pudding. Half a pint of milk, a small tablespoonful of rice flour; mix the rice smooth with a little of the milk cold, and stir it into the rest boiling; by the time it thickens, have ready two eggs well beaten; gradually mix to them the rice milk, and sweeten; butter a dish, put it in, grate a little nutmeg over, and bake twenty minutes.

In general, it may be observed that in flour puddings the eggs should be perfectly mixed with the flour before any milk is added; but with rice, bread, or other puddings, in which the milk is boiled, the best way to prevent the eggs curdling, is to mix them gradually with the milk boiling hot, and put it immediately into the oven.

Various.

HYMNS,

FOR A LITTLE CHILD IN SICKNESS.

ALMIGHTY GOD! I'm very ill ;
But cure me, if it be thy will;
For thou canst take away my pain,
And make me strong and well again.

Let me be patient every day,

And mind what those who nurse me say;
And grant, that all I have to take
May do me good, for Jesus' sake!

Hymns and Poetry for Infant Schools.

THANKSGIVING FOR RECOVERY.

I pray'd to God, He heard my prayer,
And made a little child his care;
When I was sick, He heal'd my pain,
And gave me health and strength again.
O let me now his grace implore,
And love and praise him evermore!

D. A. T.

ADVICE FOR EVERY SEASON.

In health to be stirring, shall profit thee best;
In sickness, seek patience, submission, and rest.
Remember thy soul, let no murmur prevail;
Remember thy God, let thy faith never fail;
The sooner thyself thou submittest to God,
The sooner he ceaseth to scourge with his rod.

Tusser.