ablespoonful of gum water stirred into a pint of starch that
has been made in the usual manner will give to lawns (either white or
printed) a look of newness to which nothing else can restore them
after washing. It is also good (much diluted) for the white muslin and
bobbinet.

[LIFE'S BUT A MEANS TO AN END...]

2743. Mildew out of Linen.

Rub the linen well with, soap; then scrape some fine chalk, and rub it
also on the linen. Lay it on the grass. As it dries, wet it a little,
and the mildew will come out with a second application.

2744. To Render Linen, &c., Incombustible.

All linen, cotton, muslins, &c., &c., when dipped in a solution of
tungstate of soda or common alum, will become incombustible.

2745. Sweet Bags for Linen.

These may be composed of any mixtures of the following
articles:--flowers, dried and pounded; powdered cloves, mace, nutmeg,
cinnamon; leaves--dried and pounded--of mint, balm, dragon-wort,
southernwood, ground-ivy, laurel, hyssop, sweet marjoram, origanum,
rosemary; woods, such as cassia, juniper, rhodium, sandal-wood, and
rosewood; roots of angelica, zedoary, orris; all the fragrant
balsams--ambergris, musk, and civet. These latter should be carefully
used on linen.

2746. Rings.

Rings which have stones in them should always be taken off the finger
when the hands are washed, or they will become discoloured.

2747. Adulterations.

A series of papers were published in the _Lancet_ and elsewhere a few
years back on the subject of Adulteration. These brought about a
parliamentary inquiry; the inquiry ended in demonstrating that nearly
everything we ate and drank was adulterated--in many cases with
ingredients very prejudicial to human health. The result of the
inquiry was the passing of an Act of Parliament in 1875 for the
purpose of putting a stop to this wholesale adulteration by making it
a criminal offence. The Act is called the "Sale of Foods and Drugs
Act," and the following are the most important clauses it contains:

"No person shall mix, colour, stain, or powder any article of food
with any ingredient or material, so as to render the article
injurious to health, with the intent that the same may be sold in
that state, and no person shall sell such article under a penalty
not exceeding L50."

"No person shall sell to the prejudice of the purch