Last time we learned in part three of What a Woman Should Know proper care for eyebrows, ears and lips. In part four the lesson continues with the teeth and hands.
Put your nail files down Ladies and we'll begin.
Page 4:
The Teeth. - The teeth are noticed the moment one begins to talk or smile. Their value is beyond price, therefore they are to be looked after continuously. Invariably rinse your mouth thoroughly after eating; lukewarm water is the best, but first remove any particles of food that may remain between the teeth with a quill toothpick, all others are dangerous and liable to break or injure the teeth. The teeth should be cleaned with a brush before going to bed and on rising in the morning. Do not use a brush too stiff. White castile soap and precipitated chalk used twice or three times a week will keep the teeth sweet and white as ivory. For swollen or bleeding gums rinse the mouth with a wineglassful of lukewarm water in which is placed 7 drops of tincture of myrrh. To drop a little powdered orris root on your brush imparts a delicious fragrance to the breath. Should a tooth become discolored, or on the first appearance of decay, consult a dentist.
The Hands. - A pretty hand is a mark of beauty; but a clean hand, with well-kept finger nails, always adds to a woman's appearance and, whether her hand be large or small, shows that she is refined. Even if rough and red, the hands may be softened and whitened. First wash them well with a pure toilet soap, then wipe them dry; while the nails are soft trim them carefully, then push back the skin all around to show the shape of the nail. To remove any spots from the nails, rub with moistened pumice stone. If the hands are red and rough they may be made white and soft and kept so with very little care. Rub the hands with spirits of camphor three times a day for one week; this will harden the outer skin or cuticle, which is really the only portion of the skin which suffers from hard usage. The next thing to do is to rub the hands well with camphor ice each night before retiring, and wear a pair of kid gloves about two sizes too large. Whenever you have occasion to use the hands in soap and water, as soon as through take vinegar and water, half and half, and rinse the hands; this counteracts the alkali in the soap, which is the cause of redness and roughness. By treating the hands thus, whenever necessary, you will have white, soft, pretty hands. Never forget that if your hand is in proportion to your size, whether large or small, you are all right; for proportion is the foundation of grace.
Page 5:
Red Hands. - If, after general attention to the hands they are soft, but still red, soak the feet nightly in hot water for two weeks; this will also be a benefit to those who have flushed faces. A diet of beef, mutton and fruits will give a rosy tint to pale cheeks.
Upcoming in part five of What a Woman Should Know: The Feet and The Skin.
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