HOW TO LOOK WELL.

Let it be understood, once and for all, that perfect health is the best. and only true cosmetic. The proper amount of food to meet the requirements of the system should always be taken; there is no beauty or attraction in that state of wan ghastliness which comes from insufficient nutrition. The use of the pores is to keep the system pure and healthy; they should be aided rather than retarded in their work. But what chance do they have, for instance, to keep the surface of the face at its best, when their delicate mouths are buried under a glutinous coat of oil, glycerine, or other tenacious base, upon which a mass of "powder " has been deposited? There is no need for an answer. Perspiration is the most natural and effective method of freeing the pores of the hardened secretions which so often form "blackheads " and in other ways mar the complexion. Artificial perspiration, in cases where its necessity is apparent, may best be secured by the Turkish bath, if that is available. If a substitute must be had, a formula which recently appeared, gives good promise. To begin with, the face should be washed with water as warm as can be comfortably borne, and given gentle friction with a rubber glove or a good firm bath towel, but only while the skin is wet. While rubbing, keep a pot of pure olive oil handy, and smear a little on the face during the operation. Dry the skin carefully, but add neither powder nor lotion, then get into a hot bath, and with a fleshbrush and a little soap make the whole body in a warm heat and add hot water to keep up the full heat during the process. Dry quickly, wrap in a woollen night-gown, and at once get into bed, and cover with several blankets. Drink also about half-a-pint, or even more, of quite warm lemonade, made from freshly cut lemons. This will create a nice, gentle perspiration, and after a few nights this will increase, and the pores will free themselves in a natural manner. In the morning, before washing, apply a little lemon juice where the pores are affected, and rub gently with a towel. Once the pores are free it is easy to keep

them so.

Black specks on the nose and chin are almost certainly comedones, for which "a certain cure" will be sought in vain. Not only, as a matter of fact, have the remedies always failed, but there also seems to be a good reason why they should fail, viz., that the comedones are not so much a disorder as a natural character of those portions of the skin of the face on which the hairs are almost or quite suppressed.

all of us potentially hair-clad animals-either as hair or as down our shaggy coat is discernible over nearly our whole surface, and the trend of the hair follows an invariable and very definite plan. But as in many other animals, so in ourselves, there seems to be a tendency to a suppression of the hair on the nose, and in a less degree on sundry other regions about the mouth and face. But, although the hairs be suppressed, yet the follicles, or sockets, in which the hair should grow continue to exist. Moreover, the sebaceous glands which secrete the natural hair-oil continue to be developed in the follicles. Now, if these glands be obstructed or irritated they secrete a more solid and more tenacious lubricant than is natural, and as there is no hair to push it out the follicle speedily becomes choked; the orifice becomes dark with dust, and the result is a comedo. By simple pressure the comedo can be made to evacuate its lardy contents in the form of a small pale worm with a dark head. Hence comedones are often called flesh-worms, which they are not, though the microscope shows that, like most other unoccupied corners, these disused hair-follicles are tenanted by some perfectly harmless parasites about 130th of an inch long, looking not unlike a minute chrysalis. Though not wholly removable, these follicles can be rendered inconspicuous by keeping them cleaned out. This may be effected to some extent by pressing out their contents; but as this leaves an orifice which catches dirt and is coarse in appearance, it is preferable to soften the skin with emollient applications, to cleanse it with a steam bath or warm fomentations, and finally to stimulate it with gentle friction not carried to the extent of causing a raw or excoriated sensation. When the skin has regained somewhat of its normal appearance, it is better to discontinue all external applications and rely on periodic massage, that is, pressing and rubbing with the fingers twice or thrice a day, using warm water and a superfatted soap. -R. A. CHUDLEIGH, in Farm and Home.

A REMARKABLE CASE.

One of the strangest cases to the medical profession, is that of Miss Grace Gridley, a young lady of Amboy, Ill. Her singular case has engaged the attention of the medical profession far and wide, and they have thus far been unable to solve the mystery. Her mother says:

Grace had a severe case of la grippe along in February, from which we supposed she had fully recovered, but in March she had a relapse,

which left her languid. She was always a bright, active child of a nervous temperament. She is now over twenty-two years of age. We first noticed that, contrary to her usual custom, she wanted to lie in bed in the morning, which gradually grew upon her until on the 1st of April we were unable to arouse her.

Medical assistance was called and not until a strong current of electricity had been applied did she awake. She remained awake for two days, and on the third we again had to resort to electricity. She awoke with a scream and said: "Don't do that; it hurts me so. Mamma, I don't want to wake; I am so comfortable. I understand and know every thing that is going on around me," and she sank into that dreadful lethargy you find her in to-day. Yes, she got out of bed once. It was several days after the second application of the battery, and we found her in the front parlor-her room is upstairs-by the window with an open Bible on her lap. She turned the leaves restlessly, but did not seem to read. I am sure she did not know what she was doing, and she did not seem to recognize me when I led her back to her room. She seemed conscious at times, and to this day seems to notice the presence of a stranger in the room, as the presence of any but the family seems to distress her.

When asked if it had not been reported that the strange illness had been brought on by religious excitement at a revival, Mrs Gridley said: There has been such a report, but there is no truth in it, though Grace is an ardent Christian and a member of the church. She has not attended any revivals for a year, and was never unduly excited over religion.

Miss Gridley is slowly wasting away, though she is given liquid food about every three hours, and swallows naturally. At times she seems to be awake, opening her eyes about a quarter of the way. She turns herself in the bed, and seems to have control of her limbs. "When she has opened her eyes," said Mrs. Gridley, "we have earnestly asked, even implored, Grace to make some sign, a movement of hand or eye, or to do something to show that she recognizes us, but she makes no sign. We can't understand it."-St. Louis Republic.

PROFESSOR SWING ON IMMORTALITY.

To believe well in a future beyond, it seems essential that one make the assumption of spirit a starting point, and then the whole material world becomes its servant, or its arena, or decoration; but if, with Huxley and Darwin, we begin with the assumption of matter, there

seems nothing to throw us over across the dividing ocean, and we must remain on the shore of dust, and hence death; for, move to and fro as material does from wild rose to full leaved rose, from ape to man, it always brings us at last only the dust. There is no immortal rose, however full leaved it may become. Death is its destiny. To get over this tomb of roses and of man it is essential that a spirit be assumed; a God, an essence differing from the vital action of the heart or of the roots of the wild flowers. In this study of man, after we assume that he possesses a spirit, the text enters with its single thought that God is not a God of dead souls, but of living ones. There is no manifest reason for supposing a soul made in such a divine image to be only an ephemeral creature, going quickly to nothingness, thus making God the father of the dead rather than of the living. All the reasons for creating such a being as man remain for continuing his existence. If, when the Creator had formed such a universe as lies around us here, of which our system is as a grain of sand upon an infinite shore, He finally concluded to make man a race to inhabit one or more stars of the universe, a race in the divine image, a human life of a few years would seem wholly unworthy of such a boundless material realm; for we cannot master its truths nor taste happiness in any threescore-years career. Your children have shown their divine nature, have spoken a few words, have rejoiced in a few springtimes, and have gone hence, leaving you heartbroken. A brief career is thus not in harmony with the immense universe in which this life begins, and of which man is unquestionably the highest order of beings.-American Spectator.

WATER AT MEALS.

Opinions differ as to the effect of the free ingestion of water at meal-times, but the view most generally received is probably that it dilutes the gastric juice and so retards digestion. Apart from the fact that a moderate delay in the process is by no means a disadvantage, it is more than doubtful whether any such effect is in reality produced. When ingested during meals, water may do good by washing out the digested food and by exposing the undigested part more thoroughly to the action of the digestive ferments. The good effect of water drunk freely before meals has, however, another beneficial result-it washes away the mucus which is secreted by the mucous membrane during the intervals of repose, and favors peristalsis of the whole alimentary tract.

The membrane thus cleansed is in a much better condition to receive food and convert it into soluble compounds. Exercise before partaking of a meal stimulates the circulation of the blood, washes out the mucus, partially distends the stomach, wakes up peristalsis, and prepares the alimentary canal for the morning meal. Observation has shown that non-irritating liquids pass through the "tubular " stomach, and even if food be present, they only mix with it to a slight extent. According to Dr. Leuf, who has made this subject a special study, cold water should be given to persons who have sufficient vitality to react, and hot water to others. In chronic gastric catarrh it is extremely beneficial to drink warm or hot water before meals.—British Medical Journal.

CONVULSIONS.

Not frequently convulsions occur in infancy in consequence of some internal difficulty of a temporary nature, and are never repeated in after life. But where they are of frequent occurrence in childhood there are grounds to fear that the sufferer will sooner or later become epileptic. Indeed, a large proportion of these troubles may be traced to the frequency of infantile convulsions. It is very difficult to discriminate between those early attacks, which are simply accidental, and not likely to recur, and those which are but the beginning of a life-long epilepsy. Hence, it is always requisite that the utmost care should be taken to prevent their recurrence. It is doubtless true, that in many instances children born with an epileptic tendency are cured of it by the intelligent care and nursing of parents, whereby their bodily weaknesses are strengthened, and their entire nervous system greatly changed for the better, even to a state of successful resistance of the threatened evil. All parents are under a serious responsibility in respect to all matters affecting the present good health and future well being of their natural offspring.

HEADACHE AND THE EYES.

Eye strain should be the first thought suggested by any complaint of headache, for it is by far the most common cause of that symptom. The simple existence of headache, therefore, should suggest eye strain, but frequently a careful inquiry as to the manner and time of the attack, and the location of the severest pain, will be almost conclusive as to the origin of the trouble. Often it comes on whenever the eyes are used, and is absent when the eyes have had a proper season of rest.