OLD TIME REMEDIES

As an R.N. I have looked into all kinds of cures and remedies. I have come across quite a few old remedies, some might have benefit, some not so much.  I am passing some of these on because they might be of interest if only as what had been done in the past.  Please know that I am not in any way saying that these are proven cures and remedies for today. I just thought that they might be of interest to others as how things were done in the past. Many of the items that are needed for these remedies are not available to us.

These come from "Buckeye Cookery and Practical Housekeeping" 1877.

For Colds: Drink hot pennyroyal-tea.

For Worms: Give rue-tea.

For Colic in Children: Give catnip-tea.

Cure for Wounds from rusty nails: Dip fat pork in turpentine and bind it on the wound.

To stop bleeding: apply wet tea-leaves or scrapings of sole-leather to a fresh cut and it will stop the bleeding, or apply a paste of flour and vinegar.

For sore throat: take five cents' worth chlorate of potassa, dissolve, and take a teaspoon every hour, and also gargle with it (Estelle Woods Wilcox).

To remove warts: touch the warts with caustic potassa, or liquor potassa, or acetic acid. The operation is not painful, does not discolor the skin, and removes the warts in a short time, leaving th skin perfectly smooth.

Liniment: the common May-weed blossoms put in alcohol are much superior t arnica for the same use.

For sprains: the white of an egg, and salt mixed to a thick paste is one of the best remedies for sprains, or bruises, or lmeness, for man or beast. Rub well the parts affected.

Sprains or lameness: two ounces camporated spirits, two ounces sweet oil, two ounces ammonia, two ounces chloroform; shake well before using, and rub it in by a fire.  It is very excellent for a family liniment.

Moth patches: may be removed from the face by the following remedy- into a pint bottle of rum put a tablespoon of flour of sulphur.  Apply this to the patches once a day, and they will disappear in two or three weeks.

To prevent corns: wear easy shoes, which fit well, neither too loose nor too tight, and bathe the feet frequently with warm water with a little salt in it.

For jaundice: the yolk of an egg, raw or slightly cooked, is excellent food in jaundice.

To relieve asthma: wet blotting-paper in strong solution of salt-peter, dry it, and burn a piece three inches square on a plate in sleeping-room, and it will afford quick relief.

Dandruff: one ounce flour of sulphur to one quart of water.  Shake well at intervals, for a few hours, and when settled, saturate the head with the clear liquid every morning.

Headache: Elixir of guarana, prepared by Brewer & Co., Springfield, Mass.  Take one teaspoonful every half hour until four have been taken, on the first intimation that the headache is coming on.

Bee-stings: and absorbent will give relief from bee stings, but perhaps nothing is more effectual than lean raw meat.  The sting of a bee or wasp may be almost instantly relieved by it. It is said to cure the bite of rattlesnake, and relieve erysipelas.

Salve for cuts and burns: to one-half pound of sweet lard, add one-fourth pound of beeswax and the same of resin; beat all together till well mixed; pour in a little tin box.  Apply a little to the wound on a soft cotton cloth (Mrs. Ford)

Whopping-cough: mix one lemon sliced, half pint flaxseed, two ounces honey, and one quart water, and simmer, not boil, four hours; strain when cool, and if there is less than a pint of the mixture, add water.  Dose: one tablespoon four times a day, and one also, after each severe fit of coughing.  Warranted to cure in four days if given when the child first "whoops."

To cure a corn: apply sweet oil night and morning, or wash for two or three evenings in a pretty strong solution of common soda, which softens the corn so that it falls out.  Cotton wet with opodeldoc or turpentine, applied to a soft corn, will cure it.