For the Giddiness in the Head

Take an ounce of comming Seed and Steep it in white wine all night as much wine as will cover it and then you must dry it in an oven after the bread is drawn and dry with it an ounce of Juniper berrys & a handfull of rue then you must beat all these together to a fine powder and when you use it take as much of the powder as will lay on a Sixpence in a Spoonfull of honey well mixed together or in a Spoonfull of Sugar and take it dry.

Source: A Book of Simples, H.W. Lewer

A Good Shampoo

Take one bar of cocoanut soap. Shave into a gallon of rain water. Put on the stove until it comes to a boil; then turn the gas low and let simmer fifteen minutes. Before taking off the stove add ten cents’ worth of cream of tartar.

Source: 1001 Household Hints, Ottilie V. Ames

Lip-Salve

Melt one ounce white wax, one ounce sweet oil, one drachm spermaceti, and throw in a piece of alkanet root to color it, and when cooling, perfume it with oil rose, and then pour it into small white jars or boxes.

Source: The White House Cookbook, F.L. Gillette

Sparrow Hint

To keep sparrows from roosting under a porch take an old paint brush and some tar and late in the afternoon paint the top of the pillars and the birds will not come back.

Source: 1001 Household Hints, Ottilie V. Ames

If Hands Are Rough

It is hard to embroider if hands are rough, as most women know. Let them try rubbing the hands with the finest sand paper, and they will find that the embroidery silks will not stick to the fingers.

Source: 1001 Household Hints, Ottilie V. Ames

Stiff Neck

Rub with sassafras oil or with capsicum vaseline.

Source: The Mary Frances First Aid Book, Jane Eayre Fryer

Wart Remedy

Apply oil of cinnamon often as possible. A camel’s hair brush may be used, but it is not necessary. A five-cent vial has been found sufficient to remove a large seed wart.

Source: 1001 Household Hints, Ottilie V. Ames

Prickly Heat

Rash, especially on young children, caused by heat. Wash with warm water and soap. Apply alcohol (one part to three of water). Dust with talcum powder.

Source: The Mary Frances First Aid Book, Jane Eayre Fryer

Virtues of Turpentine

After a housekeeper fully realizes the worth of turpentine in the household, she is never willing to be without a supply of it.

1 — It gives quick relief to burns.

2 — It is an excellent application for corns.

3 — It is good for rheumatism and for sore-throats.

4 — It is the quickest remedy for convulsions or fits by applying to the back of the neck.

5 — It is a sure preventive against moths; by just dropping a trifle in the bottom of drawers, chests and wardrobes, it will render the garments secure from injury during the summer.

6 — It will keep ants and bugs from closets and storerooms by putting a few drops in the corners and shelves. It is sure destruction to bed-bugs and will effectually drive them away from their haunts, if thoroughly applied to all the joints of the bedstead in the spring cleaning time, and injures neither furniture nor clothing.

7 — A little in suds washing day lightens laundry labor.

Source: 1001 Household Hints, Ottilie V. Ames

Sore Throat

At night wrap a cloth wet in alcohol around outside of throat. Gargle with salt and water (1 tsp. to a glass), or borax and water in same proportion, or hot tea, or with the following—

Gargle:

2 tbsp. vinegar,
1 tbsp. salt,
Water to fill a tumbler.

If persistent, see doctor.

Source: The Mary Frances First Aid Book, Jane Eayre Fryer