Boils

February 27th, 2019

If on a part exposed to friction of the clothes — the neck for instance — a boil should be protected by a piece of boracic lint strapped on with plaster. The gathering and discharge of a boil is hastened and the pain relieved by frequent bathing with water as hot as can be borne with comfort, containing a little boracic powder, lysol, or other disinfectant. Apply with a pad of cottonwool, which should be thrown away after use. In some cases a poultice of linseed — not bread — may be helpful; but there is a danger of poultices spreading infection and causing a crop of subsidiary boils. Very large boils, among which may be included carbuncles, may require lancing by a doctor at an early stage to give an outlet for the pus. As a rule a boil of the ordinary kind should be allowed to “ripen” fully before it is pricked, as by that time a core will have formed, the removal of which will allow the wound to heal quickly. After discharge dress the place with boracic ointment or powder to prevent reinfection, and keep it clean. Since boils are the result of a bad state of the blood, a person troubled by a succession of them should endeavour to improve the blood by means of purgatives, if he be constipated, and by exercise; or by taking cod-liver oil, iron, and nutritious food if “run down.”

The following treatment is said to be very effective: smear a little vaseline upon a piece of lint, pour a little chloroform on it, apply quickly to the boil and bind in place. Change the dressing every hour or so.

Source: The Complete Household Adviser

Emetics

February 25th, 2019

To a tumblerful of lukewarm water add either (a) a tablespoonful of salt; or (b) a dessertspoonful of ipecacuanha wine; or (c) a dessertspoonful of mustard. Tickling the back of the throat with the fingers or a feather also has an emetic effect.

Source: The Complete Household Adviser

For Chapped Hands

February 23rd, 2019

Prepare:

1 oz white wax
1 oz spermacetti [sic]
2 oz almond oil
3/4 oz powdered camphor

Melt all except the camphor together in a jar standing in a saucepan of boiling water, and when dissolved beat the powdered camphor into the mixture and put in small jars for use upon the hands night and morning.

Source: Household Management, E. Stoddard Eckford & M.S. Fitzgerald

Scalds and Burns

February 21st, 2019

The following facts cannot be too firmly impressed on the mind of the reader, that in either of these accidents the first, best and often the only remedies required, are sheets of wadding, fine wool, or carded cotton, and in the default of these, violet powder, flour, magnesia or chalk. The object for which these several articles are employed is the same in each instance; namely, to exclude the air from injured part; for if the air can be effectually shut out from the raw surface, and care is taken not to expose the tender part till the new cuticle is formed, the cure may be safely left to nature. The moment a person is called to a case of scald or burn, he should cover the part with a sheet, or a portion of a sheet, of wadding, taking care not to break any blister that may have formed, or stay to remove any burnt clothes that may adhere to the surface, but as quickly as possible envelope every part of the injury from all access of the air, laying one or two more pieces of wadding on the first, so as to effectually guard the burn or scald from the irritation of the atmosphere; and if the article used is wool or cotton, the same precaution, of adding more material where the surface is thinly covered, must be adopted; a light bandage finally securing all in their places. Any of the popular remedies recommended below may be employed when neither wool, cotton nor wadding are to be procured, it being always remembered that that article which will best exclude the air from a burn or scald is the best, quickest, and least painful mode of treatment. And in this respect nothing has surpassed cotton loose or attached to paper as in wadding.

If the Skin is Much Injured in burns, spread some linen pretty thickly with chalk ointment, and lay over the part, and give the patient some brandy and water if much exhausted; then send for a medical man. If not much injured, and very painful, use the same ointment, or apply carded cotton dipped in lime water and linseed oil. If you please, you may lay cloths dipped in ether over the parts, or cold lotions. Treat scalds in same manner, or cover with scraped raw potato; but the chalk ointment is the best. In the absence of all these, cover the injured part with treacle, and dust over it plenty of flour.

Source: One Thousand Secrets of Wise and Rich Men Revealed, C. A. Bogardus

To Make the Hair Soft and Glossy

February 19th, 2019

Put one ounce of castor oil in one pint of bay rum or alcohol, and color it with a little of the tincture of alkanet root. Apply a little every morning.

Source: Our Knowledge Box, ed. G. Blackie

Dysentery Specific

February 17th, 2019

(Particularly for bloody dysentery in Adults and Children.)

Take one pound gum arabic, one ounce gum tragacanth, dissolved in two quarts of soft water, and strained. Then take one pound of cloves, half a pound of cinnamon, half a pound allspice, and boil in two quarts of soft water, and strain. Add it to the gums, and boil all together over a moderate fire, and stir into it two pounds of loaf sugar. Strain the whole again when you take it off, and when it is cool, add to it half a pint sweet tincture rhubarb, and a pint and a half of best brandy. Cork it tight in bottles, as the gums will sour, if exposed. If corked properly it will keep for years.

Source: Our Knowledge Box, ed. G. Blackie

Embrocation for Rheumatism, Sprains, etc.

February 15th, 2019

Beat up two raw eggs and add them to half pint of vinegar, half pint turpentine and 1 oz cayenne pepper essence. Keep in a corked bottle and shake from time to time. The mixture is ready for use a few hours after making, and should be well rubbed in to the affected parts.

Source: Household Management, E. Stoddard Eckford & M.S. Fitzgerald

Magnetic Toothache Drops

February 13th, 2019

Take equal parts of Camphor, Sulphuric Ether, Ammonia, Laudanum, Tincture of Cayenne, and one-eighth part of Oil of Cloves. Mix well together. Saturate with the liquid a small piece of cotton, and apply to the cavity of the diseased tooth, and the pain will cease immediately. Put up in long drachm bottles. Retail at 25 cents. This is a very salable preparation, and affords a large profit to the manufacturer.

Source: One Thousand Secrets of Wise and Rich Men Revealed, C. A. Bogardus

For Chilblains

February 11th, 2019

Ointment for broken chilblains may be prepared as follows:

2 oz benzoated lard
1/2 oz oxide of zinc
1 drachm carbolic acid crystals
5 drachms almond oil

Dissolve the crystals in the oil, standing the jar in hot water; add the lard, and when melted stir in the zinc powder. Stir till the mixture begins to set, then put into jars. Apply with lint every night and morning until relief is obtained.

Source: Household Management, E. Stoddard Eckford & M.S. Fitzgerald

Cough Mixture

February 9th, 2019

5 oz treacle
6 oz honey
18 tablespoonfuls of vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoonfuls ipecacuanha wine

Put the vinegar, treacle and honey into a jar, and stand it in a saucepan of boiling water; stir until dissolved. Add the wine and bottle the mixture, keeping it well corked.

Dose: One dessertspoonful every three or four hours.

Source: Household Management, E. Stoddard Eckford & M.S. Fitzgerald

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    NOTE: these remedies are listed only for information and/or amusement. They are not to be construed as medical advice of any type, nor are they recommended for use. Consult your doctor or other medical professional for any medical advice you require.