Cough Remedy

February 28th, 2020

Pour half a pint of water on one quarter of a pound of gum arabic; when dissolved add one-quarter of a pound of sugar and half a gill of lemon juice; let it simmer for five or ten minutes then bottle and cork. When taken water may be added. This is a most soothing syrup for a throat irritated by a hacking cough.

Source: Tried and True Recipes, F.D.P. Jermain

Blackberry Cordial for Diarrhoea

February 26th, 2020

Boil together four pounds of white sugar and one gallon of blackberry juice ; remove the scum, then add one ounce of cloves, one ounce of cinnamon, and four or five grated nutmegs. When boiled sufficiently, let it settle ; strain, and add one pint of brandy. Dose for a child, one tablespoonful ; for an adult, one wineglassful.

Source: Recipes for the Million

Deafness

February 24th, 2020

Deafness generally arises from deficient secretion of wax in the ear. The following remedy is in some cases useful :— Oil of turpentine, half a dram ; olive oil, two drams ; mix, and insert a couple of drops in the ear at bed-time.

Oil of bitter almonds also proves of great service in the treatment of this ailment, especially if a few drops of turpentine or camphor liniment be added to the oil. If the deafness arises from nervous debility a course of tonic medicines should be taken, the diet strictly attended to, and a clove of garlic wrapped in muslin, or a few drops of the juice, introduced into the ear.

Source: Recipes for the Million

Poultices

February 22nd, 2020

A Bread and Milk Poultice. — Put a tablespoonful of the crumbs of stale bread into a gill of milk, and give the whole one boil up. Or, take stale bread-crumbs, pour over them boiling water and boil till soft, stirring well; take from the fire and gradually stir in a little glycerine or sweet oil, so as to render the poultice pliable when applied.

A Hop Poultice. — Boil one handful of dried hops in half a pint of water, until the half pint is reduced to a gill, then stir into it enough Indian meal to thicken it.

A Mustard Poultice. — Into one gill of boiling water stir one tablespoonful of Indian meal; spread the paste thus made upon a cloth, and spread over the paste one teaspoonful of mustard flour. If you wish a mild poultice, use a teaspoonful of mustard as it is prepared for the table, instead of the mustard flour. Equal parts of ground mustard and flour made into a paste with warm water, and spread between two pieces of muslin, form the indispensable mustard plaster.

A Ginger Poultice. — This is made like a mustard poultice, using ground ginger instead of mustard. A little vinegar is sometimes added to each of these poultices.

A Stramonium Poultice. — Stir one tablespoonful of Indian meal into a gill of boiling water, and add one tablespoonful of bruised stramonium seeds.

Wormwood and Arnica are sometimes applied in poultices. Steep the herbs in half a pint of cold water, and when all their virtue is extracted stir in a little bran or rye-meal to thicken the liquid; the herbs must not be removed from the liquid. This is a useful application for sprains and bruises.

Linseed Poultice. — Take four ounces of powdered linseed, and gradually sprinkle it into a half pint of hot water.

Source: The Canadian Family Cookbook, Grace E. Denison

For the Whooping Cough

February 20th, 2020

Onions and garlic sliced, of each one gill; one gill of sweet oil; stir them in the oil in a covered dish; strain and add one gill of honey; one-half an ounce of paregoric; one-half an ounce of spirits of camphor. Bottle and cork for use. Dose: one teaspoonful three or four times a day.

Source: Tried and True Recipes, F.D.P. Jermain

Burns, Brown-Paper Oil For

February 18th, 2020

Dip some thick brown paper in salad oil, put it upon a plate, and set it alight. Apply the oil that is left upon the plate.

Source: Recipes for the Million

To Remove Sunburn

February 16th, 2020

Squeeze the juice of a lemon into a small teacupful of new milk. Allow it to curdle. Apply it to the face and throat with a piece of cotton wool, after having been out in the sun, or the last thing at night. Allow it to remain on the skin for a short time then wash it off with tepid soft water. This will remove all heat and tan from the skin.

Source: The Dudley Book of Cookery and Household Recipes, Georgiana Dudley

Cure for Lumbago

February 14th, 2020

Take a red pepper, break it in a teacup and pour water over it, bruising it with a spoon ; fill the cup up with water and drink three or four times in a day, and it will effect a sure cure.

Source: The New Galt Cook Book, M. Taylor & F. McNaught

Another Way To Cleanse The Hair

February 12th, 2020

A half teaspoonful of powdered borax in a teacupful of water, makes a mild and efficient hair and scalp cleanser. Rub it into the hair and scalp with the balls of the fingers, with the head held over a basin, and the eyes kept shut, until the entire scalp is in a foam, then rinse with warm water.

Source: The Kentucky Housewife, Mrs Peter A. White

Cough Mixture (The Late Sir William Gull’s)

February 10th, 2020

4 ozs. honey
4 ozs. cod liver oil
The juice of 2 or 3 lemons, according to size

To mix the above put altogether into a jar and either stand it on the stove or in a saucepan of boiling water until it is well dissolved. Stir the ingredients occasionally.

A dessertspoonful to be taken three times a day, or double the quantity if the patient likes. Should the stomach reject the cod liver oil, sweet olive oil may be substituted, but the other is the best.

Source: The Northampton Cookery Book, M.A. Jeffery

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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.