La Grippe (Influenza), Red Pepper Treatment From Canada for

“Take a bottle of alcohol and put enough red peppers in it so that when four drops of this liquid are put in a half cup of water it tastes strong. This is what I always break up my grippe with.” Peppers thus prepared stimulates and warms up the stomach and bowels, and increases the circulation.

Source: Mother’s Remedies: Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remidies from Mothers of the United States and Canada, T. J. Ritter

Hysterics

The fit may be prevented by the administration of twenty drops of ether. When it has take place, open the windows, loosen the tight parts of the dress, sprinkle cold water on the face, &c. A glass of wine or cold water when the patient can swallow.

Source: Enquire Within Upon Everything.

Techniques: Maceration

Maceration is another process that is frequently required to be performed in making up medicines, and consists simply in immersing the medicines in cold water or spirits for a certain time.

Source: Enquire Within Upon Everything.

Cold Cream

Half a pint of rosewater; four ounces of oil of almonds; three drachms of white wax; three drachms of spermaceti.

Melt the white wax and spermaceti together with the oil of almonds. Then beat them all up, adding the rosewater slowly until it is cold. Put it in a pot, and pour some rosewater on the top.

Source: Warne’s Model Cookery and Housekeeping Book, Mary Jewry

Corns, Turpentine and Kerosene for

“A very simple remedy is to apply turpentine or kerosene oil to the affected part on going to bed.” It is always a good plan to soak the feet well before treating the corn, as the turpentine will penetrate more quickly.

Source: Mother’s Remedies: Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remidies from Mothers of the United States and Canada, T. J. Ritter

A Winter Soap for Chapped or Rough Hands

Three pounds of common yellow soap; one ounce of camphor dissolved in one ounce of rose and one ounce of lavender water.

Beat three pounds of common yellow soap, and one ounce of camphor dissolved in one ounce of rose and one ounce of lavender water in a mortar until it becomes a paste. Make it into balls to dry, and set it in a cool place for the winter. The best time to make it is in the spring.

Source: Warne’s Model Cookery and Housekeeping Book, Mary Jewry

Techniques: Sifting

Sifting is frequently required for powdered substances, and this is usually done by employing a fine sieve, or tying the powder up in a piece of muslin, and striking it against the left hand over a piece of paper.

Source: Enquire Within Upon Everything.

The Lady Thornburgh’s Syrup of Elders

Take Elder-berries when they be red, bruise them in a stone Mortar, strain the juice, and boil it to a consumption of almost half, scum it very clear, take it off the fire whilest it is hot, put in sugar to the thickness of a syrup; put it no more on the fire, when it is cold, put it into Glasses, not filling them to the top, for it will work like Beer.

This cleanseth the stomach and spleen, and taketh away all obstructions of the Liver, by taking the quantity of a spoonful in a morning, and fasting a short time after it.

Source: A Queen’s Delight: Or, The Art of Preserving, Conserving and Candying, Nathaniel Brooke

Lungs, Herb Ointment for Congestion of

“Oil of Turpentine 1/2 ounce
Oil of Hemlock 1/2 ounce
Oil of Peppermint 1/2 ounce
Oil of Feverweed 1/2 ounce

Mix this with one cup warm lard.”

Rub this ointment on throat or lungs and apply a flannel over it. Heat it through thoroughly with hot cloths. If used thoroughly and the cold is taken in time will prevent pneumonia.

Source: Mother’s Remedies: Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remidies from Mothers of the United States and Canada, T. J. Ritter

Round or Pin Worms, Sage Tea for

“Sage tea is a fine remedy for children troubled with worms, taken before breakfast or on going to bed.” Sage tea may help; I have known other mothers to have faith in it. Its virtue may consist in being a laxative and an antiseptic which in themselves would add to the general health of the child.

Source: Mother’s Remedies: Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remidies from Mothers of the United States and Canada, T. J. Ritter