Vermin Exterminator
A blessing to housekeepers, and no danger of poison: Take a half pound of alum to one pail of water boiling hot; dip in the ends of the slats; then take a good scrubbing brush and apply thoroughly to all parts affected, all cracks in the plastering or wood work. A certain cure for bed-bugs. Tried.
Source: The Kansas Home Cook-Book
Gargles for Sore Throat
No. 1. — One wineglassful of barm ; one wineglassful of vinegar ; remainder sage tea, to make a half-pint bottle of gargle.
No. 2. — A pinch of chlorate of potash in a glass of water. Gargle the throat with it twice a day, or oftener, if necessary.
No. 3. — Tar water is a very good gargle for sore throat ; it is to be used twice a day.
Source: The Unrivalled Cook-Book and Housekeeper’s Guide, Mrs Washington
Filed under Remedy | Tags: barm, chlorate of potash, gargle, potash, sage, sage tea, sore throat, tar water, throat, vinegar, washington | Comment (0)Powerful Rubefacient
(Good with friction for rheumatism, sprains, etc.). — One ounce of yellow bar soap, one ounce of boiling water, and three ounces of hot olive-oil, dissolved together ; half an ounce of camphor dissolved in the olive oil; when the above ingredients are well amalgamated, add one quarter ounce of oil of origanum ; half an ounce of spirits of ammonia; thrice the quantity of spirits of wine. Stir until nearly cold, then keep well corked in wide jars.
Source: The Unrivalled Cook-Book and Housekeeper’s Guide, Mrs Washington
Curling Fluid
A curling fluid which is easily prepared may be made of quince seeds and hot water. Pour a pint of hot water over about three teaspoonfuls of seeds and allow it to stand for several hours. Later it may be thinned by water or cologne. About two tablespoonfuls of cologne will suffice. Moisten the hair with this fluid before curling.
Source: Audel’s Household Helps, Hints and Receipts
Cough Mixture
Take of boneset, slippery elm, flax seed and stick liquorice two ounces each, one pint molasses, half pound brown sugar. Simmer the herbs in water (about three pints), until the strength is extracted, add the sugar and molasses, strain and boil to the consistency of cream. A teaspoon every two hours.
Source: The Kansas Home Cook-Book
Camphor Ice for Chapped Hands
Take of spermaceti four ounces, white wax (pure), eight ounces; oil of sweet almonds, one pint. Mix together by a gentle heat, add of camphor (in small pieces), four ounces; when dissolved stir until partly cold, and add essential oil of bitter almonds and expressed oil of mace, two fluid drachms, and pour into moulds.
Source: Audel’s Household Helps, Hints and Receipts
Rosemary Tea for the Hair
Bruise a branch of rosemary, pour one pint of boiling water over it, and use it warm every morning. This will do for several times.
Source: The Unrivalled Cook-Book and Housekeeper’s Guide, Mrs Washington
For a Consumption
Take a Pint of Red Cows milk, then take the Yolk of a new laid Egg potched very rare, then stir it into the Milk over a soft fire, but do not let it boil, sweeten it with a little Sugar Candy, and drink it in the morning fasting, and when you go to bed.
Source: The Queen-like Closet or Rich Cabinet, Hannah Wolley
Earache
There are various ways of treating earache: the most old fashioned are the appliance of a roasted onion, or a hot bag of salt to the ear, and putting in the ear a small piece of cotton wet with camphorated oil, or simple olive-oil with a drop of chloroform; better still, to puff tobacco smoke into the ear. This remedy is very soothing and effective.
Or, take a small wax taper, pare one end quite small, envelop it in a dry linen rag, insert it into the ear; then light the taper. Odd as this remedy may seem, it is wonderfully rapid and effective; it is practised by all Italian sailors and fishermen.
In Kentucky, a cockroach is drowned in whiskey, then wrapped in hot cotton, and applied to the ear.
Source: The Unrivalled Cook-Book and Housekeeper’s Guide, Mrs Washington
Filed under Remedy | Tags: camphor, camphorated oil, chloroform, cockroach, cockroaches, cotton, ear, earache, ears, linen, olive, olive oil, onion, salt, smoke, tobacco, washington, wax, whiskey | Comment (0)