Medicinal Food
Spinach has a direct effect upon complaints of the kidneys; the common dandelion, used as greens, is excellent for the same trouble; asparagus purifies the blood; celery acts admirably upon the nervous system, and is a cure for rheumatism and neuralgia; tomatoes act upon the liver; beets and turnips are excellent appetizers; lettuce and cucumbers are cooling in their effects upon the system; beans are a very nutritious and strengthening vegetable; while onions, garlic, leeks, chives and shallots, all of which are similar, possess medicinal virtues of a marked character, stimulating the circulatory system, and the consequent increase of the saliva and the gastric juice promoting digestion. Red onions are an excellent diuretic, and the white ones are recommended raw as a remedy for insomnia. They are tonic, nutritious. A soup made from onions is regarded by the French as an excellent restorative in debility of the digestive organs. We might go through the entire list and find each vegetable possessing its especial mission of cure, and it will be plain to every housekeeper that a vegetable diet should be partly adopted, and will prove of great advantage to the health of the family.
Source: The White House Cookbook, F.L. Gillette
To Remove Tartar from the Teeth
1st. The use of the tooth-brush night and morning, and, at least, rinsing the mouth after every meal at which animal food is taken. 2nd. Once daily run the brush lightly two or three times over soap, then dip it in salt, and with it clean the teeth, working the brush up and down rather than–or as well as–backwards and forwards. This is a cheap, safe, and effectual dentrifice. 3rd. Eat freely of common cress, the sort used with mustard, under the name of small salad; it must be eaten with salt only. If thus used two or three days in succession it will effectually loosen tartar, even of long standing. The same effect is produced, though perhaps not in an equal degree, by eating strawberries and raspberries, especially the former. A leaf of common green sage rubbed on the teeth is useful both in cleansing and polishing, and probably many other common vegetable productions also.
Source: The Ladies’ Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness, Florence Hartley
For Deafness
Take the Ivy that have white strings in it and pound it put some of it into the ear and let it lay there all night.
Source: A Book of Simples, H.W. Lewer
Salt Tonic
When you come in from a long, tiresome walk, try giving the feet a hot footbath of salt water, while you sip a cup of warm milk with a pinch of salt in it. A daily bath of salt water or a rub from a salt towel will prove wonders for nervous people.
Source: 1001 Household Hints, Ottilie V. Ames
Tea and Coffee Stains
Only a few people know that butter will remove tea, coffee or fruit stains. It should be rubbed on the linen or cotton and then the material should be soaked in hot water and a mild soap. In fact, any stains, except ink or wine stains, sprinkle salt over the spots and pour boiling water through it until the spot has gone.
Source: 1001 Household Hints, Ottilie V. Ames
To Prevent the Odor of Boiling Ham or Cabbage
Throw red pepper pods or a few bits of charcoal into the pan they are cooking in.
Source: The White House Cookbook, F.L. Gillette
To Increase The Hair in the Brows
Clip them and anoint with a little sweet oil. Should the hair fall out, having been full, use one of the hair invigorators.
Source: The White House Cookbook, F.L. Gillette
Lavender Water
Oil of lavender two ounces, orris root half an ounce, spirits of wine one pint. Mix and keep two or three weeks. It may then be strained through two thicknesses of blotting-paper and is ready for use.
Source: The White House Cookbook, F.L. Gillette
To Remove Moth Patches
Into a pint of rum put a tablespoonful of flour of sulphur. Apply this to the patches once a day, and they will disappear in two or three weeks.
Source: The White House Cookbook, F.L. Gillette
Scorched Clothes
Scorched clothes are often discarded as hopeless, but if not much burned may be made all right by the use of onion juice. Bake the onion and squeeze out the juice. Mix it with an ounce of fuller’s earth, a litle shredded soap and a wine glass of vinegar. Heat the mixture till the soap is dissolved. Then wait till it is cold before applying. Rub it well over the scorched place and leave to dry, then put the garment in the regular washing.
Source: 1001 Household Hints, Ottilie V. Ames