Sore Eyes, Camphor and Breast Milk for

“When a tiny baby has sore eyes, add one-half drop of camphor to a teaspoonful of breast milk; bathe the eyes several times a day.” Breast milk alone applied to the eyes of an infant is very healing, but the addition of camphor improves it.

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

Weak Back, Liniment for

“Tincture of Cayenne Pepper 1/2 ounce
Spirits of Camphor 2 ounces
Tincture of Arnica 1-1/2 ounce

No better liniment; is an excellent remedy to bathe the back with; will
not blister.”

Boil, Vinegar or Camphor for

“May be cured by bathing in strong vinegar frequently when they first start. When it stops smarting from the vinegar cover with vaseline or oil.” Bathing the boil in vinegar seems to check the growth and does not allow them to become as large as they would ordinarily. If you do not have vinegar in the house, camphor will answer the same purpose.

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

Eczema, Potato and Camphor for

“Make a poultice of a cold potato with a small quantity of camphor. This is very good and relieves the trouble very soon.”

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

Chilblains, Home-made Salve for

Fresh Lard 2 ounces
Venice Turpentine 1/2 ounce
Gum Camphor 1/2 ounce

Melt together, stirring briskly. When cold it is ready for use.

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

Sore Breasts, a Never-Failing Remedy for

“Take a pint of raw linseed oil and four ounces tincture of camphor, mix and apply a cloth saturated in the liniment to the affected parts, taking care that the whole surface of the inflamed parts is covered with the liniment. When the breasts become swollen or painfully inflamed, apply the liniment often to prevent gathering.” Even if they have gathered it is an excellent outward application. It allays pain, is extremely soothing and seldom fails to effect a cure.

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

Wash for Sunburn

Take two teaspoonfuls of borax, one teaspoonful of Roman alum, one teaspoonful of camphor, half an ounce of sugar-candy, and a pound of ox-gall. Mix and stir well for ten minutes or so, and repeat this, stirring three or four times a day for a fortnight, till it appears clear and transparent. Strain through blotting-paper, and bottle up for use.

Source: Enquire Within Upon Everything.

Palpitation of the Heart, Hot Foot Bath and Camphor for

“Place the feet in hot mustard water and give two grains camphor every two or three hours, or two drops aconite every hour. This remedy is very good and is sure to give relief.”

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

Rheumatism in Children

Rheumatic fever in young children is generally the result of inherited tendency. The symptoms are redness and swelling of the larger joints, with pain, perspiration, and fever. The fever is not, as a rule, high, seldom rising above 102 degrees Fahr., and is not long continued; but when it rises even thus, it is generally due to the heart being affected, and affections of the heart are those which have to be dreaded whenever a child suffers from this complaint. Where there is a hurried breathing, a dry cough, or uneasiness or pain about the heart, the case should be looked upon as serious from this point of view. Pleurisy is also a common sequel to rheumatic fever, and one of the diseases most closely associated with it is St. Vitus’s dance, which seems in some way dependent upon the affection of the heart to which this disease gives rise.

Eruptions on the skin, such as nettle rash, or a rash resembling red gum, are very common, and seem to be caused by the intense acidity and poverty of the blood, which are common in rheumatic children, and last for a long time after an attack.

The disease, as a rule, lasts from two to three weeks, slight cases getting well in between ten and fourteen days. The child should be kept at rest, and well protected from every possibility of chill. It should lie in bed in a flannel nightgown between the blankets. Food should at first be farinaceous with bread and milk, and later on broths and fish may be added. The affected joints should be wrapped in cotton wool, and when they are painful a solution may be made of one drachm of nitrate of potash and twenty drops of laudanum in an ounce of water, and a flannel soaked in this applied. The rubbing in of iodine ointment is of service for the swelling which lingers during convalescence.

Any internal remedies will, of course, be prescribed by the doctor in attendance; but the most important part of the treatment is that by the nurse or mother, as so much care is necessary with reference to the warmth of the clothing, the digestibility of the food, the avoidance of exposure to cold and damp, and saving the child from much fatigue, over-exercise, and over-excitement.

Muscular Rheumatism is found in the form of stiff neck or lumbago, and in the muscles of the arms and those of the head. Treatment consists in rest, the application of warmth by hot fomentation and the use of liniments, such as the compound camphor liniment; while perspiration should be assisted by the use of sweet spirits of nitre, and keeping the child in bed between the blankets. If the case lasts, bromide of ammonium is a useful remedy. Chronic rheumatism is rare in childhood, and is best treated by warm baths with plenty of carbonate of soda in them, and massage, while iodine may be painted on the affected joints.

Source: Home Notes, 1895

A Soothing Lotion For The Eyes

Borax, one grain; camphor water, one ounce. To be applied to the eyes with an eye bath several times daily.

Source: Home Notes, January 1895.