Sore Throat

Everybody has a cure for this trouble, but simple remedies appear to be most effectual. Salt and water is used by many as a gargle, but a little alum and honey dissolved in sage tea is better. An application of cloths wrung out of hot water and applied to the neck, changing as often as they begin to cool, has the most potency for removing inflammation of anything we ever tried. It should be kept up for a number of hours; during the evening is usually the most convenient time for applying this remedy.

Cut slices of salt pork or fat bacon, simmer a few minutes in hot vinegar, and apply to throat as hot as possible. When this is taken off as the throat is relieved, put around a bandage of soft flannel. A gargle of equal parts of borax and alum, dissolved in water, is also excellent. To be used frequently.

Camphorated oil is an excellent lotion for sore throat, sore chest, aching limbs, etc. For a gargle for sore throat, put a pinch of chlorate of potash in a glass of water. Gargle the throat with it
twice a day, or oftener, if necessary

Source: The White House Cookbook, F.L. Gillette

Soreness of the Chest

White wadding folded in two or three thicknesses and bound on the chest. It is equally good in sore throat, or face, produced by cold.

Source: The Kansas Home Cook-Book

Cough Tea

Make a strong tea of everlasting–strain, and put to a quart of it two ounces of figs or raisins, two of liquorice, cut in bits. Boil them in the tea for twenty minutes, then take the tea from the fire, and add to it the juice of a lemon. This is an excellent remedy for a tight cough–it should be drank freely, being perfectly innocent. It is the most effectual when hot.

Source: The American Housewife

Quick Relief for a Cough

If any member of the family coughs persistently in the night and one happens to be out of the usual remedy, wring out a soft, thick flannel from water as hot as can be borne, brush lightly and quickly with a feather which has been plunged in turpentine, and apply to the chest. If the flesh is very sensitive, it might be well to rub well with vaseline or sweet oil before making the hot application.

Source: Audel’s Household Helps, Hints and Receipts

Onions for a Cold

For a cold on the chest there is no better specific for most persons than well boiled or roasted onions. They may not agree with every one, but to persons with good digestion they will not only be
found to be a most excellent remedy for a cough, and the clogging of the bronchial tubes which is usually the cause of the cough, but if eaten freely at the outset of a cold, they will break up what promised, from the severity of the attack, to have been a serious one.

Source: Audel’s Household Helps, Hints and Receipts

An Excellent Remedy for Cough

An excellent remedy for cough is made as follows: Take a cup of mutton tallow and two great spoonfuls of spirits of turpentine; put into the turpentine all the camphor gum that it will dissolve, then add to the cup of tallow, melted, mix thoroughly, and keep where you can have it ready to apply to the throat or chest on a cloth when needed, covering warmly. This gives almost instant relief. It is a remedy of one of our best and oldest physicians, who has saved many lives by its use. It is good for any lung trouble, croup, or colds.

Source: Audel’s Household Helps, Hints and Receipts

Onion Poultice for Cold on the Chest

A very old remedy for a cold on the chest is an onion poultice, which is made by heating the onions and putting them in a muslin bag and bruising them. Lay the bag upon the chest over night. Care should be taken about getting in a draught when the poultice is removed in the morning.

Source: Audel’s Household Helps, Hints and Receipts

Bronchitis Remedy and General Tonic

“Take small doses of glycerin and one teaspoonful three times a day of codfish oil.” This remedy, though simple, is very effective. The glycerin and codfish oil are both soothing to the affected parts, and the codfish oil is a very good tonic to tone up the general system.

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

Bronchitis, Lard Poultice for

“Take a piece of cotton batting large enough to cover chest and fit up close to the neck; wring out of melted lard as hot as the patient can stand it, and apply. Change as often as it gets cold. Also give dose of castor oil.”

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

Colds, Catnip Tea for

“Give a little sweetened catnip tea, then grease well with camphor and lard.” This is a very simple and effective remedy, especially for small babies.

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