For Sore Throat

Make a gargle of cayenne pepper, honey and spirits, or sage tea, with alum and honey, or figs boiled, mashed and strained, and use it once in two hours. If it is very bad, steam the mouth with a funnel held over hot vinegar, and put on a hot poultice of hops, boiled in weak ley and thickened with corn-meal; there should be a little lard spread over; renew it every time it gets cold. Another very good poultice, is hot mush strewed with powdered camphor; put it on as hot as can be borne, and change it when cold. A purgative should be given, either of senna and salts, castor oil; or rhubarb and soap pills. An emetic is of great importance, and has caused the throat to break when persons have been very ill.

Sore throats have been cured when quinsy was apprehended, by using powdered camphor and lard on flannel. It is a good way, when persons are subject to it, to keep an ounce of camphor mixed with lard, in a wide-mouthed bottle, or jar; and corked tight. The cayenne pepper and honey gargle should also be kept ready mixed, and used when the first symptoms appear; or in a violent attack, a plaster of snuff and lard may be applied with benefit, keeping it on only a few minutes at a time. Sometimes a bag of hot ashes sprinkled with vinegar, and applied hot as can be borne, has cured a sore throat in one night. Persons that have been afflicted for years with repeated attacks of sore throat and quinsy, have been cured by bathing the throat, neck and ears with cold water every morning. The constant use of the shower bath is very important. Keep the feet warm.

Source: Domestic Cookery, Useful Receipts, and Hints to Young Housekeepers, Elizabeth E. Lea

Uses for Lemons

Dirty straw hats become clean when wet with lemon juice and brushed with cornmeal.

Ink stains and rust spots vanish when moistened with the juice and hung into the sun.

Fruit-stained hands become white with the application of lemon juice.

Indigestion is relieved by the juice of half a lemon and a little salt in a cup of hot water.

Source: 1001 Household Hints, Ottilie V. Ames

Chilblains

Place red-hot coals in a vessel and throw upon them a handful of corn meal. Hold the feet in the dense smoke, renewing the coals and meal till the pain is relieved. This has been known to make very marked cures, when all other remedies have failed.

Source: 76: A Cook Book

A Safe Rat and Mouse Poison

Take two pounds corn meal and one pound Plaster of Paris.

Mix thoroughly and place where they congregate.

The above is very effective and is less dangerous than any other I know of.

Source: Tested Formulas and Useful House and Farm Recipes, T. Kenny

Earache, Flax and Cornmeal for

“Flaxseed and cornmeal in oil.” Take equal parts of flaxseed and cornmeal and mix together, then add enough sweet oil to moisten this mixture. This should be applied hot and kept so by repeating as each poultice is cold. This will be found very beneficial.

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

Carbuncle, Slippery Elm and Sassafras Root for

“Sassafras root and slippery elm bark boiled together and the decoction thickened with cornmeal.” This should be changed as often as it becomes cool.

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