Remedy for Earache
Olive oil, one ounce; chloroform, one drachm. Mix, and shake well together. Pour twenty-five or thirty drops into the ear, and close it up with a piece of raw cotton to exclude the air and retain the moisture.
Source: Audel’s Household Helps, Hints and Receipts
Toothache
Toothache can be effectually cured by putting a small piece of cotton wet with ammonia into the cavity of the affected tooth; or, pulverize about equal parts of common salt and alum. Cut as much cotton as will fill the tooth; damp it; put it in the mixture, and place it in the tooth. This is also a good mixture for cleansing the teeth.
Source: Audel’s Household Helps, Hints and Receipts
Frozen Feet – To Cure
Get some lumps of fresh lime and make a foot-tub full of strong whitewash mixture, and immerse the feet in it as hot as may be borne. This remedy is to cure that disagreeable itching that troubles one after having frozen the feet. This itching will come on night after night and season after season. The relief will be instantaneous. Let them remain half an hour in the whitewash. They will be shriveled up but free from pain. Rub them briskly and great rolls of dead cuticle will peel off. Anoint with mutton tallow, put on some cotton stockings, and go to bed. Repeat the application if necessary, but it will require but two or three to effect a cure.
Source: Mrs Owens’ Cook Book and Useful Household Hints, Frances Owens
Corns
Corns are of three kinds: callous spots, soft corns, and corns. Callous spots may be rubbed or pared down and rubbed with cocoa butter. Soft corns come between the toes and are very painful. Soak absorbent cotton in a little turpentine and put between the toes; or sprinkle the cotton with powdered alum. These corns are supposed to be due to moisture between the toes and are sometimes cured and often prevented by keeping absorbent cotton between the toes. Prevention saves a lot of suffering. “Just corns” are calloused spots with a hard center; pressure on this causes pain. Soaking in hot water, and shaving off as much of the hardened skin as can be removed with safety, affords relief. The little hard core should be taken out.
Source: Mother’s Remedies: Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remidies from Mothers of the United States and Canada, T. J. Ritter
Cuts, Turpentine Good in Small Quantities for
“For cuts and any open wound pour turpentine in and put a piece of absorbent cotton on and soak well with the liniment, tie up, and leave it so until dry, then pour on some more.” Care should be taken in using turpentine, not to put too much on the wound, as it may cause proud flesh in some people; a little of it is very healing and effective.
Source: Mother’s Remedies: Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remidies from Mothers of the United States and Canada, T. J. Ritter
Toothache, Dry Salt and Alum for
“Equal parts. Take common salt and alum. Mix and pulverize these together, wet a small
piece of cotton and cause the mixture to adhere to it and place in the hollow tooth. At first a sensation of coldness will be produced, which will gradually disappear, as will the toothache. This is an excellent remedy and should be given a trial by any person suffering with this trouble.”
Source: Mother’s Remedies: Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remidies from Mothers of the United States and Canada, T. J. Ritter
Lumbago, Menthol Liniment for
“Apply the menthol liniment, cover with a thick cloth and put the hot water bottle next to it and go to bed. If up through the day have a cotton batting sewed to cloth and keep affected parts warm, using the liniment freely.” The menthol liniment will be found an excellent remedy for lumbago, The menthol absorbs quickly and by applying the hot water bottle relief is sure to follow.
Source: Mother’s Remedies: Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remidies from Mothers of the United States and Canada, T. J. Ritter