Lip Salves

February 14th, 2023

A good lip-salve may be made as follows:–

    1. Take an ounce of the oil of sweet almonds, cold drawn; a drachm of fresh mutton suet; and a little bruised alkanet root: and simmer the whole together in an earthen pipkin. Instead of the oil of sweet almonds you may use oil of Jasmin, or oil of any other flower, if you intend the lip-salve to have a fragrant odour.
    2. Take a pound of fresh butter; a quarter of a pound of beeswax; four or five ounces of cleansed black grapes, and about an ounce of bruised alkanet root. Simmer them together over a slow fire till the wax is wholly dissolved, and the mixture becomes of a bright red color; strain, and put it by for use.
    3. Oil of almonds, spermaceti, white wax, and white sugar-candy, equal parts, form a good white lip-salve.

Source: The Ladies’ Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness, Florence Hartley

Care of the Teeth

November 3rd, 2022

The water with which the teeth are cleansed should be what is called lukewarm. They should be well but gently brushed both night and morning; the brush should be neither too hard nor too soft. The best tooth-powders are made from cuttle-fish, prepared chalk, and orris-root commingled together in equal quantities.

Source: The Ladies’ Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness, Florence Hartley

Invaluable Dentifrice

September 3rd, 2022

Dissolve two ounces of borax in three pints of boiling water; before quite cold, add one tea-spoonful of tincture of myrrh, and one table-spoonful of spirits of camphor; bottle the mixture for use. One wine-glassful of this solution, added to half a pint of tepid water, is sufficient for each application.

Source: The Ladies’ Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness, Florence Hartley

Mouth Pastiles, for Perfuming the Breath

February 21st, 2022

Extract of licorice, three ounces; oil of cloves, one and a half drachms; oil of cinnamon, fifteen drops. Mix, and divide into one-grain pills, and silver them.

Source: Our Knowledge Box, ed. G. Blackie

Agrimony

December 23rd, 2021

Agrimony, used freely in the manner of tea, will cure an ulcerated mouth, and is good for liver and kidney complaints. 1 ounce to a pint of boiling water. Dose, a wine-glassful three times a day.

Source: Fray’s Golden Recipes for the use of all ages, E. Fray

Tooth Powder

October 30th, 2021

Sal ammoniac, gum mastic, red coral, and myrrh, of each an equal quantity finely powdered.

Another: 3 oz. camphor, 1 oz. powdered cinchona bark, 1 oz. prepared charcoal, and sufficient spirits of wine to dissolve the camphor. Mix thoroughly, and pass through a fine sieve.

The mixture of chalk and camphor is very good for preserving as well as cleansing teeth.

Source: The English Housekeeper, Anne Cobbett

Lip Salve, Very Good

October 24th, 2021

Two oz. white wax, 2 oz. of unsalted lard, 1/2 oz. spermaceti, 1 oz. oil sweet almonds, 2 drachms balsam of Peru, a lump of sugar, and 2 drachms of alkali root; simmer together, then strain through muslin.

Source: The English Housekeeper, Anne Cobbett

Violet Mouthwash

October 10th, 2021

Mix equal quantities of tincture of orris, spirits of roses, and common spirit, with a few drops of otto of almonds.

Source: Recipes for the Million

For an intermitting pain in the Teeth

August 13th, 2021

Boil 1/2 oz. bark, grossly powdered, in a pint of cold water, till it wastes to a pint; then strain through muslin and bottle it. When the teeth are free from pain, put 2 table-spoonsful of laudanum, then gargle and wash the mouth well with it. Repeat it several times in the day.

Source: The English Housekeeper, Anne Cobbett

For the Tooth-ache

August 5th, 2021

Each of the following remedies have been known to alleviate suffering. Turn up a wine-glass, put a little powdered alum on the round part, rub it to a paste with sweet spirits of nitre, and apply it directly to the cavity of the tooth, if there be one, if not, on the gum round it. Repeat this often.

Or: mix 2 drachms of alum, in impalpable powder, and 2 drachms of nitrous spirits of ether.

Or: 2 drachms of alum powdered very fine, with 7 drachms of nitrous spirits of ether.

Or: a drop of ether and of laudanum on cotton: this will also relieve the ear-ache.

Or: 1 oz. tincture of myrrh, 1 oz. tincture of gumlac, 1/2 oz. tincture of bark: mix the two last, shake well, add the myrrh by degrees, and shake well together. 1 table-spoonful to 2 of hot water; wash the mouth frequently, holding it in for some time.

Source: The English Housekeeper, Anne Cobbett

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    NOTE: these remedies are listed only for information and/or amusement. They are not to be construed as medical advice of any type, nor are they recommended for use. Consult your doctor or other medical professional for any medical advice you require.