Cure for Rheumatism

2d opodeldoc, 2d turpentine, 1/2d vinegar, 2 fresh eggs well beaten up, mix with other ingredients and shake well. Rub the part affected for 2 hours when all the pain will vanish.

Source: Recipes, Bradford Lifeboat Bazaar

Remedy for Rheumatism

Juice of 1 lemon, 1 cup water, 1 t. soda. Mix and drink every night for three or four weeks, or until relieved.

Source: Book of Recipes, Daughters of the American Revolution, Genesee Chapter

Embrocation for Rheumatism, Sprains, etc.

Beat up two raw eggs and add them to half pint of vinegar, half pint turpentine and 1 oz cayenne pepper essence. Keep in a corked bottle and shake from time to time. The mixture is ready for use a few hours after making, and should be well rubbed in to the affected parts.

Source: Household Management, E. Stoddard Eckford & M.S. Fitzgerald

Magic Oil

One gallon Sweet Oil, two ozs. Oil Hemlock, two ozs. Oil Organum, two ozs. Chloroform, four ozs. Spirits Ammonia. Mix. Let it stand 24 hours and it is ready for use. Dose, internally, one teaspoonful for adults. Bathe the affected parts well. This is a great remedy for aches and pains, Rheumatism, Neuralgia, and all nervous and inflammatory diseases.

Source: One Thousand Secrets of Wise and Rich Men Revealed, C. A. Bogardus

Specific Inflammatory Rheumatism

One oz. Salt Petre, pulverized; one pint Sweet Oil. Bathe the parts affected three times a day with this mixture and a speedy cure will be the result.

Source: One Thousand Secrets of Wise and Rich Men Revealed, C. A. Bogardus

Arnica Liniment

Add to one pint of sweet oil, two tablespoonfuls of tincture of arnica; or the leaves may be heated in the oil over a slow fire. Good for wounds, stiff joints, rheumatic, and all injuries.

Source: Our Knowledge Box, ed. G. Blackie

Medicinal Food

Spinach has a direct effect upon complaints of the kidneys; the common dandelion, used as greens, is excellent for the same trouble; asparagus purifies the blood; celery acts admirably upon the nervous system, and is a cure for rheumatism and neuralgia; tomatoes act upon the liver; beets and turnips are excellent appetizers; lettuce and cucumbers are cooling in their effects upon the system; beans are a very nutritious and strengthening vegetable; while onions, garlic, leeks, chives and shallots, all of which are similar, possess medicinal virtues of a marked character, stimulating the circulatory system, and the consequent increase of the saliva and the gastric juice promoting digestion. Red onions are an excellent diuretic, and the white ones are recommended raw as a remedy for insomnia. They are tonic, nutritious. A soup made from onions is regarded by the French as an excellent restorative in debility of the digestive organs. We might go through the entire list and find each vegetable possessing its especial mission of cure, and it will be plain to every housekeeper that a vegetable diet should be partly adopted, and will prove of great advantage to the health of the family.

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

Virtues of Turpentine

After a housekeeper fully realizes the worth of turpentine in the household, she is never willing to be without a supply of it.

1 — It gives quick relief to burns.

2 — It is an excellent application for corns.

3 — It is good for rheumatism and for sore-throats.

4 — It is the quickest remedy for convulsions or fits by applying to the back of the neck.

5 — It is a sure preventive against moths; by just dropping a trifle in the bottom of drawers, chests and wardrobes, it will render the garments secure from injury during the summer.

6 — It will keep ants and bugs from closets and storerooms by putting a few drops in the corners and shelves. It is sure destruction to bed-bugs and will effectually drive them away from their haunts, if thoroughly applied to all the joints of the bedstead in the spring cleaning time, and injures neither furniture nor clothing.

7 — A little in suds washing day lightens laundry labor.

Source: 1001 Household Hints, Ottilie V. Ames

White Oils Liniment

Take three fresh eggs, break up and put into one pint strong Vinegar and three-quarters pint Turpentine and allow to remain till shells completely eaten up, remove skins of eggs and you have a real good general Liniment for man or beast: have known it to give great relief in rheumatic pains.

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

For Rheumatism

Take equal parts of the best oil of Juniper and spirits of turpentine, and rub the parts afflicted thoroughly. Particular care should be taken to use only the best oil and spirits.

Source: 76: A Cook Book