To Soften The Hands

To soften the hands: One can have the hands in soap-suds with soft soap without injury to the skin if the hands are dipped in vinegar or lemon juice immediately after. The acids destroy the corrosive effects of the alkali, and make the hands soft and white. Indian meal and vinegar or lemon juice used on hands where roughened by cold or labor will heal and soften them. Rub the hands in this, then wash off thoroughly and rub in glycerine. Those who suffer from chapped hands will find this comforting.

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

Whitening the Skin

One ounce powdered borax, two ounces cologne, one quart alcohol, three quarts rain water; bathe with the solution three times a day.

Persons afflicted with an eruption known as prickly heat, will find the above solution very soothing.

Source: The Kansas Home Cook-Book

An Ointment for Burns

A fine ointment for burns is made by frying white clover blossoms in lard. Make it rich with the clover blossoms; then strain it and put it away in covered glasses. If a bad blister forms almost immediately, beat an egg into a teaspoonful of olive oil, spread it on a bit of linen, and cover the blister with it.

Source: Audel’s Household Helps, Hints and Receipts

Warts – To Remove

Apply oil of cinnamon to the wart for three successive days, and it will disappear very shortly.

Source: Mrs Owens’ Cook Book and Useful Household Hints, Frances Owens

Milk Soothes Sunburnt or Rough Skin

There is nothing that will more quickly soothe a sunburnt skin than a frequent bath of milk, and if the skin has become dry or rough with wind, washing in warm milk is excellent.

Source: Audel’s Household Helps, Hints and Receipts

Cure for Ringworm

Wash the part affected with a little lemon juice; then rub in with the finger a little indigo which has been bruised in a mortar. Do this gently about twice a day.

Source: Audel’s Household Helps, Hints and Receipts

A Very Useful Liniment

One ounce oil of origanum, two ounces spirits of turpentine, shake up well and apply on soft linen; to some persons this liniment has an unpleasant odor, but it is very efficacious; there is no better for burns, sprains, cuts, etc., in cases where the skin is not broken; pour a little into the hand, and rub well on the parts affected two or three times a day.

Source: Audel’s Household Helps, Hints and Receipts

For Morphew, or Freckles, and to clear the Skin

Take the Blood of any Fowl or Beast, and wipe your Face all over with it every night when you go to bed for a fortnight together, and the next day wash it all off with White Wine, and white Sugar Candy, and sometimes hold your face over the smoke of Brimstone for a while, and shut your eyes, if you add the Juice of a Limon to the white Wine, it will be the better.

Source: The Queen-like Closet or Rich Cabinet, Hannah Wolley

For Erysipelas

For erysipelas and all high inflammation of the skin, make a poultice of raw cranberries pounded to a fine pulp.

Source: Audel’s Household Helps, Hints and Receipts

To make a Paste to wash your hands withal

Take a Pound of bitter Almonds, blanch them and beat them very fine in a Mortar with four Ounces of Figgs, when it is come to a paste, put it into a Gallipot and keep it for your use; a little at a time will serve.

Source: The Queen-like Closet or Rich Cabinet, Hannah Wolley