Camphor Tablet for Chapped Hands, etc.

Melt tallow, and add a little powdered camphor and glycerine, with a few drops of oil of almonds to scent. Pour in molds and cool.

Source: Our Knowledge Box, ed. G. Blackie

Camphor Balls

For rubbing on the hands, to prevent chaps, etc.– Melt three drachms of spermaceti, four drachms of white wax, and one ounce of almond oil; stir in three drachms of powdered camphor. Pour the compound into small gallipots, so as to form small hemispherical cakes. They may be colored with alkanet, if preferred.

Source: Our Knowledge Box, ed. G. Blackie

Corn Remedy

Soak a piece of copper in strong vinegar for twelve or twenty-four hours. Pour the liquid off, and bottle. Apply frequently, till the corn is removed.

Source: Our Knowledge Box, ed. G. Blackie

To Soften The Skin and Improve The Complexion

If flowers of sulphur be mixed in a little milk, and, after standing an hour or two, the milk (without disturbing the sulphur) be rubbed into the skin, it will keep it soft, and make the complexion clear. It is to be used before washing.

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

Relief for Burns

For a burn or scald apply kerosene. It will allay the pain almost instantly and quickly heal the injured parts.

Source: 1001 Household Hints, Ottilie V. Ames

Anti-Freckle Lotion

Take tincture of benzoin, 2 ounces; tincture of tolu, 1 ounce; oil of rosemary, 1/2 a drachm. Mix well and bottle. When required to be used, add a teaspoonful of the mixture to about a wine-glassful of water, and apply the lotion to the face or hands, &c., night and morning, carefully rubbing it in with a soft towel.

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

Sunburn

To prevent: Anoint exposed parts with cold cream, vaseline, or use toilet powder before going out.

Treatment: Never wash sunburn. Never open blisters.

Apply—

1 part lime water, 3 parts olive oil, shaken together in a bottle.

Source: The Mary Frances First Aid Book, Jane Eayre Fryer

Boil Remedy

Take a piece of soft linen or borated gauze, rub some vaseline upon one side of it, quickly pour upon it some chloroform, apply it to the unopened boil or carbuncle, and place a bandage over all. It smarts a little at first, but this is soon succeeded by a pleasing, cool sensation. The patient is given a bottle of the remedy, and directed to change the cloth often. In from 2 hours to 1 day the boil (no matter how indurated) softens and opens.

Source: Henley’s Twentieth Century Formulas, Recipes and Processes

To Remove Black Specks or ‘Fleshworms’

Sometimes little black specks appear about the base of the nose, or on the forehead, or in the hollow of the chin which are called ‘fleshworms,’ and are occasioned by coagulated lymph that obstructs the pores of the skin. They may be squeezed out by pressing the skin, and ignorant persons suppose them to be little worms. They are permanently removed by washing with warm water, and severe friction with a towel, and then applying a little of the following preparation:–

Liquor of potassa 1 oz.
Cologne 2 oz.
White brandy. 4 oz.

The warm water and friction alone are sometimes sufficient.

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

Toilet or Face Powder

Take a quarter of a pound of wheat starch pounded fine; sift it through a fine sieve, or a piece of lace; add to it eight drops of oil of rose, oil of lemon thirty drops, oil of bergamot fifteen drops. Rub thoroughly together.

The French throw this powder into alcohol, shaking it, letting it settle, then pouring off the alcohol and drying the powder. In that case, the perfume is added lastly.

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