Soap Application When Eyeglasses Steam

To prevent annoyance caused by a deposit of moisture upon eyeglasses, when going from a cold into a warm atmosphere, moisten the tips of the fingers and rub them over a cake of soap. Then rub them over the lens, and polish as usual. One application every day or two is all that is necessary.

Source: Fowler’s Household Helps, A.L. Fowler

A Remedy For A Common Cold

3 grains compound extract of colocynth, and 3 grains of soap, in 2 pills, taken at going to bed. The following night, take 16 or 18 grains of compound powder of contrayerva, and 1/2 a pint vinegar whey.– Breakfast in bed the next morning.

Source: The English Housekeeper, Anne Cobbett

Glandular Enlargements, To Lessen

Dissolve by a gentle heat two drams of scraped white soap and half a dram of extract of henbane in six ounces of olive oil. Rub the part well twice a day with about half an ounce of the mixture.

Source: Recipes for the Million

An Embrocation for Rheumatism

Dissolve 1 oz. of gum camphor in 6 oz. of rectified spirits of wine; add by degrees, shaking the phial frequently, 2 oz. spirits of sal ammoniac and 2 drachms oil of lavender. This has been used with success.

Another: (known to mitigate the tic douloureux), is the caja peeta oil*, but it must be genuine. It is also good for strains, bruises, and chilblains.

Or: a mixture of 6 drachms French soap, 6 drachms ether, and 1 oz. spirits of wine.

[* Editor’s note: no, I have not the slightest idea what this is, and neither — it would seem — does anyone else online… the only occurrences of the phrase seem to be in the text of the book from which this came.]

Source: The English Housekeeper, Anne Cobbett

Sure Remedy for a Felon

Take common soft soap and stir in air slacked lime, until of the consistency of glaziers’ putty. Make a leather thimble, fill with the composition and insert the finger therein.

Source: Tried and True Recipes, F.D.P. Jermain

Liniment for Rheumatism, Sprains and Bruises

One ounce spirits of ammonia, one ounce spirits of turpentine, one ounce tincture of opium, one pint rain water, add a little soap. Shake well before using. Bathe affected part well with hot water before applying.

Source: The New Galt Cook Book, M. Taylor & F. McNaught

Cure for a Felon

The cure is said to be certain and is published at the particular request of a person who had experienced its success for a great number of years.

Take a piece of rock salt about the size of a walnut and wrap it up closely in a green cabbage leaf, but if not to be had, in a piece of brown paper well moistened with water; lay it on hot embers and cover it up as if to roast for twenty minutes, take it up and powder it as fine as possible then take some hard soap and mix the powdered salt with it so as to make a salve, if the soap should contain but little turpentine which its smell will determine add some more, but if it smells pretty strongly of it, none need be added; apply the salve to the part affected and in a short time it will totally destroy the felon and remove the pain.

Source: Household Recipes, Constance Hatton Hart

Shampoo Soap

Mix 1/2 lb green soft soap, 1/2 oz salts of tartar and 1/2 pint water in a jar, standing in a saucepan of hot water. When quite dissolved put into jars and use sufficient to form a lather for washing the hair.

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

Anti-Bilious Pills

1. Compound extract of colocynth, 60 grains; rhubarb, 30 grains; soap, 10 grains. Make into 24 pills. Dose 2 to 4.

2. Compound extract of colocynth, 2 drachms; extract of rhubarb, half a drachm; soap, 10 grains. Mix, and divide into 40 pills. Dose, 1, 2, or 3.

3. Scammony, 10 to 15 grains; compound extract of colocynth, 2 scruples; extract of rhubarb, half a drachm; soap, 10 grains; oil of caraway, 5 drops. Make into 20 pills. Dose, 1 or 2, as required.

Source: Our Knowledge Box, ed. G. Blackie

To Remove Stains of Wine or Fruit From Table Linen

Stains of claret wine can be removed by rubbing them while wet with common salt. Turn the contents of the salt cellar directly over the stain, and rub in the salt with the finger, until the redness disappears entirely.

A sure way of extracting fruit stains from table linen, is to tie up some cream of tartar in the stained part, so as to form a little bag, then put the linen into cold soap-suds, and let it boil awhile. Then wash and rinse well, dry and iron, and no stains will appear.

Another method is to mix in equal quantities, soft soap, slacked lime, and saleratus, and rub the stain with the preparation, and lay the linen in the sun, with the mixture plastered on. When it has lain two or three hours, rub it off ; if the stain still appears, apply some more of the mixture. When it cannot be seen, wash out the linen at once, as it will decay the fabric.

Source: Household Hints and Recipes, Henry T. Williams