Deafness, Quick and Effective Remedy for

“Five or ten drops of onion juice put in the ear several times a day is very good. If there is any pain in the ear, add a drop or two of laudanum, or you may just use two or three drops of glycerin with the other ingredients. In about an hour after treating the ear in this manner, syringe it well with warm castile soap suds or warm milk.”

Source: Mother’s Remedies: Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remidies from Mothers of the United States and Canada, T. J. Ritter

Deafness, Often Tried Remedy for

“Take one dram each of tincture of lobelia, tincture of gum myrrh, oil of sassafras, tincture of opium and olive oil, mix and apply lint wet with the liniment in the ear, night, and morning, then syringe out with warm water and castile soap.”

Source: Mother’s Remedies: Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remidies from Mothers of the United States and Canada, T. J. Ritter

Boil, Soap and Sugar Poultice for

“Poultice made of yellow or soft soap and brown sugar, equal parts. Spread on cloth and apply faithfully.” This makes a good strong poultice, and has great drawing powers and would be apt to create a good deal of pain, but would draw the boil to a head. The above remedy was sent in by a number of mothers, all of whom said they had tried it with success when other remedies failed.

Source: Mother’s Remedies: Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remidies from Mothers of the United States and Canada, T. J. Ritter

In-growing Toe-Nail, Popular Remedy for

“Shave a little common laundry soap and mix with a little cream and pulverized sugar, work to the consistency of salve and apply to the affected part night and morning. It will take off the proud flesh in about ten days and then heal. This is a good salve for bed-sores or cuts, that, have dirt in them, and will also draw out a splinter. To prevent in-growing toe-nails, scrape the center of the nail very thin and cut a V in the top. This will allow the nail to bend and the corners will have a chance to grow up and out. Avoid short shoes and stockings.” Anyone suffering from this dreaded thing will be willing to try anything that will give relief. The above treatment is always at hand, and has been known to cure in severe cases.

Source: Mother’s Remedies: Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remidies from Mothers of the United States and Canada, T. J. Ritter

Chilblains

Chilblains result mostly from defective circulation and nutrition. Brace up the system by giving a little of the Kepler Cod Oil and Malt after food, in the cold weather, and by clothing warmly. A good lotion is made of liquid parts of tincture of cantharides and soap liniment. This is to be labelled “Poison” and to be applied as often as need be to the parts on a little lint.

Source: Home Notes, January 1895.

News: Crazy or Brilliant? Home Remedies for Pain

“Right now — in bathrooms, bedrooms or at the kitchen sink — people across the world are trying rather unusual home remedies to cure their pain.

In Mexico, some people rub potato halves on their foreheads for headaches. In Central America, blowing cigar smoke on a sufferer’s back is believed to bring them pain relief. And in the United States, rubbing cobwebs into cuts is believed to stop bleeding and pain.”

Full story: ABC News, 29th January 2008

A Winter Soap for Chapped or Rough Hands

Three pounds of common yellow soap; one ounce of camphor dissolved in one ounce of rose and one ounce of lavender water.

Beat three pounds of common yellow soap, and one ounce of camphor dissolved in one ounce of rose and one ounce of lavender water in a mortar until it becomes a paste. Make it into balls to dry, and set it in a cool place for the winter. The best time to make it is in the spring.

Source: Warne’s Model Cookery and Housekeeping Book, Mary Jewry

To Remove Sun Freckles

Dissolve, in half an ounce of lemon juice, one ounce of Venice soap, and add a quarter of an ounce each of oil of bitter almonds, and deliquated oil of tartar. Place this mixture in the sun till it acquires the consistency of ointment. When in this state add three drops of the oil of rhodium and keep it for use. Apply it to the face and hands in the manner following: — Wash the parts at night with elder-flower water, then anoint with the ointment. In the morning cleanse the skin by washing it copiously in rose water.

Source: Enquire Within Upon Everything.

Dr Clark’s Pills for Nervous Headache

Socotrine aloes, powdered rhubarb, of each one teaspoonful; compound powder of cinnamon, one scruple; hard soap, half a teaspoonful; syrup enough to form the mass. To be divided into fifty pills, of which two will be sufficient for a dose; to be taken occasionally.

Source: Enquire Within Upon Everything

For Rheumatism

Persons are liable to have the rheumatism from taking cold in the winter. Where the pain is most violent, put on plasters of Burgundy pitch, spread on leather. Persons that are subject to it, should always keep pitch in the house to use, as it will give relief; a silk handkerchief tied round the joint, keeps it warm and relieves stiffness. If the pain is in the back part of the head, put a blister on the neck, by all means. When persons have a bad spell of rheumatism, they should always take medicine, and avoid eating meat for a few days. Equal parts of rhubarb and castile soap, made into pills, with a little water, is a valuable medicine for rheumatism, and suits aged persons; the pills should be taken at night on going to bed. They are easily made, and should always be at hand: it is valuable as a cathartic in almost every case where mild medicine is necessary. The use of the shower bath is also beneficial. Flannel should always be worn next the skin, and the feet kept dry. Bathing with camphor sometimes relieves the pain, but there is a danger of driving it to a more vital part. Salt and water is useful to bathe for the rheumatism, when it is of long-standing.

Source: Domestic Cookery, Useful Receipts, and Hints to Young Housekeepers, Elizabeth E. Lea