Put half a pound of fresh butter in a quart of boiling water, to extract
the salt; let it melt and boil up. If there should be any curds on the
top, take them off, then skim off the clear butter, and keep it covered
by the fire; give from one to two table-spoonsful at a time, three or
four times a day.
This is useful in cases of dysentery, and is also soothing to the
stomach, after violent vomiting for a long time. Sometimes a plaster of
mustard put on the stomach stops vomiting.
For Dysentery and Diarrhoea.
The following prescription from an eminent physician has proved
valuable: Take of calcined magnesia two drachms, of aromatic spirits of
ammonia two and a half drachms, of water half a pint, mix well together,
and as a dose for a grown person, give a table-spoonful every half hour
until relieved.
Some country nurses recommend dittany tea, or spice-wood berries boiled
in new milk. A large poultice on the stomach and bowels, made of new
milk, thickened with light bread, has given relief--keeping it warm.
Be careful to keep the patient's feet warm, and to bathe the back and
stomach with spirits. Where the dittany and spice-wood cannot be
obtained, other aromatics, as cinnamon and cloves, are good substitutes.
Remedies for the Dysentery and Cholera Morbus.
Take the roots of the low running blackberry or dewberry; make a strong
tea; sweeten it, and drink it occasionally. Take a large apple; cut out
the core, and wrap in wet paper; cover it up in hot ashes, and when
cooked, take off the paper and eat it cold.
Take one pint of good hard cider, that is entirely sound, put a
table-spoonful of hot ashes into it, and stir it as soon as it settles;
take a table-spoonful once every hour for a grown person, until relief
is obtained.
Remedy for the Ear-ache.
Mix a few drops of French brandy with sweet oil and a drop of laudanum,
and pour it in the ear a little warm.
Another valuable remedy is to take a few wood lice, and stew them in a
little lard, (which should be very pure,) for three or four minutes;
then strain it and pour some in the ear before it gets cool.
This gives almost immediate relief. The heart of a roasted onion put
warm in the ear, and tie around the head a silk handkerchief, has
given relief.
A Wash for Sore Ears.
Make a tea of the black or candle-alder, wet a soft rag with it, and lay
it on; it should be applied three times a day, and occasionally wash it
with castile soap and water. The patient should take a mild purgative.
If the ears are very much inflamed, there should be a bread and milk
poultice put on occasionally. Elder ointment is also beneficial.
Weak Eyes.
Make a strong decoction of chamomile flowers, by boiling them in new
milk; with this bathe the eyes several times a day--continue it for
several weeks; to bathe the eyes in cold water before going to rest, is
also good. Pure rye whiskey is very good to bathe weak eyes. Persons
that are afflicted with sore eyes, have often been benefitted by putting
a small blister behind the ears, very high up on the hard part, so as to
avoid the leaders. Infants should not be exposed to the light too soon;
it sometimes weakens the sight and seriously injures the eyes. The pith
of sassafras put in water, is good to bathe inflamed eyes; a decoction
of young hyson tea is also used with benefit. Persons afflicted with
weak eyes should avoid a strong light, and should not strain their eyes
with reading or sewing at night. I have known small doses of "charcoal
mixture," relieve the eyes when there was slight inflammation. Attention
to diet is necessary. Fold a linen handkerchief, dip it in cold water,
and bind it over the eyes at night on retiring, and you will experience
relief. Pain in the eyeballs is also relieved, by gently rubbing the
finger and thumb over the lids towards the nose. This was published some
years since, and I have known it give relief and strengthen the eyes.
For Worms.
Equal parts of salt and sugar, taken while fasting, are good for worms;
a tea-spoonful is sufficient for a child two years old; to take half a
cup of chamomile, rue or wormwood tea, with a little sugar, two hours
before breakfast, is also good. Give a dose of senna after they have
been taking this three days. It is very important to bruise garlic and
rue, to apply to the stomach; put it in a bag, and wet it with spirits
every day. The garlic and rue is said to keep the worms out of the
stomach. Wormseed oil, a few drops at a time, has given relief, but
should be used cautiously. Old cheese grated and given to a child, has
been known to afford relief: it is also beneficial when a child is
seized with sudden illness from having eaten too many cherries.
For Tooth-ache.
Reduce two drachms of alum to a very fine powder, and mix with it seven
drachms of nitrous spirits of ether; apply it to the tooth. Alum burnt
on a hot shovel, and powdered, is sometimes good; also half a drop of
the oil of cinnamon, on a piece of cotton or lint, where the tooth is
hollow. Cayenne pepper on cotton, and moistened with spirits of camphor,
has been known to afford relief. A poultice of hops applied to the
cheek, or a piece of raw cotton with red pepper dusted on it, or a
mustard plaster, will relieve a swelling which proceeds from tooth-ache.
Cure for Cholera Morbus.
Put a table-spoonful of hot ashes in half a pint of good hard cider, and
give the patient three table-spoonsful of it at a time. This has given
relief in half an hour.
Another cure is to take a soft cork and hum it thoroughly; when it
ceases to blaze, powder the coal very fine on a plate. Mix a
table-spoonful of this powder with a little milk or water, or any thing
agreeable to the palate; repeat the dose till the disorder ceases, which
it generally does after two or three doses. This has given relief to a
person in the greatest agony with the bilious colic.
For Colic.
Drink strong ginger tea, while hot, and put hot bricks to the stomach
and feet; if this does not give relief, take a dose of rhubarb or
castor oil. Persons subject to the colic should keep a piece of ginger
about them to chew after eating; wear flannel next the skin, and be
careful to keep the feet dry: they should avoid strong coffee and tea,
and eat nothing that disagrees with them. Dry toast without butter,
and crackers, are good for persons that have the colic. For violent
cases, take two table-spoonsful of brandy, and half a tea-spoonful of
black pepper.
For Bilious Colic and Indigestion.
Pour three quarts of boiling water on a quart of hickory ashes and a
tea-cup of soot; let it stand a day, then filter it, and if the
complaint is bad, take a wine-glassful before and after each meal. This
has been very beneficial to persons with the above complaint.
Warner's Cordial for Gout in the Stomach.
Take one ounce of rhubarb, two drachms of senna, two of fennel seed, two
of coriander seed, one of saffron, and one of liquorice; stone and cut
half a pound of good raisins, and put all in a quart of good spirits;
let it stand in a warm place for ten days, shaking it every day; then
strain it off and add a pint more spirits to the same ingredients; when
all the strength is extracted, strain it and mix the first and last
together. Take from two to four spoonsful of this cordial in as much
boiling water as will make it as hot as you can take it; if the pain is
not removed in half an hour, repeat the dose, and if your stomach will
not retain it, add ten drops of laudanum.
Dr. Warner remarks, "after twenty years' experience of this medicine in
myself and others, it is impossible for me to speak of it in terms
higher than it deserves. When the vital parts are affected, persons
subject to the gout should never sleep without it in their chamber."
Cure for Tetter.
Take one tea-spoonful of powdered Spanish flies, put them in half a pint
of French brandy; wash the part affected occasionally. This has been
highly recommended to me, as a remedy for tetter on the hands, but I
have never seen it tried.
For Cramp in the Stomach.
Dissolve a tea-spoonful of table salt, in a tea-cup of warm water; if
this does not stop the vomiting and cramp, repeat the dose; this is very
useful in stopping the operation of an emetic, when it has continued too
long. Flannel cloths dipped in hot spirits, and sprinkled with cayenne
pepper, and applied to the stomach, sometimes relieves the pain; a
mustard plaster is also of use.
For Cramp.
A foot-board to the bedstead is of great service, when you are taken
with the cramp in the night, and by placing the foot against it, will
sometimes give relief. Another remedy is to tie a string round the limb,
between the body and the pain, about as tight as a physician does to
draw blood; wear a bandage filled with pounded brimstone round the limb,
to prevent a return of it. Sometimes to hold a roll of brimstone in each
hand will relieve the cramp, and persons subject to it should keep some
by the bed-side to use in the night.
For Scalds and Burns.
When persons are badly scalded or burned, to put raw cotton on
immediately, and wet it with spirits, is very good; other remedies are,
linseed oil and lime water; starch and cream; scraped potatoes,
molasses, and eggs beaten up and put on immediately. Almost any thing
will relieve the pain, that excludes the air. Be careful not to break
the skin, as it will be longer in healing.
If a foot is scalded, pour cold water over it and cut the stocking. You
should be careful to use linen rags about a burn, as cotton rags cause
irritation.
After the place begins to heal up, a salve may be applied, made of equal
parts of Burgundy pitch, beeswax, sheep's tallow, and sweet oil, melted
together over the fire; renew it twice a day, washing the place each
time with milk and water, and a little castile soap. A wash of weak
sugar of lead water, is also good for burns. A poultice of powdered elm
bark mixed with water, and put on frequently, wetting the sore with
thick cream, is also soothing; be careful that the limb does not
contract, as there is great danger if the sinews are affected. If there
should be fever, a mild cathartic should be given. "Comstock's Pain
Extractor" sometimes gives great relief; you may also apply immediately,
with benefit, a tea-spoonful of air-slaked lime and a table-spoonful of
lard; sift the lime and rub them well together. For a burn by vitriol or
any caustic substance, apply whites of eggs mixed with powdered chalk,
putting it on with a feather. Linen rags dipped in cold water and
changed every few minutes, I have known applied day and night to give
relief to a bad burn on the foot; but avoid putting the foot in water,
although it gives present relief, it is dangerous.
For Ague.
Take half an ounce of coarsely powdered race ginger, infused in three
gills of boiling water; when cool, strain and sweeten it; and for a
dose give a heaped tea-spoonful of Peruvian bark, in a wine-glassful
of the ginger tea, every two hours during the absence of the fever.
To one ounce of best Peruvian bark, add two ounces of cloves
powdered, and a half an ounce of cream of tartar; mix them well, and
give two tea-spoonsful at a time every two hours: when clear of
fever, begin at four in the morning, and give it until twelve at
noon. Wormwood seed, a heaped tea-spoonful in a cup of water, as a
dose, is also good. A third recipe is to take two ounces of best Lima
bark, twelve heaped tea-spoonsful of magnesia, to be well mixed
together, and divided into twelve doses. Take four doses on each well
day, at intervals of four hours each, this has cured a number who had
suffered with ague a long time.
Chilblains.
Put as much alum in hot water as will make it very strong, put the feet
in when it is as hot as can be borne, and keep them in till it is cold,
warm it over, and soak them every evening till they are entirely cured,
by beginning in time, it need only be applied two or three times.
When blisters are formed, take one ounce of camphor, one of sheep's
tallow, and one of sweet oil, stew them together gently till it becomes
an ointment, and rub the feet with it.
Take an ounce of glue, and melt it in a pint of hot water over the fire,
stir it until the glue is dissolved, pour it out and dip the part that
is affected in this dilution until the uneasiness or burning is allayed,
which is mostly in a few minutes.
Lockjaw.
If lock-jaw is apprehended from a scratch or wound, bathe the injured
part frequently with weak ley, or warm pearl ash water, make a poultice
by boiling bitter herbs in weak ley, and thicken it with corn-meal; put a
little grease in just as you put it on. Bacon skin and the rind of fresh
pork bound tightly on, are said to be good.
Falls.
If a child receives a fall, examine every part, and rub your hand on its
back to tell if any part is injured. There are instances of persons
being cripples for life, from receiving a hurt, that was not known of at
the time. To rub with camphor and sweet oil, and bathe the child in warm
water, is soothing.
For the Bite of a Spider.
Moisten a slice of wheat bread with sugar of lead, or pearl-ash water;
bind it on, and keep wetting it as it becomes dry. If the place swells
very much, take a table-spoonful of sweet oil every hour, till it is
relieved. To drink water with salaeratus dissolved in it has been useful.
For the Sting of a Bee.
Rub the place with hartshorn or salaeratus water, immediately after it is
stung, to prevent it from swelling; bruised peach leaves bound on, are
also good, and laudanum, where it is very painful. If it swells very
much, apply a poultice of onions and cream, or ley and bitter herbs.
For Bruises.
The oil of St. Johnswort applied on lint, is an excellent remedy for
bruises, and if used immediately will prevent the blood from settling on
the place; when children get their fingers or toes mashed, this is very
good, and soon gives relief; salt butter is also very good. The leaves
of the Jamestown weed, mashed with cream, are good for a stone-bruise.
For Felons.
Make a poultice of quick lime slaked in soft soap, and bind it on the
finger; renew it every half hour. The leaves of Jamestown weed, bruised
with cream or lard, are also good. Also, roast coarse salt in a piece of
wet brown paper, or a cabbage leaf, about twenty minutes; when cool,
pound it and mix it with resin soap; bind it on the felon; it is said to
be a certain cure. The white of egg, with unslaked lime, has been known
to give immediate relief.
For a Sprained Limb.
Strong vinegar and salt, put on brown paper, will soon cure a slight
sprain, if applied frequently. If very painful, a bath should be made of
bitter herbs, bran and vinegar, put on as hot as you can bear it. Great
care should be taken not to use the limb too soon after it has been
sprained. Some sprains of several months' standing have been greatly
relieved by taking several electric shocks a day. St. Johnswort oil is
good to rub on a sprained limb.
For a Sprained Ancle.
Of chalk, soft soap, salt, and brandy, take a spoonful each, and add the
white of an egg; beat the mixture, and spread it on raw cotton, and
apply it at once, when it will generally afford relief; and after
repeatedly changing, it may be left off in twenty-four hours. The ancle
is often weak when recovering, and benefit is derived from pouring cold
water on it from a pitcher held high above you. Tallow and salt, mixed
and spread on a piece of muslin, are good for a sprain.
Cuts or Wounds, &c.
When cuts bleed very much, tie a handkerchief tight above the wound, or
place a finger on it until you can get a physician: in the country,
persons should be supplied with a surgical needle and adhesive plaster,
and have lint scraped and linen rags in a convenient place. Balsam apple
put in a bottle when fresh, and whiskey poured on it, is an excellent
application for fresh cute or bruises. For the stick of a needle or pin,
try to make it bleed, and hold the finger in strong vinegar and salt, as
hot as you can bear it, this will prevent a gathering. A mashed finger
should be held in hot water a few minutes. No. 6 is a most valuable
remedy for cuts or wounds; bind a linen rag over the cut, and pour on
the No. 6.
For Tetter, Warts, &c.
Dig up the pocoon root that grows in the woods, wash and slice it, and
put it in a bottle with strong vinegar; bathe the parts with it several
times a day. Celandine root is also good, used in the same way, and
either of them will remove warts and ringworms.
Poisons, Accidents, &c.
These are valuable remedies, and should hold a place in the memory of
every one, if possible.
Mix a spoonful of powdered mustard in a tumbler of warm water, and drink
it immediately; it acts as an emetic, and has proved effectual where an
ounce of poison had been taken into the stomach. Where the skin is
poisoned, use a wash of smartweed steeped in water, or mix soot and
cream, and apply it frequently; bruised Jamestown weed and cream is also
good. If you have been exposed to poisonous plants, wash your face and
hands immediately in salt and vinegar, or salt and water. When
"corrosive sublimate," has been swallowed, the whites of two eggs taken
immediately will neutralize the poison, and change the effect to that of
a dose of calomel.
Persons struck by lightning should be laid on the ground, and pour water
over them till life is restored. When "oil of vitriol" or "aqua fortis"
have been swallowed in large quantities, sweet oil should he taken, (as
much as can be retained on the stomach.) For "oxalic acid," give
magnesia or chalk and water.
For "tartar emetic," give Peruvian bark and water, (or a strong
decoction of green tea, if you have not the bark.) For "saltpetre," give
an emetic of mustard seed with water, and afterwards elm bark mucilage,
and small doses of laudanum. This is also good in cases where arsenic
has been swallowed.
When a child has swallowed a cent, pin or needle, give it the white of
egg immediately; this forms a coating round the metal, and prevents
injury in most cases; then give moderate doses of medicine, such as
castor oil or salts.
When a fish bone has been swallowed, take the white of an egg, which
will help to carry it down the throat; also cut a hard crust of bread.
Insects taken into the stomach, may generally be destroyed by taking a
small quantity of vinegar and salt. When insects get into the ears, use
a little salad oil, or melted lard.