More Remedies & Recipes

More remedies* & recipes from the scrapbook.  This book appears to date from the late 1800s to the early 1900s and may have belonged to Clara Wilson, Margaret Hodges Hood's mother.  The Home Circle Magazine that many of the articles appear to have been clipped from was in circulation from about the 1850s until at least the 1930s.

*I do not recommend that anyone try these at home.

For Hoarseness

A flannel dipped in boiling water and sprinkled with turpentine and placed on the chest at beginning of cold or hoarseness will give relief.

For Disinfectant

Iodine is a poison and for external use only.  Diluted with an equal quantity of alcohol it makes an excellent disinfectant for wounds and sores.

For Cramps

For cramps in leg, wring a cloth out of hot water and rub well with toilet or laundry soap.  Tie around leg at knee and cover with another cloth.  Texas Girl, Brownfield, Texas.

For Tonsillitis

Dissolve two teaspoons of table salt in one glass of vinegar and use as a gargle for throat.  If vinegar is too strong, dilute with a little water. Use every fifteen or twenty minutes and gargle at least twice each time.  Sulphur is also very good to put in the throat after gargling.  A Sister, Lansing, Mich.

For Head Aches, Deafness, etc...

Will the sister who is troubled with head aches and others who are beginning to get deaf try this.  Five drops of tincture of iodine in a glass of lukewarm water to which one-half teaspoon of salt has been added.  Use as a gargle and to inhale through nostrils.  This is a cure for all nasal troubles, sore throats and colds.  For sore throats use as a gargle only.  If it causes a smarting sensation, too much salt has been used.  Edna O. Baker, Wales, Mass.

Sores on Mouth

Use polk berries as a wash.  Mrs. T.B McClure, Neola, Mo.

For Tired Eyes

Lay on eyes a cloth that has been wet in hot solution of boric acid water.

For Kidney Troubles

Make a strong tea of button willow and drink several times during the day.

For Bruise or Insect Bite

Mix clay with egg and vinegar to a paste, place on thin cloth and apply to injured part.  When poultice gets dry, moisten with vinegar.

For Ear-Ache

 Fill a medicine dropper with fresh warm milk and drop into affected ear.  Hold head to one side a minute, then throw back to opposite side.  Wrap head or put cotton in ear and lie down a few minutes.  Soon the buzzing sound and ear-ache will be gone.  Mrs. Harry Torrenga, Hebron, Ill.

How to Remove Ink from Woollens

Mrs. S.J., Guilford Co., N.C.--Please tell me how to remove ink from woolens.  Diluted acids do not injure the fiber so lemon juice, dilute oxalic or dilute hydrochloric acids may be used for ink and iron rusts.  

Furniture Polish

G.F., Putnam Co., Tenn.--Please give me a tried and true recipe for home-made furniture polish.  A very simple polish is made by mixing 1 part raw linseed oil with two parts turpentine and adding a little melted beeswax if desired.

To Remove Cataract of Eye*

Take fresh unsalted butter, melt and use just warm.  Lie on one side, the affected eye downward, let some one drop the melted butter into the upper most ear.  Lie still a few minutes until the oil has a chance to sink in. Begin with 3 drops first nigh, 4 drops second night, 5 drops the third night then miss 3 nights and continue for the next three nights, with 6-7-8 drops, again miss 3 nights, then go on with 9-10-11 drops.  If necessary to repeat performance, wait a week and then begin again.  It should be a sure cure.  In severe cases, it requires longer.

Red-Pepper Hash

15 medium-size onions; 24 sweet red peppers; 3 hot peppers; 2 small heads cabbage; 3 tablespoons salt; 2 tablespoons celery seed; 2 tablespoons white mustard seed; 1 1/2 cups sugar; 2 1/2 pints vinegar.  Remove seeds from peppers, and chop or run through grinder along with onions and cabbage.  Add other ingredients, mix well together, and heat until mixture boils.  Seal in sterile jars.  Miss L.H.

*This cataract remedy appears at least twice in the scrapbook.  I wonder if she ever tried it?  It sounds messy.  In another clipping, a reader asks:  "I am very anxious and have several friends who also wish to see repeated that old-time remedy for eye-film or cataract--the one containing unsalted butter I mean, especially, but shall be most grateful for any aid in overcoming this complaint.  Will you not do this?  I shall be most grateful, and will be careful not to lose the precious paper containing the reproduction as I did this one.  Sister Helena.  Altoona, Pennsylvania."