| Medical treatment has improved greatly over the years. Of course, some of the things that cured us in years past have been laughed at by current generations. If they only stopped to realize that if it were not for the "tests of the past" they wouldn't have anything to improve upon!
There does seem to be a trend in some recently published articles that reflects the thinking of past generations and is acted upon as if it were a new discovery. What seems to work and is appropriate for one generation does not mean that it was not the right thing to do. You do the best you can with what you have at that moment in time.
Recently I was given a small tattered notebook that has pages dated 1833 and some 1840. It appears to be an account book of a doctor that has had some recipes handwritten on some pages. There are some newspaper items glued over some of the doctor's accounting. It is just fascinating and so the thought was to share some of the notes with you.
"Ogden Cough Mixture: 1 pint Jamaica Rum; 1/2 pint sweet oil; 1/2 pound honey and 1 tablespoon tar. Excellent"
"Uses of Baking Soda: Try powdered charcoal or magnesia, lime water or soda till you find which suits best, but have the latter ready, for a cup of hot soda water taken in time will often prevent the worst summer attacks of nausea and cramps. It may be your lot, as it has been mine more than once, to want soda for some victim in distress, only to find that neither house nor shop could produce a pinch of baking soda, obsolete since the advent of baking powder. Keep down the acid tendency and you prevent pimples, redness and rawness of the face, fishy eyes and unpleasant odor of the perspiration, all derived more or less from acids in the blood. With cool, healthy blood the heat is felt less, there is less tendency to freckles and sunburn. --Shirley Dare in New York Herald."
Then there's HAIR DYE!! "Preparation #1: Take 2 drachms [drams] sallic acid; 1 ounce alcohol; 3 ounces soft water. Mix all. After cleaning the hair well and drying, apply with a toothbrush. Let it dry well. Preparation #2: Take 2 drachms nitrate of silver; 1 drachm Spirits of Ammonia; 1 ounce soft water. Mix. After applying #1 as directed, next apply #2 in like manner."
Fascinating? There's more for another time. But just this little book has brought a great deal of fun. How many of us remember "Father John's Medicine? Or that wonderful sulfur & molasses that cleaned our blood in the spring!? Cod Liver Oil, anyone!!
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