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Archiver > NYBROOKLYN > 2002-09 > 1033258126


From: Mimi <>
Subject: Re: [Bklyn] How They Did It In the 1870s
Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 17:08:46 -0700
In-Reply-To: <08bf01c26658$25aac920$e4b75d41@hppav>


> What a treasure of a book you have found. I remember my gma
> having one when i was young and often wondered what happened to it.

As I begin to look through this book and read the 'cures' they offer for
various ailments, it's no wonder our ancestors didn't live very long ! This
is scary stuff. Don't try this at home ! =)

>Is there an item in there about using soap on a cut or infection

5498. Treatment of Scratches.
Do not neglect them. Wash them in cold water; close them as much as you
can, and cover with diachylon plaster. If there is inflammation, apply a
bread poultice, or one of slippery elm.

5500. Treatment of Cuts.
The divided parts should be drawn close together, and held so with small
pieces of strapping or adhesive plaster stretched across the wound, or by
the application of collodion. If the part be covered with blood, it should
first be wiped off with a sponge. When the wound is large, and the parts
much exposed, a good method is to sew it up. The application of a little
creosote will generally stop local bleeding, provided it be applied to the
clean extremities of the wounded vessels. A good way is to place a piece of
lint, moistened with creosote, on the wound previously wiped clean, or to
pour a drop or two of that liquid upon it. Friar's balsam, quick-drying
copal varnish, tincture of galls, copperas water, black ink, &c. are popular
remedies applied the same way. A bit of the fur plucked from a black beaver
hat is an excellent remedy to stop the bleeding from a cut produced by the
razor in shaving. For light cuts with a knife, or any sharp instrument, the
Riga balsam usually stops bleeding immediately (see Lockjaw.)

>also ingrown fingernails. I have used this method ever since i can remember. >

5827. Ingrowing Toe Nails.
This most painful of the diseases of the nails is caused by the improper
manner of cutting the nail (generally the great toe), and then wearing a
short, badly-made shoe. The nail beginning to grow too long, and rather
wide at the corners, is trimmed around the corner, which gives temporary
relief. But it then begins to grow wider in the side where it was cut off;
and, as the shoe presses the flesh against the corner, the nail cuts more
and more into the raw flesh, which becomes excessively tender and irritable.
If this state continue long the toe becomes more and more painful and
ulcerated, and proud flesh sprouts up from the sorest point. Walking
greatly increases the suffering, till positive rest becomes indispensable.

5828. Treatment of Ingrowing Toe Nails.
Begin the effort at cure by simple application to tender part of a small
quantity of perchloride of iron. It is found in drug stores in fluid form,
though sometimes in powder. There is immediately a moderate sensation of
pain, constriction or burning. In a few minutes the tender surface is felt
to be dried up, tanned or mummified, and it ceases to be painful. The
patient, who before could not put his foot on the floor, now finds that he
can walk upon it without pain. By permitting the hardened, wood-like flesh
to remain for 2 to 3 weeks, it can easily be removed by soaking the foot in
warm water. A new and healthy structure is found firm and solid, below. If
thereafter the nails be no more cut around the corners or sides, but always
curved in across the front end, they will in future grow only forwards; and
by wearing a shoe of reasonably good size and shape, all further trouble
will be avoided.

5829. To Prevent the Nail Growing into the Toe.
If the nail of your toes be hard, and apt to grow round, and into the
corners of your toe, take a piece of broken glass and scrape the top very
thin; do this whenever you cut your nails, and, by constant use, it makes
the corners fly up and grow flat, so that it is impossible they should give
you any pain. Do not fail to try this.

> Also we use cloves for a toothache which is like our modern day "Jiffy."
There were several entries for toothache, including how to kill the nerve of
a hollow tooth, tooth cement, and how to plug or fill teeth ! Also a few
entries for bad breath [depending on what causes it - including
constipation]

5827. Paste for Toothache.
Take of root-bark of pellitory, 1 drachm; muriate of morphia, 5 grains,
triturate until reduced to fine powder, then add, finest honey, 3 drachms;
oil of cloves (or of cajeput), 20 drops, concentrated tincture of pellitory,
a sufficient quantity to form the whole into a smooth paste. very
effective.

>There was one for a tummy ache but i cant remember.
5781. Remedy for Sick Stomach and Vomiting.
Mix 24 drops creosote, 1 drachm each white sugar and gum-arabic, with 3
ounces water. Administer a tea-spoonful every 2 hours until vomiting
ceases.

> JoAnne

You didn't ask about these, but........

5490. To Cure Pimples and other Eruptions of the Skin.
Never tamper with any breaking out of the skin; even though it be a single
red spot, do not apply to it so simple a thing as water, hot or cold, but
let it alone, and omit a meal or two; if it does not abate, consult a
physician. If one is not at hand, then live on half allowance until it
disappears.

5784. Precautions Against Nightmare.
Avoid all exciting causes, as too much abstruse thinking, late and heavy
suppers, food difficult of digestion, cold feet, costiveness, and
flatulence.

-------------------

the above from:
Dick's Encyclopedia of Practical Receipts and Processes.
Containing over 6400 Receipts embracing
Thorough Information, in Plain Language, Applicable to Almost Every Possible
Industrial and Domestic Requirement.
or
How They Did It In the 1870's
by William B. Dick
(This edition prepared by Leicester and Harriet Handsfield)
Funk & Wagnalls New York [no date]

"Special Notice
This book is intended solely as an historical record and does not represent
an endorsement of any recipe, formula, process, or other textual material
printed herein, nor do the preparers or publishers vouch for any claims made
within this book."

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