The Ladies TeaStop in and grab a quick cup of tea! All sorts of ladies issues are disscussed here. Both Ladies and Gentlemen are welcome to join in the conversations.
"For deafness and slow hearing: The juyce of Radishes, fat of a mole, eele, or serpent, juyce of an Onyon soaked in Sperrit of Wine and roasted, essences of a mans or Bullocks gall, are all very excellent. In difficulty of hearing, distilled Boyes Urine is good; but better is the Oyl of Carawayes" - Compendium of Physick (Salmon), London, 1671
"Falling-Sickness. In Children. Ashes of the dung of black Cow given to new born Infant, doth not only preserve from the Epilepsia, but also cure it. In those of ripe Age. The lives of 40 water-Frogs brought into a powder, and given at five times (in Spirit of Rosemary or Lavender) morning and evening, will cure, the sick not eating nor drinking two hours before nor after it." (same Compendium of Physick)
"Cow's Dung. This seems to be of a hot penetrating Nature; and is experienc'd to do good in Erysipelous Swellings. This Cataplasm is also highly commended by some in the Gout. Pigeon's Dung is sometimes ordered in Cataplasms, to be applied to the soles of the Feet in malignant Fevers and Deliriums. Hog's Dung. Is also used by Country People to stop Bleeding at the Nose; by being externally applied cold to the Nostrils." English Dispensatory (Quincy), London, 1742.
Earth Worms. These are often used in Compositions for cooling and Cleansing the Viscera. They are good in Inflammations and Tubercles of the Lungs and in Affections of the Reins and Urinary Passages. Syrup of Snails. Take Garden-snails early in the morning, while the dew is upon them, a pound; take off their shells, slit them, and with a half of pound of fine Sugar put into a Bag hang them in a Cellar, and the Syrup will melt, and drop through, which Keep for Use. This is not kept in the shop, but is worth making for young Children inclining to Hectics and Consumptions... English Dispensatory (Quincy), London, 1742.
Makes you grateful for modern medicine, doesn't it? BTW, sugar was very expensive and to use a half of pound is a substantial amount in those days.
Gary: Makes you grateful for modern medicine, doesn't it? BTW, sugar was very expensive and to use a half of pound is a substantial amount in those days.
Gary:
Thank you for posting some of the home remedies that were used in London during 1671 and 1742.
The juices of mole, eel, and serpent as an ear drop, ashes from cow dung, ground frog's liver for the very young and elderly, pigeon and cow's dung as a poultice, pig's dung to stop nose bleeds, snail syrup, and earth worms as a cleanser for the viscera, all make me glad that I was born in the 20th century. Presented with the above remedies as a cure for my ailments, I would most certainly choose death!
Here's more reasons to be thankful of modern medicine:
A Powder for ye Dissines of ye Head Falling Sickness & hart Quals That Haue Bin Oft Vsed
Whit amber 3ii Diarrhodian 3ii Seeds of Peony (?)ii miselto 3i [b]the fillings of a Deadmans skull (?)i mak all into a very fine Powder & tak of it as much as will Ly on a shilling 2 or 3 nights together befor the new & befor the full moon take it in Saxony or bettony water.
Here's another wonderful cure:
Goose-Dung. The Excrements of most Birds are accounted hot, nitrous, and penetrating; for this reason they pass for inciders and Detergents, and are particularly recokn'd good in Distempers of the Head; but they are now almost quite laid aside in Practice. Elk's Hoof is also esteem of mighty Efficacy in Distempers of the Head. Naturalists tells us that the Creature itself first gave to Mankind a Hint of its Medicinal Virtues; for they say, whenever it ails anything in the Head, it lies in such a Posture as to keep one of its tips of a Hoof in its Ear; which after some time effects a Cure. But this I leave to be credited by those of more faith than myself." English Dispensatory (Quincy), London, 1742.
"For Share & Dificult Trauel in Women with Child by JC"
"Take a Lock of Vergins haire on any Part of ye head, of half the Age of ye Woman in trauill Cut it very smale to fine Pouder then take 12 Ants Eggs dried in an ouen after ye bread is drawne or other wise make them dry & make them to pouder with the haire, giue this with a quarter of a pint of Red Cows milk or for want of it giue it in strong ale wort.
"Beaver's cods are much used for wind in the stomach and belly, particuarly of pregnant women."New England's Rarities (Josselyn), London, 1672. Must be talking about flatulence. "JC" mentioned above can't be Jesus Christ either.
"For ye Toothe Ache"
Take a Litle Pece of opium as big as a great pinnes head & put it into the hollow place of the Akeing Tooth & it will giue preasant Ease, often tryed by me apon many People & neuer fayled. - Zerbobabel Endecott
I think than anyone would feel better with that litle Pece of opium.
Dear Loard! It makes the remedies of the 1850-1860's seem almost a step up in medicine. I agree with Dawna, I would have choosen death as well. It's crazy what they thought would work. Kind of makes you wonder at the percentage of people who actually lived due to these "home remedies".
Thanks Steve for adding to the page. It sure makes you appreciate the 21st century.
I'm sure that the 'cure' often killed the patient, but there's something quite unsettling about the "fillings's of a dead man's skull" as a remedy for headaches, falling, and heart problems, along with how one actually goes about collecting the eggs of an ant!"
One would have to assume that at the time of the articles that Gary posted that some of this would have been what the local medicine man/woman would have concoted and that some of it sounds like witches brews. They were a superstitous lot then, and would have gone to extremes to cure things that ailed them.
at my most recent reenactment I got to reenact a period tooth ache and infection. Not reenact actually, it hurt like all heck.
My lady, at her first reeneactment no less, is a Shawnee well versed in natural medicine. She purchesed some cloves, took a good sized bunch in the bottom of my mucket and poured about a cup or so of boiling water over them. Let them cool.
Well I guess whatever heals it is the rule of the game here isn't it?? But I still like modern medicine, and am thankful for living in the 21st Century.
Clove oil is still used as a temporary fix for toothaches today. There's a terrific surgeon at Vincennes who has all the tools for a 18th century surgeon. But, like the ladies here, I would defer until I see a modern dentist. Novacaine makes for painless dentistry.
CivilWarTalk.com -
A free and friendly Civil War community. 
Linear Mode
