Mother's Remedies, Thomas Jefferson Ritter [reading well .TXT] 📗

headache, convulsions, dysmenorrhea.

CREAM OF TARTAR (Potassii bitartras).—Uses: It is useful in kidney diseases to remove dropsy. In large doses of four teaspoonfuls it acts as a watery purge. It is useful where the urine is thick and alkaline to make it clear and normal. It is sometimes combined in equal parts with epsom salts to move the bowels, especially when an action on the kidneys is also necessary. It is given in teaspoonful doses before breakfast for prickly heat; it is cooling to the blood and is one of the old home remedies.

VINEGAR (Acetic Acid).—Vinegar contains from six to seven per cent acetic acid. Dilute acetic acid contains six per cent pure acetic acid. The pure or glacial acetic acid is a crystalline solid at 59 degrees F., takes up moisture readily so should be kept in well stoppered bottles. Acetic acid is a strong corrosive poison; if taken internally, causes vomiting, with intense pain, followed by convulsions and fatal coma. If the acid remains in the stomach for some time it may eat its way through the stomach wall. In cases of poisoning by acetic acid, milk or flour and water should be freely given and vomiting produced. Weak alkalies should also be given as antidotes. Glacial acetic acid is used as an application to cancer of the skin, ulcers, warts, growths in the nose, ringworm, lupus (Jacob's Ulcer) and other ulcerous growths. Vinegar or dilute acetic acid is given to check night sweats and to relieve diarrhea. It is also used in treating painter's colic after the constipation has been relieved, as an antidote to poisoning by caustic alkalies; externally to prevent bed sores, relieves headaches, checks moderate bleeding from leech bites, superficial wounds, nosebleed and in post-partum hemorrhage. It inhibits the growth of micro-organisms. Cases of catarrhal, membranous and diphtheric croup are benefited by the vapor of vinegar diffused through the sick room. A compress saturated in vinegar and placed over the nose until consciousness returns is recommended to prevent or relieve vomiting, nausea and headache following the inhalation of chloroform.

[676 MOTHERS' REMEDIES] UNCLASSIFIED MOTHERS' REMEDIES

Received Too Late to Place in Proper Departments

Burns, Lime Water and Sweet Oil for.—"Put unslaked lime about the size of a hen's egg in three pints of water and strain; add one cup of sweet oil, shake and keep burn moist. Will heal without scar or scab." This is highly recommended by physicians.

Burns, Charcoal for.—"Powered charcoal put on thick. This gives quick relief," It is an antiseptic poultice and keeps air from burned surface.

Burns or Scalds, Grated Onions for.—"Grate onions and mix two parts pulp with one part salt; apply twice or three times a day, changing as soon as onions are wilted." The onions are very soothing and keep the air from the affected parts.

Burns, an Easily Prepared Remedy for.—"Spread pure lard, or any unsalted grease over burned surface: cover thickly with flour and wrap with soft cloth after pain has ceased. Remove the flour and spread again with lard or vaselin. Sprinkle over with boracic acid powder and wrap up." This is an old tried remedy and one we all know to be good. The grease helps to lessen the smarting, while the boracic acid is a good antiseptic and keeps the air out.

Bunions, Pulverized Salt Petre for.—"Five cents worth of pulverized saltpeter put into a bottle with sufficient olive oil to nearly dissolve it. Shake well and apply to parts night and morning."

Blisters from Burns or Scalds, White of Egg for.—"Apply immediately the white of an egg. Keep the part from being exposed as much as possible to the air." White of egg is soothing and forms a coating while blistered part is healing, also protects it from air.

Bites from Insects, Simple Remedies for.—"Tolerably strong solution carbolic acid and water. An onion cut in two and rubbed on will also do." Carbolic acid is an antiseptic; onion is soothing and helps to draw out poison by acting as a poultice.

Catarrh, Burnt Alum for.—"Burn alum and power finely or buy prepared burnt alum at the drug store and use as a snuff eight or ten times daily. Ten cents' worth will last a long time. My mother used this remedy and believes that she has cured her catarrh entirely with it." Alum is an antiseptic, is cleansing, as well as an astringent remedy.

Catarrh, Bad Case Cured by the following: "Inhale fumes of iodine crystals. This was given me by a friend, who claimed it cured a bad case of catarrh." Use moderately.

[UNCLASSIFIED MOTHERS' REMEDIES 675]

Catarrh, Borax and Camphor for.—"Inhale three times daily equal parts of borax, camphor and salt." These ingredients should be powdered very finely and a pinch of the powder snuffed carefully several times a day. This is a very simple but effective remedy.

Catarrh, Pure Lard for.—"Take a bit of pure lard size of a pea and draw it up each nostril every evening. It will require about a year of constant use." The grease helps to keep the affected parts moist and relieves any congestion present. Anyone suffering with this disease should make it a point to use grease in some form every night. It gives great relief.

Cancer, Yellow Dock Root for.—Scrape narrow leaf yellow dock roots and steep in cream to make a salve and apply externally. Add a little alcohol if you wish to keep it for sometime."

Colds.—

    "Dover's Powders 20 grains
    Capsicum 15 grains
    Camphor 10 grains
    Quinine 25 grains"

Mix. Make up into about 20 capsules or powders. Take one every 2 or 3 hours. This is recommended as a sure cure for colds. Keep bowels open with small doses of salts or oil.

Coughs and Colds, Mullein Remedy.—"Steep Mullein leaves in fresh milk.
Drink of it just before going to bed. This makes a soothing drink."

Cough Syrup, an Easily Prepared Remedy for.—

    "Fluid Wild Cherry Bark 1/2 ounce
    Compound Essence Cordial 1 ounce
    White Pine Compound 3 ounces"

Dose: Take twenty drops every half hour for four hours and then from one-half to one teaspoonful three or four times a day, children less according to age.

Constipation, Bran as a Cure for.—"Take each night two dessertspoonfuls of bran. Take a spoonful at a time and chew it slowly and thoroughly and swallow." This simple remedy has been known to cure cases of long standing if kept up faithfully for a while.

Constipation, an Old Tried Remedy for.—"One ounce of cream of tartar and two ounces of salts; pour quart of boiling water over mixture and stir till dissolved; drain off and take a wineglassful every morning." The cream of tartar is a good blood purifier and the salts carry off all impurities in the system and in that way relieve the constipation.

Constipation, an Effective Remedy for.—"Chop fine a half-pound seeded raisins and one ounce of senna leaves together; mix with a half ounce powdered sulphur in air-tight jar. Chew a piece the size of a walnut every night."

Constipation, Baby, Juice from Prunes for.—"Give baby a teaspoonful of juice from cooked dried prunes whenever a laxative is needed." This remedy will be found useful, not only for infants, but older children as well. When old enough let them eat the pulp as well as the juice.

[676 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

Cramps, Turpentine for.—"A cloth dipped in turpentine and applied will relieve cramps in the limbs," Any one suffering with this difficulty will find the above treatment very beneficial.

Croup, Quick Cure for.—"A quantity of raw linseed oil should always be at hand in a family where the children are subject to croup. It is an unfailing remedy, and for quick results it beats anything else which can be given for that dread disease. Half a teaspoonful is a dose, unless the child is choking very badly; then give a teaspoonful. It acts two ways. In the first stage of croup, where there is not much mucus, it is loosened and carried off through the bowels. In the second stage it causes vomiting, but, unlike ipecac, it leaves no soreness of the throat as an after difficulty. It is rarely necessary to give more than one dose, when the child will get relief and go to sleep again. This simple remedy is one that is within the reach of every mother, and one that can be kept on hand at all times; and, while it is in the house the dreaded croup need cause no terrors."

Croup, Salt Water for.—"A handful of salt in a basin of cold water. Wring towel out of this solution and apply over the throat. Cover with warm flannel, keep patient warm." This simple but effective remedy has been known to give relief many times and has been thoroughly tried by a great many mothers.

Chapped Hands, an Inexpensive Remedy for.—"One-fourth ounce gum tragacanth, one-fourth ounce boracic acid, one ounce glycerin, one and one-half ounce alcohol, five cents' worth best white rose perfume. Soak gum in pint of rain water for thirty-six hours; let warm slowly until heated. Remove from the stove, strain through a cheese cloth, add the other ingredients, stir well and bottle."

Cholera Infantum, Chickweed For.—"Chickweed boiled and sweetened in milk. This cured my daughter when an infant. This recipe has been used by me and my mother and proved effectual." The above remedy is an inexpensive one and easily prepared. It will be found excellent for this trouble.

Dog Bite, Home Treatment for.—"Apply common salt." Salt eats and draws poison out. Use it freely.

Drunkenness, Chocolate for.—"Give patient all the chocolate he can or will eat. This cured one man I know."

Diphtheria, a Marine City Mother Gives the Following Cure For.—"One-fourth pound loaf sugar, one-fourth pound gum kino, one-fourth ounce alum; put in a covered porcelain dish on stove in a quart of soft water. Simmer down to one pint, gargle the throat every fifteen minutes, or for small children use a swab. Bandage the throat with onion poultices; this recipe has relieved when used as directed; was used by my mother and proved effectual."

[UNCLASSIFIED MOTHERS' REMEDIES 677]

Dropsy, Chestnut Leaves for.—"A tea made of chestnut leaves taken freely instead of water." These leaves can be purchased at any drug store in five-cent packages. Prepare the same as ordinary tea, only stronger.

Eczema, Lard and Sulphur for.—"Melt lard and sulphur. When cool add a little alcohol to keep sweet." This combination is very soothing to the parts affected.

Eczema, Gasoline for.—"Bathe the affected parts in gasoline; be careful not to use the liquid where there is fire or lamps."

Erysipelas, Antiseptic Wash for.—

    "Hyposulphite of Soda 8 ounces
    Carbolic Acid (200 drops) 3-1/3 drams
    Soft Water 1 pint"

The above wash has very strong recommendations as a local application. It was secured from a family that had used it at different times for twenty years. The family seemed to be susceptible to erysipelas and this medicine had been used for three generations, grandfather, son and grandson. In fact, it was the only remedy that helped their case, although many others had been tried. The entire prescription would cost about fifteen cents.

Fishbone, Choking from.—"Raw egg, taken soon as possible." It helps to carry bone out of throat and is a remedy ready at hand.

Goitre, a Good Remedy for.—

      "Iodine 1 dram
      Iodide of Potassium 4 drams
      Soft Water 4 ounces

Apply night and morning. Rub on with feather or soft brush all around, as well as immediately on the lump." This is a counterirritant and often used for goitre.

Goitre, Iodine for.—"Blister with iodine. Heal with sweet cream, paint and blister again. This wore my sister's goitre away. It took time but was worth it." It should produce redness instead of a blister.

Headache, Lemon Juice and Coffee for.—"A teaspoonful of lemon juice in a small cup of black coffee will relieve." This is an old tried remedy and one