Chestnuts leaves and also sweet ferns were boiled and the liquor used to kill poison ivy.
Salt pork was sliced thin, salted lightly, peppered heavily and placed on a flannel cloth. This was heated in the oven til the fat began to ooze. It was then fastened around the neck to cure a sore throat. The heat at first was very soothing but as it cooled and the fat congealed, it was most unpleasant.
Skunk oil was rendered from the fat of the animal. Mixed with molasses, it was a cough syrup. Heated and rubbed on the chest it was to relieve congestion. I don’t remember any unpleasant odor or taste.
Fried onions, flaxseed poultice and mustard plasters were used also on the chest for heavy colds.
Cough medicines were made with honey, flaxseed, and lemon. I also have had to take kerosene and sugar. Horrid!
Spring tonic was always sulphur and molasses. Another distasteful medicine to me.
Herb teas: Sage leaves were made into tea and used to bring out measle rash.
Arbutus tea used for a kidney flush.
Catnip and sweet fennel tea was given to colicky babies.
Mutton tallow alone was used on sores and chapped hands. A special salve was made from boiling wintergreen leaves, mullen leaves and then beating tallow and the liquid to make a soft cream.
Many of these remedies must have helped. There were no tetanus shots that I ever knew about, yet as children we were always barefoot, always being cut or stepping on nails, and many were around barn buildings. As far as I know lock-jaw was seldom developed.
Salt pork was sliced thin, salted lightly, peppered heavily and placed on a flannel cloth. This was heated in the oven til the fat began to ooze. It was then fastened around the neck to cure a sore throat. The heat at first was very soothing but as it cooled and the fat congealed, it was most unpleasant.
Skunk oil was rendered from the fat of the animal. Mixed with molasses, it was a cough syrup. Heated and rubbed on the chest it was to relieve congestion. I don’t remember any unpleasant odor or taste.
Fried onions, flaxseed poultice and mustard plasters were used also on the chest for heavy colds.
Cough medicines were made with honey, flaxseed, and lemon. I also have had to take kerosene and sugar. Horrid!
Spring tonic was always sulphur and molasses. Another distasteful medicine to me.
Herb teas: Sage leaves were made into tea and used to bring out measle rash.
Arbutus tea used for a kidney flush.
Catnip and sweet fennel tea was given to colicky babies.
Mutton tallow alone was used on sores and chapped hands. A special salve was made from boiling wintergreen leaves, mullen leaves and then beating tallow and the liquid to make a soft cream.
Many of these remedies must have helped. There were no tetanus shots that I ever knew about, yet as children we were always barefoot, always being cut or stepping on nails, and many were around barn buildings. As far as I know lock-jaw was seldom developed.