To make Water Gruel of Corn Meal or Oat Meal

Put a quart of water on to boil in a stew-pan. Take a tablespoonful of sweet corn meal, or oatmeal, make it into a batter with milk and salt, stir it in the boiling water and let it boil gently for half an hour. When served it may be sweetened and nutmeg grated over it. If wanted for a strengthening nourishment, a bit of butter and a glass of wine or brandy may be added. This is generally given after a dose of castor oil, or an emetic. Use very little salt.

Source: La Cuisine Creole

Egg Treatment

The whites of six eggs, six tablespoonfuls of vinegar, six tablespoonfuls of spirits of turpentine. Mix and shake thoroughly. Rub thoroughly and then saturate flannel with medicine and wrap around the place affected. Apply often. Keep bottle well corked. An excellent remedy for both rheumatism and sprains.

Source: 1001 Household Hints, Ottilie V. Ames

Ingredient: Brazil Nut

Brazil nuts are excellent for constipation. They are also a good substitute for suet in puddings. Use 5 oz. nuts to 1 lb. flour. They should be grated in a nut mill or finely chopped.

Source: Food Remedies: Facts About Foods And Their Medicinal Uses, Florence Daniel

For Nausea

Inhalations of vinegar will stop bad cases of nausea and vomiting. Wet a sponge with vinegar and hold it to the nose of the patient.

Source: 1001 Household Hints, Ottilie V. Ames

Jam

This can be made from almost any kind of ripe fruit. Blackberries, strawberries or raspberries are especially suited for this form of preserve. You must weigh your fruit (say blackberries), and allow three quarters of a pound of good sugar to each pound of fruit. Crush the fruit and sugar, with a biscuit beater, until they are well mashed; add a gill of water to each pound of fruit; boil gently (not rapidly like jelly) until it becomes a jelly-like mass, and when done, put it into glasses, or small earthenware pots and when cold, cover up like jelly. This is an excellent medicine in summer for dysentery; but if intended for invalids, you must spice it, and add a gill of brandy — fourth proof — to each pound of jam.

Source: La Cuisine Creole

Uses of Salt

It cleans the palate and furred tongue, and a gargle of salt and water is often efficacious.

A pinch of salt on the tongue, followed ten minutes later by a drink of cold water, often cures a sick headache. It hardens gums, makes teeth white and sweetens the breath.

Cut flowers may be kept fresh by adding salt to the water.

Weak ankles should be rubbed with a solution of salt water and alcohol.

Bad colds, hay fever and kindred affections may be much relieved by using fine dry salt like snuff.

Dyspepsia, heartburn and indigestion are relieved by a cup of hot water in which a small spoonful of salt has been melted.

Salt and water will sometimes revive an unconscious person when hurt if brandy and other remedies are not at hand. Hemorrhage from tooth-pulling is stopped by filling the mouth with salt and water. Weak and tired eyes are refreshened by bathing with warm water and salt.

Salt rubbed into the scalp or occasionally added in washing prevents the hair falling out.

Feathers uncurled by damp weather are quickly dried by shaking over a fire in which salt has been thrown.

Salt should always be eaten with nuts.

Source: 1001 Household Hints, Ottilie V. Ames

Milk Punch as a Restorative

Take a large tumbler (it should hold a pint), half fill it with chopped ice, add to it a large tablespoonful of white sugar, beat it a little with the ice, then pour on it a wineglass of gin, rum or brandy, and fill up with fresh milk. It is generally very acceptable to an invalid who refuses other stimulants.

Source: La Cuisine Creole

Nut Cream

Doctor Fernie recommends the following nut-cream for brain-workers. Pound in a mortar, or mince finely, 3 blanched almonds, 2 walnuts, 2 ounces of pine kernels. Steep overnight in orange or lemon juice.

It should be made fresh daily, and may be used in place of butter.

Source: Food Remedies: Facts About Foods And Their Medicinal Uses, Florence Daniel

Hoarhound Candy

Put two pounds of sugar in a pint of hoarhound tea, as strong as can be made, which may be done by drawing two sets of hoarhound in the same water, till the strength is out of each; when it is cold, mix in the sugar and the white of an egg; when it begins to boil, take off the scum as it rises, boil it slowly till it becomes thick, so that when you drop it on a plate, it will be hard and crisp, and pour it out in plates that have been greased with a little sweet butter; when cold, you can break it up for use, and tie it up in a jar. This is quite as useful as the candy you buy, and is much cheaper; it is very convenient for persons that have a cough, to have a little box of this about them to take when there is a tickling in the throat.

Source: Domestic Cookery, Useful Receipts, and Hints to Young Housekeepers, Elizabeth E. Lea

Cold Remedy

If ever in the clutches of a severe cold where an active yet unstimulating medicine is required, it will be found that by mixing together the yolk of one egg, one tablespoonful of olive oil and one tablespoonful of grated ginger root, and taking all of the mixture for a dose, the conditions of a cure will be met.

Source: 1001 Household Hints, Ottilie V. Ames