Chapter 8

Take of pulverised sand stone sifted fine, 20 lbs., litharge 2 lbs., mix both well with linseed oil to the consistency of paste; brush both broken parts over; press them snugly together, and let them dry, this forms an excellent cement.

415. PORTABLE BALLS

For taking stains out of cloths, &c.--Dry fullers' earth so as to crumble it into powder, and moisten it well with lemon juice; add a quantity of pure pulverised pearl-ash, and work the whole up into a thick paste with a little water; roll it into small balls; let them completely dry in the sun, and they will be fit for use. The manner of using them is to moisten, with water, the spots on the cloth, rubbing the ball over, and leaving it to dry in the sun. On washing the spots in the water they will immediately disappear.

416. CLOTH, RAIN PROOF, &c.

To render cloth wind and rain proof. Boil together 2 lbs. of turpentine, 1 lb. of litharge in powder, and 2 or 3 pints of linseed oil. The article is then to be brushed over with this varnish, and dried in the sun.

417. CHOICE CEMENT

A choice cement for china, crockery, and glass. Take of white glue 1/2 lb., dry white lead 1/2 lb., alcohol 1/4 pint, and rain water 1 quart; put the glue, alcohol, and water into a tin pan together; let stand until the glue is soft; then set the pan into a kettle of hot water, occasionally stirring it until the glue is about dissolved; then add the lead, being previously powdered, and stir until it is about dissolved. Bottle while warm, and it is ready for use. If cold when about to be used, set the bottle in warm water until soft; then apply while soft to both edges, set together and let then dry.

418. MAHOGANY STAIN

Take of chip logwood 1 lb., sal-soda two pence worth, water 1 gallon, boil all together, apply it while hot, to every kind of white wood, using a brush or sponge, and it will produce a most beautiful mahogany colour.

419. MAHOGANY COLOUR

Method of darkening every sort of wood. Take soap suds, wash your wood with it; every coat you put on will make it a shade darker.

420. SATIN WOOD STAIN

Take of water 1 quart, fustic 2 oz., and the size of a small nut of alum; boil all together, apply it while hot, and it will produce a most beautiful yellow. When the article to which this has been applied has got perfectly dry, rub it over with lime water, and it will make a beautiful red.

421. RED STAIN

Take of water 1 quart, brazil dust 2 oz., and the size of a nut of alum; boil together, apply while hot and the stain is red; when dry, wash it over with lime water, and it will be a beautiful purple.

422. BROWN STAIN

Take of water 1 quart, logwood 2 oz., and one penny worth of soft soap, (such as is kept in bladders, by druggists), boil them together, apply while hot, and it will be brown; let it dry, and apply lime water, and you will have a beautiful black.

423. SCARLET STAIN

Take a solution of aqua-fortis in water, apply it to the black, and it will produce a beautiful scarlet.

424. BRUSH VARNISH

Take of spirits of wine 1 pint, gum benzion half a pound; dissolve the gum in the spirits. It may be laid on with a camel hair brush, or a small piece of wool rolled in old cotton.

425. TO BORE GLASS

Fill a vial with turpentine spirits, dissolve in it as much camphor as it will take, insert then into this liquid the point of a common diamond pointed drill, and with it you can bore glass as fast as you please.

426. GERMAN SILVER

Take of nickle 25 parts, zinc 25 parts, copper 50 parts, melt all together, and you have good german silver.

427. BRASS

Brass is made by melting together a little less than two parts of copper, and one part of zinc.

428. CHEMICAL SOAP

This is for washing cloths with one-half the labour of that with common bar soap. Take 16 lbs. English bar white soap, 3-1/2 lbs. sal-soda, 1 lb. pulverized rosin, 8 oz. salt; put these into 5 gallons soft water over a fire until dissolved; then put the same into a barrel, and fill it with cold water, after which add 2 oz. spirits of turpentine, and stir while cooling.

429. ENGLISH BAR SOAP

Take of water 6 gallons, good stone lime 3 lbs., sal-soda 20 lbs., borax 4 oz., fat 15 lbs., (tallow is best,) pulverized rosin 10 lbs., and 4 oz. of beeswax; put the water in a kettle on the fire, and when nearly boiling, add the lime and sal-soda; when these are dissolved, add the borax, boil gently and stir until this is also dissolved, then add the fat, rosin and beeswax, and boil all very gently until it shows flaky on the stick, then pour into moulds.

430. BROWN WINDSOR SOAP

This is made by colouring the English bar soap with the precipitate of iron, Venetian red, or vandyke brown, and scenting while not too hot with any of the essential oils, or a mixture of them according to fancy.

431. YELLOW SOAP

This is made in the same way as the English bar soap, except that you add three percent of palm oil, deducting the same amount of fat.

432. SOLID LARD CANDLES

Dissolve 1/4 lb. of alum, and 1/4 lb. of saltpetre in 1/2 a pint of water on a slow fire; then take 3 lbs. of lard cut into small pieces, and put into the pot with this solution, stirring it constantly over a very moderate fire until the lard is all dissolved; then let it simmer until all steam ceases to rise, and then at once remove it from the fire. If you leave it too long it will become discoloured. These candles are harder and better than tallow.

433. MEDICINES

The following medicines are for man, while those commencing at receipt No. 331, and ending at No. 392 are for horses, cattle, &c., unless when stated to the contrary.

434. FOR DROPSY

Take of powdered jalap 5 gr., powdered rhubarb 5 gr., powdered scammony 5 gr., powdered elaterium 1/2 gr., bitartrate of potash 1/2 drm., sulphate of potash 1/2 drm., and syrup of ginger sufficient to make into pills; mix and divide into five pills. These five pills given at once form an excellent hydragogue cathartic to clear the chest, relieve breathing and diminish the dropsical effusion.

435. ANTIBILIOUS PILLS

Take of camomel 20 grs., jalap powder 20 grs., tartar-emetic 2 grs., and syrup sufficient to form into pills; divide into eight pills. The dose is tow at bed time; repeated in the morning if necessary. This forms an excellent antibilious pill.

436. JAUNDICE

Take of rhubarb powder 1 scruple, castile soap half a drachm, calomel 12 grs., mix and divide into pills; two or three to be taken at bed time; emetrics, purges, fomentations about the stomach and liver, and exercise will seldom fail to cure jaundice when it is a simple disease; and when complicated with dropsy, a scirrous liver, or other chronic complaints, it is hardly to be cured by any means. Castile soap has been looked upon as a kind of specific.

437. ASTHMA

Take of powdered squills 2 drms., powdered assafoetida 1 drachm, mix and divide into 30 pills, two to be taken twice or thrice a day. Useful in chronic asthma.

438. DR. DEWEES' ANTI-COLIC MIXTURE

Take of carbonate of magnesia 1/2 drm., tincture of assafoetida 60 drops, tincture of opium 20 drops, white sugar 1 drm., and distilled water 1 oz.; mix and shake; twenty-five drops to be given to an infant of two to four weeks old, in flatulent colic, diarrhoea, &c.

439. DR. HUN'S ANTI-DIARRHOEAL MIXTURE

Take of oil of cajeput 1 oz., oil of cloves 1 oz., oil of peppermint 1 oz., oil of anise 1 oz., alcohol 4 oz.; mix and shake; dose, from one to two drachms in hot brandy and water or syrup. This will afford the most speedy relief in diarrhoea accompanied with pain.

440. HOPE'S MIXTURE

Take of camphor water 4 oz., nitric acid 4 drops, tincture of opium 40 to 60 drops; mix cork, and shake; dose, a tablespoonful every two hours in diarrhoea and dysentery.

441. ANTI-CHOLERA MIXTURE

Take of tincture of opium 1 drm., liquor ammonia 1/2 drm., tincture of the oil of peppermint 1/2 drm., ether 25 drops, tincture of camphor 1 drm., tincture of capsicum, 1 drachm; mix, cork and shake. In real cholera give this all immediately; if the patient throws it up, repeat at once. This is an excellent prescription in extreme cases when the patient is cramped.

442. FOR HYSTERIC FITS

Take of tincture assafoetida 2 drms., aromatic spirits of ammonia 2 drms., camphor water 7 ozs., mix and cork; give two tablespoonsful every three or four hours.

443. ANTI-ASTHMATIC MIXTURE

Take of mixture of ammoniacum 4 oz., syrup of squill 3 drms., antimonial wine 60 drops, wine 1/2 oz., mix and cork. Give two tablespoonsful often, or when either the cough or shortness of breath is troublesome.

444. ANTI-RHEUMATIC MIXTURE

Take of ammoniated tinc. of quack 1/2 oz., honey 1/2 oz., camphor water 6 oz., mix and cork. Take two tablespoonsful three or four times a day in chronic rheumatism; rub well the affected part with anti-rheumatic liniment.

445. ANTI-RHEUMATIC LINIMENT

Take of tinc. of opium 2 oz., tinc. of belladonna 2 oz., powdered camphor 2 oz., oil of turpentine 2 oz., oil of sassafras 2 oz., oil of origanum 2 oz., and tinc. of capsicum 1 pint; mix all together.

446. DIURETIC MIXTURE

Take of peppermint water 5 oz., wine 6 drachms, sweet spirits of nitre 1/2 oz.; mix. Two tablespoonsful to be taken three times a-day in obstruction of urinary passages.

447. SWEATING MIXTURE

Take of acetated liquor of ammonia 3 oz., ipecacuanha 10 gr., tincture of oil of peppermint 15 drops, distilled water 5 oz.; mix. Three tablespoonsful to be taken every two hours, until it produces the desired effects.

448. FOR CRAMP IN THE STOMACH

Take of ether 2 drms, white sugar 1-1/2 drms., tinc. of opium 60 drops, cinnamon water 2 oz.; mix. Give a teaspoonful every hour in cramp of the stomach.

449. FOR HOOPING COUGH

Take of tinc. of assafoetida 1 drm, ipecacuanha 10 gr., tinc. of opium 10 drops, distilled water 2 ozs.; mix. Give to a child two years old a teaspoonful every four hours, increasing ten drops for every additional year.

450. FOR WINTER COUGH, &c.

Take of powered extract of liquorice 2 drms, gum acacia 2 drms, hot water 4 oz.; mix. Let all dissolve, and add tinc. of opium 40 drops, spirits of nitric ether 1 drm., wine of antimony 2 drms. Dose, one tablespoonful in catarrh and common winter cough.

451. TONIC MIXTURE

Take of calomba 2 ozs., tinc. of muriate of iron 1-1/2 oz., sulphate of quinine 20 grs., brandy 6 ozs., water 1-1/2 pint, bruise the calumba and pour the water on it boiling hot, cover tightly for two hours, then strain, bottle, and add all the other ingredients, when the quinine is dissolved it is ready for use. This forms an excellent tonic in cases of debility. Dose, one tablespoonful three times a-day half an hour before meals.

452. ANTI-PERIODIC MIXTURE

Take of sulphate of quinine 20 grs., sulphuric acid 1 drop, white sugar 1 drm., cinnamon water 2-1/2 oz.; put the quinine, acid and water into a vial together, when dissolved add the sugar. Dose, a teaspoonful every hour, between the paroxysms of intermittent fevers, fever and ague, &c.

453. EMMENAGOGUE MIXTURE

Take of tinc. of aloes 1/2 oz., tinc. of chloride of iron 1/2 drm., tinc. of valerian 1/2 oz.; mix. Take a teaspoonful in chamomile tea two or three times a-day in cases of amenorrhoea.

454. ANTI-GOUT MIXTURE

Take of ammoniated tinc. of guaiac 6 drms., camphor water 6 ozs., tinc. of rhubarb 1/2 oz., and honey 1/2 oz.; mix, by rubbing the honey and the guaiac up in a glass mortar, and then add the other articles by degrees. Give two tablespoonsful every four or six hours, and rub with the anti-rheumatic liniment.

455. ANTI-GONORRHOEAL MIXTURE

Take of copaibe 1/2 oz., spirts of nitric ether 1/2 oz., powdered acacia 1 drm., powered white sugar 1 drm., compound spts. of lavender 2 drms., tinc. of opium 1 drm., distilled water 4 oz.; mix. Dose, a tablespoonful three times a-day. Shake before using.

456. ANOTHER

Take of copaibe 1 oz., sweet spirits of nitre 1 oz., gum acacia powdered white sugar 1 drm., peppermint water 4 oz.; mix, and let all dissolve. Dose, a tablespoonful three times a-day. Shake before using.

457. ASTRINGENT EYE-WATER

Take of solution of acetate of lead 12 drops, wine of opium 11 drops, rose water 4 ozs.; mix, and let dissolve. This should be applied with a linen rag four or five times a-day.

458. EYE-WATER

Take of distilled vinegar 1 oz., diluted spirits of wine 1/2 oz., rose water 8 ozs., mix. An excellent application to weak eyes after depletion.

459. ALUM EYE-WATER

Take of rose water 2 ozs., distilled water 2 oz., and alum 1 scruple; mix and let dissolve. Excellent in chronic inflamations.

460. GARGLE OF BORAX

Take of borax 1 drm., tinc. of myrrh 1/2 oz., clarified honey 1 oz., rose or distilled water, 4 oz.; mix. To be used as a gargle or mouth wash in sore mouth or affection of the gums. Omit the myrrh and water, and there is nothing better for the thrush in children; clean rain water answers about the same purpose, in all cases, as distilled water.

461. GARGLE FOR SORE THROAT

Take of sulphate of quinine 15 grains, sulphate of copper 16 grains, aramotic sulphuric acid 1 drm., water 8 ozs.; mix and dissolve. To be used frequently in chronic and obstinate sore throats.

462. OINTMENT FOR PILES

Take of lard 1 oz., solution of subacetate of lead 25 drops, tinc. of opium 1 drm.; mix well. Anoint the parts twice a day.

463. OINTMENT FOR ITCH

Take of sublimed sulphur 2 ozs., lard 4 ozs., oil of lavender 1 drm. Make into an ointment. To be rubbed on the parts affected every night, till the eruption disappears. The internal use of sulphur will, in all cases, assist its external application.

464. BLISTERING OINTMENT

Take of lard 32 parts, oil of almonds 2 parts, strong liquor of ammonia 17 parts; melt the lard, add the oil, then the ammonia, must be strong, and keep the contents of the bottle well mixed by shaking them until cold. This will blister in half an hour.

465. IODINE OINTMENT

Take of iodine 3 grs., lard 2 drms.; make into an ointment; applied to scrofulous swellings when the skin is unbroken. It is the only cure for what is popularly termed thick neck.

466. OINTMENT OF IODINE OF ZINC

Take of iodide of zinc 1 drm., lard 1 oz.; make onto an ointment. A drm. to be rubbed on twice a day in tumors.

467. OINTMENT FOR CHILBLAINS

Take of lard 7-1/2 drms., creosote 10 drops, solution of subacetate of lead 10 drops, watery extract of opium 1 grain; mix. Apply to the affected parts.

468. OINTMENT FOR DISEASES OF THE SKIN

Take of citrine ointment 1-1/2 drm., sublimed sulphur 1 drm., lard 3 ozs.; make an ointment. This is a good application for almost all affections of the skin.

469. EMOLLIENT OINTMENT

Take of palm oil 2 lbs., olive oil 1 pint, turpentine 4 oz., red beeswax 6 ozs.; melt the wax in the oils, and then add the turpentine and strain the ointment. This is a most excellent application for inflamed parts, &c.

470. POKE ROOT OINTMENT

Take of poke root 3 ozs., lard 1 lb., boil for a quarter of an hour and strain. This ointment has quite a reputation in Virginia, with the old ladies, for all kinds of old sores and ulcers, and it is an excellent application to indolent and purulent ulcers and sores.

471. OINTMENT FOR HYDROCEPHALUS

Take of iodide of mercury 2 parts, iodide of potassium 3 parts, camphor 2 parts, lard 32 parts; mix and keep well corked. To be rubbed on the head in hydrocephalus or water on the brain in doses of half a drachm to a drachm.

472. LINAMENT FOR BURNS

Take of olive oil 1 oz., linseed oil 1 oz., lime water 1 oz.; mix well. This forms an excellent application for recent scalds and burns.

473. VOLATILE LINAMENT

Take of olive oil 1 oz., aqua ammonia 1 oz.; mix. To be applied to bruises, rheumatic parts, &c., and to the neck in inflammation of the throat.

474. ALKALINE CATAPLASM

Take of lye, rather weak, warm it and stir in of slippery elm bark or flaxseed, or meal sufficient to form a poultice. This is a most excellent poultice, and should be used more than it is. It is useful in inflammation of the breast and other parts, felons, wounds, fistula, &c.

475. ANODYNE FOMENTATION

Take of laudanum 4 ozs., water 1 pint; mix. For painful affections of the joints, as chronic rheumatism, &c., hops dipped in hot vinegar will answer as well.

476. COMMON CLYSTER

Take of flaxseed tea or cornmeal gruel, from one to two pints, sweet oil 2 or 3 ounces, common salt one teaspoonful, brown sugar two tablespoonsful; mix.

477. ANODYNE CLYSTER

Take of a solution of starch in water, of jelly, or water half a pint, laudanum forty drops; mix. The whole to be injected in cases of dysentery, violent purging and pain in the bowels.

478. INJECTION FOR LEUCORRHOEA

Take of sulphate of zinc 10 grs., tinc. of opium 1/2 drm., rose water 4 oz.; mix and dissolve. To be injected several times a day.

479. ANOTHER

Take of alum 10 grs., rose water 4 oz.; mix and dissolve. To be used frequently.

480. ESSENCE OF BEEF

Take of lean beef sliced 1 lb., put it into a bottle or jar closely corked; place this in a vessel of cold water and boil for an hour or more; then decant and skim the liquid. Chicken tea may be made in the same way. For more nourishing and palatable than beef tea, season it to suit the taste.

481. IMPERIAL DRINK

Take of cream of tartar one drm., the outer rind of fresh lemon or orange peel half a drm., loaf sugar one ounce, boiling water two pints. When they have stood in a pitcher about ten minutes, strain off the liquor. This makes a beautiful cooling drink, and is an excellent article in fevers.

482. RINGWORM LOTION

Take of sublimate of mercury, 5 grains; spirits of wine, 2 oz.; tinc. of musk, 1 drachm; rose water, 6 oz.; mix well, and rub well in.

483. WHISKERS AND MOUSTACHES

The best method of promoting the growth of whiskers and moustaches, is to shave the parts frequently, and use as a stimulant the ashes of burned tobacco macerated in bay water.

484. COUGH SYRUP

Take of hoarhound, 1 quart; water 1 quart; mix and boil down to a pint; then add two or three sticks of liquorice and a tablespoonful of essence of lemon; dose, a tablespoonful three times a day, or as often as the cough is troublesome.

485. BLACK SALVE

Take of sweet oil 1 oz., linseed oil 1 oz., pulverized red lead 1 oz.; put all into an iron dish over a moderate fire, constantly stirring until you can draw your finger over a drop of it on a board, when a little cool, without sticking; when it is done, spread on a cloth and apply as other salves.

486. SEIDLITZ POWDERS

Take of rochelle salts, 2 drachms; bicarbonate of soda, 2 scruples; put these into a blue paper, and put 35 grains of tartaric acid into a white paper. To use, put each into different tumblers, half fill each with water, and put a little loaf sugar in with the acid, then pour them together and drink; this makes a very pleasant cathartic. Effervescing draught is made by leaving out the rochelle salts.

487. CAMPHOR ICE

Take of spermaceti, 1-1/2 oz.; gum camphor, 3/4 oz.; oil of sweet almonds, 4 teaspoonsful; mix, and apply heat just enough to melt all together. Whilst warm, pour into small moulds, then paper, and put up in tin-foil. This, for chaps on hands or lips, cannot be equalled.

488. FOR SALT RHEUM

Take a quantity of the pokeweed, any time in summer, pound it, press out the juice, strain it into a pewter dish, and set it in the sun until it acquires the consistency of salve; then put it into an earthen mug, add to it water and beeswax sufficient to make an ointment of common consistency. Simmer the whole over a fire till thoroughly mixed; when cold, it is ready for use. To be rubbed on the part affected. The most obstinate cases have yielded to this in three or four months. Try it.

489. ARTIFICIAL SKIN

Dissolve gun cotton in sulphuric ether, and thicken it with gum mucilage. This article touched upon a cut or bruise, forms, immediately, an artificial skin, which cannot be washed off. It is very useful as it obviates the necessity of finger cots or bandages. It is excellent for sore nipples.

490. HAIR RESTORATIVE

Take of sugar of lead, 1 oz.; lack sulphur, 1 oz.; essence of bergamot, 1/2.; bay rum, 1 gill; alcohol, 1 gill; and half a teaspoonful of salt; dissolve, first, the sugar of lead and sulphur in the alcohol, then the other ingredients; and add the whole to a gallon of warm soft water, then bottle it tightly, and it is fit for use. To be applied several times a day. This is a most excellent article, give it a trail.

491. TO REMOVE WARTS AND CORNS

This is very often done by means of nitrate of silver, or some of the mineral acids; but the best caustic for this purpose is that recommended for cancer in the skin.

492. CANCER IN THE SKIN

No one but an impostor will presume to cure a true cancer, containing the cancer cell, and situated in the muscles. Many times hard tumors, not containing the cancer cell, are called cancers, and are removed by different methods, which is very easily accomplished, without a danger of their returning; by which means base quacks become lauded by the illiterate, for their superior skill in banishing this dreadful malady, and the orphan, and finally, in consequence thereof, plunge themselves headlong over yonder precipice of eternal misery. Cancer which are situated in the skin, and are sometimes called spider cancers, &c., may be cured by the following caustic: take of sulphate of iron, 1 part; and acetate of lead, 1 part; pulverize each separately, as fine as possible, and mix well together; then, by means of a probe or knitting-needle, touch the cancer with it every morning for three or four times, and you will be able to draw it all out; after which apply adhesive straps that it may heal. It is used in the same way to destroy corns and warts. In the case of cancer, physic well before applying it.

493. FOR WORMS

Give a child one year old 15 drops of spirits of turpentine on sugar, fasting, for three mornings in succession; follow the last dose with a good dose of castor oil; this forms an excellent vermifuge. The dose of spirits of turpentine for a child two years old is 20 drops, three years old 25 drops, four years old 30 drops, &c.

494. SPASMODIC CROUP

Genuine croup is indeed of very rare occurrence, and is a fearfully dangerous disease, the only chances are to call in a physician at once. In genuine croup, the child seems to have a cold and is hoarse for a few days previous to the attack; but the fit generally comes on suddenly in spasmodic croup, which may be treated as follows. During the fit put the child in a warm bath, apply hot water to the throat, allow fresh air, and sprinkle the face and chest with cold water.

495. FOR FLATULENCY

Make a tea of the seeds of anise, caraway, and coriander, and drink freely of it.

496. FOR HICCOUGH

Take five drops of oil of anise on sugar when they commence to be troublesome.

497. FOR HEARTBURN

This is a very disagreeable sensation, but may be banished by taking a teaspoonful of carbonate of soda dissolved in half a tumbler full of sweetened water.

498. ERYSIPELAS

This when very bad needs the attendance of a physician; when not so bad, paint the inflamed part over with white lead, mixed with paint oil, it is an excellent remedy.

499. FOR FELON

Poultice well with flaxseed meal until matter begins to form, then at once have it well laid open with a lance, continue the poultice for some time afterwards.

500. HAIR RESTORATIVE

Take of black mustard seed 1/2 oz., red pepper 15 grains, blood root 1/2 oz., cantharides 15 grains, castile soap 1/2 oz., alcohol one quart; mix all together in a bottle, let stand for a week, occasionally shaking. Perfume with oil of bergamot, and apply three or four times a day.

501. TO KILL RATS AND MICE WITHOUT POISON

Slice up a quantity of corks, grease, and scent them with oil of anise; throw them in the way of the rats and mice; they will eat, but cannot digest them; the result is they will die.

502. EYE WATER