Ointment.—Take pitch pine knots, and saw them into dust; then boil the dust in water; when well boiled, skim off the turpentine, and strain the water; then put in equal parts of rue, saffron, sage and camomile; boil the strength out, strain the liquid, and put in fresh butter.
Black Jaundice.—Take a handful of the leaves of artichoke, bruise, put them in an earthen pot, and pour three pints of good ale on them; set the pot near the fire, for two days; strain the liquor, to which add a quart of Tenerife wine. The patient, if costive, must take a wine glass of this syrup every morning, for nine mornings, first taking a dose of anti-bilious pills.
Seven Years’ Itch.—Take four ounces each of white hellebore and yellow sharp pointed dock root, and two ounces of elecampane root; bruise them in a mortar, and boil them in four quarts of water, down to two; strain the decoction, and while warm, dissolve one ounce of cura sal-amoniac in the wash; wet the parts with a linen rag, dipped in the lotion, every night at bed time, and take a teaspoonful of cream of tartar and flour of sulphur, in molasses, twice a day for three days, by which time the itch will be cured. This is a more cleanly method than using greasy ointments, and is an infallible and safe cure. Put on clean linen and sheets the fourth night, to prevent a relapse.
Corns on Feet.—To keep the feet in proper condition, they should be frequently soaked and well washed; at these times, the nails of the toes should be pared, and prevented from growing into the flesh. Corns are the most troublesome evils connected with the feet; they are of two kinds, soft and hard. The soft corns are those which grow between the toes; they may be easily removed by applying ivy leaf, steeped in vinegar; if the corn be very painful, change the ivy leaves every morning; the leaf may be steeped for one or two days before using.
Pleurisy.—Drink freely of soot tea, half a pint of hot tar water every hour, or a strong tea of nettles, and the leaves pounded and applied as a poultice, every day; at night, apply the white of an egg, mixed with sulphur.
Weakness.—Half pound spikenard root, half pound Solomon’s seal, quarter pound tamarac bark, and quarter pound lungwort; boil in one gallon rain water ten minutes, then let them steep six hours; strain, and add half pound loaf sugar and half pint best Holland gin. Take a wine glass full three times a day.
Loss of Appetite and Debility.—Take one pint of white pine bark, tamarac bark, and spikenard root, and one ounce spruce gum; boil all together in three quarts and a half rain water, fifteen minutes, then strain and add half pint molasses; boil six minutes, then let it cool. Drink half a teacup full morning and evening; if there is no heat, add half pint best brandy.
Small Pox.—Make a warm tea of saffron and catnip, and give the patient; immerse the feet in weak ley, and wash the body or surface three times a day.
Give also the follow ing: take one ounce mandrake, ten grains bitter root, four grains blood root, ten grains sassafras bark, and half ounce Turkey rhubarb; put all into one quart boiling water, and let them steep four hours; stir frequently, then strain. Give a child one year old, a teaspoonful four or five times a day—to others, according to age and constitution.
Bathe the head with tepid vinegar and water; if the throat is sore, gargle with sage and hyssop, sweetened with honey; when excessive restlessness prevents the rising and filling of the pox, give a teaspoonful of the syrup of poppies, in a little catnip tea, every five or six hours; and if purple spots appear among the pox, give yeast inwardly, and apply strong poultices to the feet.