Mother's Remedies Part 175

Action: It is an agreeable carminative and stimulant, in easing the secretions and stimulating the wavelike movement of the bowels. It acts as an irritant to the bladder and urethra.

Uses.--It is put in laxative pills to prevent griping and to disguise the taste of the salines. It is useful in dyspepsia of aged persons and also good in flatulence and diarrhea. For menstrual cramps, due to suppression from exposure to cold it is useful as a warm tea and also for colds. It is also used in the spice plasters.

HONEY (Mel).--This is a saccharine fluid deposited in combs by the honey bee (Apis Mellifica).

Action: It is slightly laxative and a pleasant article of food. Honey and water is used as a gargle and to relieve cough, dryness of the mouth and fauces. When used as a gargle it increases the secretion of the mucous membrane and so relieves the congestion. It is apt to disorder the stomach when used too freely. Honey mixed with lemon juice and water is very good for a cough, especially the tickling kind.

LARD (Adeps).--This is a common household article known to all. It is frequently used as the basis for ointments and cerates and in domestic practice as a lubricant. Tincture benzoin added to it prevents it from becoming rancid. It can be used in corrosive poisoning as an antidote except where phosporus and carbolic acid have been swallowed. It is also used in preparing articles of food. It has more penetrating power than petrolatum or vaselin. Washed lard, beaten up with an equal quant.i.ty of lime-water, and a few drops of oil of bitter almond, thymol, or carbolic acid added, is splendid for burns; stiffened with yellow wax it forms the simple ointment often used. It softens the hard skin and reduces its heat, when the natural secretion is suppressed. It also softens and removes scabs and lessens and prevents the effect of irritant discharges. The simple lard ointment relieves the intense heat and itching of the skin in scarlet fever. Dissolved and given in large doses it causes nausea and vomiting.

[MEDICAL USES OF COMMON ARTICLES 673]

MUSTARD (Sinapis).--Mustard flour, two tablespoonfuls to a gla.s.s of water, acts as an emetic. If given largely it produces violent gastritis, and chronic gastritis is often set up by its constant use in excess. It should not be used in acute dyspepsia and bowel irritation.

External: It is applied for colic due to flatulence and for acute inflammation of different organs and is also good when applied to the nape of the neck in headache, neuralgia, etc. Lint soaked in limewater and olive oil relieves the excessive burning from the plaster. Mustard foot baths made by using one handful of ground mustard to half pail of hot water is useful in colds, sleeplessness, headache, convulsions, dysmenorrhea.

CREAM OF TARTAR (Pota.s.sii 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 p.r.i.c.kly 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]

UNCLa.s.sIFIED 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.

[UNCLa.s.sIFIED 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.--Sc.r.a.pe 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 Capsic.u.m 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 winegla.s.sful 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 quant.i.ty 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."