The Victorians

[Caran]

Did anyone see this article in the Mail? It's about tips from the the likes of Mrs Beeton, some are priceless.

Remedy for whooping cough - Father to take a child to a field at sunset and gently hold their head in a hole.

Cure for Ague - Hold the feet of a dead chicken against your body.

Relief from teething pain - Hang a dead miole around the neck of your baby.

Baldness - Rub a cut onion on your head. ( I actually saw my father do this).

Earache - Place a readycooked baked potato on the painful area and secure tightly. (my mother made me have a sock filled with mashed potatoes strapped to my ear when I was little)

Runny nose - Sniff a mouldy sock.

We have advanced a bit I think.

[hc4361]

I still use black jack - I buy it from my chemist for 99p. It is mainly magnesium sulphate and is great for drawing tiny splinters and boils.

If I believe I have a tiny iron filing under my skin (from my hobby) I dab it on and put a plaster over for a day or two. Good for blind pimples and bruises, too.

[Barmaid]

Sibton, my boy improves every day. He is still on a diet of king prawns, chicken broth and milk but I am inclined to think he is just swinging the lead now. He went out today (mainly because I was a bit concerned that he was going to start taking the house down brick by brick - I caught him on the bloody roof last night because I had shut him in the spare room, with bed, food, litter tray etc, but left the velux window open thinking he wouldn't jump that far. Silly me.)

Thank you for asking. I think he is going to be OK. He certainly is getting back to his "normal" ways.

Sorry Carandrog.

[hc4361]

And I use witch hazel, from the same chemist, for bruises, cuts, sprains and little burns. 99p a bottle.

[Psybbo]

sorry caran but great news about ASBO thanks barmaid

[Ann]

I still have a very small amount of "Potters Psoriasis Oitment" left over from yonks ago, now sadly discontinued. It works wonders on any sore, itchy skin much better than any modern day cures. I am ekeing it out very sparingly and hope it outlasts me!

[hc4361]

Ann86, it's expensive but try Dream Cream from Lush if you have problem skin.
I have friends with psoriasis who swear by it.

Another modern goody is Avon Skin So Soft cream - it keeps midges, mosquitoes and all bugs away and a lot of our soldiers use it when they are posted abroad.

[Ann]

Thanks hc - will try the Dream Cream :) A tip for others suffering with psoriasis, I have recently discovered MSM cream Rose with aloe vera, shea butter and rose geranium oil made by Higher Nature. Its not as good as the old fashioned Potters ointment but still works ok and smells gorgeous.
http://www.highernatu...oducts/MSM-Cream-rose

[Dee Sa]

virol has brought back memories I loved it used to have in on bread and marg [ doorsteps if I had to cut the bread] can you still buy virol ?
an other "oldie" - my brother was very chesty and he had a Wrights Coal Tar night light in his room in its own little lantern and the door shut and next morning he and his pyjamas used to stink of the stuff the windows would be opened to air the room and get rid of the smell and then the same procedure would happen again at bedtime.