Grandma's Medicine Cabinet
Nursing Medicines

INTRODUCTION
Women were often the herbalists in early America. With the rise of scientific medicine in the 1800s, they were at first excluded from becoming doctors. However, when the opportunity arose, some expanded to the nursing profession. Later in the movement to scientific medicine they also became physicians. Women continued in nurturing roles within the family. Within the home, they cared for their children and spouses using techniques passed down through their families, techniques prescribed by physicians, or from information obtained from books.

Common diseases of childhood were largely infectious diseases. In addition, there were accidents. Both posed a major challenge for home care. In infancy dysentery was a major concern. The predominant childhood illnesses during the later half of the 1800s and early 1900s included: measles, chicken pox, diphtheria, scarlet fever, tuberculosis, whooping cough, and mumps. Other diseases of concern were malaria (often called ague or fever), smallpox and even cholera. The last Yellow fever epidemic was in 1876. Then vaccines were not available for these diseases, nor was there health insurance. With vaccines came an increased life expectancy which went from around age 50 in the 1800s to over 70 in the mid-1900s. Up to the mid-1800s, only about one in three children lived to adulthood; later in the century, statistics improved, but still many died in infancy or childhood.

Scarlet fever became the most feared childhood disease as it became increasingly prevalent after 1830. Children became quite ill and convalescence was often long, especially when a complication such as the autoimmune disorder rheumatic fever followed. In his book published during the early 1800s, Dr. William Potts Dewees, described the progression of the disease, "As the disease proceeds, the neck and lower jaw grow stiff, the tonsils swell, and become marked with specks, which degenerate into ulcers, covered with superficial, ash-coloured sloughs. The sloughs on the tonsils grow fouler; and the discharge from them, and the nostrils, becomes exceedingly acrid" (Dewees, 1825, p. 467). Death often took place on the third or fourth day, although when the case was milder the illness would linger two to three weeks.

As germ theory was not a widely held belief during the 1800s, the cause of the illnesses were ascribed to everything from the rath of God to lack of sanitation, to 'odors', to personal superstitions.

Nursing care remained upto the individual family for the most part. Economics also played a part in what medicines were used and the care available. The farm families living in South Brunswick and Middlesex County put together medicines and remedies to be used in the care of their children and themselves. What follows are sample recipes and recommendations for remedies gathered from books common at the time. A heavy emphasis is on Dr. Chase's recipes since we know this well worn book to have been in the Perine household. Other recipes are included that address common diseases that appear missing from the Chase book.

The appendix gives information on the ingredients used in the recipies below. Pay particular attention to the cautions section of each appendix entry. Science has shown that some ingredients used in the recipies have negative and sometimes dangerous side effects; just because the ingredient is natural or of plant origin, they are not always benign. It is not recommended to use the recipies for health problems as none of the recipes have been scientifically tested; therefore they are not known to effect cures. These recipes do illustrate that families had a broad knowledge of the natural world around them and plants that they believed would help cure illness.

RECIPES

Colds; General Washington's Cure
The Baltimore American informs us that Gen. George Washington gave the following recipe for a cold to an old lady now living in Newport, when she was a very young girl. He was lodged in her father's house, the old Vernon mansion. As she was being sent to bed early with a very bad cold he remarked to Mrs. Vernon, the mother of this lady: My own remedy, my dear madam, is always to eat, just before I step into bed, a hot roasted onion if I have a cold. (Dr. Chase's book pg. 123)

Cure all
Take the flowers of Rosemary and put them in a linen cloth, and boil them in faire clean water to the half and cool it. And drink it for it is much worth against all evils in the body. ( A Litel Herball, 1550) [Shows herbals were early publications.]

Cough Syrup:
take of poplar bark and bethroot, each 1 lb. Later, 9 quarts boil gently in a covered vessel 15 or 20 minutes; strain through a coarse cloth; add 7 lbs. loaf sugar, and simmer till the scum ceases to rise. (Family hand book, c. 1855)


Rosehip Syrup (for sore throat and culinary use)
For this syrup you'll need:
1 & 1/4 cup of boiling water
1/4 lbs. rosehips
1/2 cup raw, unpasteurized honey
Pour boiling water over the rosehips, cover and leave to steep until it is room temperature. Strain the mixture in to a sauce pan, add honey add heat slowly to bring the liquid to a boil. Simmer gently until it thickens to the desired consistency. Cool and bottle. Use this syrup as a topping for cake, ice cream or with other items of your choosing. Mixes well with sparkling water for a delightful beverage! Also does wonders for a sore throat.

Winter Cough or Chronic Bronchitis, Remedy for.
Dr. Fletcher of Washington strongly recommends the employment of the spray of chloral in the treatment of the form of chronic bronchitis known as winter cough, which often offers a very obstinate resistance to remedies. He says, "A solution of 10 grs. Of chloral to an ounce of water may be inhaled through a steam atomizer morning and evening." (Chase)

Indian cough syrup
Elecampane root and Indian turnip (known also as wake robin, Jack-in-the Pulpit, etc.) bruised each 1 oz.; honey, 1 pt. Steep thoroughly and strain. Dose: A tea-spoonful to a table-spoonful as often as the cough or tickling requires it, at least 3 to 4 times daily. (Chase)

Dysentery
Blackberries are extremely useful in cases of dysentery. To eat the berries is very healthy; tea made of the roots and leaves is beneficial; and syrup made of the berries is still better. Blackberries have sometimes effected a cure when physicians despaired. (American Frugal Housewife, 1833)

Piles
Tea made of slippery elm is good for the piles, and for humors in the blood; to be drank plentifully (American Frugal Housewife, 1833)

Venereal Disease
Dr. Tracey of Conn. informed me that a decoction of the root (Common Flag) cured a woman of the lues venereal, when mercurials failed. (American Herbal 1801)

Impotency, Especial Tonic for.
Strychnine, 1 gr.; sulphate of quinine (phosphate of quinine is the best, but it is not kept by druggists.. (Chase pg. 180)
[EDITOR'S NOTE: Strychnine is a POISON and not to be ingested; this recipe is included as it represents a medicine used at the time and thought efficacious.]

Tonic pill for Sexual Debility
Dr. Benj. A. Penn, of Bryantsburg, Ind. Gives a valuable pill for sexual debility, in the May number of Brief of 1882. A Strychnine, 3 grs.; sulphate of quinine (phosphate is best, if it can be obtained) 120 grs.; iron by hydrogen, 120 grs.; mix thoroughly and make into 240 pills. DOSE: Take 1 pill every 6 hours during the day; and after the system becomes used to them take 1 every 4 hours.
Remarks: The only change I would suggest in this pill is that the quinine should be doubled in amount, or one grain to each pill, as I think this would greatly increase its tonic power. (Chase, pg. 183)
[EDITOR'S NOTE: Strychnine is a POISON and not to be ingested; this recipe is included as it represents a medicine used at the time and thought efficacious.]

Wounds
Lavender.
Take the best white wine vinegar, a handful of lavender leaves and flowers, the same quantity of sage leaves and flowers, hyssop, thyme, balm, savory; a good handful of salt and two heads of garlic; infuse these in the vinegar a fortnight or three weeks; the longer the better; and then it is found to be an excellent remedy for wounds. (Family Recipe Book, 1819)

Cuts:
(Bruised flowering tops of St. John's Wort) are good for wounds and bruises; they stop bleeding and serve as a balsam for one, and take off blackness in the other. (The Family Herbal, 1812)

Whooping cough, efficient remedy for.
A correspondent for one of the Detroit papers received information on a cure for it. Boiling chestnut leaves and sweetening that with brown sugar, adding, whooping cough generally remains 18 weeks, while by the use of this tea it can be cured in a few days. Remarks: I should gather the leaves before the nuts fall off. (Chase)

Whooping Cough Tincture
Tincture of blood root, 1 oz.; syrup of garlic, 1 oz.; solid ex. Of belladonna, 8 grs. Mix and be sure the extract is dissolved. Dose: Ten to 20 drops, according to age of the child, 3 times a day. Remarks: This is the favorite prescription of Dr. T.B. King of this city, Toledo, Ohio, an Old English physician who practiced in the army of India a number of years and then in the US, with very great success. This is his dependence in bad cases. (Chase)
[EDITOR'S NOTE: BELLADONNA CAN BE FATAL; DO NOT USE FOR TREATMENT. This recipe is included as it would represent a medicine used at the time and then thought efficacious.]

Another remedy is to cut up 3 to 4 Prickly Pear leaves in a quart of water and boil them, add sugar to sweeten. Drink freely. Infants enjoy this as do adults (Chase).

Piles, Lead Ointment for.
Rub well together, lard, 2 drs. and sulphur, 1 dr. Then rub it between two plates of lead, or large flat pieces of lead until the whole is well blackened. Dr. Warren says: It is not only soothing but curative, both in bleeding and blind piles (where no tumors come down). The food should be of a laxative nature; corn bread, or mush, bread of unbolted flower (Graham), mealy potatoes, ripe fruit, pudding and milk, buckwheat cakes, broths, and a little tender meat once a day. Remarks: When the digestion and circulation are good, there never are any piles. So keep the digestion and circulation good and have no piles. (Dr. Chase)

Baby's Colic
Mother should drink fennel tea or anise tea. (Pg. 277, Chase)

Drinks for Small Children Having Dyspeptic or Diarrheal Tendency
Rice-water, barley-water, oatmeal water, made by boiling a single handful of either of these into 1 qt. of water, with lemon and sugar should be ready in every home where there are children. These drinks are surely better than cold tea, which is often given. However, milk is considered better than anything else, when it is sweet and pure, and given in only small quantities at any one time, with lime-water. (Chase, pg 150)

Rose Petal Jam
Ingredients:
" 1/2 lbs. rose petals
" 1 & 1/4 cup of sugar
" 3 tbs. organic lemon juice
" 3/4 lbs. raw, unfiltered honey
Simmer petals in a small amount of water until tender. Add the sugar, honey and the lemon juice and cook gently until this mixture is a thick syrup consistency. Allow the mixture to cool a little, then pour it into sterile canning jars and seal.

Rosehip Tea
Make an infusion of rosehips with a pinch of cloves, cinnamon and a slice of lemon. To make an infusion, add 1 cup of boiling water to 1 ounce of herb. Do not boil the herb in the water. That's how you make a decoction...
Strain herbs out and serve the "tea" to restore and stimulate your vital energy.

Culinary use of Roses

Candied Rose Petals
Begin by slightly beating one egg-white in a small bowl. Sprinkle a layer of sugar on a small plate. Dip the rose petals first in egg-white, then in sugar so they are coated on both sides.
Dry these confections on a rack. Store the candied petals on wax paper, each layer separated by a paper towel or piece of cheesecloth.
Use these on candy trays, as a garnish for fruit cups, as a decoration on cakes and pies or to adorn a serving platter for a special meal.

Suggestions on How to Keep Well and Live Long

Life Lengthened, sensible Rules for
Dr. Hall, in his excellent Journal of Health, gives the following sensible and suggestive rules under the above heading:
I. Cultivate an equable temper: many have fallen dead in a fit of passion.
II. Eat regularly, not over thrice a day, and nothing between meals.
III. Got to bed at regular hours. Get up as soon as you wake yourself, and do not sleep in daytimeBat least, not longer than ten minutes before dinner.
IV. Work in moderation, and not as though you were doing it by the job.
V. Stop working before you are very much tired "before you are fagged out."
VI. Cultivate a generous and accommodating temper.
VII. Never cross a bridge before you come to it; this will save you half the troubles of life. (In other words, don't borrow trouble.)
VIII. Never eat when you are not hungry, nor drink when you are not thirsty.
IX. Let your appetite always come uninvited.
X. Cool off in a place greatly warmer than the one in which you have been exercising. This simple rule would prevent incalculable sickness and save thousands of lives every year.
XI. Never resist a call of nature, for a single moment.
XII. Never allow yourself to be chilled through and through; it is this which destroys so many every year, in a few days' sickness, from pneumonia, called by some, lung fever, or inflammation of the lungs.
XIII. Whoever drinks no liquids at meals will add years of pleasurable existence to his life. Of cold or warm drinks, the cold ones are the most pernicious. Drinking at meals induces persons to eat more than they otherwise would, as any one can verify by experiment; and it is excess in eating which devastates the land with sickness, suffering and death.
XIV. After fifty years of age, if not a day laborer, and sedentary persons at forty, should eat but twice a day, once in the morning and about four in the afternoon; for every organ without adequate rest will give out prematurely.
XV. Begin early to live under the benign influence of Christian religion, for it has the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. [Directly from Dr. Chase's book, illustrating belief systems of the time.]