Important: Safety Warning
This page contains a formula or preparation using substances now known to be dangerously toxic, such as arsenic, mercury, lead, or cyanide compounds. Exposure to these substances can cause severe poisoning, permanent injury, or death.
In addition, this page describes preparations historically taken to end pregnancy or "bring on the menses." These substances do not work as claimed and are seriously toxic; their use has caused poisoning and death.
In addition, this page gives first-aid or emergency advice that predates modern medicine and can make an emergency worse. Do not follow it. In any medical emergency, call emergency services and follow current first-aid guidance.
In addition, this page presents medical treatment from an era before modern medicine. The remedies described are ineffective against the conditions named, and some of the ingredients or doses are harmful. Do not use them to treat any illness; consult a qualified medical professional.
In addition, this page prescribes plants as medicine according to pre-modern medical theory. Several of the plants named are toxic, correct identification is difficult, and the doses given have no scientific basis. Do not ingest or apply any preparation described here.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
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The Family Physician
How to make Eye-water.
TAKE a quarter of a pint of Lisbon wine, and a qnarter of an ounce of lapis calaminaris in powder, and put them together and shake the bottle now and then; and make use of this to your eyes with a bit of rag, and it will presently heal and strengthen weak and sore eyes.
How to make salve for all wounds.
Take one pound of hog's lard, three ounces of white lead, three ounces of red lead, three ounces of bees' wax, two ounces of black rosin, and four ounces of common turpentine; all these ingredients must be put together in a pan, and boil three quarters of an hour; the turpentine to be put in just before it is done enough, and give it a gentle boil afterwards. This is an excellent salve for burns, old sores, or ulcers, as it first draws, then heals afterwards; it is excellent for all wounds, and ought to be always kept in your house. The essential uses of the Oil of Carraways.
It is good against plague, poison, and melancholy;--causeth rest, helps difficulty of urine, jaundice, dropsy; it breaks the stone, and expels it, stops fluxes, and expels wind; it comforts all the inward parts; it provokes the terms, and is powerful in removing all obstructions of the liver, spleen, and lungs, causing a sweet breath, taking away asthmas, helping ulcers of the lungs, and giveth a good appetite; it is good in all diseases proceeding from colds, and any way afflicting the head or nerves, as vertigos, catarrhs, megrim and head-aches; also deafness, if one drop thereof be mixed with the oil of almonds, and put into the ear every morning. The dose is six, eight, or ten drops, in any convenient liquor; outwardly you may anoint with it, by mixing it with the oil of almonds, and you may always get them at the chemist's.
The Oil of Juniper berries.