A beat up edition of The Cottage Physician — published in 1892 — has been around my house forever; I’m not sure where it came from but I’ve always been fascinated reading about diseases and cures.
Every so often, I’ll blow the dust off and share some of the remedies here on Enchanted Seashells, Confessions of a Tugboat Captain’s Wife. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I do.
This was pre-antibiotics and I’m not sure how anyone survived any diseases at all back then. There’s also a homeopathic section and a botanical section with some interesting and even terrifying ingredients.
It seems like there was an overwhelming rush to flush the contents of the bowels as a method to rid the body of toxins and also as a cure for many diseases.
“…best known methods of treatment in all diseases, accidents and emergencies of the home prepared by the ablest physicians in the leading schools of medicine, allopathy, homeopathy, etc., etc., by Thomas Faulkner, J.H. Carmichael, assisted by other able physicians and surgeons of America and Europe.”
Bistort
Female Restorative
Strengthening Syrup
Comfrey root, marshmallow root, poplar bark, bistort root, white pond lily, cloves, and ginger, of each one ounce; water two quarts, boil down to three pints — strain–add loaf sugar, one pound, boil ten minutes and skim, then add French brandy, one pint. Dose: three or four tablespoons three or four times a day; in whites, bearings down, general debility, barrenness, etc. Note: My minimal research revealed that “whites” might mean anything from general female weakness to a discharge.
I think this sounds delicious, don’t you? Especially the French brandy. I can certainly agree that a woman might need a few doses every day for a reeeeeeelllly long time.
Gray Hair
The sedentary, the studious, the debilitated, and the sickly are, with very few exceptions, those who are earliest visited with gray hair. Persons whose employment renders much sitting necessary, and little or no exercise possible, are most likely to have gray hairs.
Treatment: Mix thoroughly a small quantity of sub-nitrate of bismuth with vaseline and brush a small quantity of it into the hair daily.
The entire book can be found online at http://openlibrary.org/books/OL23291374M/The_Cottage_physician
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. I’m merely sharing anecdotal content from a book I found interesting to read. This post contains general information about medical conditions and treatments. The information is not advice, and should not be treated as such. You must not rely on anything that you read here as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or other professional healthcare provider. If you have any specific questions about any medical matter you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider. If you think you may be suffering from any medical condition you should seek immediate medical attention. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website.
Credit: This was created using a Contractology template available at http://www.freenetlaw.com.
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Enchanted Seashells by Princess Rosebud 
Love this stuff. Perhaps the women’s remedy is only effective on Caucasians.
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Ha! I think “whites” refers to a vaginal discharge…
On Thu, Apr 18, 2013 at 3:45 PM, Enchanted Seashells…Confessions of a Tugbo
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Which is more offensive, really? I say it’s a toss-up.
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Oh there’s lots more offensive stuff where that came from ha ha. Wait til I get to the stuff about how women should treat their husbands!
On Thu, Apr 18, 2013 at 4:51 PM, Enchanted Seashells…Confessions of a Tugbo
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Do. Not. Go. There. Too much of that drizz on Pinterest.
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hahahaha. women must not be tempted. we are delicate.
On Thu, Apr 18, 2013 at 5:06 PM, Enchanted Seashells…Confessions of a Tugbo
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Love this stuff!!! Keep it coming!!
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You got it girlfriend! I’m a bit scared of some of it hence the old waiver thingy at the bottom, but this stuff is on the internet and I’m not prescribing, just sharing, so I think it’ll be OK. Some of it’s totes cray cray.
On Thu, Apr 18, 2013 at 5:39 PM, Enchanted Seashells…Confessions of a Tugbo
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We found a book from my husband’s grandmother about sex in the 30’s for the newly married. It was right full of advice such as: Every time your husband has an orgasm he loses love for you a little bit. You need to keep intercourse to minimum to keep him loving you.
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Oh geez, who wrote that? too funny. I’d love to hear more! Then i could post it all over the house. It kinda sounds like “la petite mort” or something like that. Have you heard that saying? The little death?
On Thu, Apr 18, 2013 at 6:10 PM, Enchanted Seashells…Confessions of a Tugbo
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LOL yes. My sister in law got the book, but I would love it to write about.
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I love this stuff too. Lots of great ideas. 🙂
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Lots of enemas, leeches, and laudanum. LOL
On Thu, Apr 18, 2013 at 6:33 PM, Enchanted Seashells…Confessions of a Tugbo
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Yee haw!!! LOL
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🙂
On Thu, Apr 18, 2013 at 8:15 PM, Enchanted Seashells…Confessions of a Tugbo
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Very cool. It’s a real walk down some fascinating history, with a lot that is alive and well today. Great post. 🙂
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Thank you! I’m glad you enjoy reading about that stuff, too!
On Thu, Apr 18, 2013 at 7:14 PM, Enchanted Seashells…Confessions of a Tugbo
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okay just lost my witty response – gone off somewhere in the cyber thingy. There actually were interventions that did work – not sure about these specific one figure anything with brandy will cure and if it does not – then who cares!
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I hate it when that happens but thank you for persevering!
On Thu, Apr 18, 2013 at 8:09 PM, Enchanted Seashells…Confessions of a Tugbo
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Oh, my mom will love this! She’s always trying to get me to rub strange things on my forehead (honey and lemon and what not) for headaches. Maybe she needs to take a look at this book… or maybe I should keep her away from it at the risk of having to rub anything else on my forehead. Thanks so much for the interesting post!
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I’m glad you liked it! Be careful, some of the ingredients look scary!
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Haha! Thank you for the words of caution, I will definitely be on the lookout!
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It’s almost like eye of newt and toe of frog.LOL
On Thu, Apr 18, 2013 at 9:30 PM, Enchanted Seashells…Confessions of a Tugbo
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Hahaha! I’m sure what I’d have to go through to get some of those ingredients isn’t worth the remedy!
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🙂
On Thu, Apr 18, 2013 at 9:44 PM, Enchanted Seashells…Confessions of a Tugbo
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I really enjoyed this post and sure has me laughing. Don’t know of any old cures but would enjoy hearing more of them..LOL
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Glad you liked it, me too!
On Thu, Apr 18, 2013 at 11:08 PM, Enchanted Seashells…Confessions of a Tugbo
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🙂
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I’m wondering if the “whites” refers to a woman who is not menstruating. At that time they would have been using rags which were rarely white!
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Can you imagine how difficult it must have been to stay sanitary and hygienic back then? Under all those skirts? Ick.
On Fri, Apr 19, 2013 at 12:20 PM, Enchanted Seashells…Confessions of a Tugbo
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I think I would have died, considering how bad I had endometriosis! Towards the end, even with all the modern aids & sanitary helpers, I was spending 12 days a month (if not more) in bed. I couldn’t even walk across the floor without leaking.
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Oh my goodness, I feel bad for you! Yes, you def would have been even more miserable, that’s for sure! I had a friend that suffered quite a bit and was out of commission for a few days every month, no gym, nothing!
On Fri, Apr 19, 2013 at 1:12 PM, Enchanted Seashells…Confessions of a Tugbo
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this is great! I went gray early.. hmmmmm I am not putting vaseline in my hair–yuck
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I dare you to try it. Double dare. Double dog dare. With sugar on top. And then have a few tablespoons of that “herbal” concoction, the one with the French brandy. And then take a pic. Come on. Dare ya.
On Sat, Apr 20, 2013 at 4:20 AM, Enchanted Seashells…Confessions of a Tugbo
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I think I’m a lost cause. Toooo much gray already at 44
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Now I know why creating new liquors was left to monks and why I’ve had to dye my hair since I was 33.
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For sure! Wait til you read my next installment…women were walking around totally drunk half the time I bet.
On Sat, Apr 27, 2013 at 11:52 AM, Enchanted Seashells…Confessions of a Tugbo
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