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Date Posted: 00:57:52 10/23/11 Sun
Author: BB
Subject: A spoonful of old medicine.............

From an 1872 book of medicinal preparations:

"Remoussin's Anti-Syphilitic Gargle: Take 1 ounce of a decoction of black nightshade and hemlock, and 3 grains bichloride of mercury."

Good grief! All three ingredients are deadly poisons. You definitely wouldn't want to exceed the stated dose.

I wonder what a lady would think if an amorous suitor interrupted a bit of shenanigans with "Wait there hen, Ah'm jist gaun fur a gargle. Back in a minute."

And anyone who was heard to be gargling habitually would be under suspicion of extreme naughtiness.

I was prompted to embark on this train of thought by reading that many of the old remedies are no longer available from pharmacies because they take too long to prepare and aren't profitable. Does anybody remember Gregory's Powder, made with pulverised rhubarb (a Scottish invention)? I don't, but it was one of the most prescribed preparations for gastric problems in the early 20th century and still available until a few years ago.

I think you can still get borax, which my dad used on his eyes using a blue plastic eye-cup. He was also a big fan of TCP, which he applied to any cut/rash/bite. Stung like a bugger mind.

My granny used to eat strips of raw liver in the 1960s as a treatment for pernicious anaemia, on the recommendation of her doctor. She consumed the gory material in the kitchen, alone, with the door closed; too embarrassed to take her "medicine" in front of the family. Which is why I remember her with fondness rather than as a possible descendant of Sawney Bean.

Finally, I remember having some sort of tar being plastered on an infected nipple when I was about seven. Plus a bandage being wrapped round my chest so tight I could barely breathe. Those weren't the days.

Dear BB pals, the combined memory of our group must be vast on this subject.

BB

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