Mother's Remedies - Thomas Jefferson Ritter (guided reading books .txt) 📗

The Project Gutenberg EBook of Mother's Remedies, by T. J. Ritter

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Title: Mother's Remedies Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remedies from Mothers of the United States and Canada

Author: T. J. Ritter

Release Date: January 1, 2006 [EBook #17439]

Language: English

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOTHER'S REMEDIES ***

Produced by Don Kostuch

[Transcriber's Notes]

Some of the suggestions in this book may be helpful or at least have a placebo effect. Beware of the many recipes that include kerosene (coal oil), turpentine, ammonium chloride, lead, lye (sodium hydroxide), strychnine, arsenic, mercury, creosote, sodium phosphate, opium, cocaine and other illegal, poisonous or corrosive items. Many recipes do not specify if it is to be taken internally or topically (on the skin). There is an extreme preoccupation with poultices (applied to the skin, 324 references) and "keeping the bowels open" (1498 references, including related terms).

I view this material as a window into the terror endured by mothers and family members when a child or adult took ill. The doctors available (if you could afford one) could offer little more than this book. The guilt of failing to cure the child was probably easier to endure than the helplessness of doing nothing.

There are many recipes for foods I fondly remember eating as a child.

Note the many recipes for a single serving that involve lengthy and labor-intensive preparation. Refrigeration was uncommon and the temperature of iceboxes was well above freezing, so food had to be consumed quickly.

Many recipes use uncooked meat and eggs that can lead to several diseases.

Obvious typographical errors have been corrected but contemporary spelling and usage are unchanged. Page headers are retained, but are moved to the beginning of the paragraph where the text is interrupted. Page numbers are shown in brackets [ ].

The author claims the material is directed toward non-medical "family" members, but many passages are obviously copied from medical textbooks. The following glossary of unfamiliar (to me) terms is quite lengthy and does not include incomprehensible (to me) medical terms and many words and names I could not find in several reference books. The book's own 16 page dictionary is on page 893.

I recommend the article on "hydrophobia" (page 241) as an interesting history of the Pasture treatment.

Don Kostuch

Transcriber's Dictionary

These entries are absent or brief in the original dictionary on page 893. A short cooking dictionary is on page 831. Check there for items not found here.

acetanilide (also acetanilid)
  White crystalline compound, C6H5NH(COCH3), formerly used to relieve pain
  and reduce fever. It has been replaced because of toxicity.

Aconite
  Various, usually poisonous perennial herbs of the genus Aconitum, having
  tuberous roots, palmately lobed leaves, blue or white flowers with large
  hoodlike upper sepals, and an aggregate of follicles. The dried leaves
  and roots of these plants yield a poisonous alkaloid that was formerly
  used medicinally. Also called monkshood, wolfsbane.

actinomycosis (lumpy jaw)
  Inflammatory disease of cattle, hogs, and sometimes humans, caused by
  actinomyces; causes lumpy tumors of the mouth, neck, chest, and abdomen.

Addison's disease
  Caused by partial or total failure of adrenocortical function;
  characterized by a bronze-like skin color and mucous membranes, anemia,
  weakness, and low blood pressure.

ad libitum
  At the discretion of the performer. Giving license to alter or omit a
  part.

affusion
  Pouring on of liquid, as in baptism.

ague
  Alternating periods of chills, fever, and sweating. Used in reference to
  the fevers associated with malaria.

aletris farinosa (Colicroot, star grass, blackroot,
blazing star, and unicorn root )
  Bitter American herb of the Bloodwort family, with small yellow or white
  flowers in a long spike (Aletris farinosa and A. aurea).

algid
  Cold; chilly.

alkanet
  European perennial herb (Alkanna tinctoria) having cymes of blue flowers
  and red roots. The red dye extracted from the root. Plants of the
  Eurasian genus Anchusa, having blue or violet flowers grouped on
  elongated cymes.

allyl
  Univalent, unsaturated organic radical C3H5.

aloin
  Bitter, yellow crystalline compound from aloe, used as a laxative.
alum
  Double sulfates of a trivalent metal such as aluminum, chromium, or iron
  and a univalent metal such as potassium or sodium, especially aluminum
  potassium sulfate, AlK(SO4)2 12H2O, widely used in industry as
  clarifiers, hardeners, and purifiers and medicinally as topical
  astringents and styptics.

anemonin
  Acrid poisonous compound containing two lactone groups; obtained from
  plants of the genus Anemone and genus Ranunculus, containing the
  buttercups.

aneurysm (aneurism)
  Localized, blood-filled dilatation of a blood vessel caused by disease
  or weakening of the vessel wall.

animadversion
  Strong criticism. Critical or censorious remark:

anise
  Aromatic Mediterranean herb (Pimpinella anisum) in the parsley family,
  cultivated for its seed-like fruits and the oil; used to flavor foods,
  liqueurs, and candies.

anodyne
  Relieves pain.

antipyrine (antipyrin, phenazone)
  Analgesic and antipyretic (reduces fever) C11H12N2O formerly used, but
  now largely replaced by less toxic drugs such as aspirin.

antrum
  Cavity or chamber, especially in a bone. Sinus in the bones of the upper
  jaw, opening into the nasal cavity.

apomorphine
  Poisonous white crystalline alkaloid, C17H17NO2, derived from morphine
  and used to induce vomiting.

arnica
  Perennial herbs of the genus Arnica. Tincture of the dried flower heads
  of the European species A. montana, applied externally to relieve the
  pain and inflammation of bruises and sprains.

articular
  Relating to joints: the articular surfaces of bones.

asafetida (asafoetida)
  Fetid (offensive odor) gum resin of Asian plants of the genus Ferula
  (especially F. assafoetida, F. foetida, or F. narthex). It has a strong
  odor and taste, and was formerly used as an antispasmodic and a general
  prophylactic against disease.

atresia
  Absence or closure of a normal body orifice or tubular passage such as
  the anus, intestine, or external ear canal. Degeneration and resorption
  of one or more ovarian follicles before a state of maturity has been
  reached.

atropine
  Poisonous, bitter, crystalline alkaloid, C17H23NO3, obtained from
  belladonna and related plants. Used to dilate the pupils of the eyes and
  as an antispasmodic.

bainmarie
  Large pan of hot water in which smaller pans may be placed to cook food
  slowly or to keep food warm.

barberry
  Shrubs of the genus Berberis having small yellow flowers, and red,
  orange, or blackish berries.

baryta
  A barium compounds, such as barium sulfate.

baste
  Sew loosely with large running stitches to hold together temporarily.

batiste
  Fine, plain-woven fabric made from various fibers and used especially
  for clothing.

bedizen
  Ornament or dress in a showy or gaudy manner.

belladonna (deadly nightshade)
  Poisonous Eurasian perennial herb (Atropa belladonna) with solitary,
  nodding, purplish-brown, bell-shaped flowers and glossy black berries.
  An alkaloidal extract of this plant used in medicine.

benne (sesame)
  Tropical Asian plant (Sesamum indicum) bearing small flat seeds used as
  food and as a source of oil.

benzoin
  Balsamic resin obtained from certain tropical Asian trees of the genus
  Styrax and used in perfumery and medicine. Also called benjamin, gum
  benjamin, gum benzoin. A white or yellowish crystalline compound, C14
  H12 O2, derived from benzaldehyde.

berberine
  Bitter-tasting yellow alkaloid, C20H19NO5, from several plants such as
  goldenseal. Used medically as an antipyretic and antibacterial agent.

bergamot
  Small tree (Citrus aurantium subsp. bergamia) grown in southern Italy
  for its sour citrus fruits. The rinds yield an aromatic oil (bergamot
  oil) used in perfume.

beri-beri
  Deficiency of thiamine, endemic in eastern and southern Asia and
  characterized by neurological symptoms, cardiovascular abnormalities,
  and edema.

Berserker
  Ancient Norse warriors legendary for working themselves into a frenzy
  before a battle and fighting with reckless savagery and insane fury.

bijouterie
  Collection of trinkets or jewelry; decorations.

bilious
  Relating to bile. Excess secretion of bile. Gastric distress caused by a
  disorder of the liver or gallbladder. Resembling bile, especially in
  color: a bilious green. Peevish disposition; ill-humored.

bistort
  Eurasian perennial herb (Polygonum bistorta) with cylindrical spikes of
  pink flowers and a rhizome used as an astringent in folk medicine.

blue flag
  Several irises with blue or blue-violet flowers, especially Iris
  versicolor of eastern North America.

blue stone (blue vitriol, blue copperas, chalcanthite)
  Hydrated blue crystalline form of copper sulfate.

bobbinet
  Machine-woven net fabric with hexagonal meshes.

boil
  Painful, circumscribed pus-filled inflammation of the skin and
  subcutaneous tissue usually caused by a local staphylococcal infection.
  Also called furuncle.

bolster
  Long narrow pillow or cushion.

bombazine
  Fine twilled fabric of silk and worsted or cotton, often dyed black for
  mourning clothes.

boracic acid (boric acid)
  Water-soluble white or colorless crystalline compound, H3BO3, used as an
  antiseptic and preservative.

boutonniere
  Flower or small bunch of flowers worn in a buttonhole.

bryonia
  Small genus of perennial old world tendril-bearing vines (family
  Cucurbitaceae) having large leaves, small flowers, and red or black
  fruit; Dried root of a bryony (Bryonia alba or B. dioica) used as a
  cathartic.

bubo (buboes)
  An inflamed, tender swelling of a lymph node, especially in the area of
  the armpit or groin, that is characteristic of bubonic plague and
  syphilis.

bubonic plague (black death)
  Contagious, often fatal epidemic disease caused by the bacterium
  Yersinia (syn. Pasteurella) pestis, transmitted from person to person or
  by the bite of fleas from an infected rodent, especially a rat; produces
  chills, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and the formation of buboes.

buchu
  South African shrubs of the genus Agathosma, especially A. betulina and
  A. crenulata; the leaves are used as a mild diuretic and provide an
  aromatic oil used for flavoring.

burdock
  Weedy, chiefly biennial plants of the genus Arctium.

cachexia
  Weight loss, wasting of muscle, loss of appetite, and general debility
  during a chronic disease.

cajeput (paperbark)
  Australian and southeast Asian tree (Melaleuca quinquenervia, M.
  leucadendron) of the myrtle family (Myrtaceae); yields a pungent
  medicinal oil; grown in Florida.

calamine
  White or colorless mineral, essentially Zn4Si2O7(OH)2.H2O
  (hemimorphite). Pink, odorless, tasteless powder of zinc oxide with a
  small amount of ferric oxide, dissolved in mineral oils and used in skin
  lotions.

calcareous
  Composed of calcium carbonate, calcium, or limestone; chalky.

cale
  Variety of cabbage in which the leaves do not form a head, being nearly
  the wild form of the species; also called kail.

calomel
  Colorless, white or brown tasteless compound, Hg2Cl2, used as a
  purgative and insecticide. Mercurous chloride.

cambric
  Finely woven white linen or cotton fabric.

cantharis (pl. cantharides) (also called Spanish fly) Brilliant green blister beetle (Lytta vesicatoria or Cantharis vesicatoria) of central and southern Europe. Toxic preparation of the crushed, dried bodies of this beetle, formerly used as a counter-irritant for skin blisters and as an aphrodisiac.

capsicum
  Topical American pepper plants, genus Capsicum, especially C. annuum and
  C. frutescens.

capsid (mirid bug, mirid)
  Variety of leaf bug.

carbolic acid (phenol)
  Caustic, poisonous, white crystalline compound, C6H5OH, derived from
  benzene and used in resins, plastics, and pharmaceuticals and in dilute
  form as a disinfectant and antiseptic.

carbuncle
  A painful localized bacterial infection of the skin that usually has
  several openings discharging pus.

cardamom
  Rhizomatous (horizontal, usually underground stem) Indian herb
  (Elettaria cardamomum) having capsular fruits with aromatic seeds used
  as a spice or condiment. Plants of the related genus Amomum, used as a
  substitute for cardamom.

carminative
  Inducing the expulsion of gas from the stomach and intestines.

cascara (See Rhamnus purshiana)
  A buckthorn native to northwest North America; the bark yields cascara
  sagrada.

cassia
  Tropical or subtropical trees, shrubs, or herbs of the genus Cassia in
  the pea family, having yellow flowers, and long, flat or cylindrical
  pods. Tropical Asian evergreen tree (Cinnamomum cassia) having aromatic
  bark used as a substitute for cinnamon.

Castile soap
  Fine, hard, white, odorless soap made of olive oil and sodium hydroxide.

castor oil
  Colorless or pale yellowish oil extracted from the seeds of the
  castor-oil plant, used as a laxative and skin softener.

catarrh
  Inflammation of mucous membranes, especially in the nose and throat.

catechu (cutch, Acacia catechu, betel palm) Spiny Asian tree with yellow flowers, and dark heartwood. A raw material obtained from the heartwood of this plant, used in the preparation of tannins and brown dyes.

caudal
  Near the tail or hind parts; posterior. Similar to a tail in form or
  function.

caustic potash (potassium hydroxide)
  Caustic white solid, KOH, used as a bleach and in the manufacture of
  soaps, dyes, alkaline batteries.

cerate
  Hard, unctuous, fat or wax-based solid, sometimes medicated, formerly
  applied to the skin directly or on dressings.

chambray
  Fine lightweight fabric woven with white threads across a colored warp.

chancel
  Space around the altar of a church for the clergy and sometimes the
  choir, often enclosed by a lattice or railing.

chary
  Cautious; wary; not giving or expending freely; sparing.

chelidnium
  Herbs of the poppy family (Papaveraceae) with brittle stems, yellowish
  acrid juice, pinnately divided leaves, and small yellow flowers that
  includes the celandine. Preparation of celandine (Chelidonium majus)
  used formerly as a diuretic.

Cheviot
  Breed of sheep with short thick wool, originally raised in the Cheviot
  Hills. Fabric