Down Home Remedies

Looking at local county history, perhaps one of the things that has changed most noticeably is that of medicine and home remedies. A cousin recently found a "diary" of sorts which disclosed the kind of rugged life many of our ancestors struggled to live.

Sarah Ann Sager was born in 1852 in Ohio and was one of fourteen children. During her married life in Illinois, Sarah kept a notebook in which births, marriages, and deaths of family and friends were recorded. Also found in her writing were recipes (mostly desserts), poems and household hints. Of greatest interest in her notebook are the home remedies. Her spelling reflects her German back-ground and the many cures reflect the necessity of some knowledge of cures or perhaps her interest in medicine.

"Crmel" Icing, Rebel Cake and Green Tomato "Saus" were just a few of the many recipes. Others included Grape Wine, and instructions on how to make soap. Her remedy for snake "bit" (bite), was to "procure the yelk of an egg and mix with enuff salt to make a good pultice. "(Put) on the bite and bandage tightly. Watch the solution and when it is full of poison it will change color and should be renewed."

Her other cures were as follows"
Ear Ache --- Roast to getter onions and tobacco and squeeze the juice. Drop in the ear.

Croup --- Melt butter and molasses to getter and give till child vomits. Sure cure.

Sour Throat --- Cut slices of salt pork or fat bacon. Simmer a few moments in hot vinegar. Apply to the throat as hot as possible (with) soft flannel. Gargel of equil part Borax alum. Dissolve in water.

Remedy for Pinworms --- Less than a quarter teaspoonfull flat of common soda dissolved in half a cup of water is suffichent to change the worms into a jelly. If the child is young an eighth of a spoonful or half can be used.

Sarah Ann had several uses for eggs. She suggested that "a raw egg taken immediately will usually carry down a fish bone that cannot be gotten up from the throat." She also stated that the "white of an egg beaten with loaf sugar and lemon juice relieves hoarsness" and that "the white skin that lines the white of an egg is a useful application for a boil."

Rheumatism must have been prevalent in those days as she had several cures listed in her book for it. One suggestion was "one tablespoon of lard, add 50 drops of Carbolic Acid and stir in well. Apply 3 or 4 times a day. Tired and found excellent."

Another cure was "fluid extract Dandelion one half ounce. Compound hargon one ounce. Coumpound sarsaparilla 3 ounces." A third recipe for "Rheumatism" was "Mix one half pint of good whiskey with one ounce of Loris Compound and add one ounce of syrup Sarsaparilla Compound. Take in tablespoonfull before each meal and befor going to bed."

An excellent remedy for asthma, Sarah Ann wrote, was "tea made by steeping cockleburs. A bunch as large as the head of a small baby will make a quart of tea. Take a wine glass 4 times a day." She also suggested for dropsy, "Mullen and elder leaves. Make tea and bathe feet as hot as can be boren."

She suggested that "when a houseplant especially a fern is dying, pour a tablespoon of castor oil around the roots. This will make the plant look green and fresh in a short time."

"For Sun Pain, go on the east side of a wild cherry tree and reach up as hight as possible and peel the inside bark and make tea and sweeten with sugar and drink it. It is good for sun pain."

Reading the process and ingredients of Sarah Ann's remedies makes one thankful for today's drug store just around the corner!!

Story ID:	166
Written by:	Yvonne K. Meckfessel (bio, contact, other stories)
Story type:	Period Piece
Location:	Richland County IL United States
Year:	1852
Person:	Sarah Ann Sager