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

by Thomas Jefferson Ritter

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Reference, Medical, Classics, History, Amazon

1263 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1910

Reviews

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't even know where to begin. So many remedies. Kind of like Jethro Koss's book nautural remedies, and my grandmother. I really don't know how well these actually work, but I still swear by rose hips and chamomile tea for some ailments. I don't know if they cure, but they comfort! Interesting read on folk medicines.

[Justin · Rating 2 out of 5]

As you might expect this is outdated. It seems like a bad idea to snuff alum for a nosebleed. I think it would work, but I'd expect some toxicity there

[Jay Newman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is actually a great reference book even being what most would consider out-dated. Not as much has changed as you 'd think.

[Leslie]

I found Mother's Remedies at an unusual bookstore while looking for a vintage beekeeping book. The book smelled a little musty but I still found it charming and purchased it. (the bookseller told me that the best way to rid an "old book smell" is s to place a fabric softener sheet in the front, middle and back of an old book and seal in a zip-lock bag for 24 hours. It definitely helped but did not eliminate the smell) After browsing through the book I am happy to say that I LOVE the herb section which lists over 100 "common" herbs and detailed directions for the use and preparation of them. I also love the colorful herb prints that are in this book and may remove and frame them for my kitchen wall! The section on "miscellaneous recipes" is entertaining and "entry 253" reads "Sweeping as a Beautifier-'the average woman who does her own housework gets exercise enough, only it is not under the best conditions, for the air, as a rule, is not sufficiently fresh. If she wants to be benefitted physically, while putting her house in order, let her make it like the outdoors, with the windows wide open so the fresh air can sweep through the rooms. If necessary she can wear a jacket while making beds and sweeping, and by the time her work is done she is bound to be in a healthy glow. If she does not do housework she must go outdoors, and walk, and indeed, a little walking is desirable even for the housekeeper.'" Although this sounds dated, housework does have to be done and it is healthy to get fresh air. I will try wearing a jacket this fall while cleaning my house with the windows open:) Or how about this ... "Our Winter Supply-From an instinct, which ought to be common to all of us, in time of plenty we lay something aside for the time of need. As housewives this truth comes home to us, especially in the summer when we have an abundance of fruit which, without care, would soon become worthless. By reason of which fact we have developed methods of canning, preserving, etc., which at present time have become so advanced that we can retain a very large share of the original color, flavor and shape of the fruit." It goes on to list canning instructions for canning several items. Another section on medical home remedies offers some useful and some now known to be dangerous remedies, i.e. "hot" water douches, etc. All in all, I found this book a great historical and informational index.

[Susan Molloy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let us open up this medicine cabinet of the weird and fantastical:

There is a caveat written (1921) by a physician at the beginning so that the naive do not take some of the remedies seriously. The book itself was published in 1915, according to my copy.

PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Moles.—They should be removed by knife or by electricity. The last is the best, especially for the hairy variety.

Nosebleed, Puff-Ball for.—Find an old brown puff-ball from the ground, pick out the soft inside part and put it in nose and let remain for some time.

Regarding eclampsia, the following excerpt shows that the medical field did not quite understand the real cause:

CONVULSIONS. (Eclampsia).—All forms of convulsions may occur during pregnancy. . . .These are usually the result of kidney trouble.

There is so much more to this book, but I would rather leave the rest to readers who are brave enough to get through it and for those readers who have a curiosity about the macabre. I am found it invaluable, therefore, for my research and writing projects.

This is my second reading of Mother's Remedies: Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remedies from Mothers, and both times it did not fail to entertain and shock.

🟣Kindle version.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

"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."

The warning should be heeded. As a historical book, it is interesting but some of the advice in the recipes are either unclear or dangerous.

[Arganteilin · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can say is this was really interesting reading, recipes....some I would never try just for fear itself. Others my Grandma and Mom have used.