When “wattery,” or chicken-pox broke out, a red flannel petticoat was hung across the window of the sick room. This was supposed to hasten a cure, and in the case of small-pox it was believed to prevent pitting.

For headache, a house-leek was pounded and made into a poultice. These plants were easily got as they grew on the roof of many a cottage, but seemed to favour the old grey slates rather than the new blue ones.

The juice of primroses was used as a lotion for spring rashes, and sage was used not only for flavouring but also for stomach trouble. Sage “tea” also did for a hair-wash!

Rosemary is usually “for remembrance,” but apparently (according to the herbi-wives or skilly buddies) it was also good for the liver. Violet leaves were used for swellings, and a brew of camomile flowers was useful in cases of sleeplessness-and gumboils!

The root of Solomon’s Seal, grated and sprinkled on a bread poultice, removed bruise discolorations. Stems of the fragrant myrrh, or sweet Cicely, made into a “tea,” gave relief in chest troubles or bronchial colds.

Lavender provided fragrant linen, and apple-ringey kept one awake in church, however dreich the sermon.
Dandelion-tea and nettle-beer were used as a blood-purifier and tonic. Linseed (from the flax plant) was useful for croup, throat or chest troubles. A tickly throat might be relieved by an infusion of chopped onion, sugar and vinegar.

Raspberry-vinegar, black currant and rowan wines were held in reserve for colds. A posset made by boiling together oatmeal, milk and treacle, was also said to be excellent for fighting a cold. But for the boy who had raided the apple orchard and over-eaten thereof, there was nothing better than a good dose of senna tea.

Black soap and sugar made a good poultice and cleanser for a festering finger. For a sty a poultice of cold tea-leaves (or rotten apples) was considered as good a cure as any.

Children recovering from whooping-cough were given asses milk. Children recovering from infectious troubles were taken to the river or a bridge so that the winds from the water might blow infection away. Strange to say, a similar “health trip” was sometimes made to the nearest gas-works!

Bites and stings called for starch, ammonia, washing soda or the “blue bag,” but if you tumbled into a bed of nettles then first-aid usually took the form of docken-leaves-and it still does!

Wonderful “Cures”

There were also superstitious “cures.” A girl with weak eyes was advised to wear a red coral necklace, or to have her ears pierced for ear-rings. Necklaces were also worn as an amulet against colds and bronchitis. For whooping-cough a mug of water from a running stream was beneficial, but it had to be lifted facing the current.