Important: Safety Warning
This page contains a formula or preparation using substances now known to be dangerously toxic, such as arsenic, mercury, lead, or cyanide compounds. Exposure to these substances can cause severe poisoning, permanent injury, or death.
In addition, this page contains cosmetic recipes using substances now known to be poisonous, such as lead, mercury, or arsenic compounds, which cause cumulative and serious harm when absorbed through the skin or eyes.
In addition, this page presents medical treatment from an era before modern medicine. The remedies described are ineffective against the conditions named, and some of the ingredients or doses are harmful. Do not use them to treat any illness; consult a qualified medical professional.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
Home › Cosmetics › Caution About Glycerine
Caution About Glycerine
The property which has caused most annoyance in the use of glycerine is its strong affinity for water. Although glycerine has a pleasant, sweetish taste, yet the first sensation that tilled water, 1/22 pint. After which further add enough water to make the whole measure exactly 1 pint. Then put it in bottles. This is used as a cosmetic by wetting the skin with it, and gently wiping off with a dry cloth. It is also employed as a wash for obstinate eruptions and minor glandular swellings and indurations. 1156. Lotion of Borax, for Sore Gums and Nipples. Take 5 drachms powdered borax; distilled water, 1/2 pint; mix. An effective wash for sore gums, sore nipples, excoriations, &c., applied twice or thrice daily, or oftener. 1157. Glycerinated Lotion of Borax is felt when it is applied to the tongue is one for Chaps and Sunburns. Take 6 drachms of pain and burning.
This is caused by the avoirdupois powdered borax; Price's glycerine, fact that the glycerine absorbs all the mois-ounce; rose-water or elder-flower water, 12 ture from the surface that it touches, and thus ounces; mix. Resembles the last, but is fradries it up and parches the nerves. Ignorant grant and much more agreeable and effective. of this fact, nurses and mothers have applied Its daily use as a cosmetic wash renders the skin pure glycerine to the chafed skin of infants, beautifully soft and white, and prevents and and produced great pain.
The glycerine removes chaps, sunburns, &c. ought to have been first mixed with an equal 1158. Cazenave's Lotion of Cyanide bulk of water, or at least with so much as of Potassium. Take cyanide of potassium, would remove its burning action on the sense 5 grains avoirdupois; emulsion of bitterof taste. This being done, it may be applied almonds, 3 Imperial fluid ounces; dissolve. Used like the last, to allay itching and irrita- | eau de rose; and put it into covered pots. tion, particularly after shaving; also for freckles and pustules. (Sce No. 43.) The above is Cazenave's formula. The next receipt is, however, preferable, 1159. Glycerinated Lotion of Cyanide of Potassium. Take cyanide of potassium, 6 grains avoirdupois; glycerine, 1/2 ounce; strongest camphor-water, 2½ ounces; mix. (See No. 1160.) (See Nos. 602, &c., and 607.)