Important: Safety Warning
This page directs the use of hazardous substances — such as benzine, gasoline, lye, or strong acids — for household tasks. These materials are highly flammable, corrosive, or poisonous, and the practices described have caused fires, burns, and poisonings.
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.
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Vegetable Caustic
Burn oak the resulting tincture reduced to the consistor beech wood to ashes. Make a lye from ence of molasses by distillation; the extract them, and simmer it till it becomes rather is then mixed with twice its weight of yellow thicker than cream; the evaporation may be wax, melted by a very gentle heat, and spread continued in the sun. Spread on leather when on waxed cloth. used. It is valuable in cancers, fistulas, scrof- 5085. Blistering Tissue. Digest 3 ulous and indolent ulcers, where there is proud flesh. drachms powdered cantharides in 1 ounce ether for a day or two; decant and add 4 drachms sandarach, 2 drachms mastic, drachm turpentine, and 10 or 12 drops oil of lavender; mix and spread as above.