Peculiar medicine

Mediaeval dissection.

An old fisherman, formerly well-known at the Forge, Keswick, once caught a fish, which he put into the mouth of a child suffering from whooping-cough. He then replaced the fish in the Grata. He affirmed that the fish, after being placed in the mouth of the child and returned to the river, gave the complaint to the rest of its kind, as was evident from the fact that they came to the top to cough.
— William George Black, Folk-Medicine 1883, 36.

A living Duck, stript Part of it of it bare of Feathers, and apply'd to the Belly, eases. the Pain of the Colic. It is useful in external and internal Pains, as of the Sides, Joints, and in a cold Distemperature of the Nerves. The Blood is an Alexipharmic, and therefore sometimes used in Antidotes.
— Pharmacopoeia Universalis, or, a New Universal English Dispensatory, 1747, 482.

[For dysentery] Grate to fine Powder the dry'd Pizzle of a Stagg, and give it as much as will lie upon a Shilling or thereabouts, once or twice a day, in any convenient Vehicle.
— Robert Boyle, Medicinal Experiments: or, a collection of choice and safe remedies, 1696, vol I, 35.

In the burning of Hartshorn, a strong fire and the free admission of air are necessary. The potter's furnace was formerly directed for the sake of convenience, but any common furnace, or stove, will do. If some lighted charcoal be spread on the bottom of the grate, and above this the pieces of the Horns are laid, they will be burnt to whiteness, still retaining their original form.
— Thomas Healde, The New Pharmacopoeia of the Royal College of Physicians, 1788, 42–3.

The Head, the Fat, the Gall, the Blood, the Dung, called Album Graecum. the Urine, the Teeth, the Skin, and the Hairs are used in Medicine. Live Puppies laid upon the Belly, mitigate Colic Pains, and are serviceable to Paralytic Limbs; and there are many Instances in Authors, of inveterate Ulcers being cured, by being frequently lick'd by a Dog. The Head burnt, dries up Ulcers, cures Fissures of the Anus and Tumors of the Testicles; internally it is of Service in a Jaundice.
— Pharmacopoeia Universalis, or, a New Universal English Dispensatory, 1747, 492.

The whole animal, and its Dung are used in Medicine. The Mouse, cut up alive, and apply'd, draws out Splinters, Darts, and cures the Bites of Scorpions, extracting the Poison; the Ashes cure the involuntary, or nocturnal Flux of Urine; the Dung purges Infants by Stool, is used in Clysters, cures an Alopecia, absterges Scurf from the Head, diminishes Stones in the Kidneys, or Bladder, and removes a Condyloma, Verruca … and … Tumors affecting the Anus.
— Pharmacopoeia Universalis, or, a New Universal English Dispensatory, 1747, 522.

[The seahorse] The Parts used in Medicine are, the Pizzle, which is a round, bony Substance, a Cubit, or more in Length, thick, ponderous, and solid, much thicker and rounder at the End, near the Glans; and the Teeth, which are great, long, thick, ponderous, hollow, and white. The Pizzle pulveriz'd, is used to expel the Stone; the Teeth for Service and Value, are compared to Ivory, and are made into various Forms, as into Rings for the Cramp and for other Purposes.
— Pharmacopoeia Universalis, or, a New Universal English Dispensatory, 1747, 507.

Nor is the philosopher less free from the absurdities of sympathetic magic, such as wearing a lion's claw to make one brave. Thus the wearing of diamonds, emeralds, and yellow topaz comforts and exhilarates, rings of seahorses' teeth worn on the fingers prevent cramp, the root of the peony tied to the neck cures the falling sickness and the nightmare, little bladders of quicksilver or tablets of arsenic are to be worn as preservatives against plague, being poisons themselves, they draw venom to them from the spirits.
— Francis Bacon, Lord Verulam, Natural History in Ten Centuries c. 1626.

The seahorse is a fish of very singular form, it is about four five inches in length, and nearly half an inch in diameter in the broadest part; the morse; by the Seahorse Dryden means the hippopotamus.
— Thomas Sheridan, A Complete Dictionary of the English Language, 1780s.

Captain Rhodes has brought up several of the very curious tribe vulgarly denominated the sea-horse, nearly resembling that found at the Philippines in shape, but in other respects differing… the whole length of the animal not exceeding twelve or fourteen inches.
— The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, 16 December 1804, page 3.

Eating people is wrong.
— Michael Flanders and Donald Swann, The Reluctant Cannibal.

[For Ague] Grind the knee bone or patella of a dead man to a powder and take as much as will cover a sixpence "…at a convenient time (before the cold Fit).
— Robert Boyle, Medicinal Experiments: or, a collection of choice and safe remedies, 1696, vol III, 30.

[For Dysentery] (An uncommon, but Experienc'd Remedy for Dysenterical Fluxes) Take the Bone of the Thigh of a hang'd Man (perhaps another may serve, but this was still made use of). Calcine it to whiteness, and having purg'd the Patient with an Antimonial Medicine, give him one Dram of this white Powder for one Dose, in some good Cordial, whether Conserve or Liquor.
— Robert Boyle, Medicinal Experiments: or, a collection of choice and safe remedies, 1696, vol II, 94.

[For tingling] Take Spirit of Urine, what pleases [i.e., an appropriate amount], in Cotton, put it into the Ear.
— Pharmacopoeia Radcliffeana: or Dr. Radcliff's Prescriptions, 1716, 463.

[Using mummy] "This is the Flesh of Carcasses which have been embalm'd. But although it yet retains a Place in Medicinal Catalogues, it is quite out of use in Prescription. What Virtues have been ascrib'd to it, are the same with Parmasitty and other Balsamicks of the like kind."
— John Quincy, Pharmacopoeia Officinalis or, A Compleat English Dispensatory, 1719, 148.

Handkerchief essence: English oil of lavender, oil of cloves, oil of orange peel, oil of bergamot, sweet spirit of nitre, oil of yellow sandalwood, oil of neroli, otto of roses, oil of cinnamon, rectified spirit. Dissolve these and add honey water, essence of ambergris and musk, then mix.
— Theophilus Redwood, A Supplement to the Pharmacopoeia, 1857, 726.

What steps should be taken to prevent infection [with diphtheria]? This involves the difference between infection and contagion, — one far too lengthy for your occupied space but, to be brief, this disease is one of infection, — that is, the offspring of an unhealthy house or district; therefore when it makes its appearance the rest of the younger members of a family should be immediately removed to healthy situations.
— 'Fellow of the Epidemiological Society', letter to The Times, 6 January 1859, 4.

I esteem it the office of a physician not only to restore health, but to mitigate pain and dolors; and not only when such mitigation may conduce to recovery, but when it may serve to make a fair and easy passage.
— Francis Bacon (1561–1626), Of the Advancement of Learning (1605), Oxford University Press World's Classics, 1969, 133.

[For rickets] They are peculiarly necessary for children who abound with gross humours. An infusion of the Peruvian bark in wine or ale would be of service, were it possible to bring them to take it. We might here mention many other medicines which have been recommended for the rickets; but as there is far more danger in trusting to these than in neglecting them altogether, we chuse rather to pass them over, and to recommend a proper regimen [diet] as the thing chiefly to be depended on.
— William Buchan, Domestic Medicine, 1790, 565.

[For measles] "Patients afflicted with it must be kept a little warmer than is necessary in cases of small-pox, but not too warm; they ought to breathe pure air and drink elder-flower tea; and great care is to be taken that they do not expose themselves to cold air or sudden gusts of wind."
— B. C. Faust, MD, Catechism of Health, London: 1794, 153–4.

In [epileptic] fits … a few days previous to the expected attack, draw blood from the foot; and every night on going to bed, bathe the feet for some time in warm water, so as to prevent too great a determination of blood to the head, as these fits generally attack persons during sleep. If considered necessary, give an emetic or puke to cleanse the stomach, followed by an active purge to act on the bowels: see table for dose. These fits generally occur about the change or full of the moon. The singular and surprising influence which this planet is known to exercise in many instances over the human species, is absolutely unaccountable, and is even ridiculed by many physicians: but I feel fully confident, from reflection and experience, that this planet has considerable control over certain diseases to which the human system is liable …
— John C. Gunn, Gunn's Domestic Medicine or Poor Man's Friend, 13th edition, 1839, 313–4

[For warts] Steal a piece of bacon and rub the warts with it, then cut a slit in the bark of an ash tree, and slip in the bacon under a piece of the bark … the warts will disappear from the hand, but will make their appearance on the bark of the tree as rough excrescences …
— William George Black, Folk-Medicine. 1883, 38.

Two pioneers of entomology mourned the ways that their favourite animals had been used in the past:

… I should have prescribed five gnats as an excellent purge; wasps as diuretics; lady-birds for the colic and measles; the cockchafer for the bite of a mad dog and the plague; and ants and their acid I should have loudly praised as incomparable against leprosy and deafness, as strengthening the memory, and giving vigour and animation to the whole bodily frame. In short, I could have easily added to the miserably meagre list of modern pharmacopoeias, a catalogue of approved insect-remedies for every disease and evil "that flesh is heir to!"
— William Kirby and William Spence, An Introduction to Entomology: Vol. I., 1828.

Then they asked if anybody could believe:

… a learned Italian professor, who assures us that a finger once imbued with the juices of Rhinobatus antiodontalgicus (a name enough to give one the tooth-ache to pronounce it) will retain its power of curing this disease for a twelvemonth!

There was a perceived major problem with religious newspapers taking quack ads. The Medical and Surgical Reporter is about to start targeting them.
— Science, 31 August 1888

The application of flannel cloths frequently wrung out of warm water, and laid to the belly, will also be highly important in lessening the pains and inflammation. Should the pain continue in the belly, apply a blister at the upper part of each thigh. I would advise blistering on the belly, that being the proper place, but then you could not apply the warm cloths, which are highly important.
— John C. Gunn, Gunn's Domestic Medicine or Poor Man's Friend, 13th edition, 1839, 495.

The following, from 1696, is headed "Convulsions, especially in Children". But does not indicate if it is intended to provoke or ease those convulsions.

Take Earth-Worms, wash them well in White-wine to cleanse them, but so as they may not die in the Wine: Then upon hollow Tiles, or between them, dry the Worms with a moderate heat, and no further than that they may be conveniently reduc'd to Powder; to one Ounce of which add a pretty number of Grains of Ambergrise, both to perfume the Powder (whose scent of it self is rank) and to make the Medicine more efficacious. The Dose is from one Dram to a Dram and a half in any convenient Vehicle. (The worm juice, without the ambergris, is recommended for piles.)

In 1785 William Withering published An Account of the Foxglove and Some of Its Medical Uses.

In the year 1775, my opinion was asked concerning a family receipt for the cure of the dropsy. I was told that it had long been kept a secret by an old woman in Shropshire…. This medicine was composed of twenty or more different herbs; but it was not very difficult for one conversant in these subjects, to perceive, that the active herb could be no other than the Foxglove.

Cob-web is an old and popular remedy for the present fever, and it is as efficacious as popular. Some writers speak of it as a mere dirty object of vulgar superstition, but they are much mistaken, for ten grains of cobweb given twice or thrice before the expected time of each paroxism, and continued in this way, for three or four days, or longer, as circumstances indicate, will be found a powerful mean[s] of putting an immediate and permanent stop to the recurrence of the ague.
— Thomas John Graham, Modern Domestic Medicine, 2nd edition, 1827, 195.

A CHEAP CURE FOR FEVER. — A German doctor, during twenty-five years practice, has never failed to cure intermittent fever by strictly and literally starving his patients for three whole days. He allows them only a little water; and after the fast, accustoms them to food gradually.
— The Colonist (Sydney), Thursday 17 September 1835, 7.

In 1866, John Banks said that the odour of small pox was like the smell of a he-goat; the aroma of measles was like a fresh-plucked goose; and scarlatina was like cheese. The smell of plague resembled the odour of May flowers, and that of typhus was like a Cossack.

That the typhus odour resembles ammonia, I have often observed, and the best and most recent investigators agree that it is a compound of ammonia. Probably the more intense the smell, the more operative the poison; hence the necessity on the part of the attendant to avoid inhaling this concentrated poison.

In 1914, C. Fitzsimmons, of Perth, Western Australia, advertised as follows:

Under my new Materia Medica I cure nine-tenths of diseases. There is no mysteries about my healing art. I disclose formula and forward first part of treatment for one guinea. My true healing art in chronic cases has no equal. Try it. Get health, save money, be wise. C. FITZSIMMONS, Medical Botanist, 125 Charles-st., West Perth.
— The West Australian (Perth), Tuesday 21 April 1914, 3.

Then again, a hot onion in the crotch might just be enough to shock people into urinating:

To the region of the bladder and between the Yard and the Anus was applied hot the next: Take a good big Onion: and head of Garlick, fry them with butter and vinegar. These thus used, procured Urine within an hour, with some stones and gravel …
— John Hall, Select Observations on English Bodies, 1657.

The garlic ointment is a well-known remedy in North-Britain for the chin-cough. It is made, by beating in a mortar, garlic, with an equal quantity of hog's lard. With this the soles of the feet may be rubbed twice or thrice a-day; but the best method is to spread it upon a rag, and apply it in the form of a plaster. It should be renewed every night and morning at least, as the garlic soon loses its virtue. This is an exceeding good medicine both in the chin-cough, and in most other coughs of an obstinate nature. It ought not however to be used when the patient is very hot or feverish, lest it should increase these symptoms.
— William Buchan, Domestic Medicine, 1790, 287–8.

… his pill for medicine to destroy worms in the human body. It consisted of an ounce of castor oil 2 drops of oil of tansy, 12 of tincture of foxglove, 10 of the oil of anise seed, 15 of male fern, and 1 scruple of the oil of wormwood seed. A teaspoonful of this medicine was to be given to a child every two hours until it operated. An ounce was a dose for an adult. This medicine appears as if it would effect the object designed, but the dose is too large by one half at least.
— Scientific American 10 May 1856, 278.

But this fish hath the amazing power of giving so sudden and so violent a shock to any person who touches it, that there is, I think, an absolute impossibility of ever examining accurately a living specimen; and the person who owns them rates them at too high a price (not less than fifty guineas for the smallest) for me to get a dead specimen . . . George Baker, mariner, who brought them here [from Surinam to South Carolina] intends to carry them to England . . .

The person to whom these animals belong, calls them electrical fish; and indeed the power they have of giving an electrical shock to any person, or to any number of persons who join hands together . . . is their most singular and astonishing property.
— Alexander Garden in South Carolina, to the Royal Society, 1774.

…the effects of the Leyden phial or electric batteries; not indeed with the force and explosions of these, when highly charged…
— Philosophical Transactions 1800, 403, reprinted in the abridged The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, vol. XVIII, 1796–1800, 1809, 744.

This apparatus, as it resembles more the natural electric organ of the torpedo, or of the electric eel, than the Leyden phial and the ordinary electric batteries, M. Volta calls the artificial electric organ."
— Philosophical Transactions 1800, 403, reprinted in the abridged The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, vol. XVIII, 1796–1800, 1809, 744.

Take of Peruvian Bark, coarsely powdered, one pound, distilled water twelve pints. Boil it for one or two hours, and pour off the liquor, which, while hot, will be red and pellucid; but, as it grows cold, will become yellow and turbid. The same quantity of water being again poured on, boil it as before, and repeat this boiling until the liquor, being cold, remains clear. Then reduce all these liquors, mixed and strained to a proper thickness, by evaporation. This Extract must be prepared under two forms; one soft, and fit for making pills: the other hard that it may be reducible to a powder.
— Thomas Healde, The New Pharmacopoeia of the Royal College of Physicians, 1788, 61.

Take half a pound of opium sliced, three pints of good verjuice, [juice of the wild crab] one and a half ounce of nutmegs, and half an ounce of saffron. Boil them to a proper thickness, then add a quarter of a pound of sugar, and two table-spoonfuls of yeast. Set the whole in a warm place near the fire, for six or eight weeks; then place it in the open air till it becomes a syrup; lastly, decant, filter, and bottle it up, adding a little sugar to each bottle.
— Thomas John Graham, Modern Domestic Medicine, 2nd edition, 1827, 10–11.

A recipe for curing swetty feet. One ounce of salts desolved in a pint of boyling water, then add the quantity of gin, for to make it pleasant to drink, then drink a wine glass full when required.
— From the notebook of P. C. Lewis Jones, who was stationed at Gorseinon, near Swansea in Wales in 1859.

The millepedes, or wood-lice, are greatly recommended for the cure of a chin-cough. Those who chuse to make use of these insects, may infuse two ounces of them bruised in a pint of small white-wine for one night. Afterwards the liquor may be strained through a cloth, and a table-spoonful of it given to the patient three or four times a day.
— William Buchan, Domestic Medicine, 1790, 287.

Millepedes or Woodlice, which roll themselves into Balls, are bred chiefly under Logs of Timber, but not in the Timber…
— Francis Bacon, Philosophical Works, vol, 3, 115.

I found that that the correct animal to use is the Oniscus armadillo, which is definitely the pill-bug. Redwood says:

Millepedes are prepared by exposing then to the vapour of hot alcohol, which kills them, In this state they are always contracted into the globular form, and thus are distinguished from the wood-lice, which have sometimes been confounded with them.
— Theophilus Redwood, A Supplement to the Pharmacopoeia, London, 1857, page 163.

Take of ants or pismires a handful, of their eggs two hundred, of millepedes or woodlice one hundred, and of bees one hundred and fifty. Digest all these in two pints of spirit of wine, being very well impregnated with the brightest soot. Digest them together the space of a month, then pour off the clear spirit and keep it safe.
— John French, The Art of Distillation,

We ought not to omit, or postpone the use of Millepedes or Woodlice, for that the juice of them, wrung forth, with the distilled Water, also a Powder of them prepared, often-times brings notable help, for the Curing of notable and pertinacious Headaches.
— Thomas Willis, Pathologiae cerebri.

… such medicines as album græcum, or the white bony excrement of dogs, bleached on the bank, for their heartburns and acidities; the powder produced from burnt mice, as a dentifrice; millepedes or woodlice, for nephritic and other complaints; and the ashes of earthworms, administered in nervous and epileptic cases.
— John Leonard Knapp, Journal of a Naturalist, 1829, 337.

A relation of mine was in the cottage of a wise woman at Penzance about two years ago, and found that she was still in the habit of prescribing in scrofulous cases grammar sows, sow-pigs, millepedes or woodlice, to be swallowed as a pill. According to the Penzance woman, the sufferer must himself secure his medicine, but she had a corner in her little garden where nothing was grown but mint and thyme, and there the sow-pigs were reared. As a concession to modern feelings, patients are now allowed to wear this disagreeable medicine in a little bag round the neck, if they shrink from the heroic remedy of swallowing it.
— William George Black, Folk-Medicine 1883, 198.

Take Milleppides (in English by some called Wood-lice, by others Sows and having washed them clean with a little White-wine and dry'd them with a Linnen Cloth, beat them well in a Glass or Marble Mortar (for they are not to be touched with any thing of Metal) and give the first time as much Juice, as you can by strong Expression obtain from five or six of them. This Juice may be given in small Ale or White-wine, in which the next time you may give as much as can be squeez'd out of Eight or Nine Millipedes; and so you may continue, increasing the number that you employ of them by two or three at a time, till it amount to Twenty five or Thirty; and if need be, to forty or more, for one taking.
— Robert Boyle, Medicinal Experiments: or, a collection of choice and safe remedies, 1696, vol I, 13.

Take Millepedes, 200, White-Wine, 2 Quarts, infuse; in a Gutta Serena. [an old name for unexplained blindness].
— Pharmacopoeia Radcliffeana: or Dr. Radcliff's Prescriptions, 1716, 453.

Take live Millepedes bruis'd, 100; Saffron, 2 Scruples, White-Wine, 2 Pounds; make an Expression; for a moist Asthma.
— Pharmacopoeia Radcliffeana: or Dr. Radcliff's Prescriptions, 1716, 459.

Also called hog-lice. Good diuretic. Fix palsies, epilepsy, scrophulous tumours and inveterate ulcers.
— John Quincy, Pharmacopoeia Officinalis or, A Compleat English Dispensatory, 1719, 159.

When they are clear'd as much as can be from Dirt, pour White Wine enough upon them in an earthen Pot to cover them: then over a gentle Heat evaporate the Wine until they are dry enough to powder. The Evaporation must be very gentle, lest it carries up any of their volatile Salt, with which they abound. They grievously err who pour off the Wine, and keep it separately, which is very customary to do, because it robs the Millepedes of a great deal, which Evaporation leaves behind. Their Dose is from [10 grains to two scruples].
— John Quincy, Pharmacopoeia Officinalis or, A Compleat English Dispensatory, 1719, 306–7.

Millepedarum Præparatio. Let millepedes be inclosed in a thin canvas cloth, and suspended within a covered vessel over the steam of hot spirit of wine, and they will soon be killed by the vapour, and be rendered friable. Remark: this is a very ready method of rendering millepedes fit for pulverizing without risking any loss of their substance.
— H. Pemberton, MD, The Dispensatory of the Royal College of Physicians, London, 1747, 122.

The juice of millepedes. or woodlice, have been celebrated for obstructions of the bowels, and not without reason. It is a safe and easy remedy, but it requires to be taken in large doses, and for some time, as do most other things in this disease, to produce any permanent effect. Four large spoonfuls of the juice should be taken twice or thrice a day, which is prepared by bruising the woodlice alive in a mortar, and then strain the juice through a muslin rag."

Thomas Hayes, A Serious Address on the consequences of neglecting common coughs and colds, 1786, 145.

Suspend the Wood-lice, inclosed in a coarse hempen cloth, in a close vessel, over hot proof spirit, that, being killed by the vapour, they may be rendered friable.
— Thomas Healde, The New Pharmacopoeia of the Royal College of Physicians, 1788, 44.

Millepedes are prepared by killing them with the vapour of hot alcohol. If you have the right sort, they will contract into a ball. Formerly used in medicine as expectorant, aperient and diuretic.
— Theophilus Redwood, A Supplement to the Pharmacopoeia, London, 1857, 163.

Many dirty things are recommended for the cure of the jaundice; as lice, millepedes, &c. But these do more harm than good, as people trust to them, and neglect more valuable medicines; besides they are seldom taken in sufficient quantity to produce any effects.
— William Buchan, Domestic Medicine, 1790, 373.

Earthworms are to be put in sealed pot and placed in an oven, along with a batch of bread. When the oven is cold, take out the pot, which will contain a "…gross Liquor ill scented…". This should be squeezed and strained, then kept for use, which means rubbing it in with a warm hand. ("N.B. If the smell be offensive, you may put to it a few drops of Oyl of Rhodium or some other Odoriferous one to Correct it.")
— Robert Boyle, Medicinal Experiments: or, a collection of choice and safe remedies, 1696, vol II, 102.

[Earthworms] are often us'd in Compositions for cleaning and cooling the Viscera. They are accounted much of the same nature as the Snails; but they seem to have more of the earthy or nitrous Salt…good in Inflammations and Tubercles of the Lungs…There is also an Oil made of them in the Shops, which retains much of the Virtues as any such Preparations are capable of…
— John Quincy, Pharmacopoeia Officinalis or, A Compleat English Dispensatory, 1719, 148.

They are principally used in Apoplexies, Convulsions and other Affections of the Nerves and Muscles, in the Jaundice, Dropsy, and Colic, and have a specific Virtue against the scorbutic Gout: They mitigate Pains of the Gout, and their Ashes are said to cure the Tooth-ach. Earthworms are … accounted much of the same Nature as Snails; but they seem to have more of an earthy or nitrous Salt, which makes them afford Parts more penetrating and detersive.
— Pharmacopoeia Universalis, or, a New Universal English Dispensatory, 1747, 517.

Take House Snails, and beat them in their Shells, and stratifie them with about an equal quantity of Juice of Celandine; draw off the Water in a cold or Pewter Still (such as is us'd for Rose-Water) and keep the Liquor that will come over close stopt for your use.
— Robert Boyle, Medicinal Experiments: or, a collection of choice and safe remedies, 1696, vol II, 85.

Take Garden-Snails cleansed and bruised 6 Gallons, Earth-worms washed and bruised 3 Gallons, of common Wormwood, Ground-Ivy, and Carduus, each one Pound and half, Penniroyal, Juniper Berries, Fennel-seeds, Aniseeds, each half a Pound, Cloves and Cubebs bruised, each 3 Ounces, Spirit of Wine, and Spring-water, of each 8 Gallons; digest them together for the Space of 24 Hours, and then draw it off in a common Alembick. This is admirably well contrived both for Cheapness and Efficacy; and for Persons whose Circumstances and Manner of living have not habituated them to any Delicacies, it is as good a Snail-Water as can be made; and with the two former, are the chief that are used in the Hospitals. And as they are mostly given in Consumptions contracted from vicious Practices, and Venereal Contagions, this is the constant Drink of those who are under the like Weaknesses and Decays from a malum stamen, and require principally Nourishment from such Substances as will, with the least Trouble possible, be assimulated for that Purpose.
— Henry Banyer, Pharmacopoeia Pauperum or The Hospital Dispensary, 1721, 4–5.

[For gunpowder marks] Apply warmed fresh cow dung as a thin poultice to the face or other affected parts.
— Robert Boyle, Medicinal Experiments: or, a collection of choice and safe remedies, 1696, vol II, 122.

[For colic] Take four or five Balls of fresh Stone-horse Dung, and let them steep for about a quarter of an Hour (or less) in a Pint of White-wine, in a vessel well stopp'd that the Liquor may be more richly impregnated with the more volatile and subtil parts of the Dung, strain this, and give of it from a quarter to half a pint, or some Ounces more at a time; the Patient having a care not to take Cold after it.
— Robert Boyle, Medicinal Experiments: or, a collection of choice and safe remedies, 1696, vol I, 27.

[For jaundice] Grind up one part of saffron and four of turmeric in a glass mortar. Soak a handful of fresh sheep dung in a quart of strong ale at moderate heat before straining it through linen. Give the patient a pint of this with half a dram of the yellow powder.
— Robert Boyle, Medicinal Experiments: or, a collection of choice and safe remedies, 1696, vol II, 110.

Take Peacock's Dung, 3 drams, Compound Peony-water 6 Ounces, four spoonfuls at once; in Tremors of Old Men.
— Pharmacopoeia Radcliffeana: or Dr. Radcliff's Prescriptions, 1716, 465.

The [swallow's] Nest helps the Quinsey, and cures Redness of the Eyes, and heals the Bite of a Viper, if apply 'd to the Place. The Dung heats mightily, and discusses, being of an acrimonious Quality. It is of excellent Service against the Bite of a mad dog.
— Pharmacopoeia Universalis, or, a New Universal English Dispensatory, 1747, 510.

In some parts of the country the peasants apply to a recent bruise a cataplasm of fresh cow dung. I have often seen this cataplasm applied to violent contusions occasioned by blows, falls, bruises, and such like, and never knew it fail to have a good effect.
— William Buchan, Domestic Medicine, 1790, 582.

Stercus Canis officinale, Dogs white Dung, or Album Graecum, as it is commonly call'd. This is said to cleanse and deterge; but it is us'd in little else than in Inflammatories of the Throat with Honey; and that outwardly as a Plaster more than any other way: but it seldom appears to any great purpose.
— John Quincy, Pharmacopoeia Officinalis or, A Compleat English Dispensatory, 1719, 148.

Take Album Graecum, or white Dogs-turd, reduc'd to an impalpable Powder, mix it up with a sufficient quantity of Goose-grease, and by grinding it well in a Leaden Mortar, reduce it to a black Oyntment, to be apply'd moderately warm to the Part affected.
— Robert Boyle, Medicinal Experiments: or, a collection of choice and safe remedies, 1696, vol II, 107.

[For sore throat] … some album graecum, or dried dog's dung, could be burnt until it was white, then powdered and taken in honey. Again, the victim could take a worsted stocking that had been worn, with Sea Salt inside, and tie that around the neck.
— Robert Boyle, Medicinal Experiments: or, a collection of choice and safe remedies, 1696, vol II, 139–40.

… so they put me up a bottle o' Cain pepper, and likewise that 'ere condiment, which was werry efficacious, 'specially towards the end o' the bottle!"
— Lady Barker, Station Amusements in New Zealand, 1873.

A Wilcannia chemist tells of a shearer calling for something for an injured wrist. He was given a bottle of pain killer, but returned again later, saying, ' Give us something else for the wrist, will you, mister — something that ain't so good to drink! My mate boozed up the other stuff you gave me."
— The Riverine Grazier (Hay, NSW), Thursday 15 January 1903.

Most of what is sold in this country for bear's grease is a mixture of lard and oil.
— Theophilus Redwood, A Supplement to the Pharmacopoeia, London, 1857, 651.

A complete suit of flannel, worn next the skin, is an indispensable article for every one who is even inclined to this most fatal disorder.
— Colin Mackenzie, Mackenzie's Ten Thousand Receipts in all the useful and domestic arts, 1867, 127.

Tar water is made by pouring a gallon of water on two pints of the best Norway tar, which is to be stirred with a wooden rod for a quarter of an hour; then, after the tar has subsided, the liquor should he strained, and preserved in well-corked bottles for use.
— Thomas John Graham, Modern Domestic Medicine, 2nd edition, 1827, 65–66.

Gamboge is a powerful and active cathartic, and frequently excites vomiting, even in moderate doses. It is sometimes useful in obstinate costiveness and dropsy, especially in the latter complaint. When given in dropsy, it should be combined with squill and cream of tartar. Used as an occasional medicine for the removal of costiveness, and at the same time to promote a free discharge of urine, the best form is the compound gamboge pill of the shops, the dose of which is from ten to fifteen grains at bed-time.
— Thomas John Graham, Modern Domestic Medicine, 2nd edition, 1827, 29–30.

I think this is as clear and as plainly avowed a fraud as I ever knew. I do not mean to say that I have any sort of respect for this sort of medicines. I have none; but the law protects persons from fraudulent misrepresentations, and this is a species of property which the law does allow, and so long as the law recognises it, it must be protected, and persons in the situation of the Defendant will not be allowed to practise a fraud like that here complained of.
— Henry Bickersteth, 1st Baron Langdale, Master of the Rolls, in Holloway v. Holloway, 1850.

PINK PILLS for Pale People, 2s Box at Harle's. Special for Ladies with poor blood, weak nerves, etc.
— Newcastle Morning Herald & Miners' Advocate, 13/9/1895.

A SOLEMN WARNING. Whatever doubts have existed as to previous reported cases of the BUBONIC PLAGUE, there are no longer any as to its presence amongst us HERE IN SYDNEY. Captain Dudley died of it, and his remains were interred In the Quarantine Burying Ground with unprecedented precautions to prevent contagion: two others have since died, and 62 persons are in quarantine, and consternation prevails. That Eminent Medical Authority, Dr. Ashburton Thompson, is positive as to his diagnosis of Captain Dudley's case, and also that the scourge was BROUGHT HERE, and is spread from centre to centre, by RATS, and the Virus conveyed to HUMAN BEINGS by FLEAS.
— Australian Town and Country Journal, Saturday 10 March 1900, 7.

The painful fact cannot be denied that the Bubonic Plague is in our midst at present. Its total obliteration depends in a large measure upon the precaution the public itself takes. The liver and other organs of the body should be kept pure by taking a course of Bile Beans, which are sold the world over at 13½d per box, and thus the public will be better enabled to fight against the dreaded disease.
— Australian Town and Country Journal, Saturday 5 May 1900, 10.

A little of Ward's essence, dropt into the palm of the hand, and applied to the forehead, will sometimes remove a violent head ach; and so will æther, when applied in the same manner.
— William Buchan, Domestic Medicine, 1790, 356–7.

George Pearson published a recipe for making this stand-by which was, he said, a patent medicine. He carefully outlined the methods he used and the tests he made on his version, providing instructions that would allow others to make "…a compound…possessing the same chemical properties as James's Powder."
— Philosophical Transactions 1791, 317, reprinted in the abridged The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, vol. XVII, 1791–1796, 87–100.

Take of senna, 2 pounds; rhubarb shavings, 2 pounds; jalap root, 1 pound; caraway seeds, 1 pound; aniseeds, 2 pounds; sugar, 4 pounds; shavings of red sanders-wood, ½ pound. Digest these in 10 gallons of spirits of wine for 14 days, and strain for use. This elixir possesses almost the same qualities as the Compound Tincture of Senna. The above quantities may be reduced to as small a scale as may be required.
— Colin Mackenzie, Mackenzie's Ten Thousand Receipts in all the useful and domestic arts, 1867, 175

In the water-hole near our camp, there were numerous small brown leeches, which were very keen in the water, but dropped off as soon as we lifted our feet out of it.
— Ludwig Leichhardt, Journal of an Overland Expedition in Australia: From Moreton Bay to Port Essington, a distance of upwards of 3000 miles, during the years 1844–1845.

After an exploratory voyage to Mauritius, the captain of the 'Emma Sherratt' offered this report (in part) "Leeches. — Pondicherry furnishes the Mauritius abundantly with leeches. They sell from 10 doll, to 20 doll, per hundred, and sometimes as high as 30 doll, per dozen. They are brought in earthenware pots, half filled with earth, which is constantly moistened with fresh water, the earth sometimes completely changed."

From 150,000 to 250,000 leeches are sometimes collected in one of the trips of the company's steamers. They are then packed and conveyed to Melbourne, where a large proportion of them are put up for transmission abroad, great numbers being sent to London and Paris, where it is stated they are preferred to leeches brought from any other place.
— Scientific American, 3 August, 1867, 70.

In women of plethoric constitutions, bleeding will generally be proper at the beginning; it ought however to be used with caution, and not to be repeated unless where the signs of inflammation rise high; in which case it will also be necessary to apply a blistering plaster to the region of the womb.
— William Buchan, Domestic Medicine, 1790, 539.

… I am of opinion that for the purposes of health three or four glasses of wine is the maximum quantity that, taken at any one time, can be serviceable. All beyond this, answers the purpose of luxury and nothing more, and is more or less injurious."
— F. C. Skey, FRS, Hysteria: remote causes of disease in general treatment by tonic agency, 1867, 15.

"Will my appetite never return?" Women whose daily housework takes heavy toll of their energy should eat well and should enjoy their food. Only in this way can vital good health be maintained — health to complete the hardest day's work without tiring, health to enjoy leisure hours. By enriching the blood and renewing tissues you will fully regain your appetite. No more pleasant or more effective way to "tone" up your system, to induce sleep and to make work a pleasure than by relying on the curative properties of Wincarnis. Get a bottle from your chemist today. Prices: 4/3 pints, 7/3 quarts. Over 20,000 Recommendations from Medical men. WINCARNIS must do you good!
— The Australian Women's Weekly, Saturday 18 May 1935, 46S.

When hysteric fits are occasioned by sympathy, they may be cured by exciting an opposite passion. This is said to have been the case of a whole school of young ladies in Holland, who were all cured by being told, that the first who was seized [with hysteric fits] should be burnt to death. But this method of cure, to my knowledge, will not always succeed. I would therefore advise, that young ladies who are subject to hysteric fits should not be sent to boarding schools, as the disease may be caught by imitation. I have known madness itself brought on by sympathy.
— William Buchan, Domestic Medicine, 1790, 449 n.

 

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