FoodNet

The complete Indian housekeeper & cook

1898

Page 122

Presented as published in 1898. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
Omum Seeds (Ujwuin). — Distil ;3 Ib.s. seeds to 4 quarts water. Dose, 1 to 2 oz. Valuable as anti-spasmodic and diffusible stimulant in colic, hysteria, cholera. Sal-ammoniac (Nowsdder). — Should be dissolved, strained, and evaporated. For external application, 2 drs. sal-ammoniac, 1 oz. spirit, 1 pint rose-water. Or 15 to 20 grs. in rheumatism, bilious nervous headache. Or in chronic coughs, 1 dr. in (5 oz. honey and water. Dose, 1 oz. six times a day. In liver complaints and chronic dysentery, 20 grs. twice a day. Tylopbera [Couiitn/ Ipecacnaiilm] {Untd-mool). — Dried leaves as emetic, 40 grs. Expectorant, 4 to 8 grs. In dysentry 15 grs. three times a day. A large number of these medicines are quite as efficacious as tlieir more expensive imported congenens, and missionaries would do well to use tliem more than they do at pre.sent. In fact, with Waring’s book, “ Bazaar Medicines,” in tlie hand. Housekeeper and Cook 177 the doctor is practically independent of many drugs now imported at a heavy charge to the funds. The following is a list of the more common ailments and their treatment : — Abscesses or Boils. — Try iodine and hot fomentation to disperse them. If this fails^ try rice poultices or a plaster of equal weights brown sugar and Englisli bar-soap. Give a dose or two of Eno, and if the constitution is disturbed^ recipe No. 2. Asthma. — No cure ; but strong black coifee will sometimes cut short an attack. The fumes of blotting-paper which has been steeped in very strong solution of saltpetre and dried, gives relier. So, used with caution, will twenty grains of dried datura leaf smoked with the ordinary tobacco. Bites of Wasps, Scorpions, &c. — A paste of ipecacuanha and water applied at once over the bite generally acts as a charm. Stimulants if severe symptoms follow. Of Mad, or even Doubtful Dogs.— Cut with a lancet or pen- knife down to the very bottom of the wound, and again across, so as to let it gape and bleed. Then cauterise remorselessly with nitrate of silver, or carbolic acid, or actual hot iron. The object is to destroy the bitten tissue, so see that you get to the bottom. Of a Snake. — If in a toe, finger, or end of a limb, apply a liga- ture with the first thing handy. Whipcord is best, but take the first ligatui’e that comes to hand. Twist with a stick, or any lever, as tight as you can. Apply two or more nearer the heart, at intervals of a few inches. Meanwhile, if you have help, get some one else to cut out the flesh round the fang-marks, and let it bleed freely. Ir the snake is known to be deadly, amputate the finger or toe at the next joint; or if you cannot do this, run the knife right round the lione, dividing the flesh completely. Let the bitten person suck the wound till you can burn it with anything at baud— carbolic, nitric acid, inti ate of silver, or actual hot iron. Give one ounce of brandy in a little water. The great object is to prevent the poison getting tlirough the blood to the heart, so every additional pulse-beat lerore the ligatures are on is a danger. If symjitoms of poisoning set in, give more stimulants ; put mustard plasters over the heart ; ml) the limbs; treat, in fact, as for drowning, even to artificial re.spiration.