The 19th century was a vastly different time where many superstitions, herbal remedies, and old wive's tales were taken as the gospel truth. Many interesting customs of the period are revealed in the book "The Frugal Housewife," by Lydia M. Child, published in 1832. The following tips, tricks, and recipes give an interesting glimpse into the origins of many American traditions, and some ideas which are still valid today.
1. Catnip for Fevers
"Catnip, particularly the blossoms, made into tea, is good to prevent a threatened fever. It produces a fine perspiration. It should be taken in bed, and the patient kept warm." - "The Frugal Housewife"
Your cat may love it to have a little fun, but this herb may also be useful as a natural fever suppressant. Catnip is still considered a valid remedy by many herbal enthusiasts today, as it is believed to produce a sweat which will rid the body of the fever and toxins.
2. The "Original" Cupcakes
"Cupcake is about as good as pound cake, and is cheaper. One cup of butter, two cups of sugar, three cups of flour, and four eggs, well beat together, and baked in cups. Bake twenty minutes, and no more." - "The Frugal Housewife"
The original "cupcakes" were made quite simply, without frosting and as a very light dessert. They were convenient because of their quick cooking time and individual portion sizes. It is likely this very dessert evolved into the tasty treat we all love today.
3. Lockjaw Prevention
"A rind of pork bound upon a wound caused by a needle, pin, or nail, prevents the lock-jaw. It should be always applied. Spirits of turpentine are good to prevent the lock-jaw. Strong soft-soap, mixed with pulverized chalk, about as thick as batter, put, in a thin cloth or bag, upon the wound, is said to be a preventive to this dangerous disorder. "- "The Frugal Housewife"
Obviously, if you are worried you may go into shock or have tetanus, this remedy is a little too out of date to be trusted. It does, however, give us an opportunity to be thankful for modern medicine so we don't have to wrap raw pork on our wounds.
4. Potato Soap
"Boiled potatoes are said to cleanse the hands as well as common soap; they prevent "chops" (most likely means dry skin) in the winter season, and keep the skin soft and healthy." - "The Frugal Housewife"
Hopefully, you never find yourself in such a position that you really need to use potatoes for soap, but this is a fun old-fashioned use of a common household vegetable.
5. Salted Fish Balls
"There is no way of preparing salt fish for breakfast, so nice as to roll it up in little balls after it is mixed with mashed potatoes; dip it into an egg, and fry it brown." - "The Frugal Housewife"
Salted fish balls offer a fun alternative to fish n' chips. Considered a breakfast dish, this recipe is old-fashioned but delicious. It would have been made in economic households in the 1800's to make good use of scraps, but many updated versions exist which would whet any palette.
6. Boiled Calf's Head
"Calf's head should be cleaned with very great care. The head, the heart, and the lights should boil full two hours; the liver should be boiled only one hour. The brains, after being thoroughly washed, should be put in a little bag; with one pounded cracker, or as much crumbled bread, seasoned with sifted sage, and tied up and boiled one hour. After the brains are boiled, they should be well broken up with a knife, and peppered, salted, and buttered." - "The Frugal Housewife"
Although unpleasant to imagine today, in the 1800's many families found it necessary to not waste even a single scrap of food. Everything from animals was used, including the items more distasteful to us today. Any leftover meats after dinner were often scraped from plates and simply used in a mincemeat pie the next morning. In many ways, our "recycling" today can't hold a candle to what they did in previous centuries.
7. Election Cake
"Old-fashioned election cake is made of four pounds of flour; three-quarters of a pound of butter; four eggs; one pound of sugar; one pound of currants, or raisins if you choose; half a pint of good yeast; wet it with milk as soft as it can be and be molded on a board. Set to rise overnight in winter; in warm weather, three hours is usually enough for it to rise. A loaf, the size of common flour bread, should bake three-quarters of an hour." - "The Frugal Housewife"
You know it's truly a classic recipe when the book from the 1800's calls it "old-fashioned." Election cakes are, in fact, an old American tradition. Very large versions of these cakes used to be served to whole communities on election day in celebration of democracy and freedom from England's rule. As time progressed, sometimes slices of cake would be handed out near the ballots to convince voters to support specific candidates. Voters with a strong sweet tooth were likely swayed by this tactic!
8. Pest Repellents
"An ounce of quicksilver (mercury,) beat up with the white of two eggs, and put on with a feather, is the cleanest and surest bedbug poison. What is left should be thrown away: it is dangerous to have it about the house. Poke-root, boiled in water and mixed with a good quantity of molasses, set about the kitchen, the pantry, etc. in large deep plates, will kill cockroaches in great numbers, and finally, rid the house of them." - "The Frugal Housewife"
Despite this advice, we now know the dangers of mercury and it is probably a good thing we've moved past this method of bed bug control. Likely the bedbugs weren't the only things getting poisoned. Other natural bug repellents are recommended from this time period such as the poke-root option, and if they were to actually work, they may prove healthier than the concoctions of chemicals we use today.
9. Herbal Tea for "People With Nerves"
"Motherwort tea is very quieting to the nerves. Students and people troubled with wakefulness, find it useful." - "The Frugal Housewife"
This herb is still associated with an ability to calm anxiety and nerves. Despite this remedy being very old, it doesn't make it any less valid!
10. Worm Ointment
"An ointment made from the common ground-worms, which boys dig to bait fishes, rubbed on with the hand, is said to be excellent when the sinews are drawn up by any disease or accident." - "The Frugal Housewife"
Perhaps the nastiest idea of them all, it is likely this ointment did little but cool down the affected injury. Hopefully, the "boys" still had enough worms to go fishing after this ointment was made!
