C is for…

Continuing our collection of reminiscences about ‘vintage’ over the counter and traditional remedies from the project ‘Patience’

C is for..

Carter’s little liver pills
"I can see the advert now…"
I found one and it reads..
“WAKE UP YOUR LIVER BILE Without Calomel- And You’ll Jump Out of Bed in the Morning Rarin’ to Go
The liver should pour out two pounds of liquid bile into your bowels daily. If this bile is not flowing freely, your food doesn’t digest. It just decays in the bowels. Gas bloats up your stomach. You get constipated. Your whole system is poisoned and you feel sour, sunk and the world looks punk….. etc.

Caster Oil
Only occasionally, If you where stuck, constipated, it was revolting.

A tsp in, have a dose of caster oil, horrible to take it, certainly works, running to the toilet, horrible to take. Used to take a lot, most revolting, horrible.

a Camels hair brush
Use it for eye lashes (to remove anything from the eye, use a moistened camel hair brush) very fine, very expensive.

Camphorated oil
Used to rub on your chest, stunk, eyes water, everything about drawing things out of you. Really stunk.

cod liver of malt
Took a spoonful of the malt, very good for you. Not bad, we took it every morning.

Cod liver oil
For rickets, vile, horrible taste.

Comfrey
Used to stew the leaves, then put your feet into it, or put bandages into it, use it as a wet compress.


illustration © Lois Blackburn 2009 www.loisblackburn.co.uk