Turn or the Century ideas

I was trying to think of what to write here all week. Then I remembered a book I have called "...And you think you've got it Bad by Barbara Fairchild Gramm. It's a book with a collection of turn-of-the Century Life and House-keeping things and ads. It's really very interesting on the beliefs and the things they were encouraged to do or follow back then compared to today. 

Here is an example:

Care of Infant

Many babies die before they are a week old because they are handled too much or not taken care of intelligently. The first bath coming too early kills many. Your very own elbow is the best test of the temperature of the bathwater. But before the child is twelve days old, cleansing of the skin can be done with olive oil or lard.

For a stuffed up nose in an infant, a squirt or two of breast milk dripped into the nostrils will make darling baby sneeze, then sleep.

       I wonder how this idea really worked back then or how many people followed this advice. All I can say is poor babies.

Or maybe you will like this one:

Her Bark is worse Than Her Bite

Most women have agitated bosoms only when they are tired. When you see a peevish, troublesome woman, it is probably that she has too much work, anxiety or responsibilities to bear. Or perhaps she has stayed in the house over-much and does not take journeys, or suffers martyrdom from an ignorant husband. It has been said that men may be bad in the grain. So all fault finding, arrogant and disagreeable men ought to be swept from the face of the earth.

    I do like the idea of disagreeable men being swept from the face of the earth. I can think of a number of men right now. How about you?

Here's one more:

Constipation Remedy

Take one pound figs, one pound raisins, one pound dates, four ounces Senna leaves.

Put all through a meat chopper and work the mixture into balls like small walnuts, keep in a tin box and take one at bedtime.

   How long did you lay in bed before this combination kick in and you were running to the outhouse.

Just three examples of the things in this book. I think from time to time I will write one down and maybe comment on it 

 

Well that's all for today. 

So till next time.

Keep on pondering the pondering possibilities..