Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 137, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 June 1910 — RECIPES OF OLD HERBALIST. [ARTICLE]

RECIPES OF OLD HERBALIST.

Some of Them at Interest To-Day— TTaea of Hoiemary and Violets. “A Compleat Herbal,” compiled in the year 1653 by one Nicholas Culpeper “at his house in ‘ Spitalflelds, next door to the Red Lion,” fell the other day into the hands of the writer, the London Daily Mail says. Mr. Culpeper, M. D., was a physician of great renown in the' seventeenth century and with hiß Herbal left upward of fifty choice recipes, many of which were “aids to vanitie,” to his wife. Those women who are now eager to prdcure good recipes for the stillroom will be interested to know that out of the numberless too intricate recipes supplied by Nicholas Culpeper there are some of quite modern interest. For brightening the hair and to bring comfort to the head and brain bathe with a decoction of camomile flowers, which will remove pain and weariness to whatever part of the body applied. J To keep the teeth white it is well to rub them with quince juice copiously diluted with water, which not only cleanses the teeth but fastens them and strengthens the gums. Violets are a “fine, pleasing plant of Venus.” To relieve hoarseness take a dram weight of the purple flowers and steep them in a pint of fresh water. After some hours gargle with the decoction. Julep of violets, like julep of roses, is made by adding two ounces of the syrup of either flower to a pint of distilled water. To purify the complexion drink three ounces every morning of the julep. The sun claims rosemary and it is under the celestial rain. It is a herb of great use “for physical as well as civil purposes.” The decoction thereof iii white wine or water helps rheumatic pains in the eyes. For giddiness the head and temples should be bathed with it. It helps dim eyes and procures clear sight, the flowers thereof being taken all the while if blossoming. Every morning taken fasting with bread and salt a conserve of the flowers is comforting to the heart and to burn the stalks and flowers of the herb in houses corrects the air in them. , In the seventeenth century the dried leaves, shredded small, were smoked in a pipe as tobacco is and were considered very helpful for coughs and consumption. A seasonable remedy for colds is syrup of mints. Take of the juice of quinces between sweet and sour and the juice of pomegranates sweet and sour, of each a pound and a half, dried mints half a pound and dried red roses two ounces, let them steep one day, then boil the mixture Half away and with four pounds of sugar boil it into a fragrant syrup. Take a spoonful of it several times a day. A bit of vine branch burned and the ashes thereof rubbed on black teeth wil 1 make them white as snow. Nutmeg finely grated on to the top of hot milk in a glass eases pain in the head, takes away the weakness coming from a cold and restores the fatigued. Tincture of cinnamon, considered most valuable in influenza colds in the seventeenth century, is once again a favorite remedy with doctors. Take of bruised cinnamon two ounces, spirits of wine (rectified) two pounds, infuse them four days in a large glass stopped With a cork and bladder. Shake twice a day, then dissolve half a pound of sugar candy by itself in two pounds of rose water and mix both liquors. Take a spoonful in water.