Today at an estate sale, I came across a 1903 edition of "Dr Chases Recipes or Information for Everybody". It is full of antique remedies for humans and farm animals alike. There are recipes for cold creams, and perfumes. Directions on how to dye your faded garments. And dozens more useful recipes for everyday.
One that seemed particularly useful was for cleaning the greasy stains off of stone ware or yellow ware dishes.
"To Clean Greasy Earthenware"----Stone pots or jars in which lard or fat has been kept, and yellow ware pie plates,may be cleaned by putting them in a kettle with ashes or sal soda, covering them with cold water, and allowing them to boil slowly an hour at least. When boiled enough, take them off the fire and leave them in the water until it cools.
Another useful recipe was for a rose oil made from real rose petals.
"Attar of Roses, to Extract from the Flowers"-----fill a jar with rose leaves; cover with clear water. Set in the sun for several days. The oil will rise to the surface and can be gathered with a wad of cotton tied to a stick. Squeeze into a phial It is very valuable.
I always love finding these old cookbooks with the odd recipes. It is fun to compare the different natural recipes that our ancestors used around the house long before you could go to the store and buy it off the shelve.
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