Mother's Remedies Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remedies from Mothers of the United States and Canada

This volume opens a grim yet fascinating portal into the world of domestic medicine before modern hospitals. It captures the anxiety of families faced with illness, when professional doctors were scarce and often unaffordable, leaving mothers to rely on handwritten remedies. The editor notes the unsettling presence of hazardous substances—kerosene, mercury, opium, even arsenic—mixed with more familiar herbs and foods, underscoring how survival sometimes demanded dangerous experiments.

The text is a sprawling collection of recipes for poultices, laxatives, fevers, and everything in between, with thousands of references to keeping the bowels open and applying skin treatments. A built‑in dictionary explains antiquated chemical names and botanical terms, while occasional anecdotes recall childhood foods that once graced the table. Readers will recognize the labor‑intensive preparation required in an era without reliable refrigeration, making each remedy feel both a culinary puzzle and a medical gamble.