Home Made Remedies From Subiaco Women... (1910-1920).
This blog post contains recipes for home made remedies for common health problems of the time including whooping cough, insomnia, sunburn and the common cough from the women of Subiaco.
This blog post is a continuation of previous posts about recipes and household hints supplied to the Sunday Times newspaper recipe and household hints contest in the early years of the Western Australian colony.
From the previous blog post..."During the early years of the colony the Sunday Times newspaper ran a recipe and household hints contest. The letters competed for prizes and the winning entries and honourable mentions were published in the newspaper.
The rules of the contest state the recipe could be taken from any cookery book or newspaper or better still be the invention of the sender. Many women sent in original recipes and household hints. Any woman could enter as many recipes and household hints as they please. Both single and married women and even children competed for a variety of prizes over the years.
Like many women from around the State, the women of Subiaco shared their favourite recipes. These recipes provide a wonderful insight into the variety of food available and consumed by individuals and families from a variety of sources, their resourcefulness when food like meat was not at its best, some advice on how to provide nourishment to an invalid and make home made remedies for the sick..."
In 1912 the following poem about first aid was submitted by Mrs. M. Tait from Armadale to help women to remember their first aid in an emergency...
An Emergency Rhyme...
"If poisoned, take mustard or salt, tablespoon
In cup of warm water, and swallow right soon
For burns, put day soda, and wet bandage too;
If blistered the oil and dry flannel will do.
In children's convulsions, warm baths are the rule
(With castor oil dose, too), but keep the head cool.
Give syrup of ipeca when croup is in store.
For fainting, stretch patient right on the floor.
To soak in hot water is best for sprain;
Remember these rules, and 'twill save you much pain."
-Mrs. M. Tait, Armadale, S. W. R. (Sunday Times, 4 August 1912).
The traditional spelling and grammar found in the published recipe and household hints has been maintained.
The articles and photographs are from Trove the databased of the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
Sunday Times, 6 August 1911.
Ladies Pages.
Household Hints.
HONORABLE MENTION.
Cough Mixture. - 3 oz. linseed, 6 oz. sugar, one large lemon cut in slices, one stick of liquorice (small one). Boil together in a quart of water until reduced to a pint and a half, strain when cool, add three pennyworth each of aniseed and paregoric, shake well and use as required. Dose for adult, tablespoonful; children according to age. - Mrs. Walker, 226 Rokeby-road, Subiaco.
Sunday Times December, 1914.
Ladies Pages.
Household Hints.
Honourable Mentions.
Whooping Cough. - Sunflower seeds, browned as you would coffee beans, and made as you do coffee sweeten the decoction and let the child drink it freely at night. - Mrs. C. Slaney, Subiaco.
Sunday Times, 30 January 1917.
Ladies Pages.
The Prize Hints.
Honorable Mention.
For the Throat.- A teaspoonful of glycerine added to the well-beaten white of an egg, the juice of a lemon, and enough sugar to make it palatable, will relieve hoarseness. - Miss Dawkins, 212 Park-street, Subiaco.
Sunday Times, 11 February 1912.
Ladies Pages.
Household Hints.
Honorable Mention.
For Insomnia. - Make a large pillow case of muslin lined with a thin sheet of cotton wool, and fill it with new dry hops, renewing them every week. The scent of the hope is very soothing to the nerves and induces sleep. - Miss W. Archer, c/- 252 Barker-road, Subiaco.
Sunday Times, 23 July 1911.
Ladies Pages.
Household Hints.
THIRD PRIZE.
Third prize awarded to Mrs. M. Harding, 220 Barker-road, Subiaco, for hint on
USES OF SALT.
Salt may be made useful in many directions besides table use. First, as a tooth powder, it will keep gums had and the teeth beautifully white; also if you have a tooth extracted and the bleeding does not stop, rinsing the mouth with salt and water will prove a quick remedy. Mixed with hot water salt makes a good gargle for a sore throat, and if a little is put with lemon stains on fingers from ink, peeling potatoes, et will be easily removed. When teacups are discolored rub a little salt on stains before washing them, and the blemish quickly disappears.
Sunday Times, 13 August 1911.
Ladies Pages.
Household Hints.
Honorable Mention.
How to Remove Freckles and Sunburn Caused by Sea Air. - Mix a teaspoonful of borax with a tablespoonful of glycerine, and add three tablespoonful of rosewater; shake, and it is ready for use. Wash hands or face well, and carefully dry them and rub lotion in. Use this at night so as to cause no inconvenience. - Miss R. Ferrow, 192 Bagot-road, Subiaco.
