M'Lady's Book of Household Secrets: Recipes, Remedies & Essential Etiquette
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M'Lady's Book of Household Secrets: Recipes, Remedies & Essential Etiquette
144eBook
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Overview
During the eighteenth century, ladies of high society kept handwritten notes on recipes, remedies, gardening and household advice in their personal House Books and it became fashionable to exchange their most successful tips with friends and neighbours. Very few of these fragile House Books have survived and this compilation celebrates two: one from Lady Talbot of Lacock Abbey and the other from Lady Louisa Conolly of Castletown House.
In this collection you will find their herbal remedies for everything from coughs and colds to rickets, consumption and 'preventing smallpox', along with concoctions to ensure soft hands, improve the skin and 'remove inhibitions'. There are also tips on cleaning and polishing, the best ways in which a garden should be laid out and the roles each servant should be expected to perform. Finally there is also a selection of their favourite recipes, including Cinnamon Spinach, Slipcoat Cheese and Pitchcocked Eels.
This charming compilation is full of fascinating information and useful tips and gives an insight into the lives of those living in the grand houses of the eighteenth century.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780752496955 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | The History Press |
| Publication date: | 05/15/2013 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 144 |
| File size: | 10 MB |
| Age Range: | 18 Years |
About the Author
The Hon. Sarah MacPherson was born in Castletown House, Ireland's largest private home, a neo-Palladian mansion on the banks of the River Liffey. She is the author of The Children of Castletown House, among others.
Read an Excerpt
M'Lady's Book of Household Secrets
Recipes, Remedies & Essential Etiquette
By Sarah Macpherson
The History Press
Copyright © 2013 The Hon. Sarah MacphersonAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-7524-9695-5
CHAPTER 1
Herbal Remedies
During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries many advances were being made in medical science into the causes of illnesses and the means to help alleviate them. But, despite these advances, many diseases, such as Smallpox, Consumption (Tuberculosis) and Cholera were still endemic (the introduction of Edward Jenner's vaccination in 1798 made Smallpox preventable but many people could not afford it). Convulsions and fits were also commonplace and medical provision by the parish was often basic.
The Wiltshire parish of Laycock, for example, recorded their provision for the sick in 1724, when neighbours were paid to nurse the infirm in their own homes (a matter that caused the parish considerable worry regarding the expense). It wasn't until forty years later that a parish institution was opened in which to house and care for these patients.
For those who could afford it, doctors and apothecaries offered their services, but they were expensive: medical services were performed by contract from 1751 for the sum of ten guineas.
With so many serious illnesses and the expensive nature of what limited professional medical treatment there was available, most people stuck to their old remedies. Many country houses noted these down in their Household Books, some of which still survive to this day.
Here we see the emphasis on herbs, spices, and some quite bizarre ingredients. Garden snails figure in several remedies, either to be taken internally, or as a facewash. Worms, moles and viper skins are more rare ingredients, and a Gascoine Powder contained powdered pearl, gold leaf, and ambergris.
Some remedies are a mixture of knowledge, folklore, and a large measure of desperation.
PREPARING REMEDIES
How to Make a Herbal Infusion
¾ oz of dried herb or 1 oz of fresh herb (use both leaves and flowers)
17 fl oz of freshly boiled water
Steep the herb in a warmed teapot with a lid (this releases the active ingredients) for at least 5 minutes.
Strain into a cup to drink immediately. This infusion can also be cooled in the teapot and strained off into a jar with a tight lid. Store in a cool larder. This can be re-heated and re-used within 24 hours. Drink 1 cup of infusion 3-4 times a day.
Nettle or ginseng infusions can be used as a tonic while chamomile and mint infusions are used for soothing the temperament and can be given all year round. With a good diet and bracing walks, these will give energy, and encourage better sleep.
A sage infusion is good for sore throats (3 leaves infused into a cup of boiled water for 3 minutes) and a peppermint, yarrow and elderflower infusion, taken at bedtime, will keep a cold at bay if given early enough.
WARNING
Do not use any sage remedies if M'Lady is pregnant, or breast-feeding a child.
How to Make a Tincture
Mix the herb material with the liquid to a ratio between 1:3 to 1:5. The liquid should be made of water and alcohol to a ratio of 2:3 to 1:1 (depending on the herb used). Sugar Beet can be used as the alcohol source. Dilute the required dose of tincture in hot water before taking. (Most of the alcohol will evaporate.)
How to Make Concentrated Oils for Healing, Energy and Scent
The oils are extracted from: flowers, leaves, fruit, peel, seeds, wood, bark, and roots.
It takes 2,000 roses to make one 10ml bottle of rose water so only a tiny amount is needed when it is mixed with creams or lotions – 10-20 drops only in 100ml. This absorbs well into the skin.
NATURE'S INGREDIENTS
Herbal Resins
Benzoin: aromatic resin from Styrax tree. Used as preservative and for healing, it also treats coughs and calms the system.
Myrrh: gum resin from Arab lands. Used against body fungus and for healing.
Powders
Slippery elm: the powdered bark of elm tree. It strengthens, heals, and is used in warm poultices to draw out a foreign body.
Borax: a mineral that has cleaning properties and also acts as an emulsifier in M'Lady's face cream to bind the oils and water together. Only to be used in very small amounts.
WARNING
Borax is toxic if taken in large amounts.
Spices
Cayenne: Stimulates circulation and increases blood flow.
WARNING
Cayenne is harmful in big doses.
Cinnamon: Healing, anti-fungus, and good for digestion.
Cloves: Stimulating and warming. They also promote healing, and have a useful pain-masking action.
Ginger: Stimulates circulation and has many uses in home remedies.
WARNING
High doses of ginger can be toxic. Do not use when M'Lady is with child.
Nutmeg: Aids digestion, and helps prevent nausea. Carry a whole nutmeg in your pocket to ward off pains in the hips and back. The oil of nutmeg is used in remedies for stiff and aching joints.
WARNING
Nutmeg can be harmful in large doses.
Herbs in the Bath
Stimulating: basil, bay, fennel, lavender, lemon verbena, lovage, meadowsweet, mint, pine, rosemary, sage, thyme.
Relaxing: catnep, chamomile, jasmine, lime flowers, vervain.
Healing: comfrey, lady's mantle, marigold, mint, yarrow.
Oils and Waxes
Beeswax: an emulsifier for creams and lotions.
Cocoa Butter: a richly moisturising fat.
Coconut Oil: extracted from the white flesh of a coconut, it is an excellent moisturiser for problem skin. This is solid at room temperature but it melts when lukewarm.
COLDS, COUGHS, AND FLU
Magic Cold Remedy
2 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon grated ginger root
2 lemons
1 cup water
2 teaspoons honey
1 cinnamon stick
Crush the garlic, grate the ginger and squeeze the lemons. Boil them in water and pour into a cup. Add garlic, ginger, lemon juice, honey, and cinnamon stick. Leave to cool for 2 minutes. Remove the cinnamon stick and drink while still hot.
Miss Plowden refcit for ye Colleck or Ague
Take one ounce of Chamemile flowers, & one Drachm of Salt of Wormwood, half an ounce of Drid Orring Pill [dried orange peel) enfuse this together with a Pint of boylin water & drink it all, about an houer before you expect a fit.
Dandelion Cough Syrup
8 oz honey
25 dandelion flower-heads
Put dandelion flower-heads into a pan and add the honey. Pour in enough cold water to cover by at least ¾ inch. Bring to the boil before lowering the heat to simmer while stirring. As the mixture begins to stiffen remove the pan from the heat and pour the mixture through a sieve. Leave to cool and then pour the mixture into well-sterilised jars and seal tightly.
Honey, Lemon and Ginger Drink – for the throat
Juice of 4 lemons
1 ²2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon grated ginger root
Pour squeezed lemon juice into small pan over a medium heat. Add the honey and stir. Add the ginger and stir again. Pour into a cup and sip while still hot. To be made fresh and taken twice a day.
For Hiccups
Chervil seeds stirred into vinegar.
Surfit Water
Probably 'surfeit', although this seems a very rich mixture to cure an excess of eating or drinking]
Take a gallon of Brandy and a peck of Poppys, let them steep together three days. Stirring night and morning, keep them close cover'd then streyn ye Poppys from ye Bran and put into it a half a pd of raisons of ye sun stoned and of figs two oz of liquorish, 2oz of Dates, 2oz of Aneseeds Mint & Balm watter, half a pint of each . Let all these steep togeather close cover'd five or 6 days, stirring twice a day, then strayn it off for use.
The Recr says you may have a usefull water by distilling ye ingredients adding to them some good herbs, half an oz of Mace and ² oz of Nutmeg, a qtr of an oz of Cloves bruised & some corriander seed.
INSOMNIA AND NERVOUS TENSION
For Interrupted Sleep
Valerian root: take as an infusion.
WARNING
Do not take valerian root with other herbs.
Lavender: dried lavender flower infusion.
Chamomile: dried infusion helps relaxation.
Basil: take in food or as an infusion. Has a calming effect on the nerves.
Bath-time Relaxation
1 oz hops
1 oz rosemary
Place the hops and rosemary together into a muslin bag and sew it up. Place the bag in a hot bath for 5 minutes before M'Lady gets in. (Chamomile and lavender can also be used with the same method.)
Lavender Nightcap
4 fl oz water
3 tablespoons fresh lavender leaves
1 tablespoon honey
3 tablespoons orange flower water (made with infused orange flowers boiled down to concentrate and stored in a jar with a tight lid)
Put the water, lavender leaves and honey in a pan and place on a gentle heat until the honey dissolves. Strain and add orange flower water. Drink while still warm.
FOR THE WHOLE BODY
To Prevent Infection from Smallpox and other Fevers
One handful of rosemary
One handful of rue sage
One handful of lavender
One handful of wormwood
One handful of mint
Strip the herb leaves from their stalks, and chop them very small. Put them into a stone jar with one pint of the very best white wine vinegar. Stop with a well-fitted stopper and let it stand before the fire for 3-4 days. Strain off the liquor and pour what is clear liquid into a bottle with 1 oz of camphire. Keep the bottle closed and shake it well before use.
Miss Plowden Recept for ye Dropfie
Take ye branch leaves of Artichoques, & pound in a Morter & strain 'm & put ye liquer into a bottle & keep it till you have a fit of the Dropsie, then take a spoonful or more of that liquor at a time, & put it into a glass of white wine & drink it twice a day, morning & afternoon. It will purge you by urine, but if that quantity does not doe it enough, you may repeat it as you see occasion.
When M'Lady first goes into the air of any infected place, rub her lips and nostril with the infusion.
To Overcome Shyness
Make a thyme and beer soup using a chicken stock base.
To Remove Inhibitions and to use as an Aphrodisiac
Concentrated oil of ylang ylang.
For a Bileous Complaint
A quarter of a Pound of Dandelion with its Roots clean'd and cut small and half an ounce of currants bruised. Boil them gently in a Pint of water till half the Liquid is wasted, then strain it off and press out as much of the juice as you can – add it to half an ounce of Tincure of Senna and half a Dram of Tincure of Cardamums.
Take half at going to Bed, and the other half in the Morning.
This medicine should be repeated ev'ry Night & Day for a fortnight & then twice a week and then once a week. It succeeds best when the Stomach is empty and no Supper is eat – and then the stomach is often relieved by drinking the Tea made of Dandelion alone cut small.
Use when in an Expectant State
Concentrated mandarin oil is safe to use on a kerchief. (It is also good for calming children.)
To Clean-Out the System – A Two-Day Regime
To be used 2/3 times a year. All drinks use cooled boiled water.
Day 1: 1 glass of cooled boiled water with juice of ² a lemon in the morning Eat grapes whenever hungry (3lbs + during the day) You should drink at least 10 glasses of liquid a day, of which one half can be diluted juices (carrot, celery or apple juice taken with 50 per cent water) and the other half water, or teas (peppermint, chamomile or ginger)
Day 2: Mixed vegetable soup made with artichoke, beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, celery, lettuce, onion, and watercress.
Miss Plowden Sis: Bell Day, Recept for ye Yallow or Black Janders [Jaundice]
Take fanerick, tumeryrick & inward Bard of Barbary dryed to a powder, sift them threw a sieve & 2 peny-worth, ground small. Devide it in 3 parts, & take for three Mornings, as much of each as will lye on a sixpence, in a draft of white Wine, warmed with a gad of steel. Fast for a time after you drink it. Repeat as oft as you have occasion.
An Alternative Quick Cleansing of the System (also for the skin)
Give a thistle and milk hot drink at bedtime.
Against Body Odour
Apple cider vinegar
Water
Ammonium Alum
Castor-oil plant extract
Mix equal parts of apple cider vinegar and water. Pat it onto the underarms. Leave the arms outstretched, and wait until it has dried before adding ammonium alum and castor-oil plant extract.
Please note: with this treatment, the patient can still perspire. Eating red meat is the main cause of body odour so reducing consumption can also help.
Lovage crunch up into a muslin sachet and placed in the bath can also be used to mask body odours.
For Monthly Problems and Bloating
A warm nettle tea infusion will calm the pains, and reduce the bloating.
To Cheer up the Moods, Stimulate the Liver and for Fluid Retention
A vitality salad of the following leaves: dandelion, baby spinach, arigula (rocket), lamb's lettuce, spearmint, a few lemon balm leaves, borage flowers, pot marigold petals, with a lemon & oil dressing.
For Worms
Of Myrrh, Aloes and Mitheradate, each a gr of an once, a little powder of dry'd wormwood. Mix these into a paste with frexh Ox of Bulls Gall & spread it upon sheeps leather. Lay it upon the person's stomach with the point upwards and the bottom not to touch the navel by 2 fingers breadth. When it has lain on 24 hours let the person take gentle Physick every other day for three times and about 10 days after a dose rather stronger. Let the plaister lye on as long as will stick. If it makes the stomach itch and break out into little spots, lay the skin of mutton suet on when you take the plaister off. The above quantity of ingredients will spread a great many Plaisters but it must not be mixed with Gall until you use it. If the person is too weak to take the Physick let them have the following Glister as you judge proper for three or four times.
The Glister
Of wormwood and wormseed of each half an ounce (this is enough for 3 Glisters). Boil it in thin gruel or small broath. When enough put in a spoonful of coarse sugar and strain it. Give a young child half a pint – more in proportion to age. The person or child must not eat milk or fruit so long as the Plaister lyes on. It will not stick if the person has not worms.
[This is followed by a diagram of the shape of the plaster. Mitheradat is a composite medicine used as a panacea. 'Glister' is an enema, see plate section]
To Fight off Illness, Infections and Depression
6-8 nasturtium leaves and flowers
Bunch watercress (stalks off)
1 oz chopped parsley
Lettuce leaves
Thin peeled cucumber slice
1 large peeled and quartered orange
Mix together to form a nasturtium and watercress salad.
½ teaspoon garlic pulp with a little salt rubbed in
1 teaspoon light mustard
3 teaspoons saffron flower oil
1 teaspoon orange flower water
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Small bunch of finely chopped chives
Pinch of ground black pepper
Put all the dressing ingredients into a tight jar and shake well. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and use the reserved nasturtium flowers for decoration.
Lady Northumberland's Worm Broth for a Consumption
Take a knuckle of veal & the neck end of mutton, an ounce of French Barley wch must be boyled first in water & let yr meat boyle first then put to it pennyroyal hearts tongues leaves, liverwort marygold flowers a little maiden hair & some other cooling herbs according to yr discression.
Then take 50 angle worms, cut off their heads and tails, thrust a bodkin through 'em to slit 'em, then scower them with salt & wash 'em in several waters till they are very clean. Put them in after the meat is boyled and skim'd & let em boyle together from 7 o'clock in the morning till ten at night & it will be strong broth but do not let it boyle too fast. Strain and drink of it morning and evening warm but never skim it after the worms are put in.
For the Ricketts or Weakness in the Joints
Take of May Butter fresh from the butter milk one pound and a pound of sheep's suet where in the kidney was enclosed. As many wild white Primrose Leaves as one can hold between both our Hands. The same quantity of Long planton leaves. The same of Green tops of Elder. The same of Malows if you have Marsh Mallows else the common sort will do.
A pint of Large Shell Snails. Shred the Herbs & Suet & pound it all in a mortar then stew it over the fire. When it is well stewed the ointment looks green, strain through a linnen cloth, for use (it may be set in a pot in the oven to stew). When it is cold if there is some drops in the bottom you may melt it again & powder it off to keep for use.
HANDS
Gentle Sugar Scrub Massage
2 tablespoons rich oil (olive etc.)
3 tablespoons sugar
Mix to a paste. Rub hands with a small amount, and massage it in gently for 1 minute. Rinse well with warm water and dry well. To be used at least once a week.
Skin Care for Dry Hands
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoon softened butter
Mix the honey and butter together. Apply to clean hands and massage in well for 2 minutes then wipe off with a hand cloth
(Continues...)
Excerpted from M'Lady's Book of Household Secrets by Sarah Macpherson. Copyright © 2013 The Hon. Sarah Macpherson. Excerpted by permission of The History Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Contents
Dedication,Acknowledgements,
Introduction,
one Herbal Remedies,
two Household Maintenance,
three M'Lady's Garden,
four Servants,
five Food And Cookery,
Main Reference and Historical Sources,
Household Notes,
Plates,
Copyright,