Cockeyed Optimist

My poor sister is suffering from some throat infection or other at the moment, and she tells me she’s gargling with Betadyne, an iodine-based preparation. This set me off on a train of thought about my childhood, our Dad, and a number of his favourite remedies.

I was born in 1933, so when I was little there were very few of the medicines, like antibiotics, that nowadays we take for granted. Penicillin, the first antibiotic, was only discovered by Sir Alexander Fleming in 1926, and did not come into general use until about 1940, after further work by Howard Florey (I won’t give you any references — they come up on Google very easily).

So, instead, we had to rely on –

A Few of my Dad’s Favourite Remedies

Please note — these are NOT recommendations, they are merely for general interest and to feed my own nostalgia.

Seek professional advice before using!

• Tincture of Iodine

This was iodine dissolved in alcohol, I think, and was used both as a gargle and for painting on grazed knees as an antiseptic — it stung sharply, so it was obviously doing some good.

• Calamine Lotion

This was a nice pink colour and was very soothing, for sunburn or rashes of various kinds, and for the sore areas that developed when the damp tops of your “Wellies” (rubber boots) rubbed on your bare legs in winter time. These were also treatable with:

• Zinc and Castor Oil Cream

A universal ointment for all manners of sorenesses and abrasions, including nappy (diaper) rash in babies.

• Precipitated Chalk

This came as a white sediment in a bottle of water. You shook it up and took it internally as a mild antacid, for belly-aches or wind.

• Witch-Hazel

An astringent, of vegetable origin, used for treating bruises and insect bites (and for aftershave lotions and also for haemorrhoids).

• Boracic Acid

Dissolved in water and used in an eye-bath for mild eye infections or soreness. No longer in use!

• Formaldehyde and Eau-de-Cologne

The local chemist used to make this up for Dad. He used to snort it in liquid form when he had a bad cold. After the top of his head came down again there was no chance of any mucus remaining, nor much lining left in his nose. Beware!

• Yeast Tablets

Recommended (by Dad) for clearing up acne or other skin conditions due to “impurities in the blood”. Tasted so bad I had to take them wrapped up in something nice.

• Cod Liver Oil and Malt

This must have been very good for you, because it tasted disgusting! It had the consistency of jam, and you had to take it off a spoon.

• Cod Liver Oil (straight)

Compared with the malt mixture, this was almost pleasant to take, but it needed to be followed by something to take the fishy taste away.

• Andrews’ Liver Salts

Now we’re talking - this was a nice fizzy drink, so it was almost worth having a stomach upset so you could have it.

For anything serious, of course, we went to the doctor. In those days the local practitioner used to dispense a range of standard medicines him or herself, or give a script to be dispensed at the chemist’s shop. The practice we mostly attended was run by a husband-and-wife team, so there was Dr Grant and Dr Mrs Grant! (or was she Mrs Dr Grant?).

So, how about you?

Let’s hear it for some more old-fashioned remedies!

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