Here comes the Watkins Man!

Believe it or not, aspirin was one of the remedies that was used when I was growing up. They were much larger then and were coated and, as I remember, were a sort of pale yellow in color and were used only for a headache! Thought it best to start with something that sounds normal as there may be some things that will sound more than weird as I continue.

For starters, much of the products were bought from the traveling salesmen that came with horse and cart (they looked sort of like a closed-in carriage). The ones I remember were Watkins, Bakers, and Rawleigh. When we saw them driving in, it was very exciting and, of course, whoever saw them first would shout: "Here comes the Watkins Man!" Then we kids got to watch while Mom decided what to buy and/or what he had brought if she had pre-ordered from the last time around. I think they came about once a month. They sold all sorts of spices and extracts as well as salves, ointments, and what-have-you.

Vanilla extract was sold in large bottles as was pain relief for an upset stomach. This is a little story that happened to Janice: She made a cake and, instead of vanilla, she mistakenly used pain relief. After it was detected and after she got over her embarrassment, we all had a good laugh.

Liniment was used for sore muscles and was good for man or beast. Mentholatum was used for sore muscles. Rubbed on the chest, it was supposed to help loosen a chest cold (I still like to use it, but it is hard to find now-a-days). For a sore throat, gargle with salt mixed with a little vinegar and warm water or just warm salt water. Turpentine and lard mixed together could be used for a sore throat and/or chest if congested. For a throat, a stocking was fastened around the neck with a safety pin. For a chest, a flannel cloth was fastened the same way. The stocking or flannel cloth was warmed in the warming oven and then fastened in place, and the "patient” was given a pat and tucked into bed to recover! If that didn't cure it, sometimes an onion—sliced, sprinkled with a little sugar, and set aside on the back of the stove until it formed a syrup to take--might do the trick.

For an earache, a drop of warmed sweet oil was dropped in ear followed by a piece of cotton or a few puffs of smoke blown into the ear. That was the only time I ever saw my dad smoke. He had a crooked-stemmed large corn-cob pipe for that purpose only. Another "cure" was a little sack filled with coarse salt. When used, it was first heated. It stayed warm for a long while. As it cooled one could shake it to bring the warm salt to the outer side.  Earaches are terribly painful.

We drank sassafras tea made of the bark of the tree. It was considered a Spring Tonic. We picked wild Sheep Sorrel and wild onions. They both could be found at the same time in early spring. They were supposedly good for "curing the spring fever”. We kids ate them with bread and butter of all things.

Mom made ginger tea for stomach cramps. A little baking soda in some water could be used for gas on the stomach, and cracker soup used for an "up-set” stomach. Cracker soup: Break a few crackers in bowl, add some milk, bring just to boiling stage, pour over crackers and add black pepper. Make it so it is soupy. Don't eat anything else with it!

For bee stings, wasp stings, or spider bites: Dampen a small amount of baking soda with enough water to make a thick paste and put it over the sting. Cover with a cloth. Remove stinger first if possible.

Take a bath in vinegar water to relieve the itching from chigger bites.

Dampen a bar of homemade lye soap and rub on poison ivy, then leave it on until it dries good.

Castor oil for a laxative, followed with a little something sweet.

To ward off an epidemic such as flu, diphtheria, scarlet fever, small-pox, and other diseases: Close the house and burn sulfur by sprinkling it on top of a hot stove. Let the fumes fill the house. I don't remember for how long, but it seemed like a LONG time. My dad was the one who decided when it was necessary and was the one who announced that everyone stay inside until it was time to air the house out.

I won't tell about the onion and fat-side meat poultice for using on an infected wound to draw the poison out…

Print this post