But what Mrs. Bennett didn’t say is sometimes it feels like you could.
I’m so annoyed. The kids have just gone back to school and this was supposed to be my chance to reconnect with my writing. Instead, I’m battling a stuffy nose, the plugged ears, chest congestion, cough and interrupted sleep. Despite the vaporizer fogging our upstairs with eucalyptus steam and a full complement of medicines, traditional and herbal, I am just barely functional when I wanted to be blazing into the new story. It’s so not fair!
Anyway, I thought I’d check out one of my period sources on medicine. It’s DOMESTIC MEDICINE, by William Buchan, first published in 1769 with 18 subsequent editions. (Click here to access the etext for the 1785 edition.) Buchan was pretty forward-thinking about general health and prevention and many of his suggestions are far less kooky than those of his counterparts (though that’s not saying much!) I think of it as the sort of book my heroines might have owned and used to help keep their families healthy during the happily-ever-after.
Please, Dr. Buchan, tell that to my kids!
I checked some of the recommended medications, and they include “Peruvian bark” and “snake root”. Googling these exotic terms, I learned that Peruvian Bark is also called cinchona bark, and can still be used to treat fevers. Seneca Snake Root has expectorant properties. OK, so far, Dr. Buchan is not so dumb.
And the bleeding I could definitely do without!
Aw, I’m willing to try it at this point. It couldn’t make me feel any worse, could it????
This entry was posted in Regency, Research and tagged cold remedies, Regency Medicine. Bookmark the permalink.
Actually, when I have the beginnings of a cold, I usually down a beer to help dehydrate my nose. It seems to help, at least that’s what I tell myself.
I hope you feel better soon, Elena!
My husband has one too, but that hasn’t stopped him from going to work. And I know your work never stops–how come stay-at-home moms get paid nothing and still can’t get a day off?!?
Poor Elena! You and your family have been under the (often miserable) weather quite a bit recently! I hope your family gives you a break and you get that sleep and lemon and honey (or beer) or whatever makes you feel better!
It’s good to know that the treatment of colds has advanced so much since the Regency. Apart from dropping the bleeding, we seem to…hmm, well actually, that’s about it.
As the saying goes: a cold lasts for a week, but with the care of a physician it can be cured in seven days.