Saga of the Sanpitch Volume 13, 1981 - Sanpete County

All through life, one is constantly reminded of the role personal heritage plays in influencing and
shaping the way life is lived. My mamma Jennie's collection of treasures in a hard covered notebook supplied
our family with unusual recipes, bits of wisdom to live by, anecdotes, "old wives tales," and an abundance
of "sure cure" remedies. Mamma Jennie's Journal is one of the priceless treasures affectionately guarded by
my sister, Wanda S. Bachman, as she restores the old pioneer home in Ephraim.
At one time the "wonder cures" and "receipts," as they were called were serious business and because
of our fanciful imaginations, prayers, and sincere faith in method, ingredients, and God, the concoctions
seemed to perform miracles.
Mamma and Papa had little money. Instead they were endowed with nine children which required us
to live a well-planned, frugal life. Dr. Nielson, the town practitioner, was not needed except to deliver the
babies, unless a family member accidently broke a limb. All of the children had the round of childhood
diseases. It seemed that as soon as one recovered from mumps, another would break out with measles. The
quarantine sign would come down and within a few days, another would go up. Mamma used her journal and
the old family doctor book as a reference. With tender loving care, she seemed to be able to pull us through
our aches, pains, and maladies. If she could find the symptoms in the medical guide, she was sure to find a
cure in her magic journal. For colds on the chest and tonsillitis, it was robust mustard plasters and a rag dipped
in pungent coal oil, wrapped tightly around the throat. Of course an ample dose of castor oil or Epsom salts
was sure to speed recovery. The "cure for croup" or "How to Whiten and Soften Hands" was entered in the
journal between the "squash pie" recipe and "How to Make Picallili." Bits of wisdom were penned in wherever
a small space had been available. Grandma's asthma cure consisted of soaking brown paper in saltpeter water,
drying the paper, and burning it at night in your sleeping room. Watkins liniment was in plentiful use when
one of papa's favorite horses came down with distemper. It was also used by family members by diluting one
tablespoonful with water and drinking to cure a cold, stomachache or diarrhea.
One of grandma Sorenson's favorite receipts was titled:
"Liniment For Man Or Beast"
8 ounces pure turpentine
8 ounces best vinegar
2 beaten eggs
Shake in bottle and apply plentifully with a piece of flannel cloth until cured.
Grandma guaranteed her "Dressing for Beautiful Hair."
1/4 pint castor oil
1/4 pint beef marrow
1 tablespoon ammonia
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Rub on and leave on- the head one night, then wash off.
I was never brave enough to try it, so I'm not sure what the guarantee covered.
For Shiny Hair
Wash with grandma's homemade lye soap, then rinse in freshly caught rain water or freshly melted snow.
Summer Complaint
1 teaspoon black pepper dissolved in 1 cup cold water. Drink it fast. If this doesn't work by nightfall, try 1
teaspoon cayenne pepper. Hold the nose and swallow fast.
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