Whooping Cough

Remedy for Whooping cough

Health Care

Whooping Cough

Whooping cough, caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, is sometimes fatal (see www.whoopingcough.net for more information). The main symptom is a choking cough, with 'whooping' occurring when the sufferer is suddenly able to draw breath back into the lungs. Today it is rare due to vaccinations. The papers in the Powys County Archives contained three remedies to alleviate the symptoms:

Whooping Cough

Dissolve a scruple of salt of Tartar in a gill (1/2 a pint) of water - and ten grains of Cochineal fine powdered - sweeten with fine white sugar - Give to an infant a tea spoonful 4 times a day - to a child of 2 or 3 years two tea spoonfuls and to a child of 4 or upwards a table spoon ful each time.

Remedy for Whooping cough

For Whooping Cough

6 drams diluted nitric acid
3 ounces Simple Syrup, or you may put instead 3 ounces of water and a desert spoonful of white sugar
9 ounces of water besides

One Table spoonful, or desert spoonful, or tea spoonful, according to age to be given 4 times a day beginning at the age of 9 to 12 perhaps, then 6, 7 and 8 may have a Desert spoonful and younger a tea spoonful.

Turn over

The Teaspoon of course may be filled quite full In 5 yrs old and gradually less till it comes to half in a young baby
When it is given to a baby a little more water must be added.

The above two recipes were for internal use, the one below was to be inhaled:

Written remedy for Whooping cough

Recipe for whooping cough

Take a large open jar, in which put a red hot brick. Pour on it one gallon of boiling water, then add 1 oz of the strongest solution of ammonia. Let the children inhale the vapour for ¼ of an hour then wrap them up warmly and put them to bed.

This recipe must not be used till after three weeks of the cough.

The room must be empty of furniture because the ammonia ruins the polish and the bottle must have a glass stopper.

Home Remedies