This Old Dictionary!

I like old books so I will go to book sales of every kind to look for John Steinbeck novels. In one particular sale I bought or was given an old dictionary. It's a copy of the Webster's new illustrated Dictionary from 1935 or earlier. It a cool leather bound book and the cover is deteriorating.

I like to use it because it's simple and concise. I was thumbing through it the other day and I came across a newspaper clipping and the date on the clipping was Friday, March 22, 1935. It cannot be clearly stated, because it was clipped and the details are not certain, but it appears it was from our old hometown newspaper "The Ordway New Era" and this copy had a partial stamped name on it so it looks like it once belonged to our old Roman Catholic priest Pastor Dougherty.

Here is the contents of the clipping which I found interesting. The column was written by a Dr. John Joseph Gaines, M. D. and he called it "The Family Doctor". Here are partial items from this column. Dr Gaines had been practicing 42 years prior so his practice began in 1893. He says, "I have never seen a cup of mild coffee at breakfast time (do any) harm" and recommends it for "old and feeble patients".

The doctor recommends a chest rub made from 1 part turpentine and 4 parts eucalyptus "which makes a best all around rub for most applications. Use it on a baby chest, grandmas aching knees and grandpas aching back. Sprinkle a little on a handkerchief and dispose of it on the bed so it may be inhaled while sleeping, the eucalyptus is deadly for cold and influenza germs".

Then he gives a recipe for a mixture of "spirits of camphor, turpentine, ammonia eucalyptus and a little tincture of capsicum - red pepper".

I chuckled as I thought about it because everything seems kosher except the "turpentine" part. It's good for using in oil base paint and such but I'm not too sure rubbed on me or smelling it while I'm sleeping! BUT! It was interesting!