In one rather weird cure a piece of raw bacon was tied to a length of strong cotton. The person suffering from the sore throat had to swallow the bacon while holding tightly to the cotton. The fat was then pulled back by the cotton and this exercise was repeated half a dozen times. A black cashmere stocking that had been worn for a week then had the sole of it sprinkled with eucalyptus. This was placed against the throat and the rest of the stocking wrapped around the neck and pinned. The patient then retired for he night.
Another old cure involved filling a stocking or a large sock with cooking salt, which was sometimes heated first. The sock or stocking was wound round the neck of the person with the sore throat before he or she retired for the night.
There were several other more ordinary-sounding cures. Some camphor was added to a wineglass of brandy. This mixture was poured over a lump of loaf sugar. The sugar lump was allowed to dissolve in the mouth of the person who was suffering from the sore throat. This was repeated every hour until four doses had been taken. After this the sore throat was confidently predicted to have disappeared.
An infusion of elder berries sweetened with honey sipped slowly was a suggested remedy. An infusion of yarrow root taken three times a day was also supposed to bring relief. Eating onions boiled in molasses was supposed to be particularly effective if the sore throat was accompanied by hoarseness.
A weak solution of salt was used as a gargle to bring relief to sore throats, as were a mixture of lemon juice and warm water, and dilute mixture of iodine and water. A little vinegar added to water was also used as a gargle, as was an infusion of mustard.
An infusion of sage leaves with added vinegar and a little honey was used as gargle. Others gargle included barely water sage tea, borage tea, dock, peppermint, eucalyptus oil, witch hazel and myrrh. Hot vinegar was used as an inhalation.
Garlic juice taken internally was thought to help. Eating leeks was also used as a remedy, as was eating onions. A hot tea made from rosemary was also used in the treatment of sore throats, and comfrey was popular remedy taken internally. A hot infusion of yarrow was also taken for the relief of sore throats.
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