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How To Cure The Plague And Other Curious RemediesStock informationGeneral Fields
Special Fields
DescriptionToday we are used to reaching for a painkiller when we get a headache, we take anaesthetics and antibiotics for granted, and we would not dream of making our own medicines. But until a century ago that was far from the case, and people had to seek their own remedies or depend on far-from-reliable doctors and apothecaries for everything from an ingrown toenail to amputation. How to Cure the Plague presents a stark reminder of the days when remedies were based on guesswork or superstition, and people swallowed bizarre or revolting mixtures; yet it was not all 'toads and brandy' - many herb-based treatments formed the basis of modern medicines. This new book presents a fascinating illustrated compilation of some of the most curious and disturbing cures from history, from the Middle Ages to the nineteenth century. Examples: Eighteenth-century treatment for asthma: Live a fortnight on boiled carrots only. It seldom fails. An Anglo-Saxon treatment for warts: For warts take hound's urine and mouse's blood, mixed together, anoint the warts with it, they will soon go away. Author descriptionJulian Walker is an artist and writer, and leads workshops at the British Library on literature, art, history, printing and the English language. His research-based art practice uses a wide range of media to explore taxonomy, collections and cultural history. |