Home Remedies for Bites and Stings
An excerpt from the 20th Century Cookbook:
Rattlesnake bites
Moisten fresh earth with water or saliva and bind on the wound immediately, changing every quarter of an hour. Tie a handkerchief tightly above the wound, to prevent the poison spreading, keep the patient quiet, and send for enough whisky to completely stupefy him as quickly as possible. Recovery is usually sure. Or cut a small gash in the wound and apply hydrochloric acid. This is sure without the whisky.
Snake bites of any description
Have the wound well washed with ammonia and then sear in every part with lunar caustic, every portion, especially the deep-seated portions. It is well to take large draughts of sweet oil also. In districts infested with reptiles such antidotes should be always on hand. Washing the wound with a strong solution of salt and water, and, in bad cases, inserting salt in the wound itself is also recommended, and it is well to resort to it in the absence of other remedies.
Stings of bees and other insects
Put a little common baking soda in a wine-glassful of vinegar and bathe the part affected. Immediate relief follows, and no pain or swelling will ensue. Olive or sweet oil also affords relief, and fresh earth bound on is certain and sure relief.