Home Remedies for Felons
A deep-seated, throbbing pain in the end of the finger should never be disregarded. This is the first symptom of a felon. Dip the finger quickly into boiling water several times in succession. This may be done without any risk of scalding. Repeat every hour for several hours, and the cure is generally complete.
Procure several lemons. Cut a small opening in the end of one and push the finger in. Keep it there until the lemon ceases to draw, then apply another, and keep on until the pain is relieved.
Heat 1 teaspoonful of table salt until perfectly dry. Add to it 1 teaspoonful of castile soap cut fine, and mix with 1 teaspoonful of Venice turpentine. Apply to the felon. Renew twice a day. A sure cure. If the felon has been opened, or there is danger of losing the bone or a joint, apply the poultice, and this will effect a speedy cure.
Put directly over the throbbing spot a fly blister the size of a finger-nail. Let remain six hours. At the expiration of this time the felon may be seen directly under the surface of the blister, and can be easily removed with a pin or penknife.
--from the 20th Century Cookbook--