Home Remedies for Bites and Stings
An excerpt from the 20th Century Cookbook:
Preventing Lockjaw
For a flesh wound, throw a handful of wool or woolen rags upon a shovelful of hot coals and smoke the wounded part until relief is obtained, which is usually in a few minutes. This treatment prevents all danger of lock-jaw, at the same time removes the pain and inflammation. Let woolen rags be always at hand for this purpose. Wounds made by the claws and teeth of an enraged cat, rusty nails or rake-tines, all yield to this treatment, no matter how severe the pain. Sometimes the smoke of common brown sugar may be used in this way.
Curing Lockjaw
1. Warm a small quantity of spirits of turpentine and pour upon the wound. Relief will follow in less than a minute.
2. 1 ounce of lobelia seed, pounded fine, 2 ounces of Cayenne pepper, 1/2 pint of hot drops. Put in a bottle and skake well before using. Pour a little into the mouth, betweeen the teeth and cheek. It will relax the spasms as soon as it touches the glands or roots of the tongue, and the jaws will loosen. It goes through the system like electricity, excites perspiration in the patient. Give a dose of the above as soon as the spasms abate, and use pennyroyal tea for a frequent drink.