The Secrets of Mary Bowser (58 page)

Pluck, but do not draw them, put them on a small spit, dredge, and baste them well with lard, toast a few slices of bread, put them on a clean plate, and set it under the birds while they are roasting; if the fire be good, they will take about ten minutes; when you take them from the spit, lay them upon the toasts on the dish, pour melted butter round them, and serve them up.

Cabbage Pudding

Get a fine head of cabbage, not too large; pour boiling water on it, and cover it till you can turn the leaves back, which you must do carefully; take some of those in the middle of the head off, chop them fine, and mix them with rich forcemeat; put this in, and replace the leaves to confine the stuffing—tie it in a cloth, and boil it—serve it up whole, with a little melted butter in the dish.

Forcemeat

Take half a pound of veal, and half a pound of suet cut fine, and beat in a marble mortar or wooden bowl; add a few sweet herbs shredded fine, a little mace pounded fine, a small nutmeg grated, a little lemon peel, some pepper and salt, and the yolks of two eggs; mix them well together and make them into balls and long pieces—then roll them in flour, and fry them brown.

The discerning reader will note that forcemeat is used in a variety of Mrs. Randolph’s other recipes: “To Dress Turtle,” “Veal Olives,” “Calf’s Heart, a Nice Dish,” “To Barbecue Shote,” “To Make Sturgeon Cutlets,” “To Boil a Turkey with Oyster Sauce,” and to prepare every vegetable from eggplant to pumpkin.

Did you ever try any of the recipes out?

Definitely not. Many of them sound pretty unappealing—I would not recommend readers whip any of these up to serve at your next book-group meeting.

I used other sources to understand what it must have been like to live in an era when “cures” could do as much harm as the disease. Wives and mothers were often expected to collect the ingredients and distill these “medicines” themselves. Here are the recipes that I consulted when Mary wanted to bring her father some treatment for his rheumatism. You have to wonder when you see one remedy recommended to treat an incredible range of different ailments—when in fact it may not have helped with any of them.

From
The Family Nurse

by Mrs. Child,
author of the
American Frugal Housewife

1837

Cajuput Oil

Highly stimulating and penetrating, producing heat, and sometimes profuse perspiration. Given for palsy, chronic rheumatism, and spasmodic affections of the stomach and bowels, not accompanied with inflammation. Dose from one to five drops on sugar, or with some liquid. Mixed with an equal portion of olive oil, it is a good liniment for gout and rheumatism. Its most remarkable effect is in curing the toothache: from whatever cause the pain may arise, a few drops on cotton, placed in the cavity of the tooth, or even around the gums, are generally sure to give relief. It occasions smart pain for an instant.

Horse Radish

The root promotes appetite and digestion. As an active stimulant, it is used both externally and internally for palsy and chronic rheumatism. As a diuretic, it is employed in dropsical disorders, particularly when the digestive powers are weak. Highly esteemed in scorbutic affections. Half a drachm or more may be taken, grated or sliced. A syrup made of it is good for a hoarse cold. Boiled in milk, it is said to be a good wash to remove tan and freckles. The leaves are a good application for rheumatic pains. They often relieve the toothache, but if kept on the face too long, will produce a blister. Bound on the feet, they are excellent for the head-ache and for colds attended with feverish symptoms.

Turpentine

Oil of turpentine irritates and inflames the skin. Used as a liniment in rheumatic and paralytic affections. In mild cases it should be diluted with olive oil; and some constitutions cannot bear it even in this softened state. Mixed with some mild oil, and put into the ear on cotton, said to be good for deafness arising from a deficient or unhealthy secretion of wax. Much recommended for burns and scalds; put on as soon as possible, on lint, or linen rags, being careful not to touch the sound flesh; remove, as soon as the inflammation subsides. Dr. Dewees says, he prescribed, for tapeworms, an ounce of spirits of turpentine mixed with an ounce of castor oil, to be taken once a week, for three weeks. The medicine operated powerfully, and had the desired effect. Spirits of turpentine is excellent to bathe chilblains. Mixed with equal portions of spirits of wine, and applied with a feather, it is said to be good for St. Anthony’s fire. Care should be taken not to touch the eyes.