The past is a different country. They do things differently there.

[Ecneps]

penicillin was discovered in abt 1928 by Alexander Fleming, but wasn't produced in quantity until abt 1944 or 45.

I remember falling over when I was small and having a very badly infected graze, it was treated with the then new-fangled gauze pads impregnated with penicillin, and it worked wonders

Barbara

[Gadget]

Do you remember M & B?  We had it before penicillin was widely used (and I'm talking late 40s/early 50s!). I used to get tonsillitis and was given that. Mum used to crush the tablet on a spoon with jam to make it palatable 

Gadget

[Ecneps]

No, but when we had sore throats, my mother used to mix butter, sugar and vinegar and we ate that, lovely, she also made us gargle with vinegar & warm water (but I used to drink it) 

[Lynn H]

White wine vinigar with warm water is a "CURE" for arthritis. Hasn't done much for me but a friend swears by it.

                               Lynn.

[Pels.]

My grandma used Witch Hazel as a cure for all evils .. had to think about the name because it's so long since I've heard it? 

[Ecneps]

I still use it, it's an astringent, antiseptic, always have a bottle in the cupboard, excellent for stings, bruises, cuts etc.  They now do it in gel in a tube

Barbara 

[Pels.]

Star Drops is something else I can remember in her cupboard .. I think you can still buy that today  .. isn't it strange how you can always remember certain smells from your past? 

[Ecneps]

Chestnuts roasting on a shovel under the fire grate..........

[Lynn H]

Now that brings back some memories for me.

                                     Lynn.