Bates Salve

Germolene for cuts and grazes and bug mixture for upset tummies and sickness, which was Kaoline and morphine..

My friend’s DM used little Blue Bags for stings and bites.

I still use Mag Sulph Paste for drawing out splinters, thorns etc. Magic stuff!

Lots of remedies made from plants grown in my DGM’s garden. All seemed to work but now think they only worked because they were ‘Nans medicines’. She also had a list of things that could be found in the local chemist & made up to order for all sorts of coughs etc. Wish now that I had found her lists when she died! All lost now but fondly remembered!

I cannot remember it. My Mum used witch hazel on cuts and bruises and indian brandy if we felt sick

Iodine for my frequent knee grazes. It stung! I still use new skin for hang nails.

Never encountered Mr Bates. It was butter for a bump on the head or germolinefor a graze or cut but they had to be serious. Usually it was a quick look and told it's not bad you'll live, off you go.

I was once given Cod Liver Oil - Yuck!

It was sugar and soap paste, for me, for drawing out splinters

Goose grease for chest infections . My children got Vic to rub on and clear the tubes.

We got Zambuck put on any/everything. I did love the smell!

Just googled & it’s Zam-Buk

@Milest0ne: I remember goose grease! Just the mention of it brings back the smell. My maternal grandmother always had a pot of goose grease in the hearth for colds and “rubbing on the chest” as a cure all for everything, especially in the winter. She’d top it up regularly but I don’t think it was ever washed out before refilling. I’m sure it was rancid but strangely didn’t seem to harm us- and we all recovered quickly Although that was probably to avoid a further “rubbing” !!

It was savlon for everything in our house when I was a child. I still use it to this day!

My father insisted on using IODINE, of all things, on cuts and grazes. It stung dreadfully! My mother used Savlon, I think; she was kinder (and a former nurse!). I also remember Basilican ‘drawing’ ointment in a yellow tin, and pink lint to ‘draw’ out nasties like gravel that could be in a cut. The smells of these preparations are with me to this day!

I think Savlon and Dettol was 'go to' for my mother. But for me Germolene was my favourite. I always carried a small amount in a tiny box (former eyeshadow container) to come to rescue for any small cuts, grazes. It also doubled up as trendy lipstick! Sadly it is no longer made but I still have a few elderly tubes that I am hoarding... still sound.

My father had iodine in his work area but only he used it ... neat tincture = ouch. It cannot be had now over the counter. I react badly to it as it brings on nasty skin rash. I tried to find it for him about 15 yrs ago but did find a tube of Betadine in Italy.

Mum used an ointment called Whitefire or Snowfire. I dont think it stung.

We used to have in the bathroom cabinet a vintage looking container, possibly made of cardboard (?) with something called Lion Ointment, a sort of thick yelliw/orange paste, which would be applied splinters which Dad hadn't managed to dig out with a needle (ouch!). Sticking plaster on top overnight and the splinter would appear the next day outside of the skin - blooming clever that!

Found a picture of it here, and info on its composition (lots of lead oxide!)
Never come across it myself
victoriancollections.net.au/items/52160aee19403a17c4ba247e

We had a thick yellow paste called Basilicum Ointment. It drew splinters out like magic. For anything else there was a small white pilule as my Dad was a homeopath.

Germolene used to be bright pink and sticky and come in a round tin.

Now it's a pale pink cream and comes in a tube, much better but not always easy to find.

My Mum used Dettol & my Aunt used butter on me

Talking about magnesium sulphate as a drawing ointment, another 20 years ago I had a breast abscess which had to be drained in theatre and packed with a ribbon dressing . To have it repacked every day was painful and it took weeks to heal . A few months later it became inflamed again and I didn’t want to return to the hospital. I was a nurse at that time and bought some magnesium sulphate and put some on a dressing and went to work . While working on the ward I felt a minor explosion on my boob . When I got home that night and undressed , all the gunk had come out of my boob and simple dressings for a week or so healed it completely.
I hate having to go to the doctors.

magnesium sulphate really is a miracle wonder cream!

I think the present day Germolene is a cream and different formula. The old stuff was ointment so better for skin damage like paper cuts as not water based. Oh remember the tins, had forgotten.

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