Paul Henson stirred up memories re -Indian Brandy in Post 1997
KILL OR CURE Fenning's cooling powers, from the corner shop Indian brandy, Ipecacuanha wine, -only take a drop Carter's little liver pills, your pains it eased Raspberry leaf tea, warmed you through if you sneezed Bile beans, four ha'porth and Beecham's pills Brimstone and treacle, or Friar's balsam cures your ills Sulphur tablets, Zambuk ointment, Goose grease, on your chest (Wrap up warm ) in combinations, Liberty bodice or vest Peps for coughs and colds - Fruligar a garlic cough cure Pine tar, for sore throats - the taste was rather poor Silbe asthma tablets, -Liquid paraffin from Boots Suck 'em and see which one suits Linctus for coughs, swallow don't splutter "I can't swallow that", children would mutter Lemons and hot water, Dad would put in the poker "Drink it" he'd say, it's not going to choke yer If you bumped your head, get the marge Rub in slow if lumps were large Liquorice powder, cascara, these Laxitives were foul But the main purpose --an empty bowel !! Tuck your shirt in, keep your back warm A list of Grandma's remedies, from when you were born It cost to see the doctor, folks weren't blessed with wealth We must thank our lucky stars for the National Health Bless our Surgeons, Doctors, Nurses, Paramedics All those who make us better What was a poem ,now sounds like a letter Our Little London Herbalist, his suggested tonics made us well Well I'm still around, and my poem I thought I'd tell Did you take yesteryear potions, if you felt rough ? |
Susan Carberry Marvellous jean how did you remember so many cure alls ? I remembered most of them and fetching some from penhales on hunger hill road , what a shop even in the 50s/ 60 it was like a Victorian relic , I can remember he weighed powders in scruples and wrapped everything you brought in sheets of newspaper ! He dressed like Scrooge to short trousers and big black boots , black tight fitting jacket and a deathly pale face ! I was always fascinated by him and his museum of a shop !He had the same window display the whole time we lived on Leicester st . Memories ... Life's photographs
|