Not all grandmother's advice is equally useful

In the encyclopedia Bakrama Barrows several chapters are devoted to secrets of female beauty, issue date of the book – 1889. Other edition which interested me - the book of 1910 from doctor Thomas Jefferson Ritter in which he raised "more than one thousand proven means from mothers of the United States and Canada". On some central boards and there is a wish to put a badge: "after reading to burn". Yes, that came to nobody to mind to follow such advice.

Wash more often, ladies! At least once in a week!

Bakram Barrows authoritatively says that each woman has to wash as often as possible. To me it was thought of morning and evening bathtubs at once. But is not present. "At least once in a week", - he writes. Yes, a lot of things changed since the 19th century. And still advises those who want to wash even more often, to wipe with a wet sponge a body three times a week.

If council about the frequency of washing can be carried to costs of technologies, after all plumbing and sanitary were not at all. That council about what to wash – forces to shudder. How you think that can be better than face soap? Ammonia! Barrows advises to wipe skin with water solution ammonia, it cleans pores and bleaches skin.

Eyes have to shine! – was considered then, it is considered and now. Only then instead of Wiesen such way consulted: wash them with plentiful soapsuds. And if does not help, and a look still extinct – whisky and cologne with equal quantities, to moisten in it a piece of sugar and to eat. I do not doubt that the woman "will obviously become cheerful", and eyes "will leave orbits".



Do not wash hair!

Again we read the encyclopedia from Barrows. "Not to wash hair!" - here a secret of a magnificent head of hear. It is not trusted, but in the 19th century was considered that water – is harmful to hair. To clean consulted so: every other day wipe hair with a towel, removing dust. Besides, it is necessary to comb many hair, up to 30 minutes a day.

At a hair loss the book by doctor Ritter recommends two different recipes: one, most likely, will help, another – to put it mildly, will send to the grave. The first. Make tea of a sage, mix with whisky in equal quantities, add henna and wash out head skin at least 2 times a day. The second (attention as write in advertizing, "do not try to repeat"). To rub mix of almond oil, extract of rosemary, wine, the distilled water and mercury in head skin (!). So far your hair will not grow. Or inexplicable death will come rather, I add.

And again poisons

By the way, mercury really was in honor both at doctors, and at cosmetologists (though before such profession was not yet). For example, the simple recipe for gloss of eyes – mercury + fat was found in the book by Barrows. I hope, girls of that time after all abstained from similar councils. Though it is known that mercury was in many houses, it got rid of louses. After for this purpose used kerosene.

Ammonia was welcomed also. For example, as to you such means against cold: to inhale mix of ammonia, iodine and carbolic acid through a nose? It was necessary to inhale as often as possible. Or here sore throat ointment with ammonia: To mix olive oil (half-pints) with ammonia (half-pint), to add turpentine (half-pints) and 1 egg. To stir up, the emulsion is not formed yet. To apply on a neck and a throat, blisters will not go yet. Then to wipe and put cold cream.

Other "effective" thing – cocaine. The wadded tampon impregnated in cocaine solution should be thrust into nostrils, and it had to save from cold quickly. Cocaine tablets were recommended to be sucked before food, and it cured of cold. Or to do throat ointment: to mix cocaine with warm water and a small amount of olive oil. If such recipes begin to duplicate now, then, probably, persons interested to legalize drugs will become more.

But also soft drugs then found application in beauty. For asthmatics it was recommended to inhale smoke of the cigarettes containing a dope.



It is better not to wash a face and hands

Despite council to wash more often, once a week, for a face and hands – other recommendations. Not to wash them at all. It is better to wipe a face with the ointment with glycerin applied on dry flannel or cotton fabric or skin. I do not know, to washing a face, but clarification by means of fabric – the quite good soft peeling combined with an oil way of purification of leather. I will not argue with it, perhaps.

Handles of girls of the 19th century, probably, were porcelain as a face. Because any reddening was considered as defect. For this purpose also advised ladies not to wash a hand with water, and to peel them the same as the person: flannel fabric and glycerin. During bathing it was necessary to put on gloves. Barrows in the encyclopedia assumes that hands can be dipped into water only once in a month! Probably, they at all never washed the dishes.

Solar bathtubs

It is similar to a way of involvement of grooms. Probably, many romantic and erotic plots were born in literature of that time thanks to these habits of distinguished young ladies. It was accepted to acquire a tan at the cracked window, at the same time the lady has to be absolutely naked. The solar bathtub lasted not less than an hour.

However we know that suntan was not held in high esteem at aristocrats. What to do? Council was in the book of doctor Ritter. Mix equal parts of corn starch and oatmeal, then add a lead carbonate. Powder this structure skin. From what there will be a pallor: from a lethal dose of lead or from starch – it is not specified. But there is a suspicion that lead will not allow skin to look healthy.

Dry skin – not a problem

It is quite difficult to call this recipe in question as to test it the hand somehow is not raised. Such council: wrap sour cream in flannel fabric and for the night dig to the earth. In the morning dig out and you apply this "enriched" sour cream to dry skin of hands, legs, faces.

Poor eyelashes!

These are now the cosmetic companies are concerned how to attract us to novelties, promising "infinitely long eyelashes". And then, probably, at ladies of an eyelash grew as hair. Because how differently to explain council every day slightly to cut rebellious eyelashes small sharp scissors?



But sponges as at Angelina Jolie

As soon as possible each girl has to begin to work on a shape of lips. Too thin lips it is worth correcting "absorption" by exercise, it provides continuous growth of lips as blood arrives to lips.

Also try not to be one!

This council very much was pleasant. So simply: "The woman in marriage looks better, than lonely". If you one – to you no ammonia helps to become more beautiful. Here is how! I do not think that feminists will begin to argue with this "eternal" council.

Books are read up. There was a question: Really our granddaughters too will also find secrets of beauty of our time and to laugh, or perhaps and to warn: "Do not try to repeat, it is life-threatening!".