Cleanliness Cod-liver oil Rest
HEALTH Protection
Immunizations
HEALTH Restoration
Colds and sore throat: hot peppermint drink and Vicks
Nova Scotian, Catholic
HEALTH Maintenance
Sleep; proper foods
HEALTH Protection
Cut up some onions and put them on back of stove to cook; feed them to all
HEALTH Restoration
Cold: Boil carrots until jellied, add honey; as expectorant boil onions, add honey Cold in the back: Alcohol was put in a small metal container, a piece of cotton on a stick
was placed in the alcohol, ignited, and put in a banky (a type of glass resembling a whiskey glass); this was put on the back where the cold was and left for half an hour and a hickey- like rash would develop; it was believed that the rash would drain the cold
Table 7–1 continued
(continued)
170 ■ Chapter 7
Earache: Put few drops of heated camphorated oil in ear; melt chicken fat and sugar, put in ear Earache with infection: To drain the infection, cut a piece of salt pork about 2 inches long and 3/4 inch thick and insert it into the infected ear and leave for a few days
Psoriasis: Hang a piece of lead around the neck Skin ulcer and infection: A sharp blade was sterilized and used to make a small incision in the
skin, and live blood suckers were placed in the opening, they would drain the infection out; when the blood sucker was full, it would fall to a piece of paper, be bled, placed in alcohol, and reused
Sore throat: Coat a tablespoon of molasses with black pepper
Polish (United States), Catholic
HEALTH Maintenance
Cod-liver oil Eating good, nutritious foods Plenty of rest Use of physician
HEALTH Protection
Eat fresh, homegrown foods Exercise Good diet Good personal hygiene Work
HEALTH Restoration
Colds: Drink hot liquids, chicken soup, honey Headache: Take aspirin, hot liquids Sore muscles: heating pads and hot compresses
Swedish (United States), Protestant
HEALTH Maintenance
A lot of walking Cod-liver oil Eat well-balanced meals Routine medical examinations
HEALTH Protection
Blessing of the throat on St. Blaise Day Dress appropriately for weather Eat an apple a day Eat sorghum molasses for general, all around good health “I don’t do a blooming thing”; eat well
HEALTH Restoration
Anemia: cod-liver oil Bee stings: poultice Black eye: leeches
Table 7–1 continued
HEALTH Restoration (continued)
Familial HEALTH Traditions ■ 171
Congestion: steamy bathroom Cough: warm milk and butter Earache: warm oil Fever: blankets to sweat it out Lumbago: Drink a yeast mixture Rundown and tired: Eat a whole head of lettuce Sick: lots of juices and decarbonated ginger ale; lots of rest Sore throat: gargle with salt and take honey in milk; herringbone wrapped in flannel around the neck Upset stomach: baking soda
Table 7–1 continued
lists a sample of responses to the questions that students obtained from mem- bers of the maternal side of their families regarding the maintenance, protec- tion, and restoration of health/HEALTH. Table 7–2 describes selected answers to questions regarding birth and death beliefs and practices. These methods, beliefs, and practices are examples to trigger your questions and help you to probe the memories of the person you are questioning.
■ Consciousness Raising The experience of sharing one’s familial HEALTH practices raises one’s con- sciousness in several ways, helps participants see themselves and others in a dif- ferent context, and facilitates the understanding of patients’ practices.