Ma Mayfield
Johnnie Headrick Mayfield age 57 in 1945
By: Joe Mayfield
During the 1940s and 1950s people had to have a way to take care of the everyday things that occurred, from cuts, to burns, or just a splinter. There was no way to go to the doctor every time someone had a scrape, or scratch, it was necessary that they know what to do to take care of themselves.
It goes without saying that doctors cost money, money that only few people had, and the means of just getting to a doctor also would have been a problem since most folks living in the country only had a mule or horse. Should there be a major accident, then of course someone would jump on the horse or mule and ride for the doctor. Although there were a lot of good doctors that would gladly accept potatoes, or corn, or even strawberrys as payment, and some even understood the family financial need, and said pay me when you can.
For those that have been a doctor for only 10 or 15 years, I urge you to look into the history of your fine profession, and see how things were during those years, it will make you proud of those that have gone before you.
Some of the many things which could be found on a farm during the 40s and 50s were kerosene, turpentine, sassafras root or bark, saymans salve, and of course Vicks Vaporub. All of these things could be purchased from the rolling store when it came by, except for the sassafras root which could be dug up from underneath any sassafras sapling.
Also along with these items would be some clean cloths, usually cut from an old sheet, or pillow case, and kept in a clean box, there were no Band-Aids, Q-tips, or tape. When there was a cut, out comes the kerosene, and the clean cloth, once the kerosene was applied, the cloth could be place over the cut, then another peace of cloth would be torn into a strip about one inch wide, then tied around the cut to hold the first cloth in place, this served as tape.
Turpentine could be used on cuts as well, but not on burns or scrapes, as for the saymans salve, it could be used for just about anything, from a cut to a burn, or even when a nail had been stepped on.
My Grandmother, Ma Mayfield, also made sure there was always Ivory soap on hand, and it was used for all the things you use soap for, but it could also be used to make a poultice.
I recall many times getting a splinter in my hands while cutting stove wood, and most of the time it could just be pulled out, however if it had gone in deep, and she couldn’t pick it out with a needle, then she would make a poultice, and it never failed to work.
To make a poultice with Ivory soap, just use a knife to cut away about 6 or 8 slices of soap, thinly sliced. Only cut enough to fill a table spoon, dip the soap into a clean dish pan of warm water as you hold it in one hand, just dipping the hand into the water to wet the soap, and as it becomes warm, it can be molded in the hand with a table spoon, as you use the table spoon to mash the soap, use another spoon to sprinkle a small amount of sugar onto the soft soap, keep applying the sugar into the soap, and dipping it into the warm water until it is soft, about the size of a dough ball that youd fish with.
Once it is soft, and warm, its ready to be placed onto the area where the splinter is located, then cover with a clean cloth, tie another cloth around the wound, before going to bed, when you get up the next morning, the object will usually be pulled almost all the way out, then it may be wiped away, if not, just repeat the same process for another day, and it will come out.
There are other ways to make a poultice however; many people use a raw potato, grated, then placed onto a burn, but it must always be changed every hour. I have heard of others using turnips for the same purpose.
As for the Vicks Vaporub, it was used during the winter whenever a chest cold was coming on, or when Ma would hear me wheezing. She was very strict about using it.
It would be applied just before going to bed, my T-shirt was placed on the back of a straight backed chair near the stove, in order for it to be heated, while it became hot, she would rub the Vicks on my chest, and place a thick cloth over the ointment, then quickly put the T-shirt over my head, and I was put into bed. I’m not sure if it was the vapor I breathed all night, or if it was that feather mattress.
For those that have never slept on, or in a feather mattress, it’s like nothing you’ve tried before. One never sleeps on a feather mattress, one sleeps down inside it. When you look at the mattress before going to bed it may appear to be three feet thick, but when you lay down on it, you are swallowed as if it was the blob, you will be able to see a small opening when looking up, that is where you came in.
The sassafras root could always be used to make a tea whenever there was congestion in the chest, or if the nose were to be stopped up, just wash the roots, about one half cup, then boil for 15 minutes, sugar may be added for taste. You must drink it while it is still hot, and hold the cup under the nose, and breathe the vapor, it will open up the sinus.
I am not suggesting that anyone should try these Old Time Remedies, remember, the people that used them knew how to make the proper mixtures, all I’m saying is that it worked for us.
Published in U S Legacies October 2004
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