A Book of Curious Advice

Cigarettes to cure asthma? Crushed strawberries to remove freckles? Old advice can be peculiar or even downright dangerous, as this eye-opening, enjoyable treasury of misinformation proves. Drawn from such tomes as Ladies' Indispensable Assistant (1852), Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management (1861), and Dr. Chase's Recipes (c. 1884), it offers a sampling of the most alarming remedies, unusual tips, and outdated theories from the late eighteenth to early twentieth centuries. The unwise guidance covers everything from curing alcoholism to lacing corsets. Complete with revealing information on the popularity of opium, history of bathing, and nineteenth-century version of the Atkins' diet, A Book of Curious Advice provides a rare and hilarious glimpse into our ancestors' heads and homes. Due to age and/or environmental conditions, the pages of this book have darkened. Former library book. Ex-Libris and is stamped as such. Mylar protector included. Please note the image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item.…