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Home » Health, Welfare and Charity » Hospitals and medical care » Herbal remedies

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  • John Elias (1774-1841) is regarded as one of the most important Welsh Methodist preachers of his period. He was born in the parish of Aber-erch near Pwllheli, but is most commonly associated with Anglesey, where he lived and worked from 1799. In addition to his work as a preacher, Elias was renowned locally for his medical knowledge. He prepared his own medications which he sold at his wife's shop in Llanfechell.
Pestle and mortar of the Methodist preacher John Elias (1774-1841)
  • This is a volume of recipes, herbal remedies and household hints, compiled during the mid-nineteenth century (c.1845) and owned by Lady de Rutzen of Slebech Hall (near Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire). It contains an interesting assortment of recipes, including 'calves feet jelly', 'hare soup', goosebery wine and the intriguingly-named 'Staffordshire Yeomanry Pudding'. The herbal remedies include cures for 'corns', 'gnat bites' and 'sea sickness' as well as a medicine which was believed to alleviate whooping cough. Among the 'household hints' we find advice on the cleaning and varnishing of pictures, how 'to take spots out of Marble', how to 'prevent water penetrating boots or shoes', as well as recipes for homemade soap and the removal of iron mould from linen. Prior to the advent of modern, manufactured products, housekeepers and housewives had to devise their own cleaning agents, often using 'recipes', such as these, which had been handed down through the generations.
Recipe Book owned by Lady de Rutzen, Slebech Hall, c.1845 [image 1 of 31]
  • John Gerard (1545-1612), a barber surgeon living in Holborn, was one of Britain's earliest botanists. His catalogue of his own garden in 1596 was the first thorough treatment of a single garden to be produced, and his herbal was first published in 1597.
Extracts from 'The herball or generall historie of plantes', by John Gerard, 1633, title page [image 1 of 16]
  • The full title of this volume is as follows: 'The Physicians of Myddvai; Meddygon Myddfai, or the medical practice of the celebrated Rhiwallon and his sons, of Myddvai, in Caermarthenshire, physicians to Rhys Gryg, Lord of Dynevor and Ystrad Towy, about the middle of the thirteenth century, from ancient MSS in the libraries of Jesus College, Oxford, Llanover and Tonn; with an English translation: and the legend of the Lady of Llyn y Van'. The work was translated by John Pughe, Esq. FRCS of Penhelyg, Aberdyfi and edited by the Rev. John Williams ab Ithel MA, Rector of Llanymawddwy, and was published in 1861. The Physicians of Myddfai or 'Meddygon Myddfai' were a family of physicians who lived in the parish of Myddfai, Carmarthenshire. They are thought to have been related to Rhiwallon Feddyg and his sons, Cadwgan, Gruffudd and Einion, who were physicians to Rhys Gryg, Lord of Dinefwr in the thirteenth century. It is believed that their descendants continued to practice as physicians in the area until the eighteenth century. The gravestones of the last physicians in the line, David Jones (who died in 1719) and John Jones (who died in 1739) are to be seen in the parish church of Myddfai today. The extracts shown here (in Welsh) give some insight into the nature of the remedies and medicinal practices used by the Physicians of Myddfai. They include a number of herbal remedies for ailments such as toothache, piles and halitosis.
Extracts from 'The Physicians of Myddvai; Meddygon Myddfai' (1861), title page [image 1 of 9]
  • An opening page from a personal notebook begun in 1836 and containing a strange assortment of mostly medical potions and recipes recorded by James Williams of Brecon. He seems to have been fond of adding flourishes and doodles to some of his notes.
Book of practical recipes entitled 'Bleed, Blister and Purge', 1836 [image 1 of 6]
  • This recipe 'was taken out of Cathorp Church in Lincolnshire, where many in the town were bitten by mad dogs, and all that took this medicine did well, and those that did not died mad.'
A Recipe to Cure the Bite of a Mad Dog, Llantilio Pertholey Parish Register, Llantilo, c. 1700s