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American Southern
Toothache
Historic recipe from Malinda Russell's 1866 cookbook "A Domestic Cook Book". Page 40. One of the earliest known cookbooks by an African American author.
15 minPrep Time
30 minCook Time
8Servings
hardDifficulty
Why This Recipe Works
This is a historical medicinal remedy, not a culinary recipe. It should NOT be prepared or consumed. The ingredients listed—alum (an astringent), nitrous spirits of ether (a now-obsolete solvent), camphor (a topical analgesic), and opium (a controlled narcotic)—were common in 19th-century dental treatments but are dangerous by modern standards. This recipe represents historical medical practices before modern dentistry and FDA regulations.
Before You Begin
- •DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MAKE THIS RECIPE - it is a historical document only
- •This is a medicinal remedy from 1866, not a food recipe, and contains controlled and potentially toxic substances
- •Opium is a Schedule II controlled substance; camphor is toxic in large doses; ether spirits are highly flammable and no longer used medicinally
- •For dental pain, consult a licensed dentist and use modern, FDA-approved pain relief medications
- •This recipe is valuable for historical and cultural research purposes only
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