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March 23, 2004
Cobwebs On A Cut
I am currently reading an Agatha Christie book entitled A Caribbean Mystery. In it there have been several things that have surprised me. #1: It was said that when a character in the book was a young child, she used to put “cobwebs on a cut”. I have never heard of such a thing, but if any of you savvy people out there know the story behind this I would love to hear it!
The second thing referred to is “tooth powder”. Now, I am used to paste and gel, but not powder. I have heard that baking soda is good to use on your teeth. Could this be what they were referring to when they said tooth powder?
Posted by tami at March 23, 2004 8:16 AM
Comments
From what I can find, "cobwebs on a cut" probably refers to a folk remedy which instructed people to put cobwebs on a cut in order to stop it bleeding. Here's a Civil War-era account of remedies, suggesting the application of chimney soot and cobwebs together. Strange!
The tooth powder I knew off the top of my head. Here's a good link, everything you wanted to know about tooth paste!
Posted by: gw at March 23, 2004 2:09 PM
Ooooh, and it sounds like ancient Greeks used cobwebs to quell bleeding. Fascinating stuff we're learning today, thanks to your post!
Posted by: gw at March 23, 2004 2:14 PM
Oh my goodness! That list is very eye-awakening! You know, now that I think about it, I guess cobwebs are much like gauze. That doesn’t sound so crazy now. That article also said that spider silk was used as fishing line. How ingenious! The people on Survivor need that recommendation!
I love the article on toothpaste! It’s a shame that while they were trying to HELP their teeth, in some cases they were actually causing damage.
Thank you GW! I knew that I could count on you for the answers :)
Posted by: Tami at March 23, 2004 3:19 PM
You're welcome! I am the Queen of Obscure Searches. I love a good hunt. :D
Posted by: gw at March 24, 2004 4:34 AM
Colgate used to do a tooth powder in a tin and my father told me that his parents used salt and soot to clean their teeth in the 1800's.
Posted by: lynne at March 24, 2004 8:56 AM
It just amazes me what people will try! I wonder how well the salt & soot worked.
Posted by: Tami at March 24, 2004 12:02 PM
Cobwebs on cuts used to be used instead of plasters - they are very strong, honey was used to clean the wound and sometime comfrey leaves boiled into a stew were also used on wounds. The powder was prewar - Victorians etc.
This is a very ageist question I have just realised!! And I'm going home!
Posted by: Miss L at March 24, 2004 1:34 PM