Healthy Hints

We health writers receive a lot of gifts through the post – and not all of them useful. In the past few weeks I’ve had supplements for pregnancy, old age, men, and toddlers... I’ve had a huge rain poncho (extra large) under which my whole family could shelter, and a Japanese tummy warmer (which let’s face it could be more useful than you’d normally expect at this time of year). But one gift that really tickled me was Constance Moore’s pocket sized book of ‘Hints on Health from the Victorians’ (£3.99 Summersdale Publishers).

Here are my favourites:

. ‘A cigarette, despite it staining one’s teeth, is notably credited as a miracle cure for illness.’

. ‘Fight off general illness with a healthy dose of mercury, arsenic, iron or phosphorous. If one has a strong heart, mix all together.’

. ‘Treat earache by securing a freshly baked potato to the afflicted ear. Failing that, a baked onion works just as effectively.’

Warning: do not gift this book to anyone of a naïve disposition.