COUGH SYRUP Alice Strader, Yale, OK
"My Grandmother Johnson was a 'granny woman'. She delivered babies, took care of lots of sick people -- sitting up, bathing, etc. She delivered her own grandchildren, two nieces and a nephew. She had cures for lots of things. She used natural herbs, poultices and potions she learned from her mother. I watched her on many occasions fix a remedy. In the winter of 1918 she told of a flu outbreak. This is a cough syrup she used."
2 cups simple syrup*
5 cents worth of methol crystals, or 1/2 teaspoon methol crystals
2 teaspoons glycerin (for internal use)
1/4 cup whiskey
Heat simple syrup. Remove from heat and add glycerin. Add methol crystals and stir carefully, so as not to inhale too quickly. Your eyes will water and you'll catch your breath. Add whiskey. Take 1 tablespoon for adults; 2 teaspoons for children 10 to 12 years; 1 teaspoon for children 2 to 6 years.
*Note: To make simple syrup, heat 2 cups water with 2 cups sugar until dissolved.