The "A Cure For Everything" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just got back from having an MRI to try to determine what to do about the Arthritis that has plagued me for the last few years.  As I sat in front of my computer reading my emails I remembered a book I was looking at recently that gave some old-time family remedies for a variety of illness.  Pulled a few books off the shelf and after searching for a couple of minutes located what I was after.  A couple of pages of "Home Remedies" that were sure to work if I followed the directions.  Well, a remedy for Arthritis was one of the dozen or so illnesses that was on the list.  Trying to think if I want to give it a try or use more modern methods to help alleviate my symptoms.  

Getting ready to put this in my pocket?

The remedy listed said to: Keep a potato in my pocket until it turns black -or- Drink a teaspoon of vinegar in the morning and teaspoon at night -or- Wear a copper bracelet.  What do you think?  Should I see what the MRI suggests is my next step or maybe try the vinegar route?  This remedy must have worked for someone or why would it be part of a book on home remedies.  Some of the other problems with their remedies goes like this:

Croup - 1/2 tablespoon of sugar with warm melted lard poured over it.  Instant cure!
Earache - Wrap hot tea leaves in a small piece of cloth and place in the ear -or- Blow a couple of puffs of cigar smoke into the affected ear.  Instant cure!
Infection - Bread and milk soaked in water wrapped in a cloth.  Apply to the infection.
Chest Cold - Mustard Plaster.  Make a paste of dry mustard and flour and place between two pieces of cloth.  Heat on the stove.  Apply to the chest for about ten minutes.
Head Lice - Wash head with kerosene.  Wrap in towels for a couple of hours, then wash with vinegar and follow with soap and water.
Warts - "Pow-Wow" the wart by gently rubbing it with a penny at sundown and saying a few "magic words."  Wart will disappear in several days -or- Steal a piece of fat and rub it on the wart.
Cold - Burn an old rag; mix the ashes with goose grease and put it on your chest and back.  Also could use mutton tallow.
Cough - Make tea out of the leaves of catnip and mix with sugar -or- Mix a spoonful of sugar and a spoonful of coal oil.
Pneumonia - Put on the chest manure fresh from the cow.
Headache - Pull plantain leaves from bogs and make a wrap with vinegar, sugar and salt.  Apply to the head.
Fever - Put fresh onion on the feet and the stomach.

Yep, you just read the home remedies that were used in the late 1800s and early 1900s.   Didn't they wonder why most people died by age 50.  But, I guess I'll wait for my follow up visit with my doctor to see what the MRI showed and then decide if I need to buy an extra bag of potatoes. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.