IMH 75:2 166-167

"Chronicles of Upper Burnet" (1)

1881

Tuesday, February 1st.

A day devoted to washing and loafing. Alvin and Mother
did the first mentioned, Father and I the last. Father was up at
Bob Foster's a short time in the forenoon. I believe he went to
see about borrowing a scalding barrel. I was up at the
schoolhouse during the noon intermission to hear the news. Mr
Stokely Stiles Sr.(53) was here awhile to get Father to do some
appraisement for him. Alvin squizzed what he could. Foster and
Bill Hand began cutting the wood on the other side of the big
creek to supply the town contract. The rain had ceased this
morning, everything was slick and icy and the snow fell in
light squalls once in a while. The creek got bankfull and began
flinging the ice out

 

Teaching note: One can still obtain arnica at the local drugstore. Mixing with axle grease would be similar to petroleum jelly-- although not as tidy. The changes in health practices are considerable. This is so apparent by examining the mortality rates and causes of death in the 1880 era.