In the 19th century, the nine oils was a preparation, or liniment, which was rubbed into the skin to relieve aches, such as over bruises. "Nine oils" was apparently developed in veterinary medicine, for treating horses, but later was adopted for human medical use.
According to one 19th-century druggists' book, oils used in the preparation included:[1]
train oil; that is, whale oil or the oil of the blubber of another marine mammal
However, it is certain that many "nine oils" preparations did not contain these ingredients, and in fact it is possible that the name "nine oils" never referred to any specific combination of compounds. The writer James Greenwood, in 1883, put these words in the mouth of the street-doctor "Dr. Quackinbosh", in his series of articles Toilers in London, by One of the Crowd, originally serialized in the Daily Telegraph:
When I first started I worked Woolwich with my "miraculous Nine Oils." Men who work at heavy lifting and hauling, and are likely to get strains and ricks of the back, have a superstitious belief in the "Nine Oils." It is the same wherever you go. What are they? what, the original Nine? Blessed if I know, nor they don't know either. But that don't make any difference. I used to give 'em one – sperm oil – and call it the Nine.[3]
^FRANCIS, George William (1853). The Dictionary of Practical Receipts; Containing the Arcana of Trade and Manufacture; Domestic Economy; Artistical, Ornamental&scientific Processes; Pharmaceutical and Chemical Preparations, Etc. (Third Edition.). J. Allen, D. Francis.
^. www.mspong.org. Archived from the original on 2003-08-13.
^"Victorian London - Publications - Social Investigation/Journalism - Toilers in London, by One of the Crowd [James Greenwood], [1883] - Doctor Quackinbosh".
Referencesedit
"Discovering Dickens", a glossary of Dickensian terms
April 12, 2024
nine, oils, 19th, century, nine, oils, preparation, liniment, which, rubbed, into, skin, relieve, aches, such, over, bruises, apparently, developed, veterinary, medicine, treating, horses, later, adopted, human, medical, according, 19th, century, druggists, bo. In the 19th century the nine oils was a preparation or liniment which was rubbed into the skin to relieve aches such as over bruises Nine oils was apparently developed in veterinary medicine for treating horses but later was adopted for human medical use According to one 19th century druggists book oils used in the preparation included 1 train oil that is whale oil or the oil of the blubber of another marine mammal oil of turpentine oil of bricks the oil obtained by the distillation of pieces of brick saturated with rapeseed oil or olive oil 2 oil of amber spirit of camphor Barbados tar a kind of greenish petroleum found in Barbados oil of vitriol that is sulfuric acidHowever it is certain that many nine oils preparations did not contain these ingredients and in fact it is possible that the name nine oils never referred to any specific combination of compounds The writer James Greenwood in 1883 put these words in the mouth of the street doctor Dr Quackinbosh in his series of articles Toilers in London by One of the Crowd originally serialized in the Daily Telegraph When I first started I worked Woolwich with my miraculous Nine Oils Men who work at heavy lifting and hauling and are likely to get strains and ricks of the back have a superstitious belief in the Nine Oils It is the same wherever you go What are they what the original Nine Blessed if I know nor they don t know either But that don t make any difference I used to give em one sperm oil and call it the Nine 3 See also editPatent medicine Snake oilNotes edit FRANCIS George William 1853 The Dictionary of Practical Receipts Containing the Arcana of Trade and Manufacture Domestic Economy Artistical Ornamental amp scientific Processes Pharmaceutical and Chemical Preparations Etc Third Edition J Allen D Francis The Household Cyclopedia Distillation www mspong org Archived from the original on 2003 08 13 Victorian London Publications Social Investigation Journalism Toilers in London by One of the Crowd James Greenwood 1883 Doctor Quackinbosh References edit Discovering Dickens a glossary of Dickensian terms Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nine oils amp oldid 1119720787, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
