1819 AD

My grandfather gave my a very old Dutch booklet for my 13th birthday. I don't know how long he had had it himself. 'Always' he said.
It has given me so much enjoyment, and also some insight how people lived and thought 200 years ago, that I translated it into English, and here it is.
The original author had this to say about it:

Foreword


After many years of collecting, I find myself in possession of a large number of inexpensive instructions and remedies, suitable for all kinds of circumstances and situations, which I have tested from time to time, and which have given me the pleasure at numerous occasions of furthering the benefits, profits and pleasures of my fellow-men.

 

Although initially I did not have the slightest intention of making these instructions public, the realization of the scarcity, possibly of the absence of such worthwhile, and truly upon experience based observations, supported by the good results which I have noted several times, has finally made me decide to make this collection, such as it is, commonly available in print.

 

I dare flatter myself that they, who follow the here presented instructions carefully, will benefit greatly, and therefore they, as they will not forget the collector out of pleasure with the good results, will bless me for the publication of these, apparently minor, yet indeed for those, who find what they are in need of, weighty details.

THE AUTHOR, GRONINGEN, NETHERLANDS, 1819

To give some idea of what the booklet is about, here are a dozen of the more than 100 recipes and remedies.

Elixir against fever and infection
To create man-made ice, even in a warm room
Luminescent pomade
Good brazing solder for copper
Liqueur Eau de Barbados
To bring out the natural grain of wood
To make ivory or bone white
Recipe to make hair grow
To silver-plate copper by boiling it
To have pleasant dreams
Remedy for head lice
Raspberry vinegar, healthy and enjoyable

1819 AD is available for NZ $20.--
from leo.cappel@xtra.co.nz