Snuffs and Sneezes Cure Diseases
In the 17th and 18th centuries, patients were encouraged to snuff, snort and sneeze their way out of a whole range of ailments and illnesses.
Deep into the cold and flu season, the common adage that ‘coughs and sneezes spread diseases’ is heard across the northern hemisphere. The sound of a powerful sneeze or cough tends to prompt anxiety about the potential for the virus to strike, but in the 17th and 18th centuries sneezing also cured diseases. In order to rid themselves of ailments, men and women inhaled, snorted and snuffed an assortment of medicines. Sternutatory medicines – those that promote sneezing – including powders and snuff, were commonly described in medical texts and advertisements and were sought for a variety of medical conditions.
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