9. The United States Practical Receipt Book
The word receipt was used interchangeably with the word recipe in early cookbooks and household guides until the late nineteenth century or so. In 1844 the publishing firm of Lindsay and Blakiston of Philadelphia, released the United States Practical Receipt Book, which was a collection of lifehacks, to be taken advantage of by the well-informed of the day. Among the hacks were simple instructions on how one could make one’s own condoms out of sheep intestines, readily available from a butcher. “Used to prevent infection or pregnancy”, read the guidebook, in instructions which consisted of a single paragraph.
The book suggested mixing rose oil, castor oil, lavender oil, and a hefty dose of “good Jamaica rum” to create a solution which would then be used to, “occasionally anoint the head” after shaking the bottle vigorously. The solution was intended to invigorate the scalp and restore hair growth. It also recommended a daily washing of the hair and scalp, with “good old Jamaica rum” to prevent the hair from falling out. One cannot help but wonder if the homemade condoms were more effective than the homemade cure for male pattern baldness.