Hardtack and Liniment Victuals Civil War Candy The NECCO Company hasn't changed the way they make their NECCO Wafer candy since before the Civil War. The wafers are small round disks of sugar candy made with a recipe that taste similar to the heart-shaped candies that say "hug me", etc., on them. A roll of wafers comes in a modern waxed paper wrapper, but the contents will fit in a small poke bag once you remove them. Formulas Suggestions for a Weak Back: Two tablespoons of finely powdered rosin, four tablespoons of white sugar, whites of two eggs, one quart best whiskey. Mix and dose a tablespoonful at a time, three times a day, either before or after meals. Also excellent for colds or weak lungs - will stop an irritating cough. Liquid Shoe Blacking: Take one pound of ivory black in powdered form, 12 ounces of molasses, two ounces sweet oil, 2 pints each of beer and vinegar. Mix thoroughly. Paste blacking can be made in the same way with the addition of sperm oil and oil of vitriol (concentrated sulfuric acid). The actual details on the mixing are not included as this is not really a "kitchen" experiment (unless you wish to descend to the basement quickly after a spill. Toothache Scientific American, March 1847 19th century recipe that may be of use. These are from Shaker Recipes & Formulas by W.L. Lassiter. Elderberry Ink: To 12 pints of juice add 1/2 oz. of sulphate of iron. Oil or Waterproof Cloth
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