Historical Hair Pomade (Not for Modern Use)
A historical 19th-century hair pomade recipe containing toxic ingredients including lead acetate. This recipe is preserved for historical interest only and should NEVER be prepared or used. Lead is highly toxic and can cause serious health problems including neurological damage, organ failure, and death.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces Beef marrow, extracted from bone (Historical ingredient - boiled in bone then extracted)
- 22 drops Tincture of cantharides (Spanish fly) (TOXIC - derived from blister beetles, can cause severe irritation and poisoning)
- 60 grains Sugar of lead (lead acetate) (HIGHLY TOXIC - lead compound that causes lead poisoning, neurological damage, and death. Banned in cosmetics)
- 1 ounce Spirits of wine (ethanol) (Historical term for high-proof alcohol)
- 20 drops Oil of bergamot (Essential oil for scent)
More recipes using Beef marrow
Instructions
- 1WARNING: This recipe contains lead acetate (sugar of lead), which is extremely toxic and can cause severe poisoning, organ damage, neurological problems, and death. Lead accumulates in the body and even small amounts are dangerous. This recipe also contains cantharides, which can cause severe skin irritation and systemic toxicity. This recipe is documented for historical purposes only and must NEVER be prepared or used under any circumstances.
- 2The historical method called for boiling beef marrow while still in the bone until the marrow was fully rendered and could be extracted.
- 3The historical method required extracting 8 ounces of the boiled marrow, ensuring it was free of bone fragments and fibrous tissue.
- 4The historical recipe directed mixing the cleaned marrow with the tincture of cantharides, sugar of lead (lead acetate), and spirits of wine. These ingredients are TOXIC and this step should never be performed.
- 5The historical recipe finished by adding oil of bergamot or another preferred essential oil for fragrance as the final step.
