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Show Dear Readers: I have received many responses to Donna Ford's request for a recipe for pine gum salve. Most of the recipes are similar to this one from Evelyn McMullin, from Leeds, Utah. Pine Gum Ointment Melt sticky pine gum. Strain through gauze to remove any course particles. Mix thoroughly with an equal amount of mutton tallow with a few drops of lysol added. Store in small jars. To use: spread salve thickly over Infected area, such as a boil. Cover with gauze and tape it in place. Gayle Andrus (St. George) remembers being sent often by her mother to get pine gum salve from a neighbor, who gave it generously to anyone who requested it, but refused to share her recipe. Gayle, on the other hand, when she finally learned how to make it herself, was eager to tell others, having witnessed its effectiveness all her life. Gayle's Recipe for Pine Gum Ointment 1 cup melted mutton tallow (Ask your butcher to save you some) 8 ounces carbolated vaseline 4 squares stick pine gum (sap) from Pinion Pine (about 4 square inches.) Heat tallow and carbolated vaseline together, then add the pine sap. This prevents stickiness. Blend over low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon. Remove any residue as you stir until mixture is clear. Remove from heat and wait about five minutes before pouring into jars. This salve is not greasy if rubbed in well and allowed to penetrate. Use on cracked, chapped hands, minor burns, bites, etc. Especially effective, Gayle says, in drawing out infection and soreness such as she experienced when she fell on a cactus while gathering pinenuts one day. She has also seen it miraculously heal a woman's toe that was so seriously infected it was to be amputated and a painful puncture wound on her grandmother's knee that had healed over the top but had remained painfully sore underneath for a long time. Oil (any kind) removes sticky pine gum from hands and clothing. Also, in response to Donna's request, came this letter: Dear Vi: Here is our family's recipe for Grandma's Salve, using plaintain leaves.' It works somewhat like pine tar ointment and is marvelous for draining out infection and healing. My sister, for example, had stitches in her leg following an auto crash. Infection set in while she was on vacation away from her doctor. She was given the plaintain salve and the infection cleared up quickly. Several years later, in Nov., my daughter had surgery for a broken tail bone. By April, when she visited my sister, the incision still had not healed. My sister applied the plantain ointment Three weeks later the incision was completely healed. We use it constantly in our family. Grandma's Plaintain Salve Gather, wash, and dry a big bunch of plantain leaves. (It grows in abundance along ditch banks. You'll know it by its broad, soft, green leaf.) In a large kettle heat about five pounds of suet from the meat market until it is liquid. Remove scraps. Put as many plantain leaves into the hot grease as it will hold. Cook until green in color (about 10 to 15 minutes). Strain through a doth and store in jars with tight lids. This makes about a pint of this wonderful stuff. A little goes a long way, I would also like to pass aiong this hint for candy makers: Test your candy thermometer in boiling water and adjurt the candy temperature according. For ew.inple, at this altitude, water boils tt 212 deg., or about 190 deg. instead of 212 deg. Therefore the candy temperature should bo reduced 10 percent. A soft ball stage, 240 deg. then becomes 216 deg. or 10 percent less. Evelyn Lalng, Washington, Utah |