No Lamisil, WHAT did folks do for.....

[SIR WILLIAM]

Toe fungus?  I was reading a magazine ad for Lamisil to treat, "thick, yellow or brittle toe nails" caused by a fungus.  Those old boots and wool socks with sweat seemed to be a ideal fungus environment.  Athletes foot, fungus and nail infections must have been effectively treated with something back then.  Listerine was an anti-septic.  Any thoughts?

[Delmonico]

Aw but the wool socks would prevent fungus by wicking the moisture away from the foot.  Cotton socks hold it next to the foot.  I'll check some sources later to see if I can find a cure.  I don't know if it was one used but verdigris off of brass or copper would kill the fungus.

[El Peludo]

Something else that seems to be moderately effective against funguses is menthol based products.  That might have been someting in use during that time.

[Foothills Drifter]

Howdy......
Pourin on a little cheap whiskey might have done the trick.

Good shootin......
Vern...

[SIR WILLIAM]

A friend in Texas says bleach was used. Bag/udder balm was commonly used also.  Mink oil, lanolin from sheep and other natural waterproofers were used to waterproof boots.  Most veterinary cremes and mixtures for cattle were also used by the cowboys too.

[Foothills Drifter]

Howdy......
The whiskey idea sounds more exciting 

Good shootin......
Vern...

[Delmonico]

The bleach, bg balm are more likely 20th century methods,  I know chlorine bleach did not come out till till around 1930 or so.

Nothing on my quick search for toe fungus, but found two fer ringworm, another type of fungus.

Turpintine mixed with lard and the crushed hulls of green walnot.  I think both sound like they would work.

[Foothills Drifter]

The bleach, bg balm are more likely 20th century methods,  I know chlorine bleach did not come out till t\ariunfd 1930 or so.

Nothing on my quick search for toe fungus, but found two fer ringworm, another type of fungus.

Turpintine mixed with lard and the crushed hulls of green walnot.  I think both sound like they would work.

That might work ta make your feet fall off 

Good shootin......
Vern...

[Prof. Bullspit]

The real answer:

This is why the cowboys wanted to die with their boots on. They couldn't stand the thought of suffering the shame and humiliation of having ugly toenails.

[SIR WILLIAM]

That could be!  I did a little research in a reference library today.  The real answer is;  what is mercury?  Doctors used it for MANY ailments.  VD, ringworm, infections and it was considered the penicillin of its day.

[Delmonico]

Ya know what it is, that metal that is liquid at room temp.  It is poisinous of course, can kill the patient if ya give too much.  A little less will make ya a bit crzy, like "Mad as a Hatter" the mercury used in the felting process of makin' hats often posioned the folks makin' hats. 

Does that mean that today if ya eat a lot of swordfish it will cure VD.

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

Appears that in the late 1800s they began using colloidal silver to treat athlete's foot and toe fungus.  It had been used much earlier than that to treat other conditions.

[Delmonico]

Wonder if that was discovered by a clumsy photographer while preparing plates barefoot?

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

Or some cowboy with discolored toenails painted them with silver nail polish and noticed an immediate improvement in his condition (and his popularity in the bunkhouse)?

[Will Ketchum]

Mercury is still prescribed for some ailments.  Taken orally and in some cases in an ointment.  It is Mercury vapor that is especially bad for you.

Will Ketchum