Skip directly to search Skip directly to A to Z list Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options
CDC Home
PanFlu Storybook-- Personal recollections from survivors, families, and friends
next page previous page
Finding A Cure
I Survived
An Immigrant's Tale
In Memorial
War Stories
Plantings
Finding A Cure
1957 Flu Pandemic

Daisy Mildred Sykes

Storyteller: Daisy Mildred Sykes

Location: Virginia

In 1918, my father was 15 years old and my mother was 10 years old during the pandemic. They lived in Finney Hollow in Russell County, Virginia. They told me that at that time, people would make home remedies to help those who had fallen ill with the pandemic flu. One remedy was a cough syrup made from boiled and strained cherry tree bark that was sweetened and may have had a little white lightening (moonshine) added in. The other was a liniment ointment, warmed and applied to the chest , which was made of hog lard, kerosene, camphor and perhaps other ingredients.

Spoons

Return to the Top return to the top

Contact Us:
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
    1600 Clifton Rd
    Atlanta, GA 30333
  • 800-CDC-INFO
    (800-232-4636)
    TTY: (888) 232-6348
  • cdcinfo@cdc.gov
  • Page last reviewed: September 15, 2009
  • Page last updated: September 15, 2009
  • Content source: Office of the Associate Director for Communication
  • Notice: Linking to a non-federal site does not constitute an endorsement by HHS, CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the site.
USA.gov: The U.S. Government's Official Web PortalDepartment of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention   1600 Clifton Rd. Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) TTY: (888) 232-6348 - cdcinfo@cdc.gov
A-Z Index
  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D
  5. E
  6. F
  7. G
  8. H
  9. I
  10. J
  11. K
  12. L
  13. M
  14. N
  15. O
  16. P
  17. Q
  18. R
  19. S
  20. T
  21. U
  22. V
  23. W
  24. X
  25. Y
  26. Z
  27. #