Rickets and the Fairfax family receipt books
Authors: L. M Swinburne
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (2006)

Domestic receipt books can add another dimension to the history of medicine. The Reverend Henry Fairfax, rector of Bolton Percy near Tadcaster, took over the receipt book, which his wife, Mary Cholmeley, brought with her on their marriage in 1626. He added to the original collection of culinary and medicinal receipts and compiled an index. The manuscript had been passed from one generation to another and covers a span from the early 17th to late 18th centuries. It was rescued from destruction by George Weddell, who published a facsimile in 1890 as Arcana Fairfaxiana Manuscripta. The majority of the remedies in these MSS were gleaned or copied from unknown sources but relatives and friends contributed many others. Some were attributed to well-known doctors who had attended them personally such as Sir Theodore Turquet de Mayerne, Dr Butler and Dr Matthew Lister.

Amongst the remedies for such common conditions as bleeding, agues, and the stone, there are several in Henry's handwriting labelled ‘for the Ricketts’. Alongside the heading of another remedy ‘For a child that is weak or lame in her joynts’ Henry added a note ‘For the Ricketts’1 (p 167). Of special significance is a page dated 25 February 1632 containing a group of five remedies ‘For the Ricketts (in children)’ contributed by Lady Fairfax of Steeton, his cousin's wife. Documents confirm that he might indeed have visited Lady Fairfax at nearby Steeton on that date on his return from a journey to London1 (p xv). Her remedies include a herbal syrup, an ointment with which to anoint the back, sides and hams with the instruction ‘and after rowle and tumble it’, and a herbal decoction to apply to the navel. In addition, there was an elaborate water to be mixed with the syrup for rich folks, starting with a broth of spitroasted sucking pig, St Christopher's herb (Osmunda regalis), almonds, figs, raisins, and garden snails distilled with several herbs. Gold leaf, amber and pearls were to be added to the final water. However, if the child was far spent, ‘for the poorest sort’ a drink of garden snails in sugar and water three times a week would suffice.

Lady Selby, Henry's niece, contributed further remedies from her mother-in-law, Lady Sheffield's book: a drink of boiled currants in wine vinegar and a complicated cock broth with hart's tongue, liverwort and other herbs with which the back and joints were to be anointed1 (p 171). An identical remedy labelled ‘For the German Evill’ occurs in the manuscript receipt book belonging to Dame Mary Lister of Thornton in Craven. She was related to Henry Fairfax through her son's marriage to the daughter of Lady Fairfax of Steeton. She was also related to the prominent physician Dr Matthew Lister and two of his receipts are included in her book. The manuscript covers the years 1626-1635 and there are several dated kitchen inventories before and after the receipt, which must have been written between 1629 and 1630. The manuscript contains other remedies ‘from Lady Fairfax’.

Three very similar remedies occur in the manuscript Lady Fairfax Booke of Receipts belonging to another member of the family. This Lady Fairfax was Anne Vere, wife of General Sir Thomas Fairfax, and daughter of Sir Horace Vere of Tilbury. The regime includes a drink, a purge, and an ointment.