First the patient should be bled in the arm, or leeches may be applied
to the inflamed parts; afterwards take a handful of green rue, bruise
it, and put it to the part affected; or take marshmallows a handful,
camomile a handful, make a decoction in a pint of water, pour the
liquor from the herbs, add two drams of the tincture of opium, bathe
the part; afterwards apply the herbs as a poultice, or make a poultice
of oatmeal and vinegar with a little sweet oil in it. Warts and chancres
may be destroyed, by touching the warts with a blue stone vitriol, or …
by washing them with a solution of corrosive sublimate.
– The Family Physician, Edward Bullman, 1789
‘Blue stone vitriol’ was a solution of copper sulphate, effective as an
antiseptic, but it can burn skin, especially in sensitive areas. Whether it
would be preferable to leeches in this case is a difficult call. And ‘a solution
of corrosive sublimate’ was mercuric chloride; when you thought things
couldn’t get any worse, you’ll be pleased to know this was formerly used to
burn away corns.