Michael Spong, possibly a relation of the satanist Anglican bishop John Shelby Spong, has gone a long way to redeeming the Spong surname. He made the Household Cyclopedia (1881) available on the web. I'll let Michael tell you why this book is such a find:
It was the sort of book a pioneer of the old west would have packed carefully into his covered wagon before heading off for a boondock town. It was a book for people who need to be able, if the circumstances demand, to amputate a limb, grow their own fibre for material, take care of their horses, give birth to children, and build houses, concoct medicines, all with the minimum of help from others.
— Michael Spong, August 1998
In simple language, this book tells you how to diagnose many diseases, like ghonorrea and syphilis. It explains many chemical names and processes that were once common. This is a giant HOWTO manual for Western Civilization as it existed in 1881.
I don't think much of the medicinal cures, but the diagnostic information is good, and the other information on how to handle, mine, refine, and mix chemicals of various types is invaluable. After reading this book I felt like I could set up shop as an apothecary. I'll let the title page of the book do the speaking.
Caveat: the word receipt as used below actually means recipe.
THE
Household Cyclopedia
OF
GENERAL INFORMATION
CONTAINING OVER
TEN THOUSAND RECEIPTS
IN ALL
THE USEFUL AND DOMESTIC ARTS
CONSTITUTING
A COMPLETE and PRACTICAL LIBRARY
RELATING TO
AGRICULTURE, ANGLING, BEES, BLEACHING, BOOK-KEEPING, BREWING, COTTON, CULTURE, CROCHETING, CARVING, CHOLERA, COOKING, CALICAO PRINTING, CONFECTIONARY, CEMENTS, CHEMICAL RECEIPTS, COSMETICS, DISEASES, DAIRY, DENTISTRY, DIALYSIS, DECALCOMANIE, DYEING, DISTILLATION, ENAMELLING, ENGRAVING, ELECTRO PLATING, ELECTROTYPING, FISH CULTURE, FARRIERY, FOOD, FLOWER GARDENING, FIREWORKS, GAS METRES, GILDING, GLASS, HEATH, HARSEMANSHIP, INKS, JEWELLER'S PASTE, KNITTING, KNOTS, LITHOGRAPHY, MERCANTILE CALCULATIONS, MEDICINE, MISCELLANEOUS RECEIPTS, METALLURGY, MEZZOTINTS, OIL, COLORS, OILS, PAINTINGS, PERFUMERY, PASTRY, PETROLEUM, PICKLING, POISONS AND ANTIDOTES, POTICHOMANIA, PROOF READING, POTTERY, PRESERVING, PHOTOGRAPHY, PYROTECHNICS, RURAL AND DOMESTIC ECONOMY, SUGAR RAISING, SILVERING, SCOURING, SILK AND SILK WORMS, SORGHUM, TOBACCO CULTURE, TANNING, TREES, TELEGRAPHING, VARNISHES, VEGETABLE GARDENING, WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, WINES, ETC, ETC.
Containing the Improvements and Discoveries up to Date of Publication
WITH 262 ILLUSTRATIONS,
BY
HENRY HARTSHORNE, M.D.,
PROFESSOR OF HYGIENE IN THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA,
ASSISTED BY A CORPS OF EXPERTS.
With Special Articles upon the Rinderpest and Trichinae.
REPORT OF THE TRIAL OF AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS AT THE GREAT NATIONAL FIELD TRIAL HELD AT AUBURN, NEW YORK.
ALSO, A TREATISE ON BEES AND THEIR MANAGEMENT, BY E.S. TUPPER
NEW YORK:
THOMAS KELLY
17 Barclay Street
1881
Click here to read the Household Cyclopedia