Great posting, Jim Dixon. In my home, there was also that very strong faith in Vicks Vaporub. If I'm not mistaken the manufacturers warn users that it is meant only for external use. In spite of this, we would apply it on sore areas of the throat whenever we came down with a sore-throat. Of course, there were other over-the-counter medications, eg Bengue's Balsam, that we were very careful in using. Imagine my shock, therefore, when many years later my Afro-Caribbean laundrywoman, now of blessed memory, in extolling the virtues of this balsam, told me and my wife that she even used it in her eyes!