We've got coughs and sneezes all round this winter week. An old, USA remedy was camphorated oil, a balsam for rubbing on the chest to relieve a cough. Not to be used on babies nowadays ~ use a balsam specially formulated for them ~ but the song goes marching on.
It's a parody of 'John Brown's Body', a popular soldiers' song of the American Civil War. It later donated its melody to 'Mine Eyes have seen the Glory', the Battle Hymn of the Republic. The tune is easily found on You Tube if you're not familiar with it.
We've been using it in our baby group where the toddlers enjoy doing the actions for themselves, while the babes-on-knees can enjoy a soothing chest rub as they are rocked to the sway of the melody. We made up a 'cough cough' chorus for it ~ it makes a fun opportunity for getting the paper tissues out and giving your toddler a nose wipe if they're reluctant. But it's also fun to sing the usual 'cam-pho-ram-pho-ram-pho-rated' chorus.
John Brown's Baby's got a cold upon his chest (pat baby's chest lightly) John Brown's Baby's got a cold upon his chest John Brown's Baby's got a cold upon his chest So they rubbed it with camphorated oil. (rub chest lightly)
Cough cough ATCHOO! sniff sniff sniff, (pat chest twice on 'cough', do a huge sneeze, tap nose three times) Cough cough ATCHOO! sniff sniff sniff, Cough cough ATCHOO! sniff sniff sniff, They rubbed it with camphorated oil
Cam-pho-ram-pho-ram-pho-rated, (rub chest throughout) Cam-pho-ram-pho-ram-pho-rated, Cam-pho-ram-pho-ram-pho-rated, They rubbed it with camphorated oil.
Change 'chest' to 'head', 'knee', 'toe', 'nose'...