Turpentine was used as a paint thinner. Less expensive, petroleum-based substitutes were more common later, although many paints now do not require thinner.
Turpentine was used for treatment of "sore throat" in the South. A single drop was placed on a lump of sugar and dissolved in the mouth. I have read that this is ABSOLUTELY not recommended today, but my grandparents lived past 80 and seem not to have suffered unduly...
Turpentine is also used for quick and effective relief from painful wasp and bee stings. I have no idea of the chemical reactions involved but am absolutely sure that it works amazingly well for wasp, yellow-jacket, and bee stings. Only a tiny amount is needed. With a small container of turpentine, quickly invert the container with your fingertip covering the opening and recap the container. Touch the moistened fingertip to the affected area. (If a stinger is visible, it should be removed.) Relief is instantaneous but not complete. (The pain level drops from "running-around-screaming-and-hoping-to-die" to "darn that smarts"). I live now in South America and have been bitten by ground-dwelling wasps here which are much more venemous than those in the Southern U.S. Finding no similar substance here, I brought a few small bottles back for this use and keep it on hand. As supermarkets have replaced small grocery chains in the U.S., it is increasingly hard to get. However, I have been able to obtain it at some Wal-Mart stores in the South (it is not a Wal-Mart item, but can be purchased by talking to pharmacy personnel).