Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-09-24
A yOUDOU CASE.
Driving a DeviI out of a white Man.

Driving n Devil Out of a White Man.
From the New Orleans Pieayune.l
1t is curious to listen to the singular
incidents related as growing out of YOU
douism in its various characteristics.
Its satellites claim to be able to entail
misfortune or avert threatened evil-to
cure the diseased or bring upon the
scoffer the worst possible miseries. So
prevalent is this idea among the eolOred
people that they ascribe every good and
evil fortune to this source. If any one
is sick he is hou-dOo-ed." If he gets
well, the evil influence has been exercised
and the horrible enchantment removed.
Not a great while since respectable
merchant living in the upper part of the
city was afflicted with sort of nervous
paralysis which affected his brain, and
at times occasioned temporary mental
alteration. At these times he would
grow wild, and his frantic actions, ex-
cited and uncomfortable, might well
give rise to the impression among the
ignorant negroes that he was possessed
of devil. While suffering from one Of
the severest attacks, he was seen by an
old colored woman, upon whose mind
his condition made profound impress
sion.
"Missus, yer husbands hoohooed,"
she said, addressing his wife.
How do you know, auntyY inquired
the lady, willing to humor the eccentric
idea of the woman.
Know it, missus-been dar myself.
"And how did you get cured?
My ole man cured inches doc
tor
The earnest manner of the old woman,
and an unreasoning wish TO try anything
that would alleviate her husband 8
malady, induced the lady to arrange an
interview with the vou-dou doctor He
was confident in the belief that her hus-
band was voudoued. He went through
some cabalistic signs in his presence,
and then prepared bottle Of medicine.
Ii was a dark liquid, but apparently free
from impurity. This was TO be taken in
prescribed quantities until the bottle
was empty, and then to be filed up with
water and taken again. In the mean
time a silver piece was to be worn in the
mouth between the teeth and cheek 1t
would gradually turn black, the "doctor"
said, and in this way indicate the pro-
gress made in relieving the patient Of
his malady.
Now comes the curious part of the
story. Before the bottle Ut medicine
was exhausted, there began to appear in
il singular substance. IL assumed the
appearance of a suake, a spider, leaf
and root, each distinct and perfect in
appearance. The attention of the old
doctor" was called to these things and
he at once characterized them as the
cause of the mans disease. He said he
would get well now, but must take the
remainder Of the prescription to relieve
him OF the effects of medicine he had
previously taken. This was persevered
in with the happiest results. The man
got well and he has now no indication Of
physical or mental disease. OF course
himself and family ascribe his strange
recovery to the vOudou doctor But the
question recurs, how came the curious
objects in the bottle2 We're they put in
there BY the doctor at first or afterwardl
The lady whose husband was so miracu-
lousy cured scouts both ideas as impos-
sible. She is firmly impressed with the
belief that they grew there from the e.
fects Of the old doctors entertainments.
At all events it is a singular circum-
stance and reveals a weird trait in the
superstition Of these people, who may
truly say there is more mystery IN heaven
and earth than was ever dreamed Of by
our philosophy.