Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-11-14
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The earth bath once had an amazing run.
About century ago London emprc
opened "Temple of Health" IN Pail Mall,
where he gave lectures on health at the ex-
travagant charge of two guneas for ad-
mission, which fec many wealthy simple
tons were willing to pay. Among other at
fractions he enlisted the services of a beau
tiful woman, said to have been that equvc-
cal person who allerward became Lady
Hamilton. Many kinds of mountebank
fraud were exhibited at this place, the
last of which was earth-bathing. He and
the Goddess of Health immersed them
selves TO the chin in warm earth, he with
his hair full dressed and powdered, she
with the fasl ionable coiffure. How many
dupes honestly believed in their own cure
by such means history has not recorded !;
but the admission to the "Temple" grad
ually fell from two guineas to one shilling
and then the earth-bath died out-not,
however, before the "lady" had run much
chance of running her health by this pecu-
liar kind of bathing.
The toad has had its day of importance
in the minds of those who look for specifics
against diseases; and so has the toad -stone
which was described by Joanna Baillie in
letter to Sir Walter Scott as "a celebrated
amulet, which was never lent to any one
unless upon bond for thousand marks
for its being safely restored. 1t was sover-
ereign for protecting newborn children
and their mothers from the power of the
fairies; and has been repeatedly borrowed
from my mother for this purpose" This
amulet was described as being convex
circular stone, rather less than three-quar-
ters of an inch in diameter, semi-transpar-
ent, dark gray, and apparently silicious
composition it was set in massive silver
thumb-ring. Besides its virtues as a charm
for keeping off wicked fairies, this toad
stone was believed to be specific against
diseases of the kidneys; it was immersed
in cup of water, and the water then quaff-
ed off.
Fish charms have been met with among
many nations. The fish called the bull
head is used by some of the Russian peas
ants as a charm against fever Again, II
suspended horizontally and carefully bal
anced by a single thread, while allowed
some freedom of motion, the fish is credit
ed with the power of indicating by the d-
rection of the head the point OF the comp psss
| from which the wind will blow. Many
kinds of fish havetwo hard bones just with
In the sides Of the head and one species,
the maigre, has these bones larger in pro-
| portion than most others. These two bones,
called collie stones, are in some countries
regarded to possess medicinal virtues |;
mounted in gold, and hung round the necks
they are specific for the collie. But this
| popularity attaches to them: they must
have been received as a gift if purchased,
they do not possess the magic virtue.
Medicinal rings were at one time very
seriously believed in. Physicians were
wont to wear finger rings, in which stones
were set, and these stones were credited
with the possession of many virtues. Some
times :he patient was simply touched with
the ring; sometimes he put it on his finger
for while. Many patient has worn such
a ring to stop a hemorrhage which seda-
tives, absorbents, and astrngents alike fail
ed to allay; if the desired result followed
the ring was unreservedly regarded rs the
healing agent; if the cure did not follow
we are told nothing about it, for in thesC
matters