Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-09-12
CHARMS AND AMULETS.

De Barro5 tells of 2 Malay who wore a
bracelet containing bone set in gold.
The chips of galIows and places of execu-
ton are used as arnulets against agues.
Charms and arnulets were moro popular
among the aucients than medicine and sur
gerry.
Ler1nius says that coral viii prevent tur-
bulent dreams and allay the nightly fear OF
children.
For whooping cough anything recommend
ed by q man on piebald horse was an infal-
lible remedy.
For smallpox mouse thrown alive into
boiling fat and then eaten was the specific
recommended.
For scrofula the kings hand used to be
the favorite remedy, but this was not the
only charm relied on.
ia Devonshfre, the favorite charm ring
was made from an odd number Of nails OF
screws extracted from acottiu.
Bor!ase asserts as q feet that a halter with
which any one has been hanged viii cure
headache instantly if tied round the head.
4 few hairs cut from mules neck are
supposed to possess great virtue and TO place
the wearer of them beyond the possibility of
disease.
For the sting of a scorpion, and to prevent
disastrous consequences, the patient was
placed Oh an ass with his face towards the
ANIMALS tail.
Ia Morier's description of Persia reference
is made to the common practice of depositing
an old rag on certain bushes and removing
another rag found there, the object being
to insure health and safety.
Tor sore ewes a touch from an old gold
wedding ring IS a popular remedy, and many
an old womans ring has earned for itself
great name as an eye healer.
For the cure Of jaundice, charms Of a
rather disgusting character were recon-
mended, the patient having to eat seven or
nine cakes horribly prepared and cooked.
= writer says the best way TO stanch the
blood is TO apply some moss from a dead
mans skull. The moss did not have to touch
the bleeding part. any portion Of the skin
suiIicing
Brand tells of several superstitiOus rene
dies or charms: Hollow stones are hung up
in stables at night to prevent nightmare or
ephiaites. They are usually called i'll the
north of England holy stones"
y spider put into 4 goose quill, well sealed
and secure. and hung around the neck of
child suffering from agua, would drive away
that complaint, and il appears that spiders
have been popular as charms in many coun-
tries end ages.
To cure CONT, Alexander Of Tralles gives q
charm which consists of writing a Latin
verse on . golden plate at the wane of the
moon and rolling round it the sinews Of
crane. The plate was then to be put IN
htsle bag and suspended % one Of the ankles.
IN Scotland a charm for the cure Of con
sumption consists OF cutting the nails OF
patient and placing the trimmings il q piece
of ra, torn from his clothing. This package
was then buried, but unfortunately, the pa
tieut generally had 10 be buried rs web, and
not long subsequently.
The GeutIeuan's Magazine for 1894 says
that 20 cure 1T, q ring should be made out Of
five silver sixpences collected from five bach
el0rs and conveyed TO the hand Of a black
smith who is 4 bachelor by one Of the five.
Ii none uf the i've suspect what the cCllec-
ton Is for, the ring VIII be al infGIIible
charm.
Andrew Boord. Sixteenth century writer,
quantity SAYS: The byu-es Of Englande
doth hallowe every we're crainp rynges, We
which rings worn on ones tynger doJb helps
them which hath the crampe The first RUG
Of this kind was brought from Jerusalem by
one If rLo crusaders. This was preserved in
Westminster Abhey and credited with alb
solute power 70 cure cranp or falling sick
psSS