Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-02-07
Some Magic Cures.

The superstitious people of medi-
@val times had some very odd reme-
dies based upon superstition.-
Among other absurdities of igno-
rance, it was held that a chip from
the gallows on which several per-
sons had been hanged, worn in a
bag round the neck, was a cure for
ague.
A halter by which criminal had
been hanged was bound round the
temples as an infallible cure for
headache. Tumors of the glands
were said to be "driven away" by
nine blows of dead mans hand,
while the hand of man who had
been cut down from the gallows was
said to work similar wonders.
A ring made from coffin was ap-
piled for the relief of cramps, which
were also said to be dispelled by a
rusty sword hanging over the pa
TENTS head. If any one had the
toothache, he was told to go and
drive nails into an oak tree, which,
it is true, would not kill the pain,
but was sure preventive against a
future attack.
A stone with hole i'm it hung at
the head of bed was sure to cure
nighmaIe-the cause of that evil be-
ing thought to be witches, who sat
on the PATIENTS chest; hence the
pendent stone was called a "hag-
stone" "The hagstone" was used
generally as safeguard against all
the ills which are ascribed to impish
interference.
1t is astonishing to find many
such old practices--the relics of su-
perstition and ignorance-still kept
up by people who ought to know
better. 1t is, for instance, q custom
to this day for people of a certain
class to steal meat from the butcher,
rub it on warts, and then bury it;
the warts being expected to vanish
as the process of decomposition sets
in.
Pricking wart with pin till the
blood came, and then throwing the
pin away, was also said to drive
warts away, the warts being
promptly transferred to the hands
of whoever picked up the pin. A
potato carried in the pocket is still
recommended for rheumatism, and
hundreds of like practices are in
vogue at the present day.
A USEFUL PYTHON.-Once, while
passing through Dutch farm,
writes the author of "Three Years
With Lo Bengula," in Africa, I
went up to the house to buy some
eggs; standing in front of the door
was large barrel, and while passing
| carelessly tilted it up to see what
was inside, but promptly let it down
again, as there was big python un-
derneath. The Dutchman told me he
had shot at the snake some months
previously, and few grains enter
ing the head, the repite appeared to
become stupetied and unable to
move quickly. He then dragged it
home, and extracted the fangs, and
1t gradually became tame. The py-
thon, which measured sixteen feet,
was allowed to crawl about the place
at night, never attempting to get
away or do any damage; In fact,
they found it useful for killing rats
and vermin. BY day it was kept
under the barrel. The children fed
the snake, and played with it. 1
saw one Of the little Dutch boys
drag 1t out, and pour two bottles of
milk down its throat, and then give
il six eggs, which it swalIowed.-
When they teased the python, it
made kissing noise and reared up
on its tail; they were not a bit
frightened, and would catch hold of
1t by the head, and drag it along the
ground over their shoulders.