The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-29
NJ SUPERSTITIONS.
WILD BELIEFS THAT HAVE INFLU
BNCED MiNKIND.
Intsresting distances both Old and New
why So-eaiied Miraculous Cares Have
Sometimes Seemed TO ne Accomplished

Sometimes Seemed TO he Accomplished
From ne Baltimore American.
At the November meeting of the Folk Lore
Society in the rooms OF the QuadriRa Club last
night there was an interesting discussion of the
question. How can tho current superstition
of Maryland and Virginia be best collected r.
Tho principal paper of the evening was by DP.
Charles C. Bombaugh on Medical Super
stitions.' At the outset he showed how
the present is linked with tho past by the
survival of many superstitions inherited
from the middle ages, and OF others traceable
to o remote antiquity. He gave q variety
OF Illustrations to show that they have
not boon confined to the ignorant classes,
but that they have frequently Influenced
and governed tho actions Of mon Of education.
Though this Is not so noticeable In the present
age. It was largely In evidence among learned
men up to o comparatively recent period. Three
of tho greatest of the English philosophers
Francis Bacon. John Locke. and Isaac Newton
have left behind abundant proof of their belief
in secret and occult arts. The master mind Of
all-Bacon in his "Sylva Sylvarum"-di.
lates at length upon the value OF tho sym.
pathetic ointmonts OF his day. which
wero applied not to tho wound occa-
stoned by q weapon. but to tho weapon
itself. Sir Walter Scott gives q vivid picture q
this in the case of the wounded Deloraine In the
Lay Of the Last Minstrel" Robert Boyle, the
inventor of the air pump. applied powdered moss
from q human skull to arrest bleeding of the
nose. not as q snufi, but to his wrists.
After reviewing fads aud c%aprices. from bare
foot walks In the dewy grass OF the early morn.
ing to metallic tractors. and tracing to super
~stitious practices in oiden time some of the
habits of the medical men at the present day.
the speaker passed on to the love philters and
love powders Of young mon and maidens to
cause sympathetic fondness. On the other
sso% the he r a%9asa t effset r of 1os ana s'rs Whie 70
were used to wcan lovers from their attach.
ments by exciting antipathy and disgust. He
then discussed. at length, the amulet. and
It's astrological expression. the talisman. or
the great variety of forms in which this charm
has been presented from the early history Of
Egypt and Persia down to the present time. the
three.prouged red coral appears to have tho
most tenacity. In recounting the favorite mas
cots of our time. the prominence Of the rabbits
left hind foot in the recent political campaign
trial of Prof" Jules in the criminal court.
s%crotula. had q lease Of life from Edward tue
to the ienoble hands OF the seventh SON Of n
seventh son. In the. folk medicine of Cornwall
sonship is still believed in. Astrology came in
for q large share of the speakers notice. Bur-
the opinion Of Paracelus. that a physician
without the knowledge of stars can neither un-
But astroloGy. With ali the prestige o Of a tormid.
able history behind IL. was not strong enough to
Withstand W.T. b s,nd the sa5irical filings of Dean Swift in
A brief review Of the grotessque and offensive
that they outrivailed the, ingredients Of the
witches caldron in Macbeth" Among the
woman. as described by Cervantes. who under.
1SdD To cure "T d1g bites , hs,S on a. the he aim stmi lila. sttm i'm
ffhiee speaker then passed pe p on at to G eSe CURIOUS snas 1st . y9e;
ss .nis N OF the penpsylvania Dutch. quoting
IeIA.A nO II nf mr. lrArnnnn In
Pennsylvania. Many of their medical customs
are peculiar TO themselves. but others. such as
their analoEs elsewhere. Tho. pow-wow has
been in use among the American aborigines
After quoting some. OF the proverbs and
aphorisms from Rays collection. DR.. Bonn
And now the ever-recurrinR question. What
Is all this worth ? naturally, arises. ,Hallam. in
were produced. as we'll as nourished. by isno-
iiberate imposture:I- From either point Of view
Il may be asked. Have not thousands of euf-
these combinations and this mighty magic, these
puerilities that supersede the employment Of
the same time. raises the veil that we may SEQ
sne reason Why And therein we find collateral
become the head of The corner.
W. note that while the sympathetic oint.
the incised wounds were carefully cleansed. and
SO held in apposition by adhesive straps or
phuuhGeS as 10 unite Oy what surgeons call 0ret
intention, In the treatment of Iacerated and
punGtured wounds. we note the same attention
10 cleanliness. The old woman who charmed
for burns and scalds used the formula:
There came three angels out of the east:
one brought IRE, another brought frost
In the name of the Father and Son and Holy Ghost
After blowing their breath three times
across the burns. this Invocation was supple
menteu oy freely amounting tho burned surfaces
WIN mothers milk and olive oil. Thus. in
HRenctRR ua find thu rAal a-l AE..-R
forces, that were at work. Moreover. we have
historic evidence that the sick were often placed
and profted by their judicious ministrations.
We can understand the domination OF strong
diseases, notably in abnormal conditions or
functional disturbances OF the nervous system.
tiles. the problem:is not so easy Of solution. It ia
best to leave the efficacy of beiietin the mlracu-
saints, and of merciful answers to PRAYERS and
intercessions. where it belongs.
,Pllgrims to such shrlnes and reliquaries az
Iourdes and Beaupre furnish too many evi-
oences OF restorative agency to leave room for
age church of ST: Anne. twenty four miles from
Qneoec, are two large heaps. aud near the altar
Ing sticks, trpsses. braces. bandages. and sup
lett behind because no longer needed.
ligious faith. tho influence Of imagination. the
controlling power OF mind over body. the evolu-
outward and visible sign OF inexplIcabie interior
Illumination. the mysteries of the spiritual
Va, uulisih WHICH science has not yet eXplalned-
call these contradictions OF ordinary experienca
lhose manifestations OF the unknown and the
ion9eCtnrn,t what you whitley are palpable,
: century whose progress in enlightenment has
oeen marSeu WIZ giant strides In every avenue
sclentlhc revelation and achievement.
As 10 the amusing superstitions we so often
witness In people of impressionable nature. the
Is not whether they are reasonable.
Lora nyroh would not m an undertake
ng oil any kind on Friday. But oven Byron. with
as remarSaole sensitiveness to Impressions.
ms naoiI OF breeding over the mysteries OF
he. would not venture to assert that such con-
inSt Is reasonable. The Autocrat Of the
Table says, Jeremy Bentham's
ee a ghost Is all very well .iu the day time. All
ne siaSon IN me World VIII never get tho inn
hsre DIR. Holmes says: We are ali tat.
Q iSa ~ our cradles with the beliefs OF our
ripe; the record may seem superficial bnt r. ia
naeiio!e. You cannot educate a man wholly
ar,v o. inc superstitious fears which were
10y, 4m utterly his reason may reject them. he will