The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1900-01-27
WlTCHCRAFT lNPENNSYL VANlB

the child was suffering because it was
fed on sour milk. After a few DAYS
treatment the child had entirely recov-
cred. The mother was suffering from
some internal trouble, which became en-
tirely cured after an operation for lacerat,
ed cervix
"A rev months ago I was consulted by
young man who seemed to be upon the
verge Of becoming a maniac under most
peculiar circumstances. Having some in
significant trouble he had consulted a fe-
male witch doctor, who told him that
his condition was due to a young woman
who had held penny IA her mouth on
a certain occasion when he visited her,
and that as a result he was doomed to-
pass into consumption and to die within !
few months. -<@1.f
''This alarming statement threw the
young man into a condition of acute
melancholia, which seriously affected his
health He consulted another we'll known
witch doctor, who confirmed his fears
by assuring him that he was bewitched
and who gave him a charm intended to
break the spell. When he visited me-
having been persuaded to do so by some
acquaintance who did not believe in
Witchcraft, his mental condition was
really alarming and he believed that he
was afflicted with consumption.
when I examined him I found that
the witch doctor had placed a small mus
lin bag on his chest, suspended by piece
of white tape around his neck 1 removed
1t and found that it contained assafoetida
and lot Of curious looking material
which he had been told would drive
away his ailment and afIlict her who gave
1t to him.
II tried in every way to convince this
young man that he need not worry, that
his lungs were perfectly sound, and the
fact Of believing what the colored woman
had told him and the conjuring of the
other witch doctor was all nonsense and
not to be regarded in the least. He final
ly went away to visit a brother in the
country, and under the influence of the
change Of scene he forgot his Affections
When [ saw him a few days ago his
health was perfect, but at the time when
he first came to visit me he was in a
fair way to become an inmate Of an in
sane asylum.
"Only a few weeks ago I became ac-
Quainted with the cases of two women
on whom a commission in lunacy was
lum. The testimony plainly showed that
both these women were victims of the
nonsense preached into them by the witch
doctors. Should such fellows go unpun-
ished?"
Dr. Bartelot showed me a number Of
charms which he had collected from his
patients. One that will serve as a fair
sample consists of small muslin bag,
q intended to be hung about tha mark n,,
the outside Of the bag appear the le,-,
tiers T. N. r. I. and some meaningless
characters. Inside it contained a scrap
of paper on which was written a charm
made up, as are many of the incanta-
lions of the witch doctors, from curious
book which many of them possess, and
which is called the Seventh Book of Mo-
ses.' part Of the writing runs as fol-
lows:
II (here is inserted the name of the
beWltched person. forbid you my bed
stead, / forbid you my Mouse and yard
in the name Of God. - forbid YOU
in the name of God and the Holy Trinity
my blood and flesh, my body and SOUL
L - forbid you every nail hole in
my house and yard until you climb every
little tree, wade through all little streams,
count all the little stars in the skies, until
the beautiful day shall come when the
mother of God shall bring forth her Sec
ond son, in the name of God the Father,
God the Son, God the Holy Ghost
The charm runs on at great length in
this vein, and concludes, as do many of
the others which have come into: DR..
Bertolet's possession, with the following
form, which is known as the "cabalistic
square: