The sun., 1901-08-11
PENNSYLVANIA YlTcHcRAFT.
CHARMS AGAINST ILLS TAKEN
OUT or AN Old BOOK.

Rsnedles fer Dlseases and Charms Against
Evn splrits Used Formerly AmSng
he Pennsysvsniu Germans Quaint Old
= ns-haef.Catching Words.
In 1919 John George Holman lived at
Rosenthal, near Reading. In Berks county.
Pa. He was q farmer and an itinerant
preacher Between times he found an
opportunity of bringing together col
lection OF curious charms and remedies.
\ majority OF which were based upon a
firmly rooted belief in witchcraft and the
ruaohinations OF evil spirits. These Hoh-
man published in small. thin book soberly
clad In brown paper binding.
Tho contents OF the volume wore OF q
nature TO appeal TO the Old World super
stitions Of the Germans who settled about
Reading, and were the progenitors OF the
psnnsylvania Germans. Copies OF the
orieiual edition Of Hohman's book are raro.
Occasionally . COPY turns up In farm
house garrett or on book stell. 1t is likely
that not more than single edition was
Issued BY Holman. A later edition. which
was practically . reprint Of the original.
was pubtshed by Harrisburg printer in
1858.
Holman starts OF by giving the follow
Ing assurance Of the value Of tho work:
whoever carries this book With him
n safe from all his enemies. visible and In
Visible; and whoever has this book With
him cannot die without the holy corpse Of
Jesus Christ, nor be drowned In any water.
nor burned UP In any nre. nor can any un-
just sentence be passed upon him. So
hep mo- =.
10 prove tho efficacy Of the charms.
Hxhman Enthusiastically relates instances
ofSpersons who were cured BY their use.
giving the names Of the patients and de-
scSibing with zeal that approximates pain
stalking the process OF treatment. Then
IF any Of the above named witnesses
who have been cured by me dares to call
mo Q liar and denies having been relieved
By me. although they have confessed that
they were cured by me. l shall, II 1t 10 at
ali possible, compel them to repeat their
confessions before justice OF the peace.
A strict Injunction Is laid upon the patient
that the charms must be repeated exactly
as they are written and the remedies ap-
piled with undertaking system. Unless
this Ii done, warns the author. success
must not be expected. Here are some
sample charms:
A good charm for colic--I warn ye, ye
collie fiends. there is one sitting In iudg-
ment who speakest, just or unjust. There
fore, beware ye colo fiends.'
A precautjon against injuries-Whoever
carries the right eye of a wolf fastened
inside Of his right sleeve remains free from
all injuries.
To make a wand for searching for iron,
ore or water-On the first night Of Christ
mas, between II and IL o'clock. break of
frnu n n n r.
growth In the three highest names, Father
Son and Holy Ghost; At the same time
face toward the sunrise. Whenever you
apply this wand for searching for anything
apply il three times. The twig must be
foyted and each end Of the fork must be
hold In the right hand, so that the third
and thickest part stands up, but do not hold
Il too tight. Strike the ground with the
thickest end and that which you desire
will appear Immediately, II there Is any in
the ground where you strike. The words to
be spoken when the wand Is applied are as
follows: .Archangel Gabriel conjure
noti Do tell me- II you are searching for
iron or ore you have to say the same only
mention the name Of what you arc search
inf for, G,.,.,. v,..., =, ,,.,,,.o,,. ,.,.,,.
from doing you an injury-Repeat this.
-Dullx, H. ux. Yea, you cannot come over
Pontio. Pontio Is above Plato
To destroy warts-Roast chicken feet
and rub the warts with them. Then bury
the feet under the caves.
To Danish the whooping cough-Cut
three small punches Of hair from the crown
Of the head Of a child who has never seen
It's father. Sew this hair up in an unbleached
rag and hang 1t around the neck Of the
child having the cough. The thread with
which the rag is sewed must also be un-
bleached.
How to Danish the fever-Write the fol-
lowing words upon paper, wrap 1t up in
knot grass and tie it upon the stomach
of the person who has the fever:
Potmat slneat.
potmat sinrat.
Potmat sineat.
To reconcile enemies-If you find the stone
which q vulture has In his knees, and which
you may find by looking sharp, and put 1t in
the food Of two persons who hate each other
It causes them TO make up and become
good friends.
To cure fits-You must 60 upon another's
land and repeat the following words: Il
60 before another court. l tie up my II
fold fits Then cut three small twigs
from any tree upon the land and in each
twig make knot. This must be done on a
Friday morning before sunrise, in the de-
crease Of the moon unbeshrewdly. Then
over your body where you feel the fits
you make three crosses.
How to cure burn-You must repeat this
verse: