CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1901-06-13
THE BLACK ART.
LOT OF OBJECTS IN THE Ma
TIoNAL MUSEUM.
Ma gicai Formulas Framed Years Ago
Are stiii Almost Uneh.nged-A Horse
Chestnut WIN Cure Rhsumati IN ~ the
Nut 1. Begged or Stolen.

collection is now being placed in
the National Museum that carries the
history of medicine back to the days
when the black art fourished and
charms were supposed to effect more
cures than doctors. says the Washing
ton Post 1t is wonderful how some
magical formulas framed years ago
are still almost unchanged despite the
advance OF the physicians art and
science. That the rules of sorcery are
varied according to location is proven
by a small card attached to the right
forefoot OF a rabbit, which had come-
to its death by being chased down by
a lxnk yellow hound of the Virginia
type, and which. according to an in
scription. cost the collector five cents
in the Center Market The traditional
rabbits foot of the country south OF
the Mason and Dixon line stipulates
that the charm of a rabbits foot lies
In the fact of It's being the left hind
foot. and the fact OF its being the left
hind foot. and that the rabbit shall
be caught in a graveyard In the dark
OF the moon. But as this may not be
imperative. 1t is simply a rabbits foot
that charms away rheumatism and
keeps on the whole category Of evil
spirits. Its charm is well established
down south The belief in the rab-
bits foot doubtless comes from that
OF some OF the wild tribes Of AustralIs.
They believe that a soreerer. by sim
ply creeping near one In sleep. can
bewitch him TO death by merely point
ing at him with the leg bone Uf kan
garoo: or he can steal away his kidney
fat. wherein the natives believe a
mans power dwells: or a mighty sor-
eerer can get lock OF hair and roost
II with fat over the fire until with its
shriyeIling away the former owner OF
the hair dies. The illustrations OF the
herb treatment are many. and among
the other unique remedies is an in
fallible one for curing nose bleed. To
a neat card is attached a skein OF scar
let silk thread. long eonugh TO be
worn about the neck. which has tied
In II nine different knots. Both the
rcd silk. and the pine knots are i'm
perative. Another that is equally good.
or better. is rusty nail. II Is used
to scarify the gums until they bleed.
when, with the blood still adhering,
the nail is driven into n wooden beam
until only the head is visible. Blood
poisoning may ensue. but that Is OF
minor Importance. oeony root car
ried In the pocket or strung like beads
and worn about the neck will prevent
insanity. or is equally eficacious IN
curing Ats in children. This is an old
practice among negro msmmies in Mis-
sissippi and Louisiana. and Is rife to-
day. II It fails II is because the root
is too old. OF was not worn in time.
or. maybe. was not dug In the dark OF
the moon. The cures for rheumatism
are legion. The museum has Illus
trated the magic Of the horsechest-
nut. The card attached announces
that the chestnut must be either beg
ged or stolen. and when this part OF
the prescription Is observed you have
only TO carry the chestnut in your
pocket. II may seem odd. but Wash
ington has a number Of statesmen who
faithfully follow this magical custom.
The Indians believe that rheumatism
is caused by the spirits of slain deer,
and hence for the cure the medicine
man of the redskin invokes aid from
the hed DOG OF the Last Nu' hHS
Dog OF the North. the Black Dog OF
the West, the White Dog Of the South,
each reached by separate prayers.
While praying the medicine man ruhs
the afflicted parts with a bunch OF
dried fern roots and at the end OF
each appeal blows once upon the al
ficted part. In practice the Indian
medicine man dons a wooden mask.
grotosquely shaped, and painted in
red, white and blue. with small
grinning face upon the forehead and
either cheek. while dressing up in
this mask he uses further remedy,
consisting of wooden rattle, TO be
used in the ceremonies OF exorcism.
The rattle is covered with buckskin in
representation OF a turtle. clay
image of the mountain lion is the
foundation for Zuni fetich. The
sample shown In the museum resem-
bles not a little three-eent roll sand
wich set up on toothpicks, but II Is
mighty The hunter prays to the In
dwelling spirit OF the Image for assist
ance In securing game, as well as for
protection against the dangers that be-
set n hunter.