The daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1904-1905, 1904-06-22
MEDICAL BLACK ART
oMENS or GOOD AND BAD LUCK AND
THE USE OF CHARMS.

Cutting On Disease by q Barricade
of Edged Weapons and Tools.
Methods of Conjuring Away Warts
and Corns-The Rabbits Foot Cure.
The greatest geniuses in the world
were superstitious, and study of the
exhibit at the National museum illus
trating medical black art, primitive
practice of medicine and omens Of ill
and good luck will be sufficient to con.
vince the most skeptical that learned
and ignorant alike throughout the
world = civilized and heather - have
their own peculiar beliefs.
This interesting and curious collec-
ton has tendency to carry one back
to the days when black art flourished
and charms were believed to effect
more cures than medicine and doc
tors. Notwithstanding the fact that
such advancement has been made in
medical science that sane man should
feel entirely complacent when ordered
to place himself under the care of
physician for the treatment Of dis
ease, believers in black art who inhablt
the Eastern Shore of Maryland and the
rice plantations of South Carolina go
right along, putting their faith In
omens and voudoo doctors, while per-
sons in Japan and China swallow dried
centipeds and spider dust.
The rich in both Japan and China
pay the physician a fixed salary so
long as the patient Is we'll, but II
health fails then the pay ceases until
the doctor has set him right again.
The poor cannot do this; hence strict
adherence to some form of faith cure"
or black art. In Japan a pill made OF
common earth, rosewater, musk, spi-
der dust and coated with gold leaf is
believed to be efficacious in almost ev-
cry ordinary disease. In Russia there
is strong leaning toward the idea
that everything lies in preventives, and
sick persons bed is frequently shut
in with axes, hatchets, swords, knives
and other edged tools so that all dis
ease may be "cut Off" Cold baths are
not infrequently given in cases of fe-
yer. They run the "hOt devil out, and
if this does not do the WOrk-cure or
kill-a big dose of common gunpOwder
is administered.
That the rules of sorcery-black art
are varied according to location is
proved by a card attached to the left
hind foot of a graveyard rabbit and
which if carried in the left hand pocket
of a pair of trousers will ward off all
manner of disease, from cholera infan-
tum to a desire to run for the presi-
dency. The rabbits foot is a cure all
for the negroes and poor whites in ev-
cry southern state, and it's powers are
known and appreciated even in locali-
ties north of Mason and DixOn's line.
The rabbits foot keeps off the whole
category of evil spirits as we'll as
cures every known disease. The COM
mon buckeye ranks next to the rab-
bits foot as cure and preventive, and
there are several specimens. The buck
eye has it's advocates in every state in
the Union, and testimonials" from
persons in every town and hamlet
could be secured to prove that nothing
under the sun can work such wonders
as the buckeye-sure cure Tor rheuma.
tism. govt, dyspepsia, lame back,
stringhalt, deafness, lax memory, ETC.
Next in line of efficacy is the dried
Irish potato. which must be carried in
the right hand pocket and never per-
mitted to be handled by woman's
, hand. If directions are carried out
! the potato will keep the person free
! from dizziness, backache, headache
l smallpox, chills, fever, loss of sight
deafness, corns, bunions and dozen
or more other ailments to which flesh
Is heir. A remedy for whooping cough
is given upon one of the neat white
cards in the case with these other
cures. A lock Of hair is to be cut
from the head of the child having the
, disease and put between two pieces OF
. bread The sandwich is then fed tt
the family dog, and if he eats it the
child will not get we'll but il he
coughs it up, then the child will re
. cover right away. To ward off evi
one of the cards advises repeating:
God made man, and man made money;
God made the bee, and the bee mad
honey;
God made Satan, and Satan made sin;
God made a big hole to put Satan in.
When Mr.. Carnegie was in Wash
ington at the dedication Of the librar!
which he gave to the city he was walk
4 ing with Commissioners West ant
y mcfarland, and, seeing a pin on thu
" pavement, he stopped and picked i
5; up. A card is in the case at the mu
. scum reading:
See a pin and pick it up,
y And all your life you'll have good luck
- See pin and let it lie;
% You'll come to want before you die
IS A brass key down the back is guar
anteed to stop nose bleeding, and
7 medium sized key is on exhibition t.
y give the proper size to be used. Sew
Is eral knots tied in a piece of cottol
70 thread show the manner Of conjurin,
10 warts and causing them to leave an,
" part of the human body. For ever,
8 wart tie knot in thread, bury wher
y no one can see and when the threa,