The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1904-08-17
MEDICAL BLACK ART
omENs OF GOOD AND BAD LUCK AND
THE USE OF CHARMS.

ana Corns-The Rabbits Foot Cure.
The greatest geniuses In the world
were superstitious, and a study of the
exhibit at the National museum Illus
trating medical black art. primitive
practice OF medicine and omens of III
and good luck Will be sufficient to con-
vince the most skeptical that learned
and ignorant alike throughout the
world = civilized and heathen = have
their own peculiar beliefs.
This interesting and curious collec-
ton has a tendency TO carry one back
TO the days when black art hourished
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 sRne man should
feel entirely complacent when ordered
to place himself under the care OF a
physician for the treatment of dis
ease. believers In black art who inhabit
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
CeuIlpeuS anu SplueE uuSI.
The rich in both Japan and China
pay the physician a fixed salary so
long as the patient is well, but If
health fails then the pay ceases until
the doctor has set him right again.
The poor cannot do this; hence a strict
adherence to some form of faith cure'
or black art. In Japan n pill made or
common earth, rosewnter, musk, spi-
der dust and coated with gold leaf is
believed to be efficacious in almost ev-
cry ordinary disease. In Russia there
is a strong leaning toward the idea
that everything lies in preventives, and
a sick persons bed is frequently shut
in with axes, hatchets, swords, knives
and other edged tools SO that all dis
case may be "cut off," Cold baths are
not infrequently given in cases OF fe-
yer. They run the "hot devil" out, and
II 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 card attached to the left
hind foot of a graveyard rabbit and
which If carried in the left hand pocket
OF pair of trousers will ward of all
manner of disease, from cholera infan-
tum to 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 its powers are
known and appreciated even in locali-
ties north of Mason and Dixon's line.
The rabbits foot keeps of 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 a cure and preventive, and
there are several specimens. The buck
eye has its 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 for rheuma-
tism. gout, 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 a woman's
hand. II directions are carried out
the potato will keep the person free
from dizziness, backache. headache.
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 to
the family dog, and IL he eats it the
I'll HNYrN
coughs 1t up, then the child will re
cover right away. To ward Off evn
one of the cards advises repeating:
God made man. and man made money;
God made the bee. and the bee made
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 library
which he gave to the city he was walk
Ing with Commissioners West and
Macfarland, and. seeing a pin on the
pavement. he stopped and picked 1t
up. A card is in the case at the mu-
scum reading:
Bee pin and pick II up.
And all your life you'll have good luck.
See pin and let 1t lie;
You'll come to want before you die.
n DTdSS KEY uOWu lne DUCK IL Suar-
anteed to stop nose bleeding. and
medium sized key is on exhibition to
give the proper size to be used. Sew
eral knots tied in a piece of cotton
thread show the manner of conjuring
warts and causing them to leave any
part of the human body. For every
wart tie knot in a thread, bury where
mo- one can see, and when the thread
rots the warts will disappear Anoth-
er whrt remover is to pick the wart
with needle until the blood comes
and then wipe the blood Off with
linei, rng and bury rag and needle at
the hour of 5:15 under sassafras
bush.
A sure corn cure is given in the fol-
lowing prescription: Repeat a Scrip
tural passage Immediately after wax
Ing up in the morning. turn over twice
and face the east, then rub the corn or
cOrns with spittle. Three applications
three mornings in succession will re-
| move the annoyers.
To persons afflicted with night sweats
is promised a speedy cure If they will
place bowl or pan of cold water un-
der the bed in which they sleep, and
those who suffer from cramns need