Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-13
.HEALERs OF THE BODY
Medical Society Of District Of
I Columbia Meets.
ADDRESS 'Il,i BY PRESIDENT
Combat of Scientific Medicine With
Superstition.
HIGHER AND LoFTIER THINGS
-s~.-a&s
InexpHcable and Fanciful, the Mysti-
cal and Resourcefu1 Always At
tract and Subjugate.
HIGHER AND LoFTIER THINGS

was 1.-The Conflict Between Scientific
Medicine and Superstition" which fur
f'nished an opportunity not only for an in
, teresting review of some of the curious no.
tions and absurdities relative to disease and
its treatment which have prevailed in past
ages. but also for an account of the splen-
did achievements of modern science.
The conclusion reached by the speaker
was that what remained of such supersti-
tons in the present age-and he gave a
number of amusing examples-could only
be met and overcome with success by the
spread of knowledge and information
among the people.
The address, which was listened to with
close attention by the members of the So
ciety, present In large numbers, as well as
| by invited guests, was discussed by sew
.eral of the members.
Creatures Highly Imaginative.
In the course of his address DR.. Morgan
said:
I'VE are today. as of yore and tomorrow
creatures highly imaginative and con-
-stantly seeking higher and loftier things,
even to the supernatural. The inexplica-
BILE and fanciful, the mystical and resource
full will always attract and subjugate us.
1t is astonishing what amount of superstt-
tfon mysticism, QuackiSm and fetichiSm
exists today. Yet 1t is well to remember
that there are marvellous escapes and re-
coveries from injury and sickness, and that
the recognition OF prayers, II not always
successful, at least ennobles the man and
raises his thoughts to God. The Germans,
who like to style themselves the nation of
thinkers, have more quackS today than
any other people. SaXOny and Bavaria
have one quack to two regular physicians;
in Berlin there are two to nine.
pet superstitiOns and decisions can be
found in every household. When there Is
case of sickness in the house and some
domestic animal dies, you will find that
some think the patient will surely recover.
The most persistent superstitions in the
world are those that are based upon the
habits of animals. II one is walking at
night and spider web brushes the face, it is
supposed to mean that ghost is following,
out in day time it tells that stranger Is
coming. The neigh of horse is a portent
of death which will come from the quarter
from which his head Is pointing when he
neighs. The hair of a dog, the skin of
snake and the pelt of a black cat are be-
lieved to possess medicinal qualities, while
the handling of toad is said to give warts.
German Canadians are full of superstition.
A white spider crawling toward one, the
bowling of dog, the sight Of a snake, all
foretell death. The killing of a toad or the
Growing of a hen foretels rain. If the cat
washes his face it means that visitors are
coming If a bee stings, kill him and the
wound will not swell. The black tooth of
hog and the blood of a black hen have
curative powers
Curative of Many Local Ills.
an certain district in Germany the
touch of corpse's hand is still regarded
as curative of many local ills. Less grue-
some is the remedy for hernia still applied
in the marsh country. On the night of st.
John the Baptist's day, June "a, patient
must be dragged through the split of a
cleft ash tree. Three men bearing the first
name Of John must perform the operation
and it must be conducted in dead silence.
For erysipelas fire is lighted and pinch
of ashes from it is rubbed on the skim to
the accompaniment OF saying to the eff
feet that the ashes and the sore went over
the Red sea together. the ash came back
but the sore never again..
Recently in Georgetown policeman was
bitten by a supposed poisonous snake and
the old remedy of killing chickens. cutting
them open and applying them to the bite
until the chickens were cold and did not
turn black was tried. Twenty chickens
were used on the policeman in extracting
the poison. This remedy for cramps is
used today in other places than George
town.. On going to rest put your slippers
under the bed and turn the soies upward.
Apples to Help Dropsy.
'In the wards of Garfield Hospital last
fall there was a patient who insisted on
keeping several apples under his bed to
help the dropsy. The things that people
will carry within their pockets, wear
around their necks or body or put on their
fingers are legion. Have a white potato in
each pocket of your trousers and you will
never be troubled with rheumatism, or IL
you suffer with cough and cold exchange
the potato for lump of camphor. No
doubt there are some of us who now have
a horse chestnut in our pocket or are wear
ing nickel ring. Several years ago the
writer was induced by an intelligent and
considerable friend to wear nutmeg for
obstinate boils. 1t has been noted that
those who boast their emancipation from
prevailing superstitions are often slaves OF
the pettiest decisions. How many are free
from the dread of thirteen? How many are
bold enough to marry on Friday? How
many fear to draw the sock on their left
foot first? Have you a rabbits foot about
you. and do you touch wood after INDUCING
in boast?
Superstition in Austria-Hungary.
'In no other western European country
is superstition prevalent as in Austria
Hungary Quite recently the chamberlain's
Office changed the number of box 10
in the Imperial Opera House and the I'M
perial Court Theater because the public OBJ
jected to sitting in box bearing this I'M
lucky number But this superstition
reaches its height in medicine. Speaking
at the health exhibition DIR. Heinrich Grun
declared that in many instances supersti-
ton, and especially local superstition, was
an absolute menace to public health. In
Lie fAuStffdit HUSpftdiS one mas no DOCK
or pavilion thirteen, no ward thirteen, no
staircase thirteen. Very few patients will
consent to be operated on the 18th. And
in that respect Friday too is considered
just as nnlucky. The dieting fad also has
become nuisance in London and a number
of sWell-known hostesses have put their
heads together and drawn up a declaration
of Independence. 1t Is sent out with all In
yitatlons and reads thus: I am sorry to a..
pear inhospitabie. but my housekeeper and
cook cannot arrange to cater for any guest
who is obliged to diet
One has the right to believe that the
CRUSADE against tuberculosis had accom-
plished something. but when You read Of q
white man thirty-three years old trying to
combat the disease from which his wife is
suffering by keeping her room as near air.
tight as possible. and in order to accom-
ptish this has nailed down the windows and
corked every crevice. YOU begin to lose
hope, indeed.
Statement Of the Remedy.
What is the remedy for all this? tits
by making the deduction and the rationale
80 clear and easy that he who runs may
read. Bacon says we would rather believe |
than examine: besides, we are all governed
by an Irresistible desire for the unknown.
which most generally exhibits itself In q 1
love for the marvellous Thesa ara veak-