The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-06-10

sewed them up again, and he, replacing
the charm round his neck once more went
on his way rejoicing, being now in a posi-
ton to tell a neighbor. whose child had
also fits, a certain cure for them"
In many parishes in rural Devon it is
marriage begins with the same letter as
her maiden surname she will be very un-
lucky, and there is an old couplet;
Change the name but not the letter.
Change for the worse and not the better.
Ladies who are "unlucky" in this respect
are. however, believed to possess COM
pensating advantages in that they are
able to cure juvenile complaints. Whoop-
ing cough is included in the category, and
hat dragging their children through three
parishes In one day did not effect a cure
they promptly tool them of to be doc
tored' by ladies who had not changed the
first letter of their name by marriage. 1t
is claimed that whatever such women give
a sick child to eat will cure the complaint.
Other strange cures for ~whooping cough
are heard OF in various parts of Devon
shire, Many there are who believe that
the complaint can be completely eradicated
sufferer wear a long hairy caterpillar in a
small bag around the neck. Others are
foolish enough to think that if a hair is
taken from a child's he'd, put between a
slice Of bread and butter, and given to a
dog, the child will recover from it's in
trinity II the dog coughs, as it very prob
ably will if the hair touches it's throat.
Another extraordinary belief still prev
alent is that a child will recover from
w%hooping cough II, while the dew is on
tho ground, it is laid face downward where
a sheep has been sleeping. Sheep are
sometimes driven into the farmyards over
nj ght 80 that the farmers wives may the
more easily try this reputed remedy in the
morning.
When, as OF course frequently ha e
that the parents have not had sufficient
faith.
There are cases on record where mothers
have taken their offspring and placed them
for a few moments in graves prepared for
the reception Of a body Of the opposite sex,
in the belief that they will thereafter not
suffer any more OF the infrmities that chill
dren are heir to.
Superstitious D~evonians will, when suffer.
ing from a cough, put thems elves to con-
a man driving a white horse. Having
encountered a person thus engaged, they
ask him what he thinks will cure them.
believing that IL they carry out hia recon.
mendations they will soon be all right
again.
does not tester, true son of Devon will
The thorn. In order to make assurance
doubly sure, some repeat these words
after eating il; In the name Of the Father,
and Of the Son and Of the Holy Ghost, the
prick of tho thorn I do defy, and with the
blessing OF God it shall not ache or smart
or give any pain
Toads are supposed by many Devonians
possess remarkably curative properties,
Persons suffering from sores Of any knd
recommended to wear the oorrespond-
ing part Of a toad tied up In a little bag, or
otherwise attached to the person. A n
cure for warts there is. according TO eome
people, nothing like a fat slug, which has TO
be placed on tho PARTS affected. To cure
m adder's bite the victim has to catch
adder, fry II, and put il on the spot
where he was bitten.
Some OF the cures recommended for minor
ailments are moro curious still. MANY
believe that a stye in the eve wifi
speedily, disappear IL a oats tail is drawn
across the infamed part, or IL the stye la
with a widows wedding ring.
As Is only natural. many Of the medical
superstitions associated with Devonsbire
are in conformity with the idea laid down
in the old proverb which says that. .Pre-
vention is better than cure" Thus people
carry about with them (when they oan eet
them) double Barcelona nuts a. q preyeptfye
for toothaohe; end q small potato or o lump
q gplphur. " hep them fTS4 fFeM ihepr