The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1907-11-22

and wholly helps the party that hath
the said dropsy."
The belief not only in the existence
of toad stones but also in their eff
cacy as a sovereign remedy for GER
tain ills, which is still common in
parts of the country, is of very anci-
ent date. Some believed that
the stone must be secured from the
living animal and in order to accom-
plish this would place the toad upon
red cloth
This color was supposed to have
| an attraction for the animal, which
| would stretch out upon it in sport
While thus engaged the stone would
be elected, and in order TO prevent
| the animal from swallowing it again
a secret hole was provided in the
cloth through which the stone would
slip into a vessel of cold water.
! Another method is to take the toad
| and tie it up in a leather bag prick
ed full of holes and put bag and all
in an ant hill The ants will eat
away all its flesh, leaving stone of
4 marvellous virtue.
These stones, called borax or stel-
1 on, were set In rings. They we're
supposed always to bear on their
surface a figure resembling a toad.
A toad stone touching any part pois-
oned by the bite of rat, wasp.
spider or other yenomous animal
was supposed to ease the pain.
1t was believed that when brought
near to poison the stone sweated and
changed color, thus conveying to it's
wearer a timely warning Of his dan
ger. 1t was also supposed to pre-
vent stomachache.
Garry a lucky bone and nothing
will harm you!" Is a common saying
in New England. This is a bone
from the head of a Goldfish.
1t Is shelllike and narrow, with a
length of three-fourths of an inch
The edge Is notched and the color is
pearly white. 1t is a good plan to
carry two lucky bones; that will
make your luck doubly sure, They
should be both from the same fish.
Rheumatism, tradition says, car
be cured by carrying In the pocket
the bone Of the haddock that lies
under the marks Of Christs fingers
the two round black marks on each
side of the body supposed to have
been caused by the Saviour's fingers
when he lifted the fish out of the
water In order to take the tribute
money from its mouth. This bont
has many other virtues and always
works good to its owner; but Il
must not be exhibited, and it should
never be lent or touched or ever
seen by any after the possesssor get:
it.
The Indians OF Labrador believe
that they can cure toothache by
wearing a haddock's bone around The
neck, while Lord Bacon says thai
wearing on the finger rings made
of seahorse teeth win cure cramps
The bones Of the fish extanax
common In the Euphrates, impart.
courage and strength, in the opinion
of the natives He who wishes e
, insure good luck should never burr
fish bones; he who wishes to keel
witches away should break the back
, bone of the herring when eating thi!
fish.
J The bones of certain birds sewn II
! to the clothes were anciently suppos
, ed to preserve the health, In nortl
t India kite Is killed on Tuesda,
9 and the bones worn in string abou
: the heart to cure pain, while tn
3 New Highlander to ward off rheumat
ism carries a bone from chicken
, wing.
That floating bone found afte
boiling a black cats brains will cur
: all diseases, that the little bone o
the knee joint of hRre's leg wi
: help cramp if the afflicted part
touched with it and that the carry
ling Of the last double tooth In tn
jawbone of hog win cure rheumai
ism are believed by superstitious PEG
. pie to-day.
! The rodent teeth of the beaver ar
+ regarded by the Indians as poten
r charms and are worn on the necks O
f little girls to make them industrious
= A badgers tooth sewn within til
waistcoat will, it Is said bring luc
: at cards.
+ Indians of Labrador believe tha
they can cure the toothache by fix
ing bears tooth TO the aching mo
! lar, while still others advise the pick
! ing of ones teeth with the nail i
! the middle toe Of an owl in order /
I cure this trouble. An old magl
. toothache cure Is to nook dognsf
cut off the horn that projects fror
the back and let the fish go bac
: into the sea. Place the horn on tn
I tooth, and as the fish swims away 9
I will your toothache.
/ A few people still believe the
! where swallows have been c)nstar
I to one nest for seven years they wi
{ leave behind them a small stone
great healing power, especial
for diseases Of the eye.
I In Madagascar pebble talk
from the stomach of a crocodile
- buried under the doorstep to prever
= evilminded ghosts from coming Z
night.
| There is widesprea belief in III
efficacy of snakestones, which al
generally pieces of .charcel boz
we'll polished, occasionally pieces
chalk or some similar porous sui
stance. If pressed upon the bleed
ing wound they absorb the poison.
i Snake charmers or otess to prepal
/ such stones and 10 preserve the cen
osition as secre-. The manufat