Folk-medicine : a chapter in the history of culture / by William George Black.

  • Black, William George, 1857-1932.
Date:
1883
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Folk-medicine : a chapter in the history of culture / by William George Black. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    personal evil influence, evil influence at last attaches to things. Objects blessed or cursed by witches, pins, animals, food, all may be cause of evil. Their very presence, associated in the past with death or disgrace, may become ominous of dismay and terror in the present. Of this we have an example in such a belief as this, that it is unlucky to keep black-edged note paper in a house. It is clear what this means. Black-edged note paper is used when death is in a house, and then only. Hence, is not to keep it in a house almost as though one felt the dread shadow ; then, if this is felt, is it not indeed present ? But this must be a very modern superstition. Mourning note-paper is only of modern introduction. How strangely the mysterious past rules the utilitarian present. Again, it is matter of common report in the daily news- papers, that burglars are very often, if not always, found to have a piece of coal in their pocket. Why should this be used? Surely a modern ruffian, who knows something of dynamite and nitro-glycerine, and is better acquainted with the use of fire arms than most of those who either hunt him, or are assailed by him, cannot depend upon an amulet. Yet this seems certain. T do not know that coal has any folk-lore mystery, but I would hazard the suggestion that its colour may suggest, very dimly and remotely, to the burglar-mind, remote shadowy tales of invisibility. It is a curious physchological study in two ways, first, how the burglar comes to think of an amulet, and what he thinks it is or can do; and second, the burglar imagination, which throws a glamour of Asian romance over a chip of coal stolen from a passing cart. But what place can Folk-Medicine claim in the great book of culture? This question cannot but occur over and over again to those who have examined charms, spells, and amulets. We know that Mr. Spencer builds upon what he regards as primary foundations of thought all his philosophy. I have already stated my objections to his conclusion. I do not differ