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On superstitions connected with the history and practice of medicine and surgery / By Thomas Joseph Pettigrew.

  • Pettigrew, Thomas Joseph, 1791-1865.
Date:
1844
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On superstitions connected with the history and practice of medicine and surgery / By Thomas Joseph Pettigrew. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    possess the power of keeping off evil spirits and averting the baneful consequences of the Evil Eye. Paracelsus recommends it to be worn round the necks of children as a remedy against fits, sorcery, charms and poisons. Levi- nus Lemnius says “ Corall bound to the neck takes off turbulent dreams and allays the nightly fears of children. It preserveth such as bear it from fascination or bewitch- ing, and in this respect is hanged about children’s necks.” The bells affixed to the coral toy with which children used formerly to be generally arrayed, have been conjec- tured to have been attached for the same purpose, as the ringing or rattling of them have been esteemed inimical to witches, sorcerers, &c. Charms and incantations were common among the Druids for the cure of diseases. According to Lord Nor- thampton* the charm used by Mother Joane of Stowe to cure beastes, or men and women from diseases was as follows : “Our Lord was the fyrst Man, That ever thorne prick’t upon : It never blysted nor it never belted, And I pray God, nor this not may.” Rags, old clothes, pins and needles are frequent objects employed as charms. ‘They are prevalent in the east as well as in Kuropeand England. In Persia they are com- mon, and there exists a general superstition that to relieve disease or accident, the patient has only to deposit a rag on certain bushes, and from the same spot to take another which has been previously left from the same motive by a * Defensative against the Poyson of supposed Prophecies. Lond. 1583, 4to.