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Pilgrim's token, a blue bottle showing a little chapel. Formerly contained St. Wolfgang's water. The bottle was covered with water-paint in order to show the design, when the lantern slide was made.

Copy of a 'wunder brief' said to be written by God, and found with help of the Archangel Michael. Known as Michael's Brief.

Copy of a 'wunder brief' said to be written by God.

Necklet of the vertebrae of an adder hung with 3 medallions, the madonna and Child, St. Francis and Ignatius loyola, and a cross. Put in a child's bed during dentition as a protection again 'Fraisen'.

Necklet of the vertebrae of an adder hung with 3 medallions.

A French hospital for wounded soldiers, World War I: one patient has his leg dressed, another gets injected and two nurses roll a bandage. Colour lithograph after L. Ibels, 1916.

House at Mascli where lava stopped during eruption of Mt. Etna 1928, House where amulet against the evil eye was obtained.

House at Mascli, where amulet was obtained

Walpurgis oil. A small damask box with filigree casket and small galss flask for oil.

Walpurgis oil, amulet.

Zachariah's cross. A double cross, on one side side Zacharias and his blessing, on the other St. Benedict and the lettering of the cross of St. Benedict. Protection against the plague.

Suppenbrunnzer, dove of the Holy Spirit, of wood and paper in a glass ball.

Suppenbrunnzer, dove of the Holy Spirit.

The growing influence of biomedicine in the 1800s did not necessarily replace established forms of treatment based on belief and superstition. What could be referred to as folk medicine – customs that often went back generations – continued to be practised. For example, this charm was to be worn around the neck to prevent toothache. Sometime described as a spell, the charm reads:

“In the Name of the Lord God, Peter sat on a marble stone weeping, Christ came by and asked what aileth thee Peter? Peter said, O Lord God my teeth doth ache, Christ said arise Peter and be whole and not only thee but all them that carries these lines for my sake shall never have the toothache.”

This particular paper charm was written for a Mary McLeod. Similar versions of the text have been found that date back over a thousand years. The charm was presented to the Wellcome collections by a churchman from the Island of Mull, Scotland, around 1921.

maker: Unknown maker

Place made: Scotland, United Kingdom

Paper charm against toothache, Scotland, 1860-1880

Holy wheel or Carillon, 'The Rose of fortune' Chapelle, N.D. Du Riollou. Bretagne.

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Pilgrim's token, a blue bottle showing a little chapel. Formerly contained St. Wolfgang's water. The bottle was covered with water-paint in order to show the design, when the lantern slide was made.

Copy of a 'wunder brief' said to be written by God.

Necklet of the vertebrae of an adder hung with 3 medallions.

A French hospital for wounded soldiers, World War I: one patient has his leg dressed, another gets injected and two nurses roll a bandage. Colour lithograph after L. Ibels, 1916.

House at Mascli, where amulet was obtained

Walpurgis oil, amulet.

Zachariah's cross. A double cross, on one side side Zacharias and his blessing, on the other St. Benedict and the lettering of the cross of St. Benedict. Protection against the plague.

Suppenbrunnzer, dove of the Holy Spirit.

Paper charm against toothache, Scotland, 1860-1880

Holy wheel or Carillon, 'The Rose of fortune'.

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Pilgrim's token, a blue bottle showing a little chapel. Formerly contained St. Wolfgang's water. The bottle was covered with water-paint in order to show the design, when the lantern slide was made.

Copy of a 'wunder brief' said to be written by God.

Necklet of the vertebrae of an adder hung with 3 medallions.

A French hospital for wounded soldiers, World War I: one patient has his leg dressed, another gets injected and two nurses roll a bandage. Colour lithograph after L. Ibels, 1916.

House at Mascli, where amulet was obtained

Walpurgis oil, amulet.

Zachariah's cross. A double cross, on one side side Zacharias and his blessing, on the other St. Benedict and the lettering of the cross of St. Benedict. Protection against the plague.

Suppenbrunnzer, dove of the Holy Spirit.

Paper charm against toothache, Scotland, 1860-1880

Holy wheel or Carillon, 'The Rose of fortune'.

Stay in the know

Wellcome collectionWellcome Collection

Finding us:

Opening times:

Today's opening times

Wellcome collection