Part 30 (2/2)

822. To get rid of rheumatism: ”You go in de lot an' go up to fence. Den put you breas' on it and say, 'I lef you here, I lef you here,' tree times, den you go 'way and don't you never come back dere no more.”

_French Canadian._

823. To cure fits, the first time the child or person has one, tear off the s.h.i.+rt of the patient and burn it up, and no more fits will return.

_Chestertown, Md. (negro)._

824. If you don't want the cramp in your foot, turn your shoes bottom up at night.

_Nashua, N.H._

825. To keep off nightmare, put your shoes at night with the toes pointing away from the bed.

_Central New York._

826. To ward off nightmare, sleep with shears under the pillow.

_Central New York._

827. Nightmare is caused by the nightmare man, a kind of evil spirit, struggling with one. It is prevented by placing a sharp knife under the pillow, and stuffing the keyhole with cotton.

_Windham, Me._

828. Sores can be cured by those who possess magical powers going through certain incantations, which are to be followed by applications of oatmeal and vinegar.

_Newfoundland._

829. For a sty on the eye, take a small piece of paper, rub it on the sty, go across the road three times, and say each time,--

Sty, sty, go off my eye, Go on the first one that pa.s.ses by.

This is a sure cure in two or three days.

_Talladega, Ala._

830. To cure a sty repeat at a cross-roads,--

Sty, sty, leave my eye, And take the next one that pa.s.ses by.

_Ma.s.sachusetts, Indiana, and California._

831. Toothache may be cured by conjurers, who apply the finger to the aching tooth, while muttering a charm, or tie a number of knots in a fis.h.i.+ng line.

_Newfoundland._

832. Toothache may be cured by a written charm, sealed up and worn around the neck of the afflicted person. The following is a copy of the charm:--

I've seen it written a feller was sitten On a marvel stone, and our Lord came by, And He said to him, ”What's the matter with thee, my man?”

And he said, ”Got the toothache, Marster,”

And he said, ”Follow me and thee shall have no more toothache.”

_Newfoundland._

833. For toothache take an eyelash, an eyebrow, tr.i.m.m.i.n.gs of the finger-nails, and toe-nails of the patient, bore a hole in a beech-tree, and put them in. The sufferer must not see the tree, and it must not be cut down or burned.

_Cape Breton._

834. Treat biliousness by boring three holes in a tree and walking three times around it, saying, ”Go away, bilious.”

_Eastern Sh.o.r.e of Maryland._

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