1 68 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



For the Night-brand or Scrofula: I forewarn you that you shall no 

 longer burn, but be you cold as a dead man's hand. In the name of the Father, 

 the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen. Take the middle finger of your right 

 hand and rub three times around as you say these words. Do this, morning 

 and evening, three times, for three mornings and evenings. 



For Fever: Jesus went over the mountain, and he saw a great fever and he 

 cured it with his hands. In the name of God, the Father; in the name of God, 

 the Son; in the name of God, the Holy Ghost. Amen. Rub three times, blow 

 three times, and repeat three times. 



For Epilepsy, or Falling Sickness: Take a new broom and sweep from 

 three corners of a room. Throw the sweepings over the person who has the 

 sickness, while you say these words: In God's name, Falling Sickness, you must 

 depart till I these seed do cut. So do it three times. 



For a Worm in the Finger — Whitlow: As he [she] went over muddy 

 bagger's branch he [she] met three worms; one was a white one, one was a 

 black one, and one was a red one. I command this to die, in the name of the 

 Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Say it three times. 



For Stopping Blood: Say the name of the person, then: Holy is the day 

 and holy is the hour wherein happened the wound. In the name of the Father 

 and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Say the name of him that has 

 the wound first; and if the wound is on the right side lay your left hand there- 

 upon, and if on the left side lay your right hand thereupon. If you know the 

 name of the person you may stop the bleeding though the person be three or 

 four miles away. 



For Colic, or Rising of the Mother: Lay your hand on the person's 

 stomach and say three times: / stand on wood and I see wood. For one glass- 

 ful of cold red wine. Rising of Mother, or Colic, let this griping alone. A. B. G. 

 May God help you. In the name of God, the Father; in the name of God, the 

 Son; in the name of God, the Holy Ghost. Amen, Amen, and Amen. 



For a Boil, or Imposthume : The Boil and the Dragon went over the creek. 

 The Dragon drank, the Boil sank. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy 

 Ghost. Amen. Lay your right hand upon the boil as you say these words. 

 Do it three times, and the boil will soon decrease. 



For the Wild-fire (Erysipelas) : Wild-fire, move away; the tame-fire is 

 over you. Take a coal of fire or a fire-brand and rub three times around it 

 morning and evening, each time three times, as you say these words. It will 

 soon be better. 



For Greedy-worm : When our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, was upon the 

 earth he met a greedy-worm, and he said, ' Where are you going, greedy-worm? 

 In the child's stomach or no? You shall not do that. That I forbid you, by 

 sulphur and pitch, that I may never see you any more. Do you go in the green 

 wood. There is a well deep and cold. Out of that well you may drink, and 

 of this child nevermore think.' In the name of the Father, in the name of the 

 Son, and in the name of the Holy Ghost. Amen, Amen, and Amen. Blow your 

 breath three times on the face and say these words three times over. 



For Open Head: Head, I squeeze you together for [name of patient]. In 

 the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Press together three times each 

 way and say these words three times. 



A Cure for Bots: 



There was a man 



Rode over the land 



With three worms in his hand. 



One loas white, another black, the other red, 



And in an hour they xoere dead. 



Stand the horse with his bead toward sunrise. Take your right hand and rub 

 from the nose over the head, neck, and back, down to the end of the tail, as you 

 say these words. Do this three times in two or three hours, every time three 

 times. Give some purgative medicine. 



There are two more formulas which, though not strictly medical in 

 character, are so nearly akin to those already given that they may be 



