1887.] ^^^ [Mooney. 



and its usefulness in the cure of certain diseases, especially whooping 

 cough, prevails also in England and Scotland. 



There is a disease, called cleid'in* in Gaelic, which is difficult to charac- 

 terize, but is described as a general break down or loss of strength, result- 

 ing from some sudden and violent over-exertion. In lifting heavy weights 

 it sometimes happens that what is known in the eastern districts as the 

 "spool of the heart" — probably the diaphragm from the description — is 

 torn loose and drops down, so as to press upon the intestines. When this 

 occurs the spool of the heart must be I'aised again, which is done in the 

 following manner : A coin is stuck upon the lower end of a short piece 

 of candle, which is then lighted and placed upright upon the bare breast 

 of the patient, who, of course, is lying down. A tumbler is then inverted 

 over the lighted candle, and in a few moments the skin over the inclosed 

 surface is raised up into a blister and the sufferer finds relief. It is hardly 

 necessary to state tliat this is simply a crude cupping process. This method 

 is known throughout the country, but it is a disputed point whether the 

 coin should be a copper ha'penny or a silver sixpence. The disease bears 

 a different name in the south. 



Erysipelas is called ruaid',\ which signifies something red, by the Gaelic 

 speakers, while in the east it is known as rose, or St. Anthony's fire. It 

 is generally cured by means of a charm used in connection with the 

 dearg-liac .% This is a grassy plant growing in the bogs, and having the 

 lower part of its stems of a bright red color, by reason of the bog water 

 with which they are always covered. The fact that it is sometimes used by 

 laborers as a substitute for soap, shows that it possesses some peculiar 

 properties. The operator — who should be a woman if the patient be a man, 

 or a man if the contrary be the case — gathers a considerable quantity of 

 this grass, holds it up in front of the mouth and breathes upon it, at the 

 same time reciting a certain charm, after which it is bound tightly around 

 the inflamed part. This must be done on the next Monday after the disease 

 first appears, and is repeated "fZ'a Luain agus Dia-d'ardaoin eadorra,"% 

 that is, "two Mondays and Thursday between them," making three ap- 

 plications in all. The sufterer must endure the pain until Monday comes 

 round, and it is also essential that the three applications be made under 

 the same moon in which the illness is first noted, otherwise the trouble 

 will be liable to recur every month afterward. Unsalted butter ig some- 

 times used instead of the dearg-Uac, but is not considered so good, al- 

 though the charm is recited in the same way. If a sick person should 

 overhear his friends say that he has the maid', he would at once be 

 obliged to undergo the operation, no matter what might be the nature of 



* Pronounced cld-een. 

 t Pronounced, rua, or ruee. 



X TTonouncbd jdiwj-leeakh; perhaps from dearg, "scarlet," and liac', "gray," the 

 dearg referring to the discoloration of the stems. 

 § Pronounced ghaio Luan 6gus Jaenlhcen Adharra. 



