Hoffman.] "^"^^ [May 3, 



and south," i.e., having the head end of the bed to the north. ]\Ir. D'Arcy 

 Power* quotes several instances of prominent people who were successful 

 in attaining advanced age upon practicing this method of sleeping them- 

 selves, and insuring sleep to invalid children when every other prescrip- 

 tion had failed. "A physician who died at Magdeburg, at the advanced 

 age of 109, states in his will the manner in which he preserved his life. 

 'Assume,' he said, 'as often as convenient, and especially during the 

 hours of sleep, the horizontal position : the head towards the north pole, 

 and the rest of the body in a direction as much as possible that of the 

 meridian. By this means the magnetic currents which pervade the sur- 

 face of the globe keep up a regular and normal kind of nutrition of the 

 mass of iron contained in the economy ; and hence arises the increase of 

 vital principle which regulates all the organic phenomena having a direct 

 action on the preservation of li!e.' " 



Mr, Power, in commenting upon this and similar instances, concludes : 

 "These facts, whether scientifically accurate or not, will suffice to prove 

 that this particular position in sleeping was commonly regarded as the 

 most favorable one possible. We ihink that many customs of the kind, 

 which are sometimes considered as mere superstitions, may be traced to 

 some underlying truth which affords a more or less sufficient justification 

 of them." t 



A common belief is to the eflect that if a potato be carried in one's pocket 

 it will secure freedom from rheumatism. In some instances a horse-chest- 

 nut is claimed to possess similar properties, and is therefore carried in a 

 similar manner. 



If the rattle of a rattlesnake be attached to a string and suspended from 

 the neck, it will prevent, as well as cure, rheumatism. 



To carry a bullet in one's pocket will prevent an attack of toothache. 



The following, to prevent poisoning from ivy, was given to tlie writer 

 by a correspondent in Fayette county : "Eat a small portion of the root 

 in the spring, and you will be proof against it during the whole year." 



During the prevalence of contagious diseases, sliced onions are exposed 

 in sleeping-rooms in the belief that the infectious matter would be ab- 

 sorbed, and not affect the occupants. 



To prevent cramp while bathing, a thong of eel's skin is tied about the 

 leg or wrist. 



For the purpose of preparing the system for warm weather, an infusion 

 of the crushed bark of sassafras root is used early in spring. A teacupful 

 is swallowed once, or twice, daily for about one week. Thirty years ago 

 it was a common practice for all elderly people to be bled, or cupped, each 

 spring. The belief was that the blood was sluggish, and an accelerated 

 circulation could only be produced by reducing the quantity in the body. 



* The Folk-lore Journal, London, ii, 1S84, pp. 92, 93 ; also quoting the Lancet (Loudon), 

 March 3, 1SC6, and Notes and Queries, December 3, 1870. 

 t The Folk-lore Journal, Loud., ii, 1884, p. 93. 



