1SS9.] UdJ [Homnan. 



■wiiich has taken possession of the body of the victim, and in lliis respect 

 the superstition is similar to that entertained by many of the Indian tribes. 

 Countercharms are resorted to for cures, but for this purpose an article of 

 clothing of the person causing the spell, a hair or a piece of finger-nail, 

 must first be secured before the remedial process of exorcism can be at- 

 lempted by those professing such powers. Imaginary ailments are thus 

 readily removed by conjurors, in whom the victims have faith and confi- 

 dence. 



There is a prevailing belief, also, that some witches have the power of 

 producing peculiar noises in a house, or some other place, to notify certain 

 persons that wrongs are being, or have been, committed by some one in- 

 timately connected. The following incident occurred in 1876, and came 

 under the writer's personal observation while he was practicing his pro- 

 fession in the city of Reading : 



A farmer, living in the south-eastern part of Berks county, called one 

 autumn day and stated that he had been very much annoyed by peculit.r 

 rappings near, or in, his kitchen stove every time he sat down to his 

 meals. He stated furthermore that he suspected his wife of infidelity, as 

 the railroad watchman, whose station was but a few rods from his house, 

 appeared very fond of calling in the evening and at other times when not 

 on duty. The visitor desired to obtain some "witch medicine" so as to 

 compel this man to remain away as well as to put an end to the rappings. 

 lie was informed that the noises undoubtedly proceeded from the stove, as 

 after each meal the fire was permitted to go down, or perhaps out, and in 

 consequence the contraction of the several metal parts caused the crack- 

 ing sounds, as the same noise might be noticed by him had he been at 

 home when the fires were kindled. The simplest explanation of the 

 results of expansion and contraction, failed to penetrate his mind, so, after 

 leaving the office, he proceeded to visit a "quack," who was reputed to be 

 a Jiex'a dok'tor, where he received some charms and vile smelling herbs, 

 "which he was directed to burn in his house so as to drive out the evil and 

 remove the visitor. 



The result was not ascertained, but the writer has no doubt that the ex- 

 periment was succci-sful, as any one with normally constituted olfactories 

 would avoid a house where such a stench repeatedly greeted his visits. 



The powers attributed to a seventh son are well known, and a woman 

 who marries but does not change her name is also believed to possess un- 

 usual skill and power in curing. One such person, living in the above- 

 mentioned countj', is frequently called upon by people from a distance, 

 who solicit aid in relief from illness. Her method is both by stroking, or 

 laying-on of hands, and by sending cakes of a peculiar kind, which the 

 afflicted are to eat. 



A curious circumstance pertaining to a charm intended to attract the 

 affections of the opposite sex toward the operator may be mentioned, 

 although it is not one of the most elegant methods of love-making. A 



