82 FOLK-LORE AND SUPERSTITIONS IN DORSET. 



or six years ago I set myself the interesting task of trying to 

 fish out and gather up the fragments that remain. My 

 profession gives me unusual opportunities, and perhaps I 

 possess a natural ability to get into the confidence of these 

 old folk, and thus get behind their inner mind, or at some old 

 receipt or charm that is written on a piece of paper in the 

 Family Bible, or hidden in the corner of some drawer. The 

 result of this pleasant inquisition has resolved itself into 

 three heads (1) Remedies for ailments of man and beast, 

 (2) Old customs and games, and (3) Old saws and sayings. 



As the time at my disposal is short, I only propose to deal 

 with some of the remedies affecting poor humanity which I 

 have been able to glean ; and if by disclosing these sovereign 

 cures I bring ruin to the dental and medical professions, I 

 tender my humble apologies and regrets. First, let me say 

 that except in one or two instances I propose to use fictitious 

 names for persons and places, as I could not betray these 

 confidences. 



In 1907 I obtained, over a cup of tea, the following from 

 a dear old couple. The old lady fished out two charms from 

 the leaves of the family Bible. 



To cure toothache 



As Peter was sitting by the river Jordan, Jesus passeth by 

 and He said to Peter, " Why sittest thou here ? " and Peter 

 said, " Because I have the toothache." Jesus saith unto 

 him, " Arise, follow me, and I will heal thee. May it be done 

 to all those that carry these words about them. It shall be 

 even as thou sayest it." 



To make the charm effectual, a lady must write it for a 

 gentleman, and a gentleman for a lady, and the party receiv- 

 ing it must not say " Thank you " for it. 



A charm for nose bleeding 



Let the blood stand still as the waters did in the river 

 Jordan, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the 

 Holy Ghost. Amen." 



To our present minds such statements appear to be some- 

 what shocking ; but behind them lingers a remnant of that 



