XXXUl. 



snake takes the place of the wolf, and the ichneumon that of the dog ; while 

 in Egypt the story says that a cook nearly killed a Wali, for smashing a pot 

 full of herbs, and then discovered that among the herbs their lurked a 

 poisonous snake. It is safe to conclude that marvellous things, which are 

 said to have happened in so many places, never happened anywhere." 



When we consider the origin and gradual evolution of stories such as 

 these, and the way in which they are handed down from father to son through 

 innumerable generations, we can hardly be surprised that certain notions of 

 disease and its treatment have become so ingrained in the minds of many, 

 that time and education alone vv'ill be able to efface them. 



We' may here give a few examples. According to the rural populace of 

 many parts of England, there is a disease of cattle, called the tail worm, also 

 spoken of by some as the " wolf." It is believed to be discovered by a 

 softness between some of the joints of the tail. In these cases it is 

 believed that it is necessary to slit open the under surface of the tail, and to 

 rub in a certain mixture composed of salt, wood-soot, and garlic. When 

 these absurd notions arose, one cannot tell, but although it has long been 

 known to veterinarians that there is absolutely no such disease, yet the 

 practices here described are still largely carried out. Moreover, many well- 

 educated farmers and others also believe in the actual existence of the tail 

 worm, and in the necessity for these ill-devised practices. That many 

 practices such as these had their origin in superstition is certain. The old 

 practice, now abandoned, of placing a live frog down the throat of 

 a cow, for the cure of a certain malady, was commonly adopted at the 

 commencement of the present century ; and is put down as a recognised 

 plan of treatment in the Compendium of Farriery, published in 1790. The 

 only wonder, in looking through old and erroneous notions, is why certain o^ 

 them are in full force to-day^ while others are as entirely given up. 



The evolution of the well-known story of Cinderella is so interesting, 

 that we cannot help again Cjuoting some passages from the above writer 

 relating its origin in full. This author writes : — " Let us see whether 

 Cinderella is a British-born lady in disguise, or whether she came from some 

 very old nursery in the East. She must have come therefrom, for we find 

 the framework of the story in the Veda, where Cinderella is a daivn maiden! 

 The aurora in her flight leaves no footsteps behind her, but the prince, 

 Mitra^one of the Vedic names for the sun — while following the beautiful 

 young girl, finds a slipper which shows her footstep and the size of her foot, 

 so small that no other woman has a foot like it. This sun myth, which tells 

 of a lost slipper, and of a prince who tries to find the foot to which it 

 belongs, and who ^annot overtake the chariot in which the maiden rides, is 

 the source of tho dear old tale. Cinderella, as you will remember, was 

 beautiful only when in the ball-room or near the shining light. This means 

 that the aurora is bright only when the sun is near ; when he is away her 

 dress is of sombre hue — she is a Chtderella. The Greek form of the tale 

 says, that whilst Rhodope was bathing, an eagle snatched one of her slippers 

 from her maid, and carried it to the King of Egypt, as he sat on his judgment 



