42 Conception, Birth and Infancy in 



that hair and nails be cut at precisely the right time and in pre- 

 cisely the right way. For example, the principles of sympa- 

 thetic magic indicate that they be shortened when the moon is 

 waxing, not waning, if healthy growth thereafter is to be ex- 

 pected. This ages-old belief is, of course, world-wide! 216 We 

 learn that a Roman mariner was strongly opposed to anybody's 

 cutting his hair or nails on board his ship unless wind and wave 

 were in angry conflict with each other. 217 The day chosen for 

 such self-improvement was a matter of importance to super- 

 stitious Romans 218 and is a matter of importance even now to 

 unnumbered Italians. Clipping the hair on a Friday makes it 

 grow gray prematurely or fills it with lice. 219 If, however, the 

 first Friday in March be selected, the person will suffer no headache 

 for an entire year. 220 Similarly, while one should avoid cutting 

 the nails on Tuesday, Friday, or Sunday, in order not to stop their 

 growth, 221 doing it every Monday, or, according to some, on the 

 first Monday of every month should save one from a toothache for 

 a twelve-month. 222 Fridays must, however, be avoided even for 

 a nail-cut. 223 



Besides these rules that are to be observed by everybody, no 

 matter what his age may be, there are others which superstitious 

 Italians follow in the rearing of their helpless babies. So, for ex- 

 ample, Abruzzesi hold that one should not pare a child's nails be- 

 fore it is six months old, lest it grow up to be a thief. 224 Other 

 Italians make the period of uninterrupted growth a whole year. 225 

 Moreover, it is wiser to bite off the ends of baby's nails than to clip 

 them with the scissors. 226 



But it is time to turn our attention now to a specific superstition 

 which has seriously affected the lives of the people of Italy (not to 

 mention other lands) through some thousands of years, namely 

 the superstition of the Evil Eye. The belief in it can still be a 

 matter of daily concern. One finds it cherished not only by mem- 

 bers of the lower classes but by many persons of social and intellec- 

 tual standing, even as it was two millennia ago in Rome. Children 

 were thought to be likely victims because of their inability to fend 

 for themselves. 



According to a usual doctrine that has prevailed through the 

 ages, persons possessed of an ability to fascinate or bewitch by a 

 glance of the eye may exercise this native gift either voluntarily, 



