﻿Canadian Plant- Lore. 225 



roll and tumble in it, has since the time of Gerarde been 

 steeped and taken to relieve pains of all kinds. 



In the past, it was not so much the inherent remedial 

 properties of plants which brought them into repute as 

 supposed magical virtues or some peculiar method of 

 applying the remedy. This superstitious feeling still 

 exists, and a striking instance was afforded, in Clar- 

 enceville, by an old man, who cured wounds and sores, 

 especially of animals, by means of " the sticks." Up to 

 the time of his death, four years ago, he was in great 

 demand in cases which had defied the skill of a veter- 

 inary surgeon, and even those who were ashamed of 

 their belief said he effected wonderful cures. His great 

 age, pompous manner, absolute faith in himself, and his 

 supposed wisdom, derived from some Indians over 

 whom he had been captain, combined to make the 

 application of the sticks an impressive ceremony. A 

 charm or formula, which was kept a profound secret, 

 was used. So far as is known, the cure was wrought 

 as follows : — three slender twigs, about four inches 

 long, were cut from a sweet-apple tree, and sharp- 

 ened at both ends. Having been inserted in the wound 

 for a few minutes, they were removed, wrapped in paper, 

 and carefully tied up. As it was most important that 

 they should be kept warm, the operator carried them 

 in an inner pocket during the day and placed them under 

 his pillow at night. These precautions having been taken, 

 the most dangerous wound invariably healed rapidly. 

 The use of the number three and of the sweet-apple tree, 

 which has in many places and at all times had mystic 

 virtues ascribed to it, perhaps indicate that this curious 

 local custom had its origin in an ancient practice. 



The live-for-ever (Seditm tclephium), which in West- 

 phalia is used as a charm against lightning, and which 

 serves as a love charm^ in some parts of England, was 

 formerly used by the Germans and the English as a cure 



1 "The Folk-Lore of Plants" by Dyer. 



