METHODS OF POISONING AND CHARMS 13 



And again in the Art of Preserving Health " by 

 doctors of famous schools of Salerno (Italy) early 

 twelfth century (Eef. 3) :— 



La poire crue est im poison , . . 



Elle charge trop I'estomac. ^Itant cuite, 



EUe y port© la gu^rison . . . 



Quand on a mange de la poire, 



Que le premier eoin soit de boire. 



(Translation of Brunzen de la Martini ere, 1749.) 



In Kelantan no spells are muttered during the process 

 of mixijig drugs with criminal intent : no special 

 ** precious rod " of gold or silver is used as in ancient 

 Egypt, but no doubt magic enters during the prepara- 

 tion of the compositions. 



Serious cases of poisoning are recognised as being 

 beyond the power of the hmior, but he has antidotes 

 for every poison, many of them being made up of 

 products from the animal and vegetable kingdoms. 

 Emetics do not seem to be specially employed as in 

 Western practice. Fresh coco-nut water is promptly 

 used as a household remedy in nearly all cases of Malay 

 poisoning. It is sHghtly acid, diuretic, and contains 

 much sugar with a small proportion of fat, and may be 

 of practical value. Should the supernatural aid of 

 magic be sought, the prospect of cure by charms rests 

 entirely on the power of the formulas chanted by the 

 • homor and on the significance of his blowing {iiup ; 

 Kelantan siwp) upon the face or body of the patient 

 during the process of the cure. This practice is called 

 jampif jamjpi ; the cure depends, in fact, on the patient 

 himself, on his faith in the talismans and amulets 

 that he happens to be wearmg for good luck ; on his 

 conservative behef in old traditions and on his faith in 

 the homoT who is called in to cure him. 



It is said, in Kelantan, that a criminal with poison 



