826. To ward off nightmare, sleep with shears under the pillow. Central New York.
827. Nightmare is caused by the nightmare man, a kind of evil spirit, struggling with one. It is prevented by placing a sharp knife under the pillow, and stuffing the keyhole with cotton. Windham, Me.
828. Sores can be cured by those who possess magical powers going through certain incantations, which are to be followed by applications of oatmeal and vinegar. Newfoundland.
829. For a sty on the eye, take a small piece of paper, rub it on the sty, go across the road three times, and say each time,--
Sty, sty, go off my eye, Go on the first one that passes by.
This is a sure cure in two or three days. Talladega, Ala.
830. To cure a sty repeat at a cross-roads,--
Sty, sty, leave my eye, And take the next one that passes by. Massachusetts, Indiana, and California.
831. Toothache may be cured by conjurers, who apply the finger to the aching tooth, while muttering a charm, or tie a number of knots in a fishing line. Newfoundland.
832. Toothache may be cured by a written charm, sealed up and worn around the neck of the afflicted person. The following is a copy of the charm:--
I've seen it written a feller was sitten On a marvel stone, and our Lord came by, And He said to him, "What's the matter with thee, my man?" And he said, "Got the toothache, Marster," And he said, "Follow me and thee shall have no more toothache." Newfoundland.
833. For toothache take an eyelash, an eyebrow, trimmings of the finger-nails, and toe-nails of the patient, bore a hole in a beech-tree, and put them in. The sufferer must not see the tree, and it must not be cut down or burned. Cape Breton.
834. Treat biliousness by boring three holes in a tree and walking three times around it, saying, "Go away, bilious." Eastern Shore of Maryland.
835. The most powerful charm is a piece of printed paper called "the letter of Jesus Christ." This, in addition to the well-known letter of Lentulus to the Senate, contains many absurd superstitions, such as the promise of safe delivery in child-bed, and freedom from bodily hurt to those who may possess a copy of it. Newfoundland.
WATER.
836. Rub the hands with the first snow that falls and you'll not have sore hands all winter. Winn, Me.
837. On Ash Wednesday before sunrise dip a pail of water in a running brook (up stream), bottle it, and keep as a cure for anything. Maine.
838. Catch the last snow of the season (e.g., in April), melt and put into a bottle. It will cure sore eyes. Chestertown, Md.
839. Water made from snow that falls in the month of May will cure sore eyes. Prince Edward Island.
840. Rain-water caught the first of June will cure freckles. It will not putrefy. Massachusetts.
841. An Indian doctor used for inflammation of the eyes rain-water caught on the third, fourth, and fifth of June. It is said that this will not putrefy. New Hampshire.
842. The first water that falls in June is supposed to cure all skin diseases; and I am informed "it is dretful good for the insides, too." Westford, Mass.
843. Water in which a blacksmith has cooled his iron is a cure for freckles. Malden, Mass.
MISCELLANEOUS.
844. It is believed that "piercing the ear" will cure weak eyes or strengthen the eyes. It is often done to children for this purpose. Northern Ohio.
845. To cure hiccoughs repeat in one breath the words,--
There was an old woman who lived all alone, And she was made of skin and bone. One day to church she went to pray, And on the ground a man there lay, And from his head unto his feet The worms crawled in, the worms crawled out. Boston, Mass.
846. A variant,--
