Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 23, 1912.djvu/497

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had several charmers in my father's village,—Paddy M'Carron, Bell Bradley, and young Thompson, seventh son of a seventh son, who, being a doctor by birth, could cure 'the evil' by his touch.

Seventh sons healing power.—A belief in this is common amongst our semi-Scotch population. The series of seven sons must not be interrupted by a daughter. A particular ceremony ought to be observed at the moment of the infant's birth in order to give him the healing power. The woman who receives him into her arms places in his tiny hand whatever substance she chooses for him to rub with in after life, and she is very careful not to let him touch anything else first. For example, if silver is to be the rubbing substance, a threepenny piece will be provided in advance. The seventh son does not take fees in the form of money, but tea, sugar, and tobacco are always welcomed. One of our labourers, meeting me, said,—"My woman's leg is very bad the day. I maun get Tam Ross to go and see her. He's the seventh son o' a seventh son, an' its allowed that his hand is a cure."

Erysipelas cure.—Paddy M'Carron was a man who had the talent of curing "the rose" (i.e. erysipelas). He had been an industrious day labourer as long as his health and strength lasted, and afterwards my brother gave him a cottage in the village and my mother and I fed and looked after him. Paddy told me that he used to go to the Bog at the full of the moon and fill a bottle with bog water in the name of the blessed Trinity. "Then, Miss, them that wants the cure will come to me, an' I'll rub them for the rose three times after sunset and three times before sunrise." "Do many people come to you, Paddy?" "They do. Miss." "Who gave you the power to cure, Paddy?" "It was a woman gave it to me when I was a wee chiel. A man can gie it to a woman, an' a woman can gie it to a man. I could gie it to you, dear, an' sure I will, if you like." " No, Paddy, thank you kindly; but I am glad that you have it." "I'm like a doctor. Miss, but without a doctor's pay." "Surely they pay something?" "They'll