Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 27, 1916.djvu/450

 42 2 Collectanea

smell of food was perceptible. But she got rid of her unwelcome guest by lying down with her mouth o|)en over a dish of steaming meat till the animal came out "with all her family." In Leitrim I was told of a capital cure, namely, to fast twelve hours at least, and then eat some salt herrings without taking any liquid. Then lie down with the mouth open on the bank of a rippling stream, the murmur of whose waters will tempt the " man-keeper " forth to drink.

Cure for a Burn.

This remedy is one very difficult to procure. An alt luachra must be caught and held tightly to prevent its jumping into one's mouth. The operator must then lick its back with his tongue, which thenceforth becomes efficacious to cure burns (Waterford). In the south I find that a method often used to reduce the in- flammation of a sore eye, or to remove a fly or other intrusive matter, is to get a person to lick it out, and some people are noted for their skill in this respect.

Cure for Scrofula or " Kings Evil."

The seventh son of a seventh child is well known to be gifted with the power of touching for " the King's Evil." In Donegal, near Doe Castle, I remember that about fifty years ago a farmer's daughter was terribly afflicted with this disease, and I knew the family to send to a great distance for a man who was supposed to be endowed with this power. He, however, failed to do her any good, and she died shortly after I left. In Waterford I heard of a man named Brien who lived in Glena VVathera (Dog's Glen) who was said to have suffered from "the evil." A "doctor" was sent for who had the proper qualifications as to birth and descent, and the very first time he touched for the evil the boil became withered ; and on the third occasion all the symptoms completely disappeared, and Brien has been a healthy man ever since. A child possessing this birth qualification can be tested at any time before he is christened by placing in the palm of his hand a small earthworm, which dies at once if the healing virtue is present.