Charms from Animals.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXV, Issue 9729, 4 January 1908, Page 3 (Supplement)

Charms from Animals.

From very early times a belief in- the efficacy for good or evil of stones found, or thought to be found, in the head or stomach of certain animals, has been prevalent. As early as the second century after Christ Ptolemy Hephastion,, the astrologer, described a gem (asterites) found in the belly •ofj a large fish, named: pan, from the resemblance to that god. This gem, if exposed to the sun, shot- forth tlames, and was a powerful philtre. Helen, used! it for her own signet, engraved with a figure of the pan fish, and owed to it all her conquests. In the Middle Ages the superstitious believed that the pike, after it had attained a considerable age, had in its brain a stone like crystal, and, eome of the old doctors recommended the use of this stone in various ways to cure diseases. The head of the perch contains a flat, wiiite stone, accoiding to many known as the lucky stone. This stone is a charm to bring good luck if carried on the person. It is lucky to find one, but doubly lucky to find one you have lost yourself. In Germany the old doctors used to prescribe the two.round bones which they said were in the perch's head as a. remedy for stone. They also recommended' that the flesh be freely eaten by wounded men and for danI gerous fevers.

In Japan this fish, which is there called ''tai," is not only prized as the most delicious of Japanese fish but- also held to be -an, emblem of good fortune. It is a ceremonial gift at weddings on this account, and is served up as the principal dish, on every farewell meal. The ear bones or otoliths, of the lake drum are large and have a texture like ivory. There are two in each fish. These are often carried as I amulets by the negroes of the South, and are also highly prized by the boys of the Middle West, who call them lucky stones, perhaps in allusion, to the fact that- they are marked by a figure which resembles the letter L. The otolitlis, in the sea. drum are larger than those found in the fresh water species and. were formerly deemed | very efficacious against colic, provided they j had been received as gifts, as purchased j ones were believed to lose their _ virtue, j They were mounted in .gold and worn sus--| peiided .around! the neck. The colic stones I of a species of fish called the migree are thought to possess medical virtues 'if worn j around the neck. The fact that crayfish | and lobsters have two calcareous white I stones on. either side of the stomach was j noted by early observers. These were ' commonly known as .crab's eyes. It was j at one time the custom of the inhabitants I of Asiatic Turkey and Ukrauia to collect! crayfish at the time of the year in which | they were in the best condition and place j them in large pits in the ground. Here j they were broken up and- allowed to re-1 main all winter. In the spring the own-: ers would return, wash out the remnants j of the crayfish, in water and sift out the j stones with a special sieve. The stones j sold for about 15 cents a pound and all \ the apothecary shops throughout the Russian Empire were furnished with them, j while great quantities were exported. They were supposed, to have a power of dissolving quality against the stone in the human kidneys and bladder. In various parts of this country these stones are known as eyestones and are used for the removal of a foreign body that has lodged in the eye. Our forefathers thought that when the crab grew old two stones of a. white color mixed with red were found in its head, and these were said to be of such Virtue that given in drink they healed punctures of the heart. They also believed that if a- water snake "be tied by the tail with a cord and hanged up and a vessel full of j water set under the said snake, after a certain time he will avoid out of his mouth a stone, which stone being taken out of | the vessel, he drinks up all the water. Let this stone.be tied to the belly of them that have the dropsy and the. water will be exhausted or drunk up, and it fully and' wholly helps the party that hath the said dropsy." The belief not only in the existtenoe of toad stories but also in their efficacy as a sovereign, remedy for certain ills, which is common iii all' parts of the country, is of very ancient date. Some believed that the stone-must- be secured from the living animal and] in, order to accomplish this would place the toad upon a red cloth. This color was supposed to have an attraction for the animals, which would stretch out upon it and sport. .While thus engaged the stone would he ejected, 'and in order to prevent the animals from swallowing it again a secret hole was provided in, the cloth through, which the stone would slip into a- vessel of cold water. ' Another method 1 is to take the toad and tie it up in a leather bag pricked full of holes and putbag, .and all in an ant hill. The ants .will eat.'away'all ita flesh, leaving a stone-of marvellous virtue. . r These stones, called i borax or stelcn, were set .in. rings. They were, supposed always to bear on their surface.a figure resembling a - toad. A toad stone touching any part poisoned by the bite of a-.rat, wasp, spider or other i venomous animal was supposed to ease the | pain. It was believed that when brought near to poison the stone sweated and changed color, thus cbmveying to its wearer a timely vvarning of his danger. It was also supposed to prevent stomachache' daxry a lucky hone and nothing 'will harm you!" is a.:common saying, in New .England. .Thisiis-a' bono from ■the head of va codfish. It is. shell-like and narrow j with a length of of j an.-, inch. •. The edge is notched-and;.the color-is a pearly white.--. It is a. good plan to carry .two Kicky bonesy that will make your luck doubly, sure. They should he both from the same ::fish.-:■•; Rheumatism,- .tradition: saysi. cannb'e cured by 'carrying in, the pocket the. bone, of the haddock It hat lies under*the. marks ".'■of '.Gfirist's angers;—the two round, black" marks orreach sufe of the, body sup-.te-Jiive heehi caused by the Saviour's ■ fingers:' whea lie 'lifted; the fish. tint of i the .^ate*riii,'o^eT : .-t»"-iaSeitiiie;:tribiite. money front : its - ;ihouth: v This.' iohe has 'many 'ip'thm'',v^Ttys its: ownfei-^B»^fc:ni^'-inbt\te : pihilStedj •and-it- - should'": iieTer' be-lerit br v touched or even;

, seen 'by any after the possessor gets it. - The Indians of Labrador believe, that they > can cure toothache by wearing a, haddock's ! <bon<; around the neck, while Lord Bacon i says "that wearing on the finger rings made : of seahorse teeth" will cure cramps. Th« ■ bones of the fish extanax, common iu the Euphrates, imparts courage and strength', iin the opinion of the natives. Ho who wishes to insure good luck should never burn fish bones, he who wishes to keep witches away should break the backbone of . the herring when eating this fish. The bones of certain birds, sewn into the clothes were anciently supposed to preserve the health. In north India, a loite is killed on a Tuesday and the bancs worn in. n string about the heart to cure pain, while the New Englander to ward off rheumatism carries a bone from a chicken wing. That floating bono found after boiling a black cat's brains will cut© all diseases, that the little bono of the kr.eo joint of a hare's leg -will help cramp if thei afflicted part is touched with it and that the carrying of the last double tooth in the jawbone of a hog will cur© rheumatism are believed by superstitious people to-day. The rodentteeth of the beaver are regarded by the Indians as potent charms and are worn, en the necks of little girls to make them industrious. A badger's tooth sewn within the waistcoat wilt, it is said bring luck at cards. Indians of Labrador believe that they can euro the toothache by luring a bear's tooth to the aching molar, while still others advise the picking of one's teeth with the nail of the middle too of an owl in order to cure this trouble. An o'.d magic toothache cure is to hook a dogfish, cut off the horn that projects from the back and let the fish go back into the sea. Plao3 the horn, on the tooth, ar.d as the fish swims-away so Willi your toothache. A few people still believe that where swallows have been constant to one nest for seven yeans they will leave behind them a small stone of great healing power, especially for dieases of the eye. In Madagascar a. pebble taken from the stomach of a crocodile is buried under the doorstep to prevent evil-minded ghosts from coming at night. There is a widespread belief in the efficacy of snakestones which are generally pieces of charred bone, well polished, occosionaly pieces of chalk or some similar porous substance. If pressed upon the bleeding, wound they absorb the poison. Snako charmers profess to prepare such stones and to preserve the composition as a secret. The manufacture is a lucrative trade. The Boers bought them, imported from India, at high prices. Snakestones are also made and used in Mexico of charred hartshorn. Many place their faith in the suppostd efficacy of adder's stone and Irish stones in curing the bites of serpents : and in healing cattle. These are probably bezoar stones, which are concretions found. ■ in the stomach of various animals, rumin- ' ants in particular, and 1 they are also of great repute* in the East as an antidote to all poisons, that of serpents included The bezonr stone from the ape is most prized in Egypt. The polished operculum ' of a Trochus shell is also esteemed by the < modern Egyptiafp for its curative proper- i ties, and is often sold at a high price.