OLD BELIEFS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19894, 23 March 1939, Page 3

OLD BELIEFS

ANIMAL WORLD CURES : MEDICINAL ‘ ‘PROPERTIES’-' One of the oldest beliefs of mankind is that- animals or parts' of animals have curative and medicinal properties. . ~ For instance, in the time of ancient

Rome physicians used to treat rheumatism with shocks from electric ray fish; and the application of leeches for - various ailments - was common. In the nineteenth century a Norwich - dealer kept a regular stwk of 50,000 leeches, and one American had a farm for these creatures covering 13 acres. A London chemist, still sells • several thousands of leeches eaeiv. year. . - More incredible were cures pre-;„ scribed in the seventeenth century. A boiled door-mouse was recommended for earache, and the sathe animal s fat, applied to the soles of the feet, • was said to induce sleep. In Malaya - ; the loris is pursued because it is thought that the little beast has the power to cure all sicknesses. The Far East sells rhino horn at-Hgns. per pound, for the horn, crushed to : powder and taken internally, •is re-,, ported to be an infallible rejuvenator for the old and weary. The fat of various snakes was sold in jars in the streets of London less , than 30 years ago, and presumably - the product could be used externally or internally. A more scientific pioduct of the snake world is venom, which has a coagulating effect that is very useful in cases of profuse bleeding. The liver oils of cod and halibut have genuine and well-known curative powers; but on a different basis are the seventeenth century suggestions of crabs’ eyes for baldness andv shrews’ tails for stubborn sores.