Please activate JavaScript!
Please install Adobe Flash Player, click here for download

MAGUS

66 alone to his brother, but society at large, by the banishment of the “evil ones,” was deserving of a more munificent reward.-Dublin Express.’ Magical healing [Back to Contents] O/S Memoirs, Parishes of County Londonderry II, vol. 9, Parish of Drumachose, J. Butler Williams, J. Bleakly, CW. Ligar, 1 May 1835. (p. 126) ‘If a cow or heifer is “elf-shot”, a cure is effected by giving a drink of water, salt and oatmeal off a sixpence, 3 ha’pence or an entire horseshoe. Some give it off an “elf-stone”, as they call the petrified shells or sea urchins which area generally found through limestone districts of this county. Some rub the cow’s back 3 times against the grain of the hair (in the name of the Trinity) with holy water or some other cure prepared by old women or men who profess to be cow doctors. Some of the preparation is also put into the cow’s mouth, nostrils and ears.’ O/S Memoirs, Parishes of County Antrim XIII, vol. 35, Parish of Templepatrick, James Boyle, November 1838. (pp. 146-7) ‘Cure for the chin cough: take the child or send to a man whose wife’s maiden name is the same as her husband’s surname, and obtain from him a piece of bread, butter and cheese, and give it to the child, which will immediately prevent its coughing. Many applications have been made to Daniel Rea near Lyle Hill for this cure. Or by chance find a hairy worm, locally called godmother’s worm, and sew it inside a piece of scarlet cloth, and put round the child’s neck, will also prevent its severe coughing. Or put the child 3 times under the belly of an ass and put over his back will prevent coughing. 2nd November 1838.’ Belfast Newsletter, 12 July 1839, Perils and Escapes of a Covenanter as Related by Himself. In Tait’s Edinburgh Magazine for the present month a curious extract is embodied from an old and scarce volume entitled A Rare-soul strengthening and comforting Cordial for Old and Young Christians. It comprehends, amongst other matters, the biography of the author, John Stevenson, land-labourer in the parish of Daily in Ayrshire who died in the year 1728 and was originally dictated by him for the edification of his descendants:

Pages Overview