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IF YOU DROP CANDY OR ANYTHING THAT IS GOOD ON THE GROUND, IF YOU
HOLD IT UP TO THE SKY (TO GOD) AND KISS IT, THEN THE GERMS WILL
BE GONE.

Submitter comment: KEITH HEARD THIS (AND DID IT IN PENNSYLVANIA) AND I HEARD AND DID
THE SAME THING IN MY CHILDHOOD IN DETROIT.

Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): DISINFECT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 09-21-1972

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KILLER CATS

SOME PEOPLE DON'T LET CATS NEAR THEIR NEWLY BORN BABIES BECAUSE
CATS ARE SAID TO LEAP ON THE CHILD'S CHEST AND SUCK THE BREATH
OUT OF HIM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; 10410 SOMERSET ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

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HOW YOU GET PILES

PILES ARE GOTTEN BY SITTING ON COLD CEMENT.

Submitter comment: TOLD TO INFORMANT BY PARENTS WHO SAW HIM SITTING ON THE GROUND.

Where learned: 9562 SHORTCUT RD

James Callow Keyword(s): HEMORRHOIDS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

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STUNTING YOUR GROWTH

DRINKING COFFEE AND SMOKING CIGARETTES WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG
WILL STUNT YOUR GROWTH.

Submitter comment: SAID TO ME , WHEN AS A KID, I ASKED WHY
KIDS DIDN'T SMOKE AND DRINK COFFEE LIKE ADULTS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 12147 WHITEHILL

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness
SPEECH -- Formula

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EAT THREE ALMONDS A DAY AND YOU WILL NEVER GET CANCER

Submitter comment: INFORMANT REPORTS THAT THIS IS COMMON PRACTICE AMONG MEMBERS OF THE
ASSOCIATION FOR RESEARCH AND ENLIGHTENMENT. A SPIRITUAL STUDY GROUP.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; TOLD IN

Subject headings: 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 09-10-1972

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IF A LADY EATS MUSTARD AND TURNIP GREENS BEFORE HER BABY IS A MONTH
OLD THE BABY WILL BE DUMB.

Submitter comment: I ACTUALLY SAW THIS PERSON REFUSE SOME TURNIP GREENS BECAUSE
SHE DID NOT WANT TO MAKE HER BABY DUMB.

Where learned: DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

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WHEN A GIRL HAS VERY LONG HAIR; AND IS VERY SKINNY; CUT HER HAIR AND
SHE WILL GAIN WEIGHT.

Where learned: DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness
BELIEF -- Remedy

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SIDEWALK GAME-IF YOU STEP ON THE CRACK YOU WILL BREAK YOUR
MOTHER'S.

Submitter comment: PLAYED WHILE WALKING DOWN THE SIDEWALK, CRACKS REFERRING TO THE
EXPANSION JOINTS.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; Wappingers Falls

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 00001950S

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WIPING A YOUNG CHILD'S FACE WITH A BABY'S DIRTY DIAPER WILL KEEP
THAT CHILD FROM HAVING ACNE. IT ALSO MAKES A GOOD COMPLEXION.

Where learned: DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 10-07-1972

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DURING MENSTRUATION A WOMAN CANNOT GO INTO A GARDEN BECAUSE ALL
THE PLANTS WILL WILT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 10-05-1972

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NEVER STEP OVER A BABY, IF YOU DO IT WILL NOT GROW, AT ALL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN

James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 10-05-1972

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WHEN TAKING A SHOT OF WHISKY DRINK A GLASS OF WATER.} / THIS WILL
KEEP YOU FROM GETTING ULCERS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; JACKSON

James Callow Keyword(s): WHISKEY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 10-01-1972

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IF A WOMAN, WHILE MENSTRUATING, EATS A DILL PICKLE SHE WILL GET
CRAMPS.

Where learned: OHIO ; LUCAS COUNTY

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 10-03-1972

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NEVER LET A TOM CAT SLEEP IN THE SAME BEDROOM WITH A CHILD, IT
WILL TAKE THE CHILD'S BREATH AWAY AND SMOTHER IT, KILLING THE
CHILD.

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 10-03-1972

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WASHING YOUR HAIR OR GOING TO BED WITH A WET HEAD WILL CAUSE
YOU TO HAVE CONSUMPTION.

Where learned: OHIO ; LUCAS COUNTY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 10-03-1972

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FUNERAL

MY MOTHER SAID THAT WHEN SHE WENT TO A FUNERAL OF ONE OF HER
RELATIVES SOMEONE BROUGHT A BABY. SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE BABY WOULD
HAVE TO BE THROWN BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE GRAVE. IF NOT THE BABY
WOULD CRY AND BE FRETFUL FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR. THEY THEN BEGAN
TO TOSS THE BABY BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE GRAVE, STARTING AT ONE
END AND ENDING AT THE OTHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 10-30-1972

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FUNERAL

DON'T POINT AT A FUNERAL PROCESSION, IF YOU DO YOUR FINGER WILL ROT OFF.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAID HER MOTHER TOLD HER THIS WHEN THEY WERE DOWNTOWN ONE DAY
AND THEY SAW A FUNERAL PROCESSION PASSING BY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 10-30-1972

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MAGICAL CURE

THE TOPAZ WILL CURE OR PROTECT FROM AN ILLNESS ANY PERSON WEARING THE
STONE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON ; TOLD IN

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Emblem
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness
BELIEF -- Remedy

Date learned: 09-26-1972

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WARM HANDS

ITALIANS ARE GREAT WALKERS. IN COOL WEATHER THEY ROAST
CHESTNUTS AND THEN PUT THEM IN THEIR POCKET TO KEEP THEIR
HANDS WARM WHILE WALKING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 11-09-1972

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CUSTOM BIRTH

TAPE A NICKEL TO A BABYS BELLY BUTTON WHEN IT IS BORN.

Submitter comment: THIS PREVENTS THE BELLY BUTTON FROM POPPING OUT.

Where learned: DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 06-00-1972

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