Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P754 returned 414 results.
STY CURE
BOIL TEA. REMOVE THE HOT TEA BAG OR, IF USING TEA LEAVES, MAKE A
POULTICE FROM USED TEA LEAVES. CLOSE THE AFFLICTED EYE AND APPLY
THE TEA BAG OR POULTICE.
Submitter comment:
SUPPOSEDLY, TEA DRAWS OUT INFECTION. WHATEVER THE REASON, THE
CURE IS USUALLY EFFECTIVE.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: CA00001916 ; 01-13-1980
STY CURE
GRATE A RAW PEELED POTATO. MAKE A POULTICE FROM THE GRATED
POTATO. APPLY THE POULTICE TO THE AFFLICTED EYE.
Submitter comment:
POTATOES ARE BELIEVED TO BE ABLE TO DRAW OUT AN INFECTION OR TO
DRAW OUT A FEVER.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: CA00001916 ; 01-13-1980
PIOLON, THE POLISH STOMACH ACHE CURE
PIOLON, A STOMACH ACHE CURE, IS A COMBINATION OF WHISKEY AND
BITTERS. THE MIXTURE IS AGED UNTIL THE LEAVES OF THE BITTERS
BECOME DISCOLORED AND ARE PENETRATED BY THE WHISKEY.
Submitter comment:
AS A GENERAL RULE, THE OLDER THE PIOLON, THE MORE POTENT AND THE
MORE EFFECTIVE IT IS. PIOLON IS FOUL SMELLING AND FOULD TASTING.
PERSONALLY, I FIND PIOLON TO BE A CURE FAR WORSE THAN THE DISEASE.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: CA00001916 ; 01-13-1980
BOIL CURE
BABKA LEAVES APPLIED TO BOILS DRAWS OUT INFECTIONS.
Submitter comment:
BABKA LEAVES ARE FOUND IN BACKYARDS AMONG THE GRASS. THEY ARE WIDE
(ABOUT 2 INCHES AROUND) AND SIMILAR TO THE LEAVES OF A DELPHINIUM.
BABKA LEAVES COME IN CLUSTERS. THERE ARE USUALLY THREE TO FOUR
LEAVES IN A CLUMP. YOU MUST WASH THE LEAVES BEFORE USING THEM.
SUPPOSEDLY, THIS CURE WORKS LIKE A CHARM.
"BABKA" IS A POLISH WORD.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: CA00001916 ; 01-13-1980
BEE STING REMEDY
PUT A RAW ONION ON YOUR BEE STING FOR A WHOLE DAY AND THIS WILL
DRAW THE STINGER OUT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: CA00001973
HICCUP CURE
SWALLOW A TSP. OF MUSTARD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 00001970S
THE HEALING PLANT.
THERE IS A PLANT IN MEXICO CALLED "OJAS SANTA MARIA" WHICH LOOKS
LIKE A LITTLE TREE. IT HAS BIG LEAVES WHICH WHEN SQUEEZED PRODUCES
A SAP THAT STOPS BLEEDING. THEN THE LEAF IS USUALLY WRAPPED
AROUND THE WOUND AND IT HEALS VERY QUICKLY WITH MINIMAL SCARRING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 04-00-1980
A CURE FOR CATARACTS.
WASH THE EYES THREE TIMES A DAY WITH LEMON JUICE FOR AS LONG AS
EYESIGHT KEEPS IMPROVING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 04-00-1980
BELIEF IN A METHOD OF CURING A NOSE BLEED
WHEN YOUR NOSE BLEEDS, PUT ONLY THE WHITE OF A PIECE OF BREAD ON THE
ROOF OF YOUR MOUTH TO MAKE IT STOP.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER SISTER, GRACIA ESQUIVEL WHO IS A
HOUSEWIFE OF 23.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 02-07-1980
PUTTING AN ONION SLICE ON A BEE STING WILL TAKE THE PAIN AWAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROCHESTER HILLS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
CATNIP MIXED WITH PURE ALCOHOL WILL CURE A STOMACH ACHE.
Submitter comment: HIS MOTHER USED TO GIVE THIS TO HIM WHEN HE WAS SICK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
PUTTING WINTERGREEN LEAVES ON YOUR SKIN WILL TAKE AWAY THE PAIN OF
A SUNBURN.
Submitter comment: SHE LEARNED THIS WHILE IN FLORIDA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROCHESTER HILLS
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Remedy BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
SICILIAN-AMERICAN REMEDY
A SLICE OF POTATO PLACED ON A SCARF AND WRAPPED AROUND THE
FOREHEAD WILL CURE A HEADACHE.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT STILL PRACTICES THIS REMEDY TODAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
SICILIAN-AMERICAN REMEDY
PLACING A PIECE OF LETTUCE OVER A PAINFUL BOIL WILL DRAW THE
FEVER AWAY FROM THE INFLICTED.
Submitter comment:
PERHAPS, THE FUNCTION OF THE LETTUCE IS TO ABSORB THE HEAT FROM
THE FEVER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: CA00001925
GERMAN-AMERICAN REMEDY
MANY GERMANS BELIEVE THAT CARRYING A CHESTNUT IN THE BACK
POCKET OF A PAIR OF PANTS WILL CURE RHEUMATISM.
Submitter comment: THE CHESTNUT MUST BE FRESHLY PICKED OFF A TREE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: CA00001930
GERMAN-AMERICAN REMEDY
TO GET RID OF WARTS, TAKE A DRY BEAN AND RUB IT ON THE WART
WHEN THERE IS A FULL MOON. THEN BURY THE BEAN. WHEN THE BEAN
DECOMPOSES IN THE GROUND, THE WART WILL FALL OFF.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT STILL PRACTICES THIS REMEDY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: CA00001930
FOLK CURE AND REMEDY
A SURE CURE FOR WARTS INVOLVES THE USE OF LEAVES FROM A WEEPING
WILLOW TREE. THE INFLICTED PERSON RUBS THE LEAVES OVER THE WART IN
THE SIGN OF THE CROSS. THEN THEY BURY THEM.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT FIRST HEARD THIS REMEDY AROUND THE YEAR 1910 IN
POLAND. IT IS A PLUGGING CURE IN WHICH THE OBJECT USED TO CURE
THE WARTS IS BURIED IN THE GROUND. A HIGH DEGREE OF BELIEF WAS
PORTRAYED WHEN SHE DISPLAYED HER HANDS TO THE COLLECTOR. WHERE
THERE USED TO BE WARTS, THERE WERE NONE PRESENT. THE INFORMANT
DID NOT INDICATE WHETHER A TRANSFER OCCURRED FROM THE HAND TO THE
LEAF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): TRANSFER
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 10-00-1980
FOLK CURE AND REMEDY
MIX SPIDER WEBS WITH SOFT BREAD AND PUT IT ON A SORE TO HELP IT
HEAL FASTER.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT FIRST HEARD OF THIS FOLK REMEDY AROUND 1910 IN
POLAND. SCIENCE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE INVOLVED WITH THIS, SUGGESTING
THAT IT WILL SURVIVE LONGER. THE COLLECTOR CAN FIND NO REASON WHY
A SPIDER WEB WOULD PROMOTE HEALING OTHER THAN THE ASSOCIATION THAT
SPIDERS KILL UNWANTED THINGS (FLIES AND BUGS, ETC.)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 10-00-1980 ; CA00001910
FOLK CURE AND REMEDY
MIX DRY MUSTARD AND FAT TOGETHER. PUT IT ON A CLOTH. PUT THE
CLOTH ON YOUR CHEST TO CURE PNEUMONIA OF NEW KIDNEYS.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT FIRST LEARNED OF THIS FOLK REMEDY AROUND 1910 IN
POLAND. THIS SEEMS TO HAVE BOTH NEW AND OLD ELEMENTS.
PNEUMONIA HAS BEEN AROUND FOR AGES, BUT NEW KIDNEYS ARE A RELATIVELY
NEW DEVELOPMENT. THE CLOTH IS PUT CLOSE TO THE AREA INVOLVED.
THIS MIGHT INDICATE THAT THE MIXTURE "SEEPS" IN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 10-00-1980 ; CA00001910
FOLK CURE AND REMEDY
DRY A CERTAIN PLANT THAT HAS BLUE FLOWERS. MAKE A TEA OUT OF
IT AND DRINK IT TO CURE DIABETES.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT FIRST HEARD OF THIS FOLK REMEDY AROUND 1910 IN
POLAND. THE INFORMANT DID NOT KNOW THE NAME OF THE BLUE FLOWERED
PLANT, BUT CLAIMED THAT IT HELPED MANY FRIENDS WITH DIABETES. TEAS
ARE COMMONLY USED WITH FOLK CURES. PERHAPS IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE
PLANT TO HAVE SOME TRUE MEDICINAL POWERS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: CA00001910