Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P760 returned 622 results.
Mrs. Wolf reported that as a young child growing up
on a farm, that her mother would coat a piece of lint
with lard and tie it around the base of a toe to heal a crack
in the skin (often caused by going barefoot).
Submitter comment:
Mrs. Wolf's mother, Martha (Kyle) Welty, was late in marrying.
Many of her customs and cures were, therefore, those which
were popular in the 1880's.
Where learned: OHIO ; Hicksville
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 00001910s
"A townswoman was suspected of being a witch. Papa's
sister was sick and no doctor could cure her. They found
a cat in her room. Papa took the cat, put it in a bag,
beat it and threw it in the river. The next morning, they
found the woman (who was thought to be a witch) all
beaten by the side of the river, and Papa's sister got
well. The woman was obviously a witch. (Papa is my father's
father).
Submitter comment:
This a verbatim account from Maryann Leisner which quotes
a story that her father, Phillip Melone, tells frequently.
He heard it from his father (in Italian) as he was growing
up, and believes it to be a true story.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; SKOKIE
Keyword(s): Occult
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Method of Curing BELIEF -- Conversions Animals BELIEF -- Control Prevention Provocation Protection P892.1 |
Date learned: 00001930S
One night my little brother Mike, had the hick-ups.
Mike was only 8 years old at the time, so I liked
to pick on him. Knowing that he would do just
about anything, I told him that I could cure his
hick-ups as long as he did exactly what I said.
Mike agreed. First I told Mike to stand up. Then
I said to raise his left hand, then to raise his
right foot, then to place his right hand pinky
finger on his left nostril, then to close his
right eye, and then finally to jump up and down.
I was just making things up for him to do. It was
funny watching him. But to my whole family's
surprise, Mike's hick-ups were gone.
Since that day I have cured about 15 people with
hick-ups. It works almost always except when
the person is drunk. Then the success rate drops
below 50%.
Submitter comment:
I think the reason the cure works is because
the person has to concentrate so hard to keep
from falling down, that the hick-ups go away.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
Keyword(s): Accidental Cure
James Callow Keyword(s): HICCUPS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 00-00-1984
When anyone in the family is sick, Michelle's mom brings out a
big old pot which is decorated with flowers to make her
home remedy for colds and flus. The concoction consists
of tang, tea, cinnamon and cloves.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 01-00-1972
To get rid of hiccups, Rosemary holds a spoon sideways
in her mouth and drinks water. I can say myself that
this method for getting rid of hiccups really works
because I have tried it.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 01-00-1974
TO CURE HICCUPS, BEND FORWARD AT THE WAIST AND DRINK A GLASS
OF WATER FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE GLASS. HOLD YOUR
BREATH AND DRINK THE ENTIRE GLASS.
Submitter comment:
EXCELLENT CURE!
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MONTANA
Keyword(s): AILMENT ; CURE ; DRINK ; HICCUPS ; Homeopathy ; WATER
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; POSITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
For Warts
Apply castor oil night and morning to the wart.
Rub the wart vigorously 20 times, exactly, so
that the oil is worked well into the skin.
Do this until the wart disappears.
Submitter comment:
From the doctoring book of Florida Amanda
Pearce, last mistress of Springhill Plantation,
before the Civil War. (More at Informant Profile.)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number P686.1.20 BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 00001940CA
To Increase Milk Flow
Rub castor oil on the breasts to increase milk flow
after the birth of a baby.
Submitter comment:
From the doctoring book of Florida Amanda Pearce,
last mistress of Springhill Plantation, kept
before the Civil War. (More at Informant Profile.)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 00001940CA
To Improve Hair Growth
If little children fail to show proper growth of hair
on the head, apply castor oil at night and let the child
sleep in a cap. Rub the oil into the scalp. Do so
thoroughly. In the morning, wash the head of the child
with a good soap. Repeat until hair begins to grow.
Submitter comment:
From the doctoring book of Florida Amanda Pearce,
last mistress of Springhill Plantation, kept before
the Civil War. (More at Informant profile.)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses No hair, baldness BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 00001940CA
For Corns and Calluses
Apply castor oil to the corns and calluses of the feet.
Feet should be washed first in warm water.
Submitter comment:
From the doctoring book of Florida Amanda Pearce,
last mistress of Springhill Plantation, before the
Civil War. (More at Informant Profile.)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 00001940CA
SPRAIN CURE
TO CLEAR UP A SPRAIN OR SWELLING, MY AUNT'S GRANDMOTHER
WOULD TAKE POKE BERRIES AND ALUM AND BOIL IT. THEN THIS
MIXTURE WOULD BE PLACED INTO A POULTICE AND PLACED ON THE
SPRAIN OR SWELLING.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; MARTIN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 00001937CA
COLD CURE
FOR A COLD FLANNEL CLOTHES WOULD BE PLACED ON THE STOVE
AND ALLOWED TO BROWN. A TALLOW MADE FROM BEEF AND GOATS
WOULD BE MIXED WITH VASELINE, TURPENTINE, AND VICKS SALVE AND
THIS MIXTURE WOULD BE USED AS A RUBDOWN COMPOUND. THE
BROWNED FLANNEL SHEETS WOULD BE PLACED ON THE PERSON'S
CHEST AND THE PERSON WOULD BE WRAPPED TIGHTLY.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; MARTIN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 00001937CA
FEVER RELIEF
IN ORDER TO BRING DOWN A PERSON'S FEVER WHEN IT WAS HIGH,
THE PERSON WAS BATHED IN A TUB THAT HAD A MIXTURE OF
WATER AND BAKING SODA IN IT.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; MARTIN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 00001940CA
IF A PERSON IS ILL, FOLLOW THIS RECIPE: FEED A COLD,
STARVE A FEVER. IF A PERSON HAS A COLD, HE SHOULD DRINK A LOT
OF FLUIDS, EAT A LOT OF CHICKEN SOUP, AND TRY TO EAT A LOT IN
GENERAL TO KEEP UP HIS STRENGTH. IF HE HAS A FEVER, HE SHOULD
REFRAIN FROM EATING OR DRINKING ANYTHING EXCEPT WATER SO THAT THE
FEVER HAS NOTHING TO FUEL IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WEST BLOOMFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 09-12-1990
TO ELIMINATE PERSISTENT LEG CRAMPS, PLACE YOUR SHOES
AGAINST THE WALL AT NIGHT, TOES TURNED TOWARD THE
WASHBOARD. YOUR LEG CRAMPS WILL STOP.
Submitter comment:
THIS PIECE OF ADVICE WAS TOLD TO THE INFORMANT BY HIS
MOTHER, STELLA ODOERFER WHO WAS OF IRISH/ENGLISH ORIGIN
AND WAS BORN AND RAISED IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MARLETTE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 00001950CA
ITALIAN WART REMEDY
TO RID YOURSELF OF A WART SIMPLY TAKE A PENNY, THROW
IT OVER YOUR SHOULDER AND SAY THE WORDS, "I SELL IT."
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE WART SUFFERER DOES NOT LOOK
BACK TO SEE WHERE THE PENNY LANDED.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT'S MAIDEN NAME WAS DELUCA AND SHE LEARNED
THIS FROM HER PARENTS WHO EMIGRATED FROM SICILY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 00001950CA
Wart Remedies
Take a piece of string and tie a knot in it for each wart
that you have. Dig a hole, and bury the string.
When the string rots, your warts will be gone.
Count the number of warts you have, and write the number
in chalk on the inside of the oven door. When the number
fades, your warts will be gone.
Submitter comment:
When I was twelve I had warts all over my hands and I was
really upset about them. My mother told me these remedies,
told to her by her mother.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HEMLOCK
James Callow Keyword(s): Divestment
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 00-00-1982
Singing in the shower after you are drunk is supposed to
help sober you up a lot quicker than coffee or tea. When
you get out you will feel much more revived.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Voice.
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Non-alcoholic fruit beverage Coffee Food Drink -- Brew of leaf, bark, root BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 00-00-1987
To cure asthma, take the child outside and place him/her in
front of a tree on your property. Take a nail and drive it
into the tree at the same level as the top of your child's
head. Make sure the nail can slide in and out of the hole
easily, so that the hole will remain a permanent part of the
tree. If it closes up repeat the process, every year until
the asthma goes away.
Submitter comment:
The informant told me that since most children outgrow asthma
as they enter adolescence this is done for only two years
maybe before it is believed that this has cured him/her.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MEASURING ; PLUGGING
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 03-00-1991
When I was about five years old I began to get bad headaches.
Whenever I complained of one in front of my father he would
say. "Come here and I'll stomp on your foot. Your foot will
hurt so bad that you'll forget all about your headache."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1974