Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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EARACHE
IF YOU HAVE AN EARACHE, GET A PIECE OF HAIR FROM SOMEONE NOT RELATED
TO YOU, WRAP IT IN COTTON, AND PUT IT IN YOUR EAR. THE EARACHE WILL
STOP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
EARACHE
TO CURE AN EARACHE, WRAP STRIPS OF A RAG
AROUND A PENCIL.
DIP THIS IN BEESWAX AND TAKE THE PENCIL OUT.
STICK THE POINTED END IN THE EAR AND BURN
THE OTHER END.
Submitter comment: FROM MRS. LAWRENCE OF POLISH DESCENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 00001964 SUMMER
EARACHE
MY MOTHER TOLD ME OF THIS CURE FOR EARACHES.
MY UNCLE WHEN HE WAS SMALL HAD A VERY BAD EARACHE
AND WAS VERY SICK.
MY GRANDFATHER HEARD OF A CURE BUT HAD NEVER TRIED IT HIMSELF.
GRANDFATHER SHAPED A PIECE OF CARDBOARD INTO A FUNNEL OR DUNCE HAT
ABOUT TWELVE INCHES HIGH AND FOUR TO FIVE INCHES IN DIAMETER
AT THE BASE. OVER THE CARDBOARD LINEN CLOTH
WAS PLACED. OVER THE LINEN, MELTED WAX WAS PLACED AND THE CARDBOARD
WAS NOW REMOVED, THE FUNNEL NOW CONSISTED OF ONLY THE CLOTH AND WAX.
GRANDFATHER THEN HAD HIS SON, MY UNCLE, LIE DOWN ON THE FLOOR
AND HE PLACED THE BASE OF THE FUNNEL OVER THE ACHING EAR.
HE THEN LIT THE TIP OF THE WAX-CLOTH FUNNEL
AND ALLOWED IT TO BURN DOWN FOUR TO FIVE INCHES.
WHEN HE REMOVED THE FUNNEL, A LARGE AMOUNT OF PUS FROM THE EAR
WAS FOUND UP INSIDE WHAT REMAINED OF THE FUNNEL.
THE AREA AROUND THE EAR WAS SOMEWHAT SINGED FOR AWHILE.
SINCE THAT TIME MY UNCLE HAS NEVER HAD ANY TROUBLE WITH HIS EARS.
Where learned: ROYAL OAK ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): HEAT REMEDY
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 11-16-1969
TECHNIQUE FOR PASSING OUT.
INHALE DEEPLY AND THEN RAPIDLY PUSH THE AIR IN AND OUT
TEN TIMES. ON THE TENTH TIME HOLD THE BREATH AND YOU WILL PASS OUT.
Submitter comment: THIS HAPPENED TO MY BROTHER WHEN WE WERE IN GRADE SCHOOL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; KALAMAZOO
Keyword(s): CAUSE ; FAINTING ; NUMBERS
| Subject headings: | 686 First / Once / One / Newness Favorites BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 11-12-1971
FATIGUE
WHEN YOU ARE EXTREMELY TIRED YOU SHOULD SLEEP WITH YOUR
HEAD POINTING NORTH.
THAT WAY THE MAGNETIC RAYS OF THE EARTH WILL FLOW INTO YOUR
BLOODSTREAM AND YOU WILL BE REVITALIZED IN JUST A FEW HOURS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTORS HOME
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 02-13-1972
FEVER
TO REMEDY A HIGH FEVER, FIND A RABBIT, KILL IT,
SPLIT IT LENGTHWISE AND WHILE IT IS STILL WARM
LAY IT ON YOUR CHEST.
IF LEFT OVERNIGHT THE
FEVER WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO THE RABBIT AND IT WILL TURN GREEN. BURY
THE RABBIT, AFTER IT'S GREEN, IN A DEEP HOLE.
Keyword(s): TRANSFERENCE
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 11-00-1971
HANDS
THE INFORMANT BELIEVES THAT YOU SHOULDN'T WASTE TIME COUNTING
THE STARS. NOT ONLY IS IT AN INFINITE TASK BUT ALSO YOU ARE REWARDED
WITH STAR MARKS ON YOUR PALMS.
Keyword(s): CAUSE ; HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Star BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 03-15-1967
HEADACHE
IF YOU FOLLOW EXACTLY IN SOMEONE'S FOOTPRINTS YOU WILL HAVE
A HEADACHE.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 01-19-1971
HEADACHE
IF YOU HAVE A HEADACHE, IT MEANS THAT BIRDS ARE EATING HAIRS
WHICH HAVE FALLEN OUT.
YOU SHOULD DISPOSE OF IT IN THE TOILET OR OTHERWISE.
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): CAUSE ; PREVENTION
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
HEADACHE
IF YOU LET A STRAND OF HAIR FLY OUT THE CAR WINDOW THE PERSON TO WHOM
THE HAIR BELONGS WILL GET A HEADACHE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE ; CAUSE
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
HEART TROUBLE
THERE IS A CUSTOM IN THE OLD COUNTRY: YOU GET AN ORANGE AND PUT PINS
IN IT, REAL CLOSE TOGETHER. WHILE YOU DO THIS SAY,
"AS I PUT THESE PINS IN THIS ORANGE MAY SOME PERSON'S HEART SHRIVEL
UP AS THIS ORANGE WILL DO". WHEN THE ORANGE ROTS THE PERSON WILL DIE.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD STORIES OF THIS HAPPENING IN ITALY (CALABRIA),
BUT NEVER SAW IT DONE PERSONALLY. INFORMANT UNSURE IF THIS IS
POSSIBLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 01-21-1972
HICCUPS
WHEN MY GRANDFATHER HAD THE HICCUPS,
HE WOULD PUT A BAG OVER HIS HEAD AND
SAY THE "OUR FATHER".
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): RELIGION
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 10-23-1970
ITCH
IF YOU HAVE AN ITCHING PROBLEM
THROW A PENNY IN THE MIDDLE OF A CROSS STREET.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT DECLARED THAT DESPITE MODERN MEDICINE,
SHE ACTUALLY SAW A WOMAN DO THIS ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO.
THE WOMAN'S ITCHING PROBLEM DID GO AWAY
BUT THE INFORMANT BELIEVES IT WAS PROBABLY PSYCHOLOGICAL.
Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD AT INFORMANTS HOME
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 11-07-1971
LONGEVITY
ROCKERFELLER WENT TO A NATUREOPIDIST TO FIND OUT HOW TO LIVE LONGER -
TOLD HIM TO DRINK "MOTHER'S MILK". SO HE WENT TO ALL THE HOSPITALS
AND PAID $10.00 A QUART.
Where learned: DETROIT ; LAMAR BARBER COLLEGE ; WOODWARD AVE
Keyword(s): ROCKEFELLER
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 03-16-1965
PLANT CUREALLS
MR. LEHR WAS OUT HUNTING ON HARSEN'S ISLAND. HE MET AN INDIAN WHO
TOLD HIM ABOUT A WONDERFUL CURE FOR ALL TYPES OF DISEASES, PARALYSIS,
ETC. THE INDIAN GAVE HIM SOME SMALL CLEAR CAPSULES. THE CAPSULES
SMELLED LIKE THE SAP FROM BALSAM TREES. BOTH HE AND I TOOK A CAPSULE
AND WE BOTH BURPED BALSAM TREE SMELL FOR TWO DAYS. NEEDLESS TO SAY
THE REST OF THE PILLS STILL REMAIN IN HIS DRESSER DRAWER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 01-24-1967
BAD LUCK BY POINTING TO THE SKY (COLLECTOR,S TITLE) ; CONVERSION: BITING (CLASSIFIER,S TITLE) ; GESTURE OR SIGN LANGUE BY USE OF HANDS (CLASSIFIER,S TITLE)
THEY SAY THAT IT IS BAD LUCK TO POINT TO THE SKY, IF YOU DO,
YOU SHOULD BITE YOUR FINGER UNTIL IT HURTS.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID THAT HER MOTHER ALWAYS DID THIS, AND SAID THAT HER
MOTHER ALWAYS SAID THAT GOD DOES NOT LIKE TO BE POINTED AT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Conversions P883.22 SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 02-02-1972
IN THE LOCALITY OF EASTERN TOLEDO, OHIO, THERE IS A TRUE STORY TOLD
OF A COUPLE OF YOUNG GIRLS WHO WANTED TO GO TO A DANCE DURING LENT.
KNOWING THEIR PARENTS WOULD NEVER ALLOW THEM TO ATTEND, THE GIRLS
WENT TO THE DANCE UNDER THE FALSE PRETENSE OF ATTENDING LENTEN
DEVOTIONS AT THE PARISH CHURCH. THE YOUNG LADIES HAD A GAY TIME AT
THE DANCE AND MET THE MOST HANDSOME YOUNG MAN THEY HAD EVER LAID
EYES ON. THE YOUNG GENTLEMAN ASKED TO TAKE THEM HOME AFTERWARDS.
THEY CONSENTED AND WHEN IT CAME TIME TO SAY GOODNIGHT THEY SHOOK HIS
HAND ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT IT WAS THE CLAW OF AN ANIMAL}MUCH DISMAYED
THE GIRLS TOLD THEIR MOTHERS AND SHE EXPLAINED IT WAS THE DEVIL}
Where learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): DECEIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Devil Demon |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY THE COLLECTOR
SPIDER IN HAIR
A TEENAGE GIRL RATTED HER HAIR AND DIDN'T COMB IT OUT FOR TWO WEEKS.
SHE DIED SUDDENLY. AN AUTOPSY HAD TO BE PERFORMED TO DETERMINE THE
CAUSE OF DEATH. THEY FOUND THAT SPIDERS HAD MADE THEIR HOME IN HER
HAIR AND HAD EATEN THEIR WAY INTO HER BRAIN.
Submitter comment: HEARD SEVERAL TIMES ON U-D CAMPUS.
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): DEATH INSECT LAZINESS ; FATAL HAIRDO
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses |
SPIDER LADY
A GIRL WAS GOING TO A BIG PARTY AND HAD HER HAIR DONE AT A SALON.
IT WAS FIXED IN A BEEHIVE WITH LOTS AND LOTS OF HAIRSPRAY. SHE LIKED
IT SO WELL THAT EVERYDAY SHE JUST PUT A LITTLE MORE SPRAY ON AND
NEVER TOOK IT DOWN OR WASHED IT. ONE DAY SHE SCRATCHED HER HEAD AND
BLOOD TRICKLED DOWN. SHE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WHEREUPON
EXAMINATION IT WAS REVEALED ANTS HAD COLONIZED IN HER HAIR.
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): FATAL HAIRDO ; INSECT HAIRDO
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 02-20-1968
SCRATCHED ; SCRATCHING AT THE DOOR (KEYPUNCHER'S TITLE)
SEVERAL DECADES AGO A NUMBER OF CO-EDS WERE HATCHETED TO DEATH AT
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY. IT WAS THEN DECREED THAT NO CO-ED WAS TO
GO OUT ALONE AFTER DARK. ONE EVENING A CO-ED FOUND IT NECESSARY TO GO
TO THE LIBRARY TO FIND A BOOK WHICH SHE NEEDED FOR AN EXAM ON THE
NEXT DAY. HER ROOMMATE WAS ILL, THE CO-ED WENT OUT ALONE. LATER IN
THE EVENING THE ILL CO-ED HEARD SCRATCHING AT HER DOOR. FRIGHTENED
SHE PUSHED A DRESSER AGAINST THE DOOR AND WAITED. NOTHING FURTHER
WAS HEARD, AND SHE FELL ASLEEP. WHEN SHE AWOKE IN THE MORNING, HER
ROOMMATE HADN'T RETURNED. THE GIRL PUSHED THE DRESSER FROM THE DOOR
AND PULLED IT OPEN. HER ROOMMATE HAD RETURNED. SHE LAY AT THE DOOR,
HAND OUT-STRETCHED, WITH A HATCHET PLANTED IN HER BACK.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD TALE FROM A FRIEND WHO ATTENDS M.S.U.
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): CAMPUS HORROR STORY ; DEATH UNIVERSITY ; GORE
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 10-23-1965