Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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ONE OF THE WOMEN I KNEW HAD A CURE FOR CRAMPS.
SHE USED TO GO ON THE STREET, WHERE THE HORSES
JUST WENT BY PULLING CARTS.
SHE WOULD TAKE THE HORSE'S MANURE AND SQUEEZE IT OUT.
SHE THEN MIXED THE DRIPPINGS WITH HOT WATER AND DRANK IT.
SHE CLAIMED IT ACTUALLY WORKED.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT (I.E. COLLECTOR) DOES NOT BELIEVE THIS CURE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): MENSTRUATION
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Animal |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
IF YOU WAKE WITH VOMITING AND DIARRHEA,
YOU SHOULD DRINK APPLE CIDER VINEGAR AND WATER
THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
IT USUALLY STRAIGHTENS OUT YOUR STOMACH, AND DIARRHEA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CURE FOR GASTRIC AILMENTS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 03-10-1971
FEVER BLISTERS
WHEN YOU FEEL A FEVER BLISTER COMING,
RUB BEHIND YOUR EAR (EITHER ONE) THREE TIMES AND IT WILL NEVER
COME TO A HEAD.
Submitter comment: LEARNED WHEN SHE WAS A GIRL IN GLOUCESTER, OHIO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): POWER OF NUMBERS ; PREVENTITIVE TREATMENT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 05-11-1965
BELIEF-MEDICINE
IF A LEAF IS HEART-SHAPED, IT WILL MAKE A GOOD TEA FOR THE HEART.
Submitter comment: HEARD IN YOUTH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): HEART ; HOMEOPATHIC-IMITATIVE MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
SUPERSTITION
TO ENSURE NEVER BEING HUNGRY, LICK A PIECE OF BACON WHEN THE
MOON IS FULL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): HUNGER ; MOON ; PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-29-1969
RUSTY NAIL
IF YOU GET A RUSTY NAIL THROUGH YOUR FOOT, PUT LARD ON THE NAIL AND PUT IT ON A SHELF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMAL CURE ; INFECTION ; PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 11-17-1969
SNORING
MARY'S GRANDMOTHER (FRENCH-CANADIAN) TOLD HER SHE MUST
BLOW HER NOSE EVERY NIGHT OR SHE WOULD SNORE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Keyword(s): PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
STY
IF YOU HAVE A STY IN YOUR EYE, TO GET RID OF IT YOU CROSS
AN INTERSECTION CATTY CORNER AND RECITE THIS RHYME:
STY, STY LEAVE MY EYE
GO TO THE NEXT ONE WHO PASSES BY.
Submitter comment:
(INFORMANT BELIEVES IN THIS BECAUSE WHEN SHE TRIED IT WHEN SHE
WAS YOUNG SHE WAITED TO SEE WHO THE NEXT PERSON WAS. HER STY LEFT,
BUT THE GUY WHO PASSED BY INSTEAD OF GETTING IT, DIED.)
Data entry tech comment: COLLECTOR'S SPELLING CORRECTED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): RHYME ; TRANSFERENCE
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.760 BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 09-20-1968
NIGHT SWEATS
IF THE SKIN SURFACE OF THE BODY IS GIVEN A CUPPED-PALM HAND BATH
OF APPLE CIDER AT BEDTIME, THE NIGHT SWEATS WILL BE PREVENTED.
Where learned: APARTMENT ; DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 11-08-1969
CURE
"RUB A RAW POTATO ON A WART,
BURY IT, WHEN IT DECAYS THE WARTS WILL BE GONE."
Submitter comment: INFORMANT HAS SEEN THIS WORK.
Data entry tech comment: SEVERAL SIMILAR CURES ARE IN THIS SECTION OF THE ARCHIVES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 03-21-1972
FOLK CURE WARTS
IF YOU HAVE A WART, AND YOU TAKE A DISHCLOTH
AND RUB THE WART WITH IT,
AND IF YOU BURY THE SAME DISHCLOTH,
THE WART WILL DISAPPEAR WHEN THE DISHCLOTH DECAYS.
Data entry tech comment: SEVERAL SIMILAR CURES ARE FOUND IN THIS SECTION OF THE ARCHIVES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
Keyword(s): CONTAGIOUS ; HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 09-16-1969
WART CURE
IF YOU COUNT YOUR WARTS,
MAKE A KNOT IN A THREAD FOR EVERY WART,
THROW THE THREAD AWAY,
AND THE WARTS WILL BE CURED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): MEASURING ; POWER OF NUMBERS ; SEVERAL SIMILAR COMMENTS IN THE ARCHIVES.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Medicine BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 10-00-1969
REMEDY
COUNT THE NUMBER OF WARTS OR MOLES,
CONCENTRATE ON THE NUMBER,
AND THEY WILL SOON DISAPPEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): MEASURING ; POWER OF NUMBERS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 03-10-1970
CARE OF SLEEPLESS CHILD
FOR THE BABY WHO HAS "NIGHT TURNED INTO DAY" (STAYS AWAKE ALL NIGHT
AND SLEEPS ALL DAY) - TURN THE BABY END OVER END (SOMERSAULT STYLE)
SEVEN TIMES. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO END THEIR CONFUSION.
Submitter comment: ORIGIN: MRS. MARY JANE SMELSER, MOTHER-IN-LAW, LONDON, ENGLAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC ; INSOMNIA
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 07-27-1964
CAUSE OF ILLNESS
IF YOU EAT TOO MANY STRWBERRIES,
YOU WILL GET A STRAWBERRY MARK ON YOUR NECK.
Where learned: OHIO ; NORTH OLMSTED
Keyword(s): FOOD ; PUNISHMENT FOR IMMODERATE EATING. ; STRAWBERRY ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Specific distinguishing characteristic Dimple, wart, mole, scar, freckle, birthmark, strawberry mark, bruise, spot (on any part of body) |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
PERMANENT
INFORMANT WAS TOLD BY HER MOTHER IF YOU GAVE YOURSELF A PERMANENT
DURING YOUR PERIOD, IT WOULD'NT TAKE.
Submitter comment: (THIS REFERS TO A PERMANENT WAVE FOR HAIR)
Where learned: OAKLAND UNIVERSITY
Keyword(s): HAIR ; MENSTRUATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
CASE OF EVIL EYE CAUSING DEATH
AFTER COMING TO THIS COUNTRY, THE INFORMANT'S MOTHER
LOST A BABY GIRL NAMED CATHERINE BECAUSE SOME FRIEND OF THEIRS
(A MAN) PRAISED THE LITTLE BABY AND IT CAME UNDER A SPELL.
THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYONE IN THE U.S. WHO COULD BREAK THE SPELL
(THERE WERE PEOPLE GOOD AT THIS IN THE OLD COUNTRY).
THE BABY JUST WANED AWAY AND DIED. AND IN LATER YEARS
WHEN ANOTHER RELATIVE WAS GIVEN THE NAME OF CATHERINE SHE GOT
BAD LUCK TO GO WITH IT FROM THE OLD SPELL
AND THAT IS WHY SHE NEVER HAS ANY DATES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ATTACHED TO NAME
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 10-26-1969
LARGE EARS DENOTES A GENEROUS NATURE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CHARACTER TRAITS ; HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Ears, noise in ear |
Date learned: 01-29-1970
IF YOU HAVE BIG EARLOBES YOU ARE GENEROUS.
IF YOU HAVE SMALL EARLOBES YOU ARE STINGY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CHARACTER TRAITS ; HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Ears, noise in ear |
Date learned: 11-07-1968
BELIEF ABOUT CLEFT IN CHIN
IF YOU HAVE A CLEFT IN YOUR CHIN-
YOU ARE HONEST, CLEAN CUT, AND ALL AMERICAN.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): AMERICAN ; CLEAN CUT ; HONESTY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Ears, noise in ear |
Date learned: 02-20-1972