The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

GOOSE GREASE CURE

MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER USED GOOSE GREASE AS AN OINTMENT
AND AS A CURE FOR COLDS. TO CURE COLDS, SHE RUBBED IT
DIRECTLY ON THE CHEST. ON ONE OCCASION, A FRIEND'S
DAUGHTER WAS IN CRISIS (COULD NOT BREATHE) WITH DIPHTHERIA.
MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER MELTED SOME GOOSE GREASE, POURED
IT DOWN THE GIRL'S THROAT, AND SWABBED THE OUTSIDE OF
HER THROAT WITH MORE GOOSE GREASE. THE GIRL WAS ABLE TO
BREATHE IMMEDIATELY, AND SUBSEQUENTLY RECOVERED COMPLETELY.
MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER CAME TO THIS COUNTRY FROM
CZECHOSLOVAKIA IN 1893. MY GRANDMOTHER TOLD THIS STORY
TO MY MOTHER IN ATHENS, OHIO AROUND 1967 AND MENTIONED
THAT SHE BELIEVED THAT GOOSE GREASE WAS USED FOR MEDICINAL
PURPOSES IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA.

Submitter comment: THE GREAT-GRANDMOTHER'S NAME IS MARY ANN DORULLA, BORN IN
CZECHOSLOVAKIA, DATE OF BIRTH UNKNOWN. SHE CAME TO THIS
COUNTRY IN 1893 AND MARRIED ANOTHER CZECH IMMIGRANT IN
1896. THE GRANDMOTHER, ELIZABETH DORULLA MARTIN, SETTLED
IN PENNSYLVANIA DURING THE 1920'S. THE INFORMANT'S MOTHER
IS MARY MORSILLO GINGERICH, BORN OCTOBER 3, 1937, FARRELL,
PENNSYLVANIA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

Date learned: 09-00-1982