The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

A CURE FOR BOILS

MY GRANDFATHER, FRANK PIAZZA, HAD A SMALL SISTER WHO HAD A VERY
LARGE BOIL ON HER CHEEK OF HER FACE WHEN SHE WAS TWO YEARS OLD. HER
PARENTS TOOK HER TO DOCTORS AND THE RESULTS WERE ALWAYS THE SAME, "WE
COULD OPERATE BUT THERE WOULD BE A LARGE VISIBLE SCAR."
MY GRANDFATHER'S PARENTS THOUGHT IT OVER, AND REMEMBERED A "BOIL
CURE" FROM THEIR OWN PARENTS.
THE CURE WAS TO ALWAYS KEEP GOOSE FAT ON THE BOIL, AND EVENTUALLY IT
WILL DISAPPEAR.
THE PARENTS DID THIS TO THEIR LITTLE GIRL, AND THE BOIL FINALLY WENT
AWAY.

Submitter comment: THIS IS A PIAZZA FAMILY CURE THAT HAS BEEN IN THE PIAZZA FAMILY FOR
MANY, MANY YEARS. THIS CURE HAS BEEN PUT TO USE THREE TIMES IN THAT
FAMILY, AND EACH TIME IT HAS WORKED.

Where learned: BUFFALO ; ITALY ; NEW YORK

Date learned: 11-00-1973