844. It is believed that "piercing the ear" will cure weak eyes or strengthen the eyes. It is often done to children for this purpose. _Northern Ohio._ 845. To cure hiccoughs repeat in one breath the words,-- There was an old woman who lived all alone, And she was made of skin and bone. One day to church she went to pray, And on the ground a man there lay, And from his head unto his feet The worms crawled in, the worms crawled out. _Boston, Mass._ 846. A variant,-- There was an old woman who lived all alone, And she was made of skin and bone. One day to church she went to pray, And on the ground there lay a man. And from his head unto his feet The worms crawled in, the worms crawled out. The woman to the parson said: "Shall I be so when I am dead?" The parson he said "yes." _Portland, Me., Brookline and Deerfield, Mass._ 847. For hiccoughs the nurse used to say in a droning, deep, ghostly tone,-- There was an old man an' an old woman, And they lived in a bottle and eat BONES. _Brookline, Mass._ 848. Other somewhat general remedies for hiccoughs are to munch a spoonful of sugar, to scare the one troubled with hiccoughs by some startling announcement or accusation, as, "See, you've torn your dress!" or, "How did you break my vase?" etc. Another custom is to steadily point a finger at the hiccougher, or to make him hold up his arm and shake it. 849. To cure hiccoughs, slowly take nine sips of water. _Prince Edward Island and Northern Ohio._ 850. Another cure for hiccoughs is as follows: Put the thumb up against the lower lip, with the fingers under the chin, and say, "hiccup, hiccup, over my thumb," nine times. _Northern Ohio._ 851. A cure for hiccoughs: Try for a long time to make the edges of the thumb-nails meet at the end. _Chestertown, Md._ 852. Think of the one you love best, to cure hiccoughs. _Prince Edward Island._ 853. For chapped lips kiss the middle rail of a five-railed fence. _Bernardston, Mass._ 854. To relieve coughing or strangling, put a pair of scissors down inside the back of your dress. _Prince Edward Island._ 855. Chew brown paper as a cure for nose-bleed. _Eastern Massachusetts._ 856. For nose-bleed, put a key down the back. 857. For nose-bleed, hold up the right arm. 858. For nose-bleed, place a wad of paper between the upper lip and the gum. 859. You can keep from crying as you peel onions if you keep the mouth closed. _Northern Ohio._ 860. Hold, by the points, two needles between your teeth, as you peel onions, and you will not cry. _Prince Edward Island._ 861. Hold a needle between your teeth with the point out, while peeling onions, and you'll not cry, _i.e._, will not feel the smart.