In addition to these cases, which come to us through reputable sources,
the _Quebec Gazette_ records the following: “A man named Renaud, who
accompanied the party from St. James’ parish on Saturday, and who for
three years has had one side of his body completely paralyzed, was able
on Sunday to walk out of church leaning on the arm of his brother. A
farmer named Moulin, from Laprairie, who has been deaf for five years,
fell on the floor apparently senseless, just as the officiating priest
was pronouncing the benediction. He declared that when the priest
raised his hands he could feel a touch upon his ear, and at the same
moment, hearing the low tones of the Holy Father, fainted away from
excess of joy. He is said to have been in perfect possession of his
sense of hearing on his return home. Another man, who had lost his
sight through an attack of typhoid fever a year and a half ago, states
that immediately after crossing himself with the holy water he was well
able to see all that was going on. His name is Bruneau, and he is a
Lavaltrie farmer.”
The following cure for the croup was communicated to me by a very
respectable farmer now deceased. After talking of various remedies for
this dreaded scourge to young children, my informant observed that he
knew a sure cure for it. Said he: “Take a live chicken, cut it open and
take out the gizzard. Throw that into a basin of cold water and let it
stay there. I know, for I’ve seen it tried; but the chicken must be
alive after the operation.”
Of a like nature was the advice given to a poor country woman who was
dying of consumption, by one of those female charlatans who have so
legitimately replaced the fearsome witch doctors of the past. The
patient was told that if she would swallow a live frog daily it would
cure her. Poor creature! she had half the boys in the village catching
frogs for her, and kept them in a tub in the cellar, where they could
be handy. The treatment proved too heroic. She died.
It is a fact that touching for the King’s Evil has been practised
in New England as late as 1815, perhaps even later. By far the most
remarkable instance of the possession of this power that has been
recorded upon what seems like incontrovertible evidence, is that of
Lieutenant William Robbe of Peterborough, New Hampshire.[15] One
feature of his treatment, which no doubt served to draw many clients
to him, was the practice of giving to each afflicted person a piece
of silver. In fact, so many applied that the lieutenant was seriously
interrupted in his legitimate occupations.
A Doctor Young, who in the account referred to is described as having
been an eminent practitioner for more than forty years in the town, is
said to have declared that infants afflicted with scrofulous diseases,
tumors and the like, too obstinate to yield to medical aid, did
unquestionably receive almost immediate relief from the healing hand of
Lieutenant Robbe.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account