14.1.1 VARIOUS ANCIENT TALISMANS
14.1.1 VARIOUS ANCIENT TALISMANS
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Today, they come under the general head of superstitions, that may hold little truth, but some have been given the more dignified titles of “omens” or “lucky signs.” Those of general prevalence have been selected, rather than little – known localisms, quaint though some of the latter may be. Many uneducated persons still believe in such things, and more intelligent people enjoy laughing at them, so the more of them the merrier.
For those who do intend to take them seriously, it should be mentioned that most of the spells can presumably be broken by spiting, walking backward a specified number of steps, going around in a circle three times, hitting one palm with the closed fist of the other hand, or alternately with the thumb and fist.
Medicinal remedies also are encountered in conjunction with existing superstitions, but these survivals from a less enlightened past are foolish, dangerous, or contrary to modern medical practice, so they have been eliminated from the alphabetical listing that follows.
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