Cures
Prizon School wishes to advice people reading this, that is about recording the History and Heritage of old Ireland.
It must be noted that these are old cures remedies as described by Patsy Ansbro back in 1938. Please do not try out any of these cures without consulting with medical advice first. There is no statement being made that these work or are a cure.
-Prizon school
Stroke:
Daisy, wild dockets and stale forge water are cures for paralytic stroke.
TOOTHACHE.
Put a frog into your mouth.
AGUE
Swallow a frog and he shall eat the disease out of your stomach.
(Ague - malaria or another illness involving fever and shivering)
THRUSH.
Pluck the down off a goose and make it into a roll for the neck.
SILE-SHAW.
The gum drops and closes child's mouth, take the child by certain hairs on top of head, lift him up.
FERRET LEAVINGS.
The food left after a ferret has eaten is given to people suffering from chin-cough. They are also given ass's milk and are got to walk under the ass three times in the name of Father, Son and Holy Ghost. The ass is looked upon as a blessed animal.
( chin-cough - whooping cough )
HEADACHE.
Some people have a charm for curing headache. They measure the head round the forehead and also around the head and under chin. If there is a difference in the circumference the head is supposed to be open a corresponding amount on top.
DUST IN EYE.
Get a saucer of clean water. Say the words prescribed-Spit out and the dust will be on the water.
SEVENTH SON
The seventh son has a cure for evil. Allow him touch, the sore with his hand.
POSTHUMOUS Child
Posthumous Child has a cure for Lumbago. Lie down and let the child walk across your back.
Creep under briar.
This is looked upon as a very wicked thing to do. Gamblers do it in order to get luck at cards.
UNDER LADDER OR OVER DOG.
It is considered unlucky to walk either under a ladder or to cross a dog. People tell children that they will not grow of they do such things.
WALKING THE GRAVE.
It was a custom here to get all the sisters and brothers to walk the grave at the burial of a member of the family.
If you have enjoyed reading stories from Prizon school you certainly will not be let down by the stories and content on Dúchas.ie . The folklore was recorded in copybooks written by many people who complied the stories from many locals and sent them on back in the late 1930's. These stories have been translated from the handwriting in the copybooks to make it easier to read. Some mistake may occur due to place names and style of writing. If you find such mistake you can inform Dúchas who will update any errors made.
We hope that you enjoy reading this content and by all mean we highly recommend checking out the website and finding more stories. Who know maybe one of your descendants have writing something back then.
School:
Gleann an Dúin - Prison (roll number 17042)
Location:
Prison East, Co. Mayo
Teacher:
Máire A. Ní Dhocartaigh