South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), Saturday 11 April 1846, page 4


SUPERSTITION IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.

In the back settlements of the parish of Margaret Rothing, a young man, who lives with his mother, had been for some time prievously afflicted with intermittent fever and

ague. Physicians had visited him in vain; he still remained ill, until a cunning woman was consulted, who resides between Epping Forest and Ongar, and the charmer's prescription runs as follows:—" That a small out should be cut in twain, the kernel extracted, and a live spider placed in the shell, which was to be sewn up in a bag and worn round his neck, and as the spider wasted, so would the fever leave him." The charm was procured, the patient positively wore it, and as " the whole matter was in a nut shell," of course he soon recovered, and (says our correspondent) is able to undertake his harvest. We should have thought that such ignorance could not have found a resting-place in the darkest nook in Essex ; but our correspondent assures as, in solemn phrase, he is not cracking a joke upon the nut shell.— Clielmsford Chronicle.