MEDICAL SUPERSTITIONS
AND ANCIENT CHARMSTHE healing art in all the early stages of a nation's life, and amongst all
primitive tribes, has been associated with religion. For the wonderful effects
produced by certain herbs and modes, of treatment were believed by the
simple and unlettered people to be due to supernatural influence acting in a
mystic and magical manner on the person afflicted.
The medicine men were therefore treated with the profoundest awe and
respect. And the medicine women came in also for their share of veneration
and often of superstitious dread; for their mysterious incantations were
supposed to have been taught to them by fairies and the spirits of the
mountain.
The Irish from the most remote antiquity were devoted to mystical
medicine, and had a remarkable knowledge of cures and remedies for
disease, obtained through the power and action of herbs on the human
frame.
The physicians of the pagan era formed a branch of the Druid
priesthood, and were treated with distinguished honour. They had special
places assigned to them at the royal banqueting table at Tara, and a certain
revenue was secured to them that they might live honourably.
When in attendance on a patient the doctor was entitled by law to his
diet, along with four of his pupils; but if he failed to cure from deficiency of
skill, he was obliged to refund the fees and pay back all the expenses of his
keep; a measure which no doubt greatly stimulated the serious attention of
the learned ollamhs of healing to the case in hand.
So great, indeed, was the importance attached to the healing art in
Ireland, that even prior to the Christian era, a building of the nature of an
hospital was erected at Tara, near to the palace of the king. This was called
"The House of Sorrow," and this sick and wounded were provided there
with all necessary care.
On one occasion it is recorded that a great chief and prince out of
Munster was brought to "The House of Sorrow" to be treated of wounds
received in battle, but the attendant, through treachery, placed poison in the
wounds, and then closed them so carefully that there was no external sign,
though the groans of the wounded man were terrible to hear. Then the
learned Fioneen was sent for, "this prophetic physician," as he was called,
from his great skill in diagnosis; and when he arrived with three of his
pupils at the hospital they found the chief lying prostrate, groaning in
horrible agony.
"What groan is that?" asked the master of the first pupil.
"It is from a poisoned barb," he answered.
"And what groan is that?" asked the master, of the second pupil.