The WPA Guide to Mississippi: The Magnolia State

For buying rid of a sty, the sufferer may still stand at a few cross-road and recite, “Sty, Sty, come off my eye; gentle at the subsequent one passing through. ” Cough syrup made up of mullein leaves, sugar, and vinegar is likely to be a piece extra average. one other cough drugs is tar and honey. pink clay, softened with vinegar, is certain over bruises to take away discomfort. Poultices of elm bark are used to lessen irritation. Sulphur and molasses and sassafras tea are usual treatments for making improvements to and thinning the blood within the early spring. whilst gelatin drugs can't be had, “slippery elm” is used. the interior bark of the elm tree is lower into strips and soaked in water till it turns into a slippery substance. The medicine—quinine or calomel or a few mix in a “dough pill”—is rolled up during this mass and given to the sufferer at the concept that the drugs won't flavor undesirable and may cross down “slick. ” one of many oldest remedies within the Delta kingdom for chills and fever is the administering of water within which the bark of the pink oak tree has been soaked. Mutton suet and red meat tallow are used for rubbing the chest and throat in case of a chilly. one other therapy for colds is soaking a stocking in kerosene and snoozing with it tied round the throat. After receiving such remedies, if the sufferer is satisfactorily resistive, he survives. If now not, he dies. one of the Negroes in Mississippi, loss of life is mostly conceded to be the paintings of nature, now not voodooism. The determine of loss of life happens often of their songs: “Oh demise he's a bit guy, And he is going from do’ to do’ ” . . . may still a guy die all at once, and die “hard,” that's, with attendant delirium, demise can be attributed to the hostility of a spirit, which can have taken him for violating anyone of a number of taboos. An awl or a hoe can have been introduced into the home after which performed back via a few door except the single in which it entered. His clock, which has now not run for a while, can have struck abruptly. possibly a rat nibbled the loved ones linen or someone’s outfits, or a celebrity fell unexpectedly. it will probably were that he had unwittingly reduce a window in his apartment after it have been comprehensive and he had lived in it, or that his hen crowed quickly after sunset. regardless of the reason, loss of life occasionally brings a mild repayment. If another person in the home is unwell on the time, that person’s healthiness instantly improves. the instant demise comes, the mirrors and photographs within the room are conscientiously became to the wall, else they are going to tarnish and carry a long-lasting photograph of the corpse. the inside track then is going forth, “Old Tom is dead,” and from miles round Negroes who by no means ahead of have heard of outdated Tom come jointly in his cabin. outdated Tom is up on his dues to the inn and to the burial organization, so his funeral is a brilliant celebration. In dying outdated Tom realizes his so much ardent wish, that of being buried “in style”—and the survivors have a occasion. None of his kinsmen dares help in the instruction of his physique for burial, however it is washed and the grave outfits are wear.