Some Leechcraft.
The notion that the seventh son without the birth of a daughter will be a doctor of medicine is still to be met with. In Macduff I met with the idea that he would be either a doctor or a clergyman as being possessed of more knowledge than ordinary.
A lock of hair taken from the head of a child that has never known his or her father, and carried by a child that is ill of whooping-cough proves a cure. (Macduff.) Another cure for the same disease is for one to go to a house in which another has it, and get "a piece,"—that is, a bit of bread, and give it to the one ill. This was done not long ago in Macduff, but I was told the cure was brought from a village farther west.
The belief in "forespeaking" a child has not yet died out. The cure for it is a drank off a shilling. My informant said that one day he happened to enter a house in which a child had suddenly become sick, "teen (taken) a-dwaam." The cry was raised that it was "forespoken." One of the women immediately drew a shilling from her pocket, put it into a dish, poured a little water over it, and then held the water to the child's lips. The sickness soon passed off.
A Marriage Custom.
When the bridegroom goes to meet the bride to have the marriage celebrated, he has to give money to the first one he meets, no matter of what rank. When the marriage-party is going to the new home after the celebration of the marriage, it is the bride that gives the money to the "first-fit." My informant told me he did this himself. (Macduff.)
