The anger of an enemy or a deceased relative is responsible for many ills. The Baganda of Uganda (50: 4, p. 124) believe that the spirits of dead relatives that have not been becomingly interred haunt their living kindred and cause sickness and even death if the offence is not in some way atoned for.
The natives of Australia have a similar fear of the spirits of enemies killed in battle. In New Guinea a widow must observe carefully many rules in order that the spirit of her husband may not make her sick. In many countries the spirits of still born children, or of those that die very young, of those who die of small-pox or the pest, of those dying suddenly and the like are very much to be feared for their powers of causing many kinds of disease.
The evil eye is widely feared and persons reputed to be possessed of such power are scrupulously avoided and are usually regarded as witches. Mooney (6o, p. 146) states that "the belief in the evil eye is general throughout Ireland as well as throughout the greater portion of Europe and Asia," but thinks it is too subtle and intangible an idea for most savages. The idea is not lacking in the current folklore and superstition of this country.
The belief, common to all grades of civilization, that many diseases may be transferred, no doubt owes its origin partly to the contagion of certain diseases although it is by no means confined to these. One may for example transfer his sickness to another by placing a piece of money, food, an article of clothing, or any of his belongings on a path or in some conspicuous place where it is likely to attract attention. The first person, or even bird or animal, that touches or picks up the object is immediately afflicted with the disease and the original sufferer restored to health. The underlying thought here is clearly that of contagious magic (38a, p. 2) by means of which the evil spirit is persuaded or compelled to take up a new abode.
There are beliefs scarcely capable of classification. The Yakuts of Northern Siberia (50:4) believe that man has three shadows; if he loses one he will fall sick, while if he loses all three he pays the penalty with his life. The Tchouktchis believe (10a) that man has many souls some of which he may lose without serious trouble, but if he loses too many he becomes weak or ill. Many tribes believe that spirits of men and animals come stealthily by night and steal away a vital organ thus causing disease. The "doom" of the native Australian often means that his blood has been made bad or removed from his body by an enemy. By the same people consumption is thought to be due to the insertion by magic of a rope reaching from just below the Adam's apple down into the chest.
Among the many other causes are the quartz crystals, pebbles, splinters, bones and the like which are inserted in the body by witchcraft; the magic wounds; the influence of bad winds, or water spirits, of charms, of fire, of the rainbow and other natural phenomena; the infringement of the tabu; and so through a list as numerous and diverse as it is possible for the minds of men to conceive. Our illustrations are necessarily limited in number and scope but are perhaps sufficient for our purpose which has been to show that everywhere the supernatural spirit theory is the prevalent theory of disease.
Miracles of Healing
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By Charles W. Waddle (1909)
Primitive Christian Worship
Hereditary genius
