Wart Charming

 

A mild form of magic, however, existed in Sturminster down to 1880, as practised by a ‘wart charmer’, a middle-aged woman who lived for many years in the locality known as ‘over bridge’, and who was so successful in her ministrations that I never heard of any failures in her undertakings.  This success I have never heard explained, But having once requested her beneficent treatment I can speak with confidence of my experience.

In 1880 I was troubled by a number of warts which had appeared both on my hands and face, and which would not yield to any of the remedies I tried.  A fellow sufferer at the same time was a young lady visitor from London whose hands were badly disfigured by the same pest.  The blemishes had been treated in London by nitric acid, leaving unsightly scars in which the original growths flourished apace.  From information received the girl and I decided to consult the Charmer mentioned.  The treatment was a casual glance at the trouble after which  (and a small fee) the woman exclaimed ‘they shall go, they shall go!’  We then departed with very little hope of benefit, in fact we were rank unbelievers in the matter.  Strange to say my warts had all disappeared in a month’s time and I have never since been troubled in that way.  I also heard from London that our visitor had experienced the same relief, and when I saw her 2 years afterwards both warts and scars had also disappeared much to the girl’s delight.

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