Alleged Cure of Snake Bites by Occult Means
Sir,—Allow me to give to the public, through the medium of your columns, a few facts, as extraordinary as they are real. Some thirty years ago my father, an apothecary of the Madras Medical Department, was travelling in the vicinity of Parla Kimidi. One day a Biragi, or itinerant hermit, came to him, begging for some oil of cinnamon. My father gave him what he wanted, and Biragi, to show his gratitude, promised to teach him a mantra or charm for the sting of scorpions. Out of sheer curiosity, and not willing to hurt the man’s feelings by a refusal, my father wrote out what was to him the unmeaning gibberish dictated by the Sunyassi, who, having received the cinnamon oil, went on his way rejoicing. It was not long before my father had an opportunty of testing the efficacy of the charm. A person suffering from the sting of a scorpion was brought to him one day. This reminded him at once of the charm, and he determined to give it a trial. Strange to relate, the pain began to descend rapidly during the first recitation, and, after a few more repetitions, reached the puncture, where it lingered for a short time, and then ceased altogether. After this occurrence my father made use of nothing but the charm in every case of scorpion sting that he had the good fortune to come across. Among those that he cured was his first wife. I have myself been an eye-witness of many and many a case. Some time before his decease, my father gave a written copy of his charm to Mr. J. M. Browne, merchant at Waltair, who carefully preserved it as a curio. During a visit to Mr. Browne, I recopied the formula, and also committed it to memory for future experiments.
Now, for my own experience. About four months ago I had returned home one evening from school, and had just taken my tea and ensconced myself in a chair, when I heard most horrible groans proceeding from the street, and having sent my servant to see what was the matter found that a poor woman, a neighbour’s thunnikarchi, had been stung by a scorpion. My mother advised me to send for her and make an experiment. I did so with much hesitation, as this was to be my maiden effort in that direction. Plucking a twig with leaves from one of the trees in my yard, I waved my extemporised magician’s wand, from the locality of the pain downwards to the sting, as I had often seen my father do with his patients, while I pronounced the mystic words, feeling remarkably silly the whole time, since I did not know what would be the result. But, to my great satisfaction, and the greater satisfaction of the sufferer, the burning agony of the virus began to descend and soon reached the stung part, where I applied some eau-de-Cologne and then dismissed my first patient. My fame having gone abroad, I had frequent visits from groaning wretches, whom I had the pleasure of relieving from their terrible sufferings, I have cured, to the best of my recollection, altogether seven or eight cases, one of my patients being a European lad. I may mention that on one occasion, not feeling certain whether the patient had been attacked by a scorpion or a centipede (since she did not complain of the pain ascending), I sent her away for a short time. She soon returned complaining that the pain had come up. I repeated the charm, with the usual result. Since Vizagapatam is a town infested with scorpions, I thought it well to communicate my secret to a few unprejudiced friends, residing in different parts of the town, so that all sufferers might not have the trouble of coming up to my house in the Fort. I accordingly initiated Messrs. Venkatanarraina Naidu Garu and Surianarraina Puntulu Garu, assistant masters in the same school as myself. This was only two months ago, and they have already succeeded in relieving eight persons; the former two, and the latter six. A sceptic in these matters, N. Ranigarao, being anxious to investigate the matter, brought over a live scorpion and bravely offered to get stung that I might try the charm on himself, but the reptile, from weakness or timidity perhaps, would not sting him, although the bystanders very kindly attempted in divers manners to irritate it into doing so. Having, however, seen a case cured, Rungarao learned the charm, and I am happy to say that he has also succeeded in curing a case. Knowing what fearful sufferings follow the sting of a scorpion, and that some cases end fatally, and being aware that many parts of India are infested by these venomous reptiles, I do not feel justified in keeping my remedy any longer a secret, or in confiding it to two or three individuals only. Hence my desire to make the thing known throughout the length and breadth of the land. In order that the charm may be valued, and to defray the cost of fair copying it for each applicant, and that it may be within the reach of all, I have resolved to send it for eight annas, post free, to any part of India. In applying for the charm, customers will be good enough to mention whether they would prefer it in the Greek, Telugu, or Roman character, to facilitate pronunciation. All applications to be addressed to me,
Vizagapatam, 26th May, 1878.
Dr. Mackenzie and Spiritualism
Sir,—Dr. Mackenzie complains that I have “occupied your space unnecessarily” with reference to him. It may be so. After reading his last utterance, I am disposed to agree with him. I must, however, in justification say that I was concerned, not with him, but with certain ideas which he put forward in the course of a paper read before a society with which I am officially connected.
In the course of my duty, I commented on these ideas with both courtesy and fairness, so far as I know, and I somewhat amplified my criticism in answer to some further remarks of Dr. Mackenzie. Had I known that he was so sensitive, I would have omitted his name while challenging what I believe to be erroneous ideas. I regret that I did not do so. I should then have spared him the necessity for writing the irrelevant matter with which he favours us in your last issue, and you the introduction to “a game not fitted for gentlemen,” and to a style of controversy not usual in your columns.
However, I have said what I wished, and will not waste further space. I have no desire to join Dr. Mackenzie in the game with which I have not the advantage of being acquainted.
London, July 20.
Editor's notes
Sources
London Spiritualist, No. 309, July 26, 1878, p. 47
London Spiritualist, No. 309, July 26, 1878, p. 46