Antall József szerk.: Orvostörténeti közlemények 105-106. (Budapest, 1984)

TANULMÁNYOK - Szilágyi Mihály: A boszorkányperek orvostörténelmi háttere Tolna megye Duna menti községeiben

Traditional healers — quacks, medicine men, wise-women — were often charged with witchcraft. These folk practicioners knew well the curative effect of herbs, roots and flowers; and they used the therapeutic knowledge inherited from parents and developped on their own to intervene for the purpose of cure into the functioning of human and animal organism. Beside surgical and internal practice, some of the healers provided psychiatric treatment as well, e.g. the villagers suffering from sexual troubles and depression could turn to them with confidence. Not only that learned doctors were scarce, but folk healers established communication with their patients more easily, since they shared a common belief system. On the basis of witch trial records the popular diseases of the 18th century (diseases and pains of the extremities in the first place) and folk methods of healing (mainly different bathings) can be reconstructed as well. M. SZILÁGYI, PhD Folklorist Szekszárd, Bakony u. 8, Hungary, H—7100