Antall József – Buzinkay Géza szerk.: Népi gyógyítás Magyarországon / Orvostörténeti Közlemények – Supplementum 7-8. (Budapest, 1975)

Hoppál Mihály—Törő László: Népi gyógyítás Magyarországon (magyar és angol nyelven)

A M. Hoppá —L. Törő: Ethnomedicine in Hungary 93 HEALING WITH MATERIALS OF HUMAN, ANIMAL AND MINERAL ORIGIN Utilization of animal materials in folk medicine is characterized by the predominant role of magic-superstitious beliefs, particularly if contrasted with the rather important role specific medical observations in the use of medicinal herbs. Another contrast between the use of animal and plant materials is the absence of pre-modern medical influence on the use of animal materials, while the mutual influence between medical practice and herbal medicine can be definitely observed. The use of animals for medical purposes is linked to shamanism. In Finno-Ugrian mythology certain animals were revered as totem symbols. Of these the bear, the deer, the fox, the weasel and selected birds were outstanding. Originally, the shamans utilized certain parts of animal bodies for driving out evil spirits from the patient, as the following Evenki account suggests: "...He fanned and rubbed the sick part with diverse parts of animals and birds. These consisted of a combination of deer hair, facial skin of the moose, forehead of the bear

, reindeer horns, wolfskin, and eagle feathers. . Frequent references are made in pre-modern medical texts to the use of bear and deer parts. "Doctors' Book" (Doctor Könyv) recommends bear fat for itchiness. Bear gall was considered useful for epilepsy.

2 "Special Domestic Medicines" (Házi Különös Orvosságok) urged the use of the bear's right eye as a charm to counter children's fright.

3 Several medical texts refer to the use of antlers of stags. In powdered form it can serve as medication against worms or mixed with crushed nuts to cure fever.

4 A 16th century source recommends its application to the eye for shedding of tears, and its use in case of nose-bleeding and loose teeth.

5 Equally prominent is the role of the snake in folk medicine. It is best known in the prevention of maladies linked to bewitching. Specific illnesses, such as the shivers and toothache are cured with snakeskin.

6 1 Diószegi, 1962. 97. 2 Takáts, 1907. 338. Magyary-Kossa writes that it was official medicine in the Greek receipt-books even in the last century. Cf. Magyary-Kossa, III. 1931. 226.; Varjas 1943. 51. Against fall out of eye-brow bear-fat. Ibid.: 82. 3 Juhász 1768. On the cult of bear: Bán, and Alföldi 1936 and Anyiszimov 1953. 4 Juhász 1768. 42. and: Szeñdreÿ 1937/a. 164. 5 Varjas 1943. 80, 102, 117. — In the home-pharmacy of Anna Bornemissza, consort of the prince the powder of buck'shorn occurs in 1682. Cf. MagyaryKossa III. 1931. 421. 6 Kiss 1937. 155. and 157.; Varjas, 1943. 111. Brandy was drunk from the head of a snake with the patient suffering from pneumonia in Dávod. Cf. So ÿmosñé Göldner, 1971. 35.