Леене на куршум за страх
Casting Bullets Against Fear

Summary/Abstract: The author considers the treatment of fear by spells in folkmedicine, and focus ses his attention on one of the traditional therapeutic means: the so-called 'casting of a bullet'. The study was written on the basis of published descriptions and local material, sought out by the author. The chronological framework of the research is restricted between the mid-19th century and the '60s of the 20th. The traditional ideas of folk medicine about the aetiology of this illness, its symptoms and their classification are examined in the article. The author finds original local features in casting spells, a magical therapy, but emphasizes the unity in all the regions in which he studied this treatment. The magic action and conjurational formula, united in the so-called 'healing magic' are described in detail. He observes that towards the end of the period studied, healing magic ceased to exist. Its study is of interest for thorough research into our historical cultural heritage and in order more fully to elucidate the history of folk medicine.

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