The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

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380 The Highland Monthly.
On toothache, the head-disease.
Peter spoke unto James
" I'll walk not, I'll ride not,
I'll move not
Through the toothache in my head."
Jesus said to the Apostles
" Toothache and this Incantation
Together won't exist in the same head."
Mr Moore does not give a Manx version of the charm.
He, however, gives the following fromula, which was to be
used in the same manner as the Toisgeal
Saint Peter was ordained a saint
Standing on a marble stone,
Jesus came to him alone
And saith unto him, " Peter, what makes thee shake ?"
Peter replied, '' My Lord and Master, it is the tooth-
ache." Jesus said, " Rise up and be healed, and keep these
words for my sake, and thou shall never more be troubled
with toothache."
At the base of Ben Marival, in North Uist, there is a
well, locally known by the name of Tobar-Chuithairidh,
which is believed to cure toothache. Sufferers from this
ailment still frequent the lonely well, and, according to
ancient custom, leave offerings. On bended knees they
drink the water, repeating the following words :
" Tha mise a' cromadh sios, an ainm an Athar, a' Mhic,
's an Spioraid Naoimh ; 's a dol a dh' fhagail cradh mo
chinn anns an tobar, nach traogh a chaoidh. Amen."
Translated
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I bend down, in the name of the Father, Son, and Iloly
Ghost ; and I am to leave the torments of my head in the
well, which never will run dry."
Certain wells in Knoydart are believed to possess
toothache cures. Pilgrimages are made to them, and offer-
ings left at them, as in the case of Tobar-Chuithairidh.
I conclude with a Shetlandic toothache charm. In its
style it bears a striking resemblance to one of the rash
charms above given. The charm in the Shetlandic dialect
is as follows ;
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