Fasting Spittle

A little bit of old-time medicine. Reported in "A Collection of Saliva Superstitions" by R. Selare, Folklore (Dec 1939), 50(4).

Special properties were attributed to fasting saliva. Pliny refers to the curative properties of the local application of such saliva. "A woman's fasting spittle is generally considered highly efficacious for bloodshot eyes; it is also good for defluxions of those organs, the inflamed corners of the eyes being moistened with it every now and then." In Madagascar the first spittle in the morning is called rora mafaitra, bitter or disagreeable saliva, and has medicinal virtue in healing a sore eye or ear. Among the Irish peasants fasting spittle is considered of great efficacy for sore eyes, especially if used mixed with clay taken from a holy well. This is made into a paste and applied to the eyes, and it is said that "nothing beats the fasting spittle for blindness."
     Posted By: Alex - Fri Jul 12, 2013
     Category: Medicine | Body Fluids





Comments
My Uncle swore that if you spit on a wart, first thing in the morning when you woke up, the wart would soon be gone. I wonder if that's in the book.
Posted by Johnn Venlet on 07/12/13 at 08:42 AM
Any connection with "Here's mud in your eye!"?

@Johnn: Your uncle must have been a poor man. My uncle, on the other hand, collected pennies for each of his warts.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 07/12/13 at 09:07 AM
Why does the spit in the eye portion sound suspiciously like the Japanese eye-licking fad?

Your mouth is the temperature of a tropical jungle and all kinds of beasties live in there. Yuk! :shut:
Posted by KDP on 07/12/13 at 09:56 AM
@Expat47: I've heard of the potato remedy for warts; cut a potato in half, rub it on the warts, and then bury the half of potato (must be buried by someone other than yourself; but I've not heard of the penny collecting thing to get rid of warts.
Posted by John Venlet on 07/12/13 at 10:36 AM
So next time somebody spits on you, thank them for the free medical service?
Posted by Jim on 07/12/13 at 11:26 AM
I've been wondering why there seem to be fewer blind people than in ages past. The answer is right here: "nothing beats the fasting spittle for blindness."
Posted by tadchem on 07/12/13 at 02:38 PM
@John Venlet. Surely you've heard of "a penny for your warts"?
Posted by Mack on 07/13/13 at 07:41 AM
Intersting that the same notion existed across three continents, unless Rome and Madagascar are one.
Posted by jim dukes on 07/13/13 at 07:57 AM
@John: The 'buyer' rubs a penny on the wart then gives the penny to the bewarted thereby closing the sale. Seeing how Uncle Harold died a rich man you may draw the conclusion that it doesn't, always, work.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 07/13/13 at 10:11 AM
AAWWW!SPIT!!! Gales of derisive laghter! :lol:
Posted by Tyrusguy on 07/13/13 at 03:56 PM
There may be something to it, most home remedies come about for a reason. That being said, YUCK, I'd never do it!
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 07/13/13 at 09:23 PM
Science author Mary Roach discusses the germ killing ability of saliva in her book "Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal". Quite amazing stuff, saliva; there seems to be a good reason why people who only engage in oral sex are less likely to contract HIV than those who engage in vaginal or anal sex. Although her religious research is a bit muddled, she does correctly point out Jesus' use of spittle in curing blindness, an action which is sometimes symbolically repeated as part of the supplementary ceremonies in Christian Baptism (although, no, Mary, saliva is not a valid matter for baptism, along with beer, wine, and Pepto-Bismol).
Posted by Eoin on 08/12/13 at 07:56 AM
Commenting is not available in this channel entry.