The Long Lost Friend, or, Faithful & Christian Instructions

Preface

TO THE FIRST EDITION OF THIS LITTLE BOOK.

The author should have preferred writing no preface whatever to this little book, were it not indispensably necessary, in order to meet the erroneous views some men entertain in regard to works of this character. The majority, undoubtedly, approve of the publication and sale of such books, yet some are always found who will persist in denouncing them as something wrong. This latter class I cannot help but pity for being so far led astray; and I earnestly pray every one who might find it in his power, to bring them from off their ways of error. It is true, whosoever taketh the name of Jesus in vain, committeth a great sin. Yet is it not expressly written in the 50th Psalm, according to Luther's translation: "Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify In the Catholic translation, the same passage is found in the 49th Psalm, reading thus: "Call upon me in the day of thy trouble, and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me."

Where is the doctor who has ever banished the panting or palpitation of the heart and hideboundeness? Where is the doctor who ever banished a wheal? Where is the doctor who ever banished the mother-fits? Where is the doctor who can cure mortification when it once seizes a member of the body? All these cures, and a great many more misterious things are contained in this book; and its author could take an oath at any time upon the fact of his having successfully applied many of the prescriptions on its pages. I say: Any and every man who knowingly neglects using this book in saving the eye, or the leg, or any other limb of his fellow-man, is guilty of the loss of such limb, and thus committing a sin, he may forfeit to himself all hope of heaven. Such men refuse to call upon the Lord in their trouble, although he especially commands it. If men were not allowed to use sympathetic words, nor the name of the Most High, it would certainly not have been revealed to them; and what is more, the Lord would not help where they are made use of. God can in no manner be forced to intercede where it is not his divine pleasure. Another thing I have to notice here: there are men who will say, if one has used sympathetic words in vain, the medicines of doctors could not avail any, because the words did not effect a cure. This is only the excuse of physicians; because whatever cannot be cured by sympathetic words can much less be cured by any doctor's craft or cunning. I could name at any time that catholic priest whose horse was cured with mere words; and I could also give the name of the man who done it. I knew the priest well; he formerly resided in Westmoreland county. If it was desired, I could also name a reformed preacher, who cured several persons of the fever, merely by writing them some tickets for that purpose; and even the names of those persons I could mention. This preacher formerly resided in Berks county.—If men but use out of this book what they actually need, they surely commit no sin; yet wo unto those who are guilty that any one loses his life in consequence of mortification, or loses a limb, or the sight of the eye! Wo unto those who misconstrue these things at the moment of danger, or who follow the ill advise of any preacher who might teach them not to mind what the Lord says in the 50th Psalm: "Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me."—Wo unto those who in obeying the directions of a preacher, neglect using any means offered by this book against mortification, or inflammation, or the wheal. I am willing to follow the preacher in all reasonable things, yet when I am in danger and he advises me not to use any prescriptions found in this book, in such a case I shall not obey him. And wo also unto those who use the name of the Lord in vain and for trifling purposes.

I have given many proofs of the usefulness of this book, and I could yet do it at any time. I sell my books publicly, and not secretly, as other mystical works are sold. I am willing that my books should be seen by every body, and I shall not secrete or hide myself from any preacher. I, Hohman, too, have some knowledge of the scriptures, and I know when to call and pray unto the Lord for assistance. The publication of books (provided they are useful and morally right,) is not prohibited in the United States, as is the case in other countries where kings and despots hold tyrannical sway over the people. I place myself upon the broad platform of the liberty of the press and of conscience, in regard to this useful book, and it shall ever be my most heartfelt desire that all men might have an opportunity of using it to their good, in the name of Jesus.

Given at Rosenthal, near Reading, Berks county, Penn. on the 31st day of July, in the year of our Lord 1819.

JOHN GEORGE HOHMAN, Author and original publisher of this book.

NOTE.

There are many in America who believe neither in a hell nor in heaven; but in Germany there are not so many of these persons found. I, Hohman, ask: Who can immediately banish the wheal, or mortification? I reply, and I, Hohman, say: All this is done by the Lord.—Therefore a hell and a heaven must exist; and I think very little of any one who dares to deny it.

TESTIMONIALS,

Which go to show at any time, that I, Hohman, have successfully applied the prescriptions of this book.

Benjamin Stoudt, the son of a Lutheran school-master, at Reading, suffered dreadfully from a wheal in the eye.—In a little more than 24 hours, this eye was as sound as the other one, by the aid I rendered him with the help of God, in the year 1817.

Henry Jorger, residing at Reading, brought to me a boy, who suffered extreme pain, caused by wheal in the eye, in the year 1814. In a little more than 24 hours, I, with the help of God, have healed him.

John Bayer, son of Jacob Bayer, now living near Reading, had an ulcer on the leg, which gave him great pain. I attended him, and in a short time the leg was well. This was in the year 1818.

Landlin Gottwald, formerly residing in Reading, had a severe pain in his one arm. In about twenty-four hours I cured his arm.

Catharine Meck, at that time in Alsace township, suffered very much from a wheal in the eye. In a little more than twenty-four hours the eye was healed.

Mr. Silvis, of Reading, came to my house while engaged at the brewery of my neighbor. He felt great pain in the eye, caused by a wheal. I cured his eye in a little more than 24 hours.

Anna Snyder, of Alsace township, had a severe pain in one of her fingers. In a little more than 24 hours she felt relieved.

Michael Hartmann, jr. living in Alsace township, had a child with a very sore mouth. I attended it, and in a little more than 24 hours it was well again.

John Bingemann, at Ruscombmanor, Berks county, had a boy who burnt himself dreadfully. My wife came to that place in the fall of the year 1812. Mortification had already set in—my wife used sympathy for it, and in a short time the mortification was banished. The boy was soon after pelfectly cured, and became well again.—It was about the same time that my wife cured John Bingemann's wife of the wild fire, which she had on a sore leg.

Susanna Gomber, had a severe pain in the head. In a short time I relieved her.

The wife of David Brecht, also felt a severe pain in the head, and was relieved by me in a short time.

John Junkins daughter and daughter-in-law both suffered very much from pain in the head; and his wife too, had a sore cheek, on which the wild fire had broken out severely. The head-ache of the daughter and the daughter-in-law was banished by me; and the wild fire of the wife was cured in some 7 or 9 hours—the swelled cheek burst open and healed very fast. The woman had been laid up several days already on account of it. The family of Junkins lives at Nackenmixen, but Brecht and Gomber reside in and near Reading. Nackeninixen is in Bucks county. The four last mentioned were cured in the year 1819.

The daughter of John Arnold scalded herself with boiling coffee—the handle of the pot broke off while she was pouring out coffee, and the coffee run over the arm and burnt it severely. I was present and witnessed the accident. I banished the burning—the arm did not get sore at all, and healed in a short time. This was in the year 1815. Mr. Arnold lived near Lebanon, Lebanon county, Penna.

Jacob Stouffer, at Heckak, Bucks county, had a little child who was subject to convulsions every hour. I sold him a book containing the 25 letters; and he was persuaded by his neighbor Henry Frankenfeld, to try these 25 letters. The result was that the child was instantaneously free from convulsions, and perfectly well. These letters are also to be found in this book.

If any one of the above named witnesses, who have been cured by me and my wife, through the help of God, dares to call me a liar, and deny having been relieved by us, although they have confessed that they had been cured by us—I shall, if it is at all possible, compel them to repeat their confession before a justice of the peace.

A letter to cure rheumatism sold at from one to two dollars, and did not even give directions how to make use of it; these depending on verbal communications. John Allgaier of Reading, had a very sore finger. I used sympathy to banish the wild fire and to cure the finger. The very next morning the wild fire was gone, he scarcely felt any pain, and the finger began to heal very fast. This was in 1819.

This Book is partly derived from a work published by a Gipsey, and partly from secret writings, and collected with much pain and trouble, from all parts of the world, at different periods, by the author, John George Hohman. I did not wish to publish it; my wife, also, was opposed to its publication; but my compassion for my suffering fellowmen was too strong, for I had seen many a one lose his entire sight by a wheal, and his life or limb by mortification. And how dreadfully has many a woman suffered from mother-fits! And I therefore ask thee again, oh friend, male or female, is it not to my everlasting praise, that I have had such books printed? Do I not deserve the rewards of God for it? Where else is the physician that could cure these diseases? Besides that, I am a poor man, in needy circumstances, and it is a help to me if I can make a little money with the sale of my books.

The Lord bless the beginning and the end of this little work, and be with us, that we may not misuse it, and thus commit a heavy sin!—The word misuse, means as much as to use it for anything unnecessary. God bless us! Amen. —The word amen means as much as that the Lord might bring to pass in reality what had been asked for in prayer.

HOHMAN.

ARTS & REMEDIES.

Put that joint of the thumb which sits in the palm of the hand on the bare skin covering the small bone which stands out above the pit of the heart, and speak the following at the same time:

Matrix, patrix, lay thyself right and safe, Or thou or I shall on the third day fill the grave. …

This must be strictly attented to every evening, that is: whenever you pull off your shoes or stockings, run your finger in between all the toes, and smell it. This will certainly effect a cure.

Jesus Christ, dearest blood! That stoppeth the pain, and stoppeth the blood.

In this help you, (first name) God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Let the person in perfect soberness and without having conversed with any one, make water in a pot before sunrise; boil an egg in this urine, bore three small holes in this egg with a needle, and carry it to an ant-hill made by big ants; and the person will feel relieved as soon as the egg is devoured.

Let the sick person, without having conversed with any one, make water in a bottle before sun-rise, close it up tight, and put it immediately in some box or chest, lock it and stop up the key-hole; the key must be carried in one of the pockets for three days, as nobody dare have it excepting the person who puts the bottle with urine in the chest or box.

Mary, God's Mother, traversed the land, Holding three worms close in her hand; One was white, the other was black, the third was red.

This must be repeated three times, at the same time stroking the person or animal with the hand; and at the end of each application strike the back of the person or the animal, to wit: at the first application once, at the second application twice, and at the third application three times; and then set the worms a certain time, but not less than 3 minutes.

If you are calumniated or slandered to your very skin, to your very flesh, to your very bones, cast it back upon the false tongues. …

Take off your shirt, and turn it wrong side out, and then run your two thumbs along your body, close under the ribs, starting at the pit of the heart down to the thighs.

Good morning, dear Thursday! Take away from (name) the 77-fold fevers! Oh! thou dear Lord Jesus Christ, take them away from him! …

This must be used on Thursday for the first time, on Friday for the second time, and on Saturday for the third time; and each time thrice. The prayer of faith has also to be said each time, and not a word dare be spoken to any one until the sun has risen. Neither dare the sick person speak to any one till after sunrise; nor eat pork, nor drink milk, nor cross a running water, for nine days.

I warn ye, ye colic fiends! There is one sitting in judgment, who speaketh: just or unjust. Therefore beware, ye colic fiends! …

Try to draw some of your blood, and let the dog eat it along with his food, and he will stay with you. Or scrape the four corners of your table while you are eating, and continue to eat with the same knife after having scraped the corners of the table. Let the dog eat those scrapings, and he will stay with you.

On the first night of Christmas, between 11 & 12 o'clock, break off from any tree a young twig of one year's growth, in the three highest names, (Father, Son and Holy Ghost,) at the same time facing towards sunrise. Whenever you apply this wand in searching for anything, apply it three times. The twig must be forked, and each end of the fork must be held in one hand, so that the third and thickest part of it stands up, but do not hold it too tight. Strike the ground with the thickest end, and that which you desire will appear immediately, if there is any in the ground where you strike. The words to be spoken when the wand is thus applied, are as follows:

Archangel Gabriel, I conjure thee in the name of God, he Almighty, to tell me, is there any water here or not? tell me! …

If you search for iron or ore, you have to say the same, only mention the name of what you are searching for.

Palpitation and hide-bound, be off (name) ribs, Since Christ, our Lord, spoke truth with his lips.

Whoever carries the right eye of a wolf fastened inside of his right sleeve, remains free from all injuries.

If you call upon another to ask for a favor, take care to carry a little of the firefinger-grass with you, and you shall certainly obtain that you desired.

Take rose seed and mustard seed, and the foot of a weasel, and hang these in a net, and the fish will certainly collect there.

Take the root of iron-weed, and tie it around the neck; it cures running ulcers; it also serves against obstructions in the bladder (stranguary,) and cures the piles, if the roots are boiled in water with honey, and drank; it cleans and heals the lungs and effects a good breath. If this root is planted among grape veins or fruit trees, it promotes the growth very much. Children who carry it, are educated without any difficulty; they become fond of all useful arts and sciences, and grow up joyfully and cheerfully.

Sanctus Itorius res, call the rest. Here the Mother of God came to his assistance, reaching out her snow-white hand, against the hot and cold brand. …

Make three crosses with the thumb. Every thing which is applied in words, must be applied three times, and an interval of several hours must intervene each time, and for the third time it is to be applied the next day, unless where it is otherwise directed.

Dullix, ix, ux. Yea, you can't come over Pontio; Pontio is above Pilato. …

You must mention the name of the horse, and say: "If you have any worms, I will catch you by the forehead. If they be white, brown, or red, they shall and must now all be dead." You must shake the head of the horse three times, and pass your hand over his back three times to and fro. …

Break off 3 twigs from a cherry tree; one towards morning, one towards evening, and one towards midnight. Cut three small pieces off the hind part of your shirt, and wrap each of those twigs in one of these pieces; then clean the pollevil with the twigs, and lay them under the eaves. The ends of the twigs which had been in the wound must be turned towards the north; after which you must do your business on them, that is to say, you must s—t on them; then cover it, leaving the rags around the twigs. After all this the wound must again be stirred with the three twigs, in one or two days, and the twigs placed as before.

The word of God, the milk of Jesus' Mother, and Christ's blood, is for all wounds and burnings good. …

It is the safest way in all these cases to make the crosses with the hand or thumb three times over the affected parts; that is to say, over all those things to which the three crosses are attached.

Wild-fire and the dragon, flew over a wagon, The wild-fire abated, and the dragon skeated.

Cut three small twigs from a tree—each to be cut off in one cut—rub one end of each twig in the wound, and wrap them separately in a piece of white paper, and put them in a warm and dry place.

Roast Chicken-feet and rub the warts with them, then bury them under the eaves.

Cut three small bunches of hair from the crown of the head of a child that has never seen its father; sew this hair up in an unbleached rag and hang it around the neck of the child having the hooping cough. The thread with which the rag is sewed must also be unbleached.

Thrust the child having the hooping-cough three times through a black-berry bush, without speaking or saying anything. The bush, however, must be grown fast at the two ends, and the child must be thrust through three times in the same manner, that is to say, from the same side it was thrust through in the first place.

This is the day on which the injury happened. Blood, thou must stop, until the Virgin Mary bring forth another son.—Repeat these words three times.

Write the following letters on a piece of white paper, sew it in a piece of linen or muslin, and hang it around the neck until the fever leaves you:

A | b | a | x | a | C | a | t | a | b | a | x

A | b | a | x | a | C | a | t | a | b | a | x

A | b | a | x | a | C | a | t | a | b | a

A | b | a | x | a | C | a | t | a | b

A | b | a | x | a | C | a | t | a

A | b | a | x | a | C | a | t

A | b | a | x | a | C | a

A | b | a | x | a | C

A | b | a | x | a

A | b | a | x

A | b | a

A | b

A

Stir the sore tooth with a needle until it draws blood; then take a thread and soak it with this blood. Then take vinegar and flower, mix them well so as to form a paste, and spread it on a rag, then wrap this rag around the root of an apple tree, and tie it very close with the above thread, after which the root must be well covered with ground.

Write the following words upon a paper and wrap it up in knot-grass, ( ) and then tie it upon the navel of the person who has the fever:

Potmat sineat, Potmat sineat, Potmat sineat.

Jesus walketh with [name]. He is my head; I am his limb. Therefore walketh Jesus with [name]. …

Take half a gill of good old rye whiskey, and a pipe full of tobacco; put the whiskey in a bottle, then smoke the tobacco and blow the smoke into the bottle, shake it up well and drink it. This has cured the author of this book, and many others.—Or take a white clay pipe which has turned blackish from smoking, pound it to a fine powder, and take it. This will have the same effect.

I doubt very much whether any physician in the United States can make a plaster equal to this. It heals the white swelling, and has cured the sore leg of a woman who for 18 years had used the prescriptions of doctors in vain.

Take two quarts of cider, one pound of bees-wax, one pound of sheep-tallow, and one pound of tobacco; boil the tobacco in the cider till the strength is out, and then strain it and add the other articles to the liquid, stir it over a gentle fire till all is dissolved.

Take four cents worth of white vitriol, four cents worth of prepared spicewort, (calamus root,) four cents worth of cloves, a gill of good whiskey, and a gill of water. Make the calamus fine, and mix all together; then use it after it has stood a few hours.

Take a quart of unslaked lime, and pour two quarts of water on it; stir it well and let it stand over night. The scum that collects on the lime water must be taken off, and a pint of flax-seed oil poured in, after which it must be stirred until it becomes somewhat consistent; then put it in a pot or pan, and add a little lard and wax, melt it well, and make a plaster, and apply it to the parts affected—the plaster should be renewed every day, or at least every other day until the swelling is gone.

Write reversedly or backwards upon a piece of paper: "IT IS ALL OVER!" This is to be written but once upon the paper, then put it in a scarlet-red cloth, and then wrap it in a piece of unbleached linen, and hang it around the neck, on the first Friday of the new moon. The thread with which it is tied must also be unbleached. …

"Burn, I blow on thee!"—It must be blown on three times in the same breath, like the fire by the sun. …

Count backwards from fifty inclusive till you come down to three. As soon as you arrive at three, you will be done bleeding.

Take a rag which was tied over a wound for the first time, and put it in water together with some copperas; but do not venture to stir the copperas until you are certain of the pain having left you.

Cut out a piece of greensword (sod) in the morning before sunrise, quite unbeshrewedly, from any place, breathe three times upon it, and put it down upon the same place from which it was taken.

Bruise, thou shalt not heat; Bruise, thou shalt not sweat; Bruise, thou shalt not run, No more than Virgin Mary shall bring forth another son. …

It says: If you burn a large frog to ashes and mix the ashes with water, you will obtain an ointment that will, if put on any place covered with hair, destroy the hair and prevent it from growing again.

If you find the stone which a vulture has in his knees, and which you may find by looking sharp, and put it in the vituals of two persons who hate each other, it causes them to make up and be good friends.

You must go upon another person's land, and repeat the following words: "I go before another court—I tie up my 77-fold fits." Then cut three small twigs off any tree on the land, in each twig you must make a knot. This must be done on a Friday morning before sunrise, in the decrease of the moon, unbeshrewedly. … Then over your body where you feel the fits you make the crosses.—And thus they must be made in all cases where they are applied.

Tame thou flesh and bone, like Christ in Paradise; and who will assist thee, this I tell thee, (name,) for your repentance-sake. … This you must say three times, each time pausing for three minutes, and your head-ache will soon cease. But if your head-ache is caused by strong drink, or otherwise will not leave you soon, then you must repeat those words every minute. This, however, is not often necessary in regard to head-ache.

Take common cheese and wash it well, unslaked lime and the white of eggs, rub all these well together until it becomes one mass, and then use it. If it is made right, it will certainly hold.

Pull out three small bunches of hair, one between the horns, one from the middle of the back, and one near the tail, and make your cattle eat it in their feed.

Take a handful of salt, go upon your fields and make your cattle walk three times around the same. stump or stone, each time keeping the same direction, that is to say, you must three times arrive at the same end of the stump or stone at which your started from, and then let your cattle lick the salt from the stump or stone.

Take pulverised charcoal, make ley of it, and soak the seed-wheat in it; take it out of the ley, and on every bushel of wheat sprinkle a quart of urine; stir it well, then spread it out to dry.

Engraft the twigs upon a mulberry tree, and your desire is accomplished.

Whenever you hold this weed in your hand together with Millifolia, you are safe from all fears and fancies that frequently deceive men. If you mix it with a decoction of the hemlock, and rub your hands with it, and put the rest in water that contains fish, you will find the fish to collect around your hands. Whenever you pull your hands out of the water, the fish disappear by returning to their former places.

The virtues of this plant is miraculous, if it be collected in the sign of the lion, in the month of August, and wrapped up in a laurel leaf, together with the tooth of a wolf. Who- ever carries this about him, will never be addressed harshly by any one, but all will speak to him kindly and peaceably. And if any thing has been stolen from you, put this under your head during the night, and you will surely see the whole figure of the thief. This has been found true.

If you have the scurvy, or quinsey too, I breathe my breath three times into you. <> …

A means to overcome and end all fighting and anger, and to cause a sick man to weep when his health is restored, or to sing with a cheerful voice when on his death-bed; also a very good remedy for dim eyes, or shining of the eyes.—This weed grows at the time when the swallows built their nests, or eagles breed. If a man carries this about him, together with the heart of a mole, he shall overcome all fighting and anger. If these things are put upon the head of a sick man, he shall weep at the restoration of his health, and sing with a cheerful voice when he comes to die. When the swallow-wort blooms, the flowers must be pounded up and boiled, and then the water must be poured off into another vessel, and again be placed to the fire and carefully skimmed; then it must be filtered through a cloth and preserved, and whosoever has dim eyes, or shining eyes, may bathe his eyes with it, and they will become clear and sound.