Folk belief, healing and medicinal practice through the ages in Lochaber
Slàinte agus sunnd tro na Linntean ann an Loch Abar
Since the very earliest times in Lochaber, people have had particular beliefs about their health and wellbeing. In this topic, we look at some of these. We also consider the impact of advancements in medical knowledge, together with improvements in public health and sanitation.
So, let’s start with the basics!
What are the five basic necessities of life?
- Fresh air
- Clean water
- Good food
- Shelter
- Warmth
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Even with all of these being met, people can still get ill or have accidents. We need to know what to do when that happens.
In the days before modern medicine, if you were ill, you would rely on folk cures, as well as faith and prayers, to make you better.
There was a strong belief in the supernatural – fairies, demons and the threat of the evil eye (‘droch-shuil’). For example, one belief was in the ‘Sibhreath’ or changeling, which may have been a way of making sense of a child who was not healthy or growing properly.
Some people were believed to have magic powers, such as the ability to exorcise (drive out) evil spirits. People also had a deep knowledge of medicinal plants, animal products and other materials, even water, to cure all kinds of ailments. Some of this knowledge has survived – have you ever put a
docken leaf on a nettle sting? The wise women and other gifted individuals would use these medicinal substances in combination with charms and incantations in the treatment of disease.
We have various kinds of charm in the collections of West Highland Museum. Some of these are ‘sea beans’ or Molucca beans, prized for their magical power for centuries. These big, brown, kidney shaped beans are carried across the Atlantic ocean from the Caribbean and swept onto the beaches of the West Highlands and Islands.
In Scotland they came to be known as Mary’s Kidneys, after the Virgin Mary. A woman having a baby would be given one to hold in her hand, in the belief that it would help her and her baby through childbirth. An example of such a charm in the museum is labelled “The Virgin’s Charm of Deliverance” or “Tearma Moire”.
Sea beans were not only charms for childbirth. One sea bean in the museum’s collection was used as a rain charm; another was a charm against nightmares.
Stones could also be charms, especially if a stone was found with a natural hole in it. A ‘witch’s stone’ like the one in the museum would have been placed in a gate to prevent witches from coming into the croft or house.
Other materials, like metal or fabric, were also used for charms.
(charm bracelet, silk charm)
There were also knowledgeable physicians in the Highlands. They studied written lore and had knowledge of medicinal herbs as well as surgical techniques. Some were associated with certain clans. For example the Beatons, who became physicians to Robert the Bruce, and the Kings who came after him. The Beatons were also physicians to the MacDonald Lords of the Isles, the MacLeans, Macleods and Frasers.
As the centuries have gone by, knowledge about how to treat illnesses and injuries has greatly increased. Scientific study has come to replace folk beliefs and superstitions about magic and faeries.
Alongside this, improvements in diet, sanitation and hygiene have greatly improved health outcomes for people.
Up until the 20th century, life expectancy was much lower than it is today.
In the 19th century, the Highland Clearances led many poor crofters to leave their traditional homes. They had to seek work in towns such as Glasgow, where they would have to live in overcrowded, insanitary slums. These horrible living conditions were ideal for diseases to spread. Concerns about this led to improvements in public sanitation, such as piped water supply and drainage. This came about due to new understanding about how disease can
spread through contaminated water, and how vital it is for people to have access to clean drinking water.
There were great leaps forward in the 20th century which have had a huge impact on public health, for example antibiotics, heart surgery, and medical physics such as ultrasound and MRI machines.
Through Lochaber’s history, there were different patterns of disease, and different approaches to treatment, such as how to treat injuries. Often health conditions were poverty-related, such as malnutrition. What does that mean? ‘Malnutrition’ means long-term hunger. It can lead to serious health problems such lack of bone density, tooth loss and skin conditions.
It’s important to remember that in some parts of the world, people still do not have access to modern medicine, proper sanitation and clean drinking water, and suffer from poverty-related conditions. The United Nations helps where it can, for example, providing immunisation in places which do not have a health service.
Diseases/Health problems in different time eras: some examples
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Early people
- Accidents – perhaps incurred while hunting, or fighting. Hunting could be very dangerous, but was an essential activity to obtain food, as well as hides/fur for clothing, sinew for cordage and bone for tools such as the Mesolithic bone harpoon in the WHM collections. With no understanding of hygiene, wounds could become infected leading to sepsis and death.
- Childbirth – this was very hazardous for women. Not only during early times, but for most of human history, women had a one in ten chance of dying in childbirth. These outcomes improved dramatically with improvements in sanitation and diet, as well as medical understanding.
- Malnutrition – food supply was always uncertain, and there would be times of scarcity and hunger.
Medieval/Early Modern Period
- Plague – The bubonic plague of mid-14th century is little documented in the Highlands, but there is evidence of plague treatments, so it seems unlikely that Lochaber escaped this terrible scourge.
- Poor diet – During the middle ages, poor people would be able to obtain meat around once a month. Many traditional Scottish recipes such as Scotch broth, could eke out a small amount of meat, and could be eaten by those who had lost teeth. There was no dentistry, and people could die of dental abscesses. Lack of vitamin C could cause loose teeth.
- Warfare – Not only were men killed in battles, but war had a terrible aftermath for communities. The loss of working men could mean
- starvation. Men could be left with disabilities limiting their ability to carry out farm work.
- Battle-injured soldiers would be treated by a ‘barber surgeon’ who was not a physician. There was no anaesthetic or medical hygiene. His equipment would include a range of grisly-looking saws, knives, pliers and hooks…and leeches. It wasn’t all wrong though – leeches can still be used in medical treatments even today, for certain types of wound.
The Age of Empires
- Cholera was endemic in India. ‘Endemic’ means it was always present in that area but not spreading. British troop movements during the Empire years caused it to become pandemic. Most of you will be familiar with the word ‘pandemic’ – it means a disease that spreads rapidly, and probably internationally. Cholera was a lethal, terrifying water-borne disease which could kill you in a matter of hours. It swept over Asia, Russia and Europe several times,and was finally stopped when public sanitation was installed.
- Smallpox – this was another killer disease which left its victims covered in nasty blister-like spots. Women who milked cows contracted a different, milder disease called cow pox which provided immunity to smallpox. This meant that their skin was saved from the terrible pock-marks left by smallpox.
- Tuberculosis – This disease of the lungs was a major killer of the 19th century. It was spread by droplets in other people’s breath. It still exists today though it is rare in wealthier countries. Highlanders had to leave their croft houses, however humble, for overcrowded city tenements which provided ideal conditions for tuberculosis infection. Other killers were whooping cough, measles and typhus.
- Potato famine/ Gaiseadh a’ bhuntàta – A potato disease caused failure of the potato crop in the mid-19th century. It caused the potatoes to rot in the earth, and made a horrible stench. The potato blight blew over from Ireland, where it caused over a million deaths, while millions more were forced to emigrate. As with Ireland, the poor Highland crofters were dependent on potatoes for survival, even though the land was producing other foods to be sold. In the Highlands, thousands of people died of hunger, and many more fled the Highlands to the towns and cities of the Central Belt.
- Poison – a lack of knowledge about dangerous substances meant that some ‘cures’ could contain poisonous mercury.
- Child mortality – Deaths of children under ten accounted for more than half the deaths in the 19th century. The highest proportion of deaths occurred in the age group under five years.
- Sanitary improvements – Clean water is an absolute essential for human life. in the second half of the 19th century, public works began to be carried out to improve public sanitation, and inspectors were appointed. But in the Highlands, progress was slower. Human waste (poo) was still being disposed of in a midden or ash-pit behind people’s houses, and water often stored within homes, which was not sanitary.
20th Century
- There were huge leaps forward in medicine together with rising living standards, diet and hygiene, especially after the World Wars. This transformed health and wellbeing for the people of Lochaber.
- The National Health Service was founded in 1948.
- Infant mortality fell by 89% between 1911 and 1968.
- The old Belford Hospital was built in 1865, and the one we have today was built in 1965.
- The battle against the diseases of poverty was mostly won by 1950.
- Smoking was almost universal. Everybody stank! Ashtrays like this were disgusting!! (ashtray picture)**
21st Century
- Sedentary lifestyle – this means we are sitting too much! This can cause health problems such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. We need to ensure that the importance of exercise is understood.
- Unhealthy food – Sadly, unhealthy choices are often cheaper, so achieving a healthy diet will be very hard for many people. Also, many people prefer processed, sugar-laden foods. What makes a healthy balanced diet? A healthy diet can be achieved whether we eat Western/Scottish food, or for example Asian or Polish cuisine.
- Mental health – many people find 21st century life very stressful. As society changes, one issue nowadays is lack of community. Many of us spend too much time with our phones.
The Future
- We are lucky to live here in Lochaber – a beautiful place, in a country with a National Health Service.
- What would be an ideal future for people’s health and wellbeing in Lochaber? Do you have any ideas that would help people live healthier and happier lives? For example, vegetable growing projects, free access to sporting and hobby activities, and getting involved in projects to improve a sense of community.
Want to learn more?
- An Illustrated Treasury of Scottish Folk and Faery Tales, book by Theresa Breslin
- Horrible Science: Blood, bones and body bits, book by Nick Arnold
- DK Eyewitness Guides: Medicine, by Steve Parker
- Celtic Medical Treatments – Folk Medicine article by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/heritage/celtic-medical-treatments
What can I see in the museum?
- A variety of charmstones are on display in a case in Room 3 of the museum.
- A charm for good luck which belonged to Colonel John Cameron, from around 1810. It is a folded cloth wallet, made of silk Gordon tartan. It contains a letter and a small square of satin with pebbles, seeds and pieces of stalk sewn in, as well a tiny padlock. The charm was given to him to keep him safe in battle.
- A Palmer Injector, located in the Highland Life gallery. This is an insulin injector gun invented in 1955 by Mr. Charles Palmer who lived at the Factor’s House, Torlundy. Mr Palmer had Type 1 diabetes. People with Type 1 diabetes need to inject insulin several times a day to survive. Palmer’s device was designed to make it easier for people to inject themselves with insulin. The gun was not only used for insulin, but for giving injections to children in school clinics and hospitals. Nowadays, diabetic people have much more convenient pen injectors.
Interesting places to go
Out! Go outside for a walk, or with your wheelchair if you use one, where it is safe to do so. Perhaps organise a game or sport, it will make you healthier and happier!
Activity suggestions
- Draw a plate showing a healthy balanced meal. The food can be from any cultural background.
- Good or terrible? In groups or individually, write a list of things relating to health and wellbeing, which were worse in the past, and another of things which are worse now. Then do the same for ‘good’; list things which were better in the past, and things which are better now.
- Write a story, choosing an era from past Lochaber, and imagine one day in your life. You can describe your home and living conditions, and what you ate and did throughout the day.
What did our partner schools do?
The pupils all took part in workshops delivered by the WHM learning team. We were also fortunate to have the expertise of retired GP Dr Chris Robinson, who has a vast knowledge of the history of medicine in the
Highlands. Dr Robinson, a Director of West Highland Museum, gave generously of his time to speak to pupils.
A box of objects was brought from the museum for the pupils to handle and observe. This included sea bean charms, a World War II first aid kit, a banana-shaped glass bottle for feeding babies, and a stethoscope provided by Dr Robinson. A stethoscope is used for a doctor to listen to people’s lungs and hearts.
Pupils took part in classroom discussions to consider the pros and cons of different times in history with regard to health and wellbeing.[/read]