The Times 1781 - 1790 Nov 09 1787 Miraculous Cure

Nov 09 1787 Miraculous Cure

The Times, Friday, Nov 09, 1787; pg. 3; Issue 896; col D A miraculous cure was performed last week, at Wigton, in Cumberland, on two women, who were reported to have been born deaf and dumb. - A boy, who acted as conductor to these unfortunate females, (who, in lieu of these two useful senses were endured with the peculiar gifts of healing certain diseases, and predicting future events) was conducted by some wags into a house, and a bunch of birch applied for some time to his posteriors, till, at length, he reluctantly confessed his belief in the possibility of prevailing on one of them to open her mouth in an intelligble manner. After some menaces, both the ladies were brought to the place, and means, something like those already mentioned, were used so successfully, that in a few minutes both of them spoke so as to be perfectly understood. One of them said that she came from Longtown; and the other from Scotland. They had a pass, signed by three Justices of the Peace, and a long list of cures performed by them; though they genrously acknowledged they did not possess a certificate of so surprizing a cure as that so speedily effected on themselves. They were suffered to depart; and it is not improbable they may, in places where the fame of this cure has not reached, relapse into the former state of deafness and taciturnity; in which case it is hoped Christian charity will induce some good person or other to expel the demon that occasionally takes possession of these valuable faculties; as it is certain the exorcism may at any time be performed through the medium of a horse-whip; and it would be cruelty to them, whatever it might be to a credulous public, to omit so trifling an application.

 

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