Human ankle bone carried to cure rheumatism, Suffolk, England, 1880-1916

Made:
1880-1916 in Suffolk

Astragalus (ankle) bone carried against rheumatism, Suffolk, 1880-1916

The growing influence of biomedicine in the 1800s did not necessarily replace established forms of treatment based on belief and superstition. What could be referred to as folk medicine – customs that often went back generations – continued to be practised. For example, carrying around a piece of ankle bone was believed to be a cure for rheumatism (aches and pains in the joints), transferring the pain from the person to the stone.

The piece of flint was a gift in 1916 from Edward Lovett (1852-1933), a collector of British amulets and charms. It is pictured here with two other bones used as a ‘cure’ for aching joints, (A79937 and A79960).

Details

Category:
Ethnography and Folk Medicine
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A665266
Materials:
bone, astragalus
Measurements:
overall: 21 mm x 34 mm x 21 mm, .01kg
type:
human remains and bone
credit:
Wellcome Trust