Rubbing With a Gold Ring
Pegge, in his “Curialia,” alludes to the superstition that a wedding-ring of gold, rubbed on a stye upon the eyelid, was considered a sovereign remedy, but it required to be rubbed nine times. In Beaumont and Fletcher’s “Mad Lovers,” reference is made to the practice. In the West Indies the explanation of the merits of the gold wedding-ring used for this purpose is, that it is something which, once given, can never be taken back; and the Barbadians believe if you give anything away and take it back, you are sure of a stye, or “cat-boil,” as they call it.