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Weapon Salve
A salve said to cure wounds by sympathy. The salve is not
applied to the wound, but to the instrument which gave the wound. The
direction “Bind the wound and grease the nail” is still
common when a wound has been given by a rusty nail. Sir Kenelm Digby
says the salve is sympathetic, and quotes several instances to prove
that “as the sword is treated the wound inflicted by it feels.
Thus, if the instrument is kept wet, the wound will feel cool; if held
to the fire, it will feel hot;” etc.
But she has taen the broken lance,
And washed it from the clotted gore,
And salved the splinter o'er and o'er.
Sir
Walter
Scott:
Lay of the Last Minstrel, iii. 23.
If grease must be used to satisfy the ignorant, it can do no
harm on the rusty nail, but would certainly be harmful on the wound
itself.
Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894 More on Weapon Salve from Infoplease:
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