Pow-Wows; or Long Lost Friend

By: John George Hoffman

Narrated by: Leo McQueen

Pow-Wows; or Long Lost Friend was published in 1820. John George Hohman (often misspelled as Hoffman) was a Pennsylvania Dutch healer. This work comprises home and folk remedies, as well as spells and talismans. The folk magic tradition known as "pow-wowing" takes its name from the title of later editions of the book.

Public Domain (P)2019 Museum Audiobooks

the listing of things

definitely should suggest that this be read with a copy of the book for better context

Interesting…I have thoughts lol

The narrator was dull, sorry for being rude. The content is extremely familiar!!! What I thought was something my great grandmother made up turned out to be real. No religious background with what I’ve learned though. It was a gift. Is a gift. I feel a bit validated to be honest. Different, more enthusiastic narration would’ve made this much better though. Like someone reading from a phone book, very monotone. If you don’t have interest in the subject matter enough to give the content personality, move to something else.

Close

So much information. But it's almost coded, only way to publish this information. I am following though.

History of Medicine in the early U.S.

Story begins with a warning not to try these “remedies/cures” at home. The preface is boring, super religious, the author claims he can use every patient as a testimonial and claims to know them all by name and location. This audiobook made me very grateful for HIPPA and current medical standards in the U.S.A.

I didn’t get more than 20 minutes into this audiobook before I was over it. Great history lesson for people curious about old school “medical” treatments in the U.S.A.

The remedies I did listen to instructed the ill person, or a relative, to carry out rituals that were crazy, unnecessary, and superstitious, usually accompanied by saying religious words or phrases, or making the sign of the cross at a specific time in the remedy/ritual.

Aside from being shocked by the insanity of quack doctors and their scam medicine from the early U.S., the narrator is tolerable, the remedies for ailments were crazy ridiculous, and I thought some of the ailments themselves were hilarious.

You’d be amazed at how often people got a wheel to the eye!