Straws crossed and placed on a footpath, or on the road, prevents a witch from passing.
Many years since I remember hearing of this being done as a suspected woman was coming along, and it was said the woman got very angry and foamed at the mouth but she didn't pass the straws.
The following is in use at the present time:—
If a husband runs away from his wife she buys a pennyworth of Dragon's Blood, wraps it in paper, and places it under her pillow when she goes to bed, and it is sure to draw him back again.
A chemist in Peterborough had a letter a few years since, from a woman in the Fens, asking him to send her a "pennorth of Dragons Blood" for this very purpose; and the following shows that the custom is in use, even in the United States of America, at the present time according to the following extract from the "Daily Express" of 18th February, 1905:
Drank Dragon's Blood.
Buffalo Bill's wife gave him love Philtres.
"Express" Correspondent.
Cheyenne (Wyoming), Friday, February 17th., 1905.
It came out, during the hearing of Buffalo Bill's divorce case to-day, that he had been dosed with many love Philtres.
Mrs. Cody, his wife, was extremely jealous of him and imagining that his affection for her was gone, mixed gipsy love potions in his drinks. One of these, which was supposed to be particularly efficacious, was known as "Dragon's Blood."
Mrs. Parker, a witness, told the court that Mrs. Cody believed that every woman was infatuated with her husband, and confided to her the names of many prominent women who, she said, were in love with him.
The witness stated, in cross examination, that during these outbursts of jealousy Colonel Cody was beside himself with rage.