1

In Birchy Bay there were two reputed doctors. Andrew Canning the son of John Canning who was the doctor in the bay and John, his brother who was the doctor in the Bight. These men did not have any formal knowledge of medicine and treatments. But they held a knowledge that allowed them to perform healing procedures which are now long forgotten. These two men had obtained knowledge of natural herbs and plants to use as medicine. They also used charms such as bluestone which would heal a cut and help it to do so in a short amount of time. These men also had powers, which with a touch and a few words could take away warts, pain and sickness. A healing power from the super natural world has it seems.
It is hard to understand where these men obtained the knowledge of the natural medicine. Their mother Mary Ann was known to have Mi'kmaq roots, she could have taught their children some of the natural remedies from the land, which she may have learned from her mother Amy. Also the men read books and almanacs which held facts and forms of medicine which they practiced. Their knowledge of medicinal plants as well as their supernatural talents was what gave them the recognition as doctors. If someone had their arm broken, cut their self, needed a tooth ache charmed, these were the men to go too.

2

Today a doctor is recognized by his education. But in the early days of Birchy Bay a man was gave the title doctor not by the degree he held, but by his fast action, his knowledge of traditional plants which they used during the healing process. For the closest doctor would have been in Twillingate and a visit to him would cost too much for the loggers and fisherman of Birchy Bay to afford. So out of the community rose certain individuals who shown their abilities and were held as respected doctors nurses and midwives. These were caretakers of the men and women of the bay,

3

Mr & Mrs. Andrew Canning
20th Century
Birchy Bay, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada

4

John And Lavinia Canning
20th Century
Birchy Bay, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada

5

For cuts and scratches a mix of "Fir Bladder" sap which was obtained from the local trees was applied. The natural resin of the sap allowed wounds to be covered and prevented blood flow. Also it is claimed that the fir sap would aid in the healing process. This was one of the most common types of natural medicine.
For coughs a mixture of molasses and kerosene would be heated up. A couple tea spoons of that and that would help with a cough.
For bladder trouble they would use a plant referred to as ground juniper. They would take this plant and steep it out. The mixture was then drunk by the person who was ill or just as a general tonic.
The general all purpose healer was cod liver oil. This oil was rationed out sometimes by the government and gave to the school children to be used amongst the family to help prevent sickness and malnutrition.

6

These men were also charmers, whether they were the sevenenth son of the seventh son, born after their father had died or because they were recongnized to have special talent. One of these charmers was John Canning. For when a person was suffering a toothache, breaking out with warts or experiencing some other grief "Uncle" John Canning was the one to call. It has been said that Uncle John would lay his hand on the affected area and pray. Many people claim that his method worked and that he was given a supernatural ability. One of the more modern charmers would be Arthur Lewis Jr, the son of George and Dora Lewis. Arthur was the seventh son and was said to have the ability to stop blood and to charm. Many people claim to have experienced his powers even his wife. She was told by the doctor that if it was not for her husband's gift she would of bleed to death. These Powers seemed to have disappeared, for families are much smaller and no longer seventh sons are born. No longer do we have to turn to these respected people, but to doctors who with knowledge and education can work wonders. While the charmers done it through sheer faith. Weather their method of supernatural medicine worked, the people stilled believed and many of the older people still revere the names of the charmers.

7

Arthur Lewis and Neice Hazel
20th Century
Baytona, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada

8

The midwives of the communities were also people who held special recognition. One woman Amelia Lewis, wife of Joseph Lewis was said to have born over one hundred babies. She also had born triplets in Birchy Bay the first of which was born here. Although one baby died saving two was a tremendous achievement. She no doubt had a great deal of knowledge on natural child birth; medicines and natural charms that she would use.

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Amelia Lewis
20th Century
Baytona, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada

10

"Granny's Path" as told by Andrew Lewis
2007
Baytona/Birchy Bay, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada

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Amelia Mews-Pioneer Woman of Birchy Bay
1920-1930
Birchy Bay, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada

12

Clayton Mews one of the elder men of Birchy Bay cut off one of his fingers. John Canning the son of the Elder John Canning was the doctor in the "bight" where Clayton lived. So Clayton went to John who serviced his wound. As Claytons wound began to heal, John noticed that proud flesh was starting to develop. So John got bluestone, an old remedy which consists of copper sulfate in a rock form and rubbed over the wound. This helped Clayton's wound to recover for the proud flesh would of made his finger worst. John kept applying bluestone until the proud flesh had receded and Claytons wound healed over.

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Clayton Mews
20th Century
Birchy Bay, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada

14

Stanley Canning, the son of Andrew had meningitis, and death was to be expected. In the last stages of the sickness, Andrew, Stanley's father and local "doctor" of sorts had taken on the initiative to heal the boy. So, he tied his son to the chair and started heating plates up on the stove. He applied the burning hot plates to his son's body starting at the top of his head moving down to the base of his feet. The sickness which was suppose to claim his sons life after that faded away and Stanley lived to be an elderly man.