Modern Medicine X-Files

Modern Medicine will have to look beyond their text books to treat illnesses caused by jinns.

Brazil boy found with 40 needles in 'black magic rite'

17 December 2009

Needles in Brazilian Boy

A Brazilian toddler has been found with some 40 needles inside him, which police say his stepfather inserted during a possible "black magic" ritual.

Police said Roberto Carlos Magalhaes has confessed to sticking the sewing needles into the two-year-old boy, who is in intensive care at a hospital.

Mr Magalhaes said his mistress told him to ritually kill the child to take revenge on his wife.

A woman with hidden charm needles

J R Coll Physicians Edinb 2006; 36:211–212

Paper by SK Teo
Visiting Consultant, Department of Medicine, Alexandra Hospital, Singapore

ABSTRACT:

A 69-year-old Indonesian woman was discovered incidentally to have multiple fine small needles in the head and chest. They are known as charm needles, or ‘susuks’ in the Malay language, and are worn in the body as talismans. Inserting charm needles is encountered mainly in Southeast Asia and is related to traditional Malay beliefs, though the wearers also include Chinese and Indians.The needles do not cause pain or swelling and and are not visible externally. They should be left alone unless they lead to infection or interfere with surgical procedures or radiotherapy on the face and neck.

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