[This garb, which resembled the dress often put on children in Scotland, called a polonie (i.e.
polonaise), is a very ancient modification of the Highland garb.

It was, in fact, the hauberk or shirt of mail, only composed of cloth instead of rings of armour.] He observed great ceremony in approaching Edward; and though our hero was writhing with pain, would not proceed to any operation which might assuage it until he had perambulated his couch three times, moving from east to west, according to the course of the sun.

This, which was called making the DEASIL, [Old Highlanders will still make the deasil around those whom they wish well to.

To go round a person in the opposite direction, or wither-shins (German WIDER-SHINS), is unlucky, and a sort of incantation.] both the leech and the assistants seemed to consider as a matter of the last importance to the accomplishment of a cure; and Waverley, whom pain rendered incapable of expostulation, and who indeed saw no chance of its being attended to, submitted in silence.
After this ceremony was duly performed, the old Esculapius let his patient blood with a cupping-glass with great dexterity, and proceeded, muttering all the while to himself in Gaelic, to boil on the fire certain herbs, with which he compounded an embrocation.

He then fomented the parts which had sustained injury, never failing to murmur prayers or spells, which of the two Waverley could not distinguish, as his ear only caught the words GASPER-MELCHIOR-BALTHAZAR-MAX-PRAX-FAX, and similar gibberish.