Devon charm to bring death upon someone

A woman carrying herring to be sold at a market. Cris de Paris, ca 1500. Paris, Biblioteque Nationale, Arsenal, Est. 264 Rés. Fol. 15, pl 13

"SEW into a garment which is worn next to the skin a long thin herring-bone. As the bone dries up, or withers, so will the person wearing it gradually pine away and die."

Hewett 1900