1. R: How’s your husband now?
A: Oh, he’s getting along; the trouble is getting him to eat anything … I don’t know if it’s the pills they’re giving him or what, but he’s a lot better than he was, touch wood and whistle.
A reached out and touched the wooden edge of her work bench, but made no attempt to whistle
[Natural History Museum, London, July 1987].

2. Sussex children rub bruises, etc. on wood to speed healing:
Rub it on wood
Sure to come good
[Worcester Park, Surrey, February 1978].

Image: Reculver, Kent; February 2014.