416 METALS—THE NOBLER.
mystical cover, and found inside only these disappointing Latin characters : Diabolus tibi effodial oculos ; impleat foramina stercoribus. " May the Devil dig out your eyes ; and fill their sockets with turds."
F. Barrett, in his Occult Philosophy, 1801
(see our Introduction, page 10), says, " We have taught that our own
spirit is the vehicle of celestial attraction, transferring celestial,
and spiritual virtue into seals, amulets, rings, glasses, etc. Also we
have not forgot to give the most clear and rational illustration of
sympathy and antipathy ; attraction and repulsion. We have likewise
proved how cures are performed by virtue of sympathetic powers, and
medicines, by seals, rings, and amulets, even at unlimited distances,
which we have been witnesses of, and are daily confirmed in the true
and certain belief of. We know how to communicate with any person, and
to give him intimation of our purpose, at a hundred, or a thousand
miles distance ; but then a preparation is necessary, and the parties
should have their appointed seasons, and hours for that purpose.
Likewise both should be of the same firm constancy of mind, and a
disciple, or brother in art."
Charcot's
experiments concerning the varied effects of particular metals when
applied externally over different portions of the skin-surface of
persons who were highly sensitive as to their nervous system, indeed,
in some cases positively hysterical, were conducted likewise by Dr.
Burg.
He
observed that as soon as small plates of metals have been brought into
intimate contact with skin-regions which, through disease, had lost
their capacity for touch, or sensation, those regions—previously pale,
and flaccid—recovered their sensibility, whilst an
