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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