按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ssion who supported its claims。 The composition of this ointment was complicated； in the different formulae given by different authorities； but some substances addressed to the imagination； rather than the wound or weapon； entered into all。 Such were portions of mummy； of human blood； and of moss from the skull of a thief hung in chains。
Hildanus was a wise and learned man； one of the best surgeons of his time。 He was fully aware that a part of the real secret of the Unguentum Armarium consisted in the washing and bandaging the wound and then letting it alone。 But he could not resist the solemn assertions respecting its efficacy； he gave way before the outcry of facts； and therefore； instead of denying all their pretensions； he admitted and tried to account for them upon supernatural grounds。 As the virtue of those applications； he says； which are made to the weapon cannot reach the wound； and as they can produce no effect without contact； it follows； of necessity； that the Devil must have a hand in the business； and as he is by far the most long headed and experienced of practitioners； he cannot find this a matter of any great difficulty。 Hildanus himself reports； in detail； the case of a lady who had received a moderate wound； for which the Unguentum Armarium was employed without the slightest use。 Yet instead of receiving this flat case of failure as any evidence against the remedy； he accounts for its not succeeding by the devout character of the lady； and her freedom from that superstitious and over… imaginative tendency which the Devil requires in those who are to be benefited by his devices。
Lord Bacon speaks of the Weapon Ointment； in his Natural History； as having in its favor the testimony of men of credit； though； in his own language； he himself 〃as yet is not fully inclined to believe it。〃 His remarks upon the asserted facts respecting it show a mixture of wise suspicion and partial belief。 He does not like the precise directions given as to the circumstances under which the animals from which some of the materials were obtained were to be killed； for he thought it looked like a provision for an excuse in case of failure； by laying the fault to the omission of some of these circumstances。 But he likes well that 〃they do not observe the confecting of the Ointment under any certain constellation； which is commonly the excuse of magical medicines； when they fail； that they were not made under a fit figure of heaven。〃 ＇This was a mistake； however； since the two recipes given by Hildanus are both very explicit as to the aspect of the heavens required for different stages of the process。＇ 〃It was pretended that if the offending weapon could not be had； it would serve the purpose to anoint a wooden one made like it。 〃This；〃 says Bacon； 〃I should doubt to be a device to keep this strange form of cure in request and use； because many times you cannot come by the weapon itself。〃 And in closing his remarks on the statements of the advocates of the ointment； he says； 〃Lastly； it will cure a beast as well as a man； which I like best of all the rest； because it subjecteth the matter to an easy trial。〃 It is worth remembering； that more than two hundred years ago； when an absurd and fantastic remedy was asserted to possess wonderful power； and when sensible persons ascribed its pretended influence to imagination； it was boldly answered that the cure took place when the wounded party did not know of the application made to the weapon； and even when a brute animal was the subject of the experiment； and that this assertion； he as we all know it was； came in such a shape as to shake the incredulity of the keenest thinker of his time。 The very same assertion has been since repeated in favor of Perkinism； and； since that； of Homoeopathy。
The same essential idea as that of the Weapon Ointment reproduced itself in the still more famous SYMPATHETIC POWDER。 This Powder was said to have the faculty； if applied to the blood…stained garments of a wounded person； to cure his injuries； even though he were at a great distance at the time。 A friar； returning from the East； brought the recipe to Europe somewhat before the middle of the seventeenth century。 The Grand Duke of Florence； in which city the friar was residing； heard of his cures； and tried； but without success； to obtain his secret。 Sir Kenehn Digby； an Englishman well known to fame； was fortunate enough to do him a favor； which wrought upon his feelings and induced him to impart to his benefactor the composition of his extraordinary Powder。 This English knight was at different periods of his life an admiral； a theologian； a critic； a metaphysician； a politician； and a disciple of Alchemy。 As is not unfrequent with versatile and inflammable people； he caught fire at the first spark of a new medical discovery； and no sooner got home to England than he began to spread the conflagration。
An opportunity soon offered itself to try the powers of the famous powder。 Mr。 J。 Howell； having been wounded in endeavoring to part two of his friends who were fighting a duel； submitted himself to a trial of the Sympathetic Powder。 Four days after he received his wounds； Sir Kenehn dipped one of Mr。 Howell's gaiters in a solution of the Powder； and immediately； it is said； the wounds； which were very painful； grew easy； although the patient； who was conversing in a corner of the chamber； had not； the least idea of what was doing with his garter。 He then returned home； leaving his garter in the hands of Sir Kenelm； who had hung it up to dry； when Mr。 Howell sent his servant in a great hurry to tell him that his wounds were paining him horribly； the garter was therefore replaced in the solution of the Powder； and the patient got well after five or six days of its continued immersion。〃
King James First； his son Charles the First； the Duke of Buckingham； then prime minister； and all the principal personages of the time； were cognizant of this fact； and James himself； being curious to know the secret of this remedy； asked it of Sir Kenelm； who revealed it to him； and his Majesty had the opportunity of making several trials of its efficacy； which all succeeded in a surprising manner。〃 ＇Dict。 des Sciences Medieales。＇
The king's physician； Dr。 Mayerne； was made master of the secret； which he carried to France and communicated to the Duke of Mayenne； who performed many cures by means of it； and taught it to his surgeon； who； after the Duke's death； sold it to many distinguished persons； by whose agency it soon ceased to be a secret。 What was this wonderful substance which so astonished kings； princes； dukes； knights； and doctors？ Nothing but powdered blue vitriol。 But it was made to undergo several processes that conferred on it extraordinary virtues。 Twice or thrice it was to be dissolved； filtered； and crystallized。 The crystals were to be laid in the sun during the months of June； July； and August； taking care to turn them carefully that all should be exposed。 Then they were to be powdered； triturated； and again exposed to the sun； again reduced to a very fine powder； and secured in a vessel； while hot； from the sunshine。 If there seem anything remarkable in the fact