On the Marvelous Occurrences in the World

because perhaps the wind, passing through infected places and with the bad air moved, poisoned them; or perhaps on account of imagination alone, as for instance if the fame of the ancients spreads it abroad, whenever such a sound is heard, a prince dies. Whence I saw a lord of the land, stricken by infirmity, finally meet his death, with the common people relating that a dragon had fallen from the sky, and that this denoted the death of princes.

On the errors of taste and touch. Chapter III.

Regarding taste and touch, errors occur, such as when one passing through fire does not feel it; that a hand might be cut off without pain; that one is delighted in one food, while another finds it repulsive; indeed, we see this happening even to the same person at different times. There are those (as it is said) who do not eat, and nevertheless endure in health, and so concerning similar wonders. Note therefore, because if the internal faculty does not consider, a sensation of taste and touch does not occur. This is evident in those who are sleeping, and it is also evident in those who are awake when a man is thinking strongly; he does not feel outside heat or cold, unless it is violent, but he even eats without flavor. A time not too short is also required; hence, if a hand is moved through fire suddenly, it will not feel it; nor is a time too long required. Therefore, if by the art of medicine, a limb...