Two Physical Treatises: On the Imposture of Healing Wounds by the Weapon Salve and On the Bleeding of Corpses

does not pertain to the separated thing, even if it is most highly similar.

187. But it is of such a kind as is used by demonic magicians.

188. Brought in not by the power of similarity, but by some demon, perfecting the healing in an occult manner.

189. It might heal by accident, while it would remove that which otherwise would prohibit the healing and the motion of the internal agent.

190. For it seems that a vapor might be able to exhale from the putrefaction of the blood in the weapon, which, seeking the wounded part on account of sympathia sympathy/affinity, would inflict harm upon it.

191. It also seems that the preternatural heat ignited in the weapon from putrefaction might be able to reach the affected place, and generate a phlegmonen inflammation there.

192. Indeed, it might create a hemorrhage or another influx of humors, by which natural healing would be impeded.

193. The fancy of the sick person also has some share of the cause, both in attracting and directing that spirit to the injured part, and in moving the humor and the healing principle existing in the body.

194. Everything seems to be prohibited by the binding of the weapon and the correction of the spirits through the medicine.

195. But these things, although they are splendid,