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

are nevertheless rash.

196. For if nothing reaches the affected part from the weapon, both the fear and the labor are rash.

197. That nothing can reach it, they will show both from the reasons which we will recount a little below, and from this fact: that often no blood remains in the weapon, or it is wiped away.

198. Afterwards, because a much greater force toward putrefaction should be in that blood which has flowed onto clothing, earth, and other things, which are also closer to the affected place than the weapon.

199. But as for what they say, that when the weapon is poorly treated, harm is felt in the wound, from which it is necessary that their argument be true:

200. We say that this does not always happen, and if it does, it is not something natural, but demonic or fortuitous.

201. Indeed, it is not always explored how the weapon stands in relation to the wound.

202. For a practitioner cannot know at a long interval whether the effect of the cure responds or not, and whether it remains disposed to be curable.

203. As for those who deny that this effect is demonic, we affirm that they are seduced by simplicity or labor under stubbornness.

204. For nothing prevents the demon from deceiving even those who are unaware, in order to obtain his end.

205. Not