Inaugural Physico-Medical Dissertation on the Magnetism of the Macrocosm and Microcosm

(the aforementioned qualities, namely) they possessed more than the Sibylline leaves a reference to the cryptic nature of the Sybil's prophecies when rendering and explaining the causes of more obscure things: What is more, many, through the masked abuse of the Magnet and Magnetisms, presented effects often suspected of foul and stupid superstition, or even diabolical Nicromantiâ necromancy, through a vain and profane popery of the Magnet and Magnetisms to those who are simpler and too credulous: In this way, they strove to smear a certain ceruse a white lead cosmetic used for masking of naturalness upon absurd, nay, detestable effects in Physics as well as Medicine, so that you would have sworn that what were works of the Demon were effects of nature itself. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to properly and strictly discern the approved and unapproved magnetisms in Medicine, lest, deceived by the pigment of naturalness, we deem ourselves ministers not of Nature, but of the Devil. Considering this, I wished to exhibit the nature of both magnetisms, delineated in the briefest lines and illustrated with a few examples, in place of an Inaugural Dissertation and for the sake of informing myself. I contend with the most devout and human prayers that the gracious Alma Trias The Holy Trinity may assist these juvenile efforts of mine, and the Benevolent Reader may weigh them with an impartial judgment of mind!

CHAP. I.

This is a preliminary and, as it were, propaedeutic chapter, which will provide no small light for the nature of both magnetism, namely the approved and the unapproved, to be examined with happier success in the following pages. It is divided by the common law of method into two parts, the former of which is called Onomatology, the latter Pragmatology.