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

(3) Occult qualities are spurious causes of Magnetisms. For these qualities are not to be taken in and of themselves absolutely—as if they could not be understood at all, which would be entirely absurd to assert—but rather comparatively in relation to our intellect, insofar as they are not known and understood by us; but viewed in this way, they behave merely privatively, so that they are in no way to be numbered among the causes of real effects. What we feel concerning occult qualities, we shall set forth succinctly below in the second chapter.

§. 20. There remain many things that deserve to be brought forward in this place, e.g., by whom and when magnetic virtue was invented, concerning which see Pomarius on the Agreement and Dissension of Natural Bodies. For various names of the magnet, see the Bibliotheca of Photius, the Philosophy of Magnets of Gilbert, and the Natural Magic of Porta. Concerning the diversity of colors, gravity, virtue and efficacy, density, place of origin, and weight, see Francis Bacon of Verulam in his Phenomena of the Universe or History for Founding Philosophy; there the occasion will be provided for reading the experiments of those who wrote tables of gravity and levity. Likewise, how polarity and inclination toward the poles of the world occur. Why does the magnet become more efficacious the closer it is to the earth? And what are the many other things equally pleasant and useful. But here we refer you to the authors hitherto alleged. If it should please you to unroll more, there may be added Eduard Medeira on Magnetic Qualities, Maxwell on Magnetic Medicine, Barlow on Magnetic Observations, Nic. Cabeus, S.J. on Magnetic Philosophy, Leotaud, S.J. on Magnetology, Schweighardt on Magnetic Nature, Powers, and Effects, Zucchi, Burggrav, Goclenius, Robert, and others. We proceed to

CHAPTER II.

Which exhibits many real examples, and a few of both kinds, of Magnetism in Medicine, as much approved as reproved.