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

just as magnetic actions are observed between the hazel and metals, animals, and humans: Thus is the magnetism of wines flowering in cellars, which at that time are accustomed to ferment, boil, as if barley were flowering into beer, and become turbid. So too they have observed that when peas are flowering, more time is required for peas to be cooked at home; if wheat is flowering, if they wish to cook a floury porridge, the flour can neither be properly thickened nor can porridge be formed. Well known is the Magnetism of sound toward other bodies, for example, a bell to a bell, a string to a string, a flute to a flute, which if they contain an ether similar in quantity and quality, when moved, they move each other to similar sounds. With equal right, the magnetism of the resonant ether into animal spirits falls into this category, when, through the movement of musical harmony, various affections are excited in the movement of the animal spirits—for example, sadness and grief through slow movement, and joy and anger through rapid movement—and various diseases are cured, such as the cure of the Tarantulas. It would not be pointless to show the natural principles and causes of Magnetisms in magnetic cures, but I am forced to break the thread. I refer the Benevolent Reader to Helmont on the Magnetic Cure of Wounds, M. Marci, Restored Philosophy, the Institutes and College of the Excellent President, and the Most Famous Wedelius in the Amusements of Materia Medica, where he mentions among other things the cure of Soda a digestive/alkaline remedy made by the touch of Carlina leaves: Schmunck, Maxwell, and all those whom we cited at the end of chapter 1.

§. 6. Therefore, by reason of the first krites judge/criterion, so that we may also open an approach for ourselves to the opposites, all Magnetisms in Medicine are disapproved and reproved that (1) are alogoi irrational, absurd, aphilosophoi unphilosophical, fabulous, and which are mere traditional comments of simple and credulous minds, the natural causes of which, if you wish to investigate, would have to be summoned from the furthest Garamantes an ancient, remote people, symbolizing the ends of the earth. (2) Reproved are the Magnetisms of which a cause and principle is indeed given, not however within the hemisphere of nature, but a certain higher and more sublime celestial [power] of faith, and indeed having the Demon, the evil one, as author either immediately or mediately in its instruments.