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

§. 9. So that we may not pass over with dry feet those Magnetisms suspected because of their supernatural and indeed malign principle, that is, the Devil himself as author, we will provide a few examples on this matter. But before we do that, it must be taught that such Magnetisms, which we rightfully and deservedly call Demoniacal, recognize the Demon as author, either immediately, when they depend directly on him, or mediately, when, namely, he operates them through his organs, with whom he conspires for depraved or otherwise harmful effects by right of a covenant and pact, either express and formal or tacit and implicit. Such organs are hags, witches, poisoners, magicians (in the more infamous sense), and malefic enchanters, who, renouncing the baptismal covenant entered into with the Triune God, have pledged eternal service to the Devil; or they are also men who, without deliberate mind and counsel, unknowingly enter into a pact with the Devil, and with the malign spirit as cooperator and persuader, perform illicit deeds upon men, both distant and nearby. To this point belong Magical Magnetisms with various circles, characters, names, plants, roots, ointments, mirrors, rings, and even the Sacraments themselves, drawn into abuse in a forbidden manner and performing illicit things for the worst end. In this way, various kinds of fascinations are brought forth—not those taken in a broader sense for any harm brought by one to another without violent injury and without the concurrence of a higher cause, as certain men themselves unknowingly fascinate others, according to the Poet’s verse:

I know not who fascinates the tender lambs for me with his eyes,

or when a bleary eye brings the same affection of bleariness to others, by emitting closer effluvia or by striking terror, by which the Archeus the vital internal principle is variously moved and the spirits original: "♈︎" (Aries, used here as a symbol for vital spirit)—nowhere more mobile than in the eyes—are variously agitated, and thus a natural efficient principle is not entirely to be denied, see Marc. Marci: But we understand fascinations in a stricter, more exquisite, and infamous sense, with the fascinator’s mind to harm and the diabolical concurrence through illicit remedies. As when wasting away is brought upon children