Disputatio physica expendens rationes & caussas, cur plurimi ab esu casei abhorreant

ridiculous, or they deny things that have been confirmed by experience. However, since those things that are commonly referred to as occult qualities not only argue for the blindness of our mind (which is not sufficient to let itself down into the penetralia of nature, and to clearly know those things which, on the part of the things themselves, are clear and manifest), but are also to a great extent fabulous, and it was not said in vain by that greatest of men, Erastus, in Part 1, Disputation against Paracelsus, page 187: "The greatest part of those things found written about the occult antipathy and sympathy of things is vain and false." Furthermore, since in this century the very mystery of the magnet (which not only Scaliger, but also most of the ancients thought to be inexplicable to man) has been explained almost exactly through manifest causes by the tireless diligence and skillful ingenuity of the greatest men, it can by no means be held against us by anyone if we have set out to inquire somewhat more diligently, at least into the probable and experimental causes of some natural mystery, which, occurring in certain people, has struck many with singular wonder, yet has not hitherto been conveniently scrutinized and examined by anyone.

II. Before I set out to do this, it will not be beside the point to have premised a few things for the explanation of the history.