ARU. 15. HISTORY OF MEDICIXK EXHIBITS WHITEBREAD. 15 



Evil eye. — The belief in the })()wer of some persons to bring mis- 

 fortune, sickness, and even death to men or animals ])Y gazing- 

 at them, is one of the most ancient, widespread, and persistent of 

 human superstitions. This belief was, and is universal among sav- 

 age I'aces everywhere; it was sanctioned by the classical authors, 

 the fathers of the church, the medieval physicians, and is still a 

 matter of implicit faith with the people of many countries. In 

 former days, in England, people supposed to have the evil eye. 

 were put to death, antl so late as the seventeenth century two women, 

 who were believed to have fascinated and there])y caused the death 

 of the Earl and Countess of Rutland and their children, were 

 executed. Every form of magic has been resorted to for defense 

 against the evil eye, and objects innumerable, both natural and 

 artificial, have been credited with this power. 



Horns. — Horns, in one form or another, are, of all objects, the most common 

 defense against the evil eye. The people of Senegal, Palestine, Greece, Holland. 

 the Drnses of Lebanon, the Jewesses of Tunis, the women of South America, the 

 North American Indians, the Belgians and Saxons of old. all wore horns on 

 their heads in some manner, on headdresses or helmets, to ward off that awful, 

 iniiversal, unescapable. mystic glance that has continually harassed man in 

 all quarters of the globe. (See pi. 2.) Cat. No. 143..503, U.S.N.M. 



A)nulet. — A silver image of a merman, or Triton, with the body of a man and 

 the tail of a fish. One of many variations of amulet almost universally worn by 

 Italian children for protection from the evil eye and from sickness and acci- 

 dents in general. In this form perhaps specifically to protect from drownings. 

 Cat. No. 143,501, U.S.N.IM. 



Charms. — The charnis illnstr;ited in tigure S are made in England for the 

 Italian market where they are in general demand by the people, especially for 

 the pr<ite(ti<)n of children, who are supposed to be peculiarly susceptible to the 

 evil eye. Cat. Xos. 14:!.4S4-14:!.487, U.S.N.M. 



Sympathetica! cures. — A curious chapter in the history of medi- 

 cine is found in the jiopular belief in " sympathetical cures," which 

 prevailed in England during the reigns of James I and Charles I. 



Siiniputlietic poicdcr — Calcined copper sulpliate. — Powder formerly supposed 

 to have the property of curing a wound, if applied to the weapon inflicting it. 

 or a piece of the bloodstained garment. This method of healing was in liigh 

 repute during the seventeenth century, and learned essays were written to 

 prove that the unquestioned eft"ects produced by the powder were neither dia- 

 bolical nor magical but were caused by a peculiar emanation, which they called 

 '• magnetick." 



'■ The method, and primitive manner how to make use of this sympathetical 

 remedy, was to take onely .some vitriol, and dissolve it in raine water, in such 

 proportion, that putting therein a knife, or some polished iron, it should come 

 out changed to the color of copper ; and into this water they did put a rag of 

 cloth embrued with the blood of the party hurt. And every time that one put 

 new water of vitriol with fresh powder and new cloth, or other bloudied stuff, 

 the patient should feel new ea:-.euient as if the wound had been dressed v.itli 

 some sovereign medicament." 



