AKT. 15. HISTORY OF MEDICINE EXHIBITS WHITEBREAD. 5 



revengeful spirits of slain animals, especially deer. The disease can only be 

 driven out by some more powerful animal spirit. The doctor invokes the aid 

 of the Red Dog of the East, the Blue Dog of the North, the Black Dog of the 

 AVest, the White Dog of the South, and finally the White Terrapin of the 

 Mountain, in separate prayers. W])ile reciting the prayers the doctor rubs 

 ilie afflicted part with a warm solution of fern roots and at the end of each 

 appeal he blows once upon the part. Cat. No. 143,087, U.S.N. M. 



Incantations. — Magical words said or sung, A mode of treatment 

 employed by the Persians and Greeks, and transmitted by tradition 

 down ta the " folk-ii^dicine " of the present day. 



Abfacadabra.- — This vras one of the most famous of the ancient incantations 

 employed in medicine. Its mystic meaning has been the subject of much in- 

 genious investigation, but even its derivation has not been agreed upon. The 

 first mention of the word is found in the poem " De IMedicina Praecepta Sal- 

 uberrima," by Quintus Serenus Samonicus, a noted physician in Rome in the 

 second and third centuries. In addition to being used as an incantation it was 

 used as an amulet or charm. " Write several times on a piece of paper the 

 word 'Abracadabra,' and repeat the words in the lines below, but talce away^ 



ABRACADABRA abracadabra 



A B R A C A D A B R a b r a c a d a b r 



ABRACADAB abracadab 



ABRACADA abracada 



ABRACAD abracad 



ABRACA abraca ABRACADABRA 



ABRAC a brae BRACADABR 



ABRA abra RACADAB 



A B R a b r ACADA 



A B a b CAD 



A a A 



Fig. 3. ABRACADABnA. 



letters from the complete word and let the letters fall away one at a time in 

 each succeeding line. Take these away ever, but keep the rest until the writing 

 is reduced to a narrow cone. Remember to tie these papers with flax and bind 

 them round the neck." After wearing the charm for nine days it had to be 

 thrown over the shoulder into a stream running eastwards. This incantation 

 and charm was believed to be beneficial in treating fevers and various other 

 diseases (fig. 3). 



Incantation. — "A prayer and incantation for visiting of sick folkis." Used 

 by Agnes Sampson, a famous witch of England, who was burned in 1590. 



"All kindis of illis that euer may be, 

 In Chi-ystis name I conjure ye, 

 I conjure ye, baith mair and less. 

 By all the virtues of the mess. 

 And rycht sa, by the naillis sa, 

 Tliat naillit Jesu, and na ma. 

 And rycht sa by the samyn blude, 

 That reiket ower the ruthful rood, 

 Furth of the flesh and of the bane, 

 I conjure ye in Goddi.'-' name." 



