Aitr. li 



HISTORY OF MEDICINE EXHIBITS WHITEBREAD. 



gods or demons, disembodied spirits of men, animals, })lants, or 

 minerals, or may be occult influences residing in, or exerted through, 

 certain natural objects. These agents or influences are brought into 

 action by invocations, sacrifices, incantations, and ccriMnonials of 

 various kinds. 



In so far as these magic arts produce physiological and remedial 

 effects, which they undoubtedly sometimes do, they might be classi- 

 fied under the head of psychic or mind medicine, the mental state 

 aroused by a firm belief in their efficacy causing modifications of 

 physiological function and even tissue change. 



^Nfagic medicine is especially characteristic of the earlier stages 

 of human development, when all natural forces were personified, 

 and disease and death believed to be caused by maligiuuit si)irits. 



Fu 



-Indian Medicine Max's Rattle. 



The collection only outlines the subject of magic medicine, which 

 covers a wide field for investigation and illustration. 



Exorcism. — Casting out evil spirits by religious or magic for- 

 mulas or ceremonies. A mode of healing the sick as old as the history 

 of medicine. Has been practiced by the people of all ages and in all 

 stages of civilization. It is still an authorized religious ceremony. 



Indian medicine man's rattle. — Made of wood, covered with buckskin in 

 imitation of a turtle. Used in tlie ceremonies of exorcism (tii;". 1). Cat. No. 

 165.848, U.S.N.M. 



Animal mask. — Worn l\v Indian medicine man in tlie practice of exorcism 

 (fig. 2). Cat. No. 67,9.57, U.S.N.M. 



Invocations. — Prayers for the assistance of disembodied spirits 

 of animals or men, or the mythical gods and heroes, or of the Deity, 

 commonly used as an accompaniment of other remedial measures, 

 are among the oldest, most persistent, and most widely diifused of 

 the means employed for the cure of disease. 



4.55.54— 2.5— Proc.N.M.vul.65 28 



