On Popular IHu/tons. 49 



perfons. He quotes a cafe of witchcraft from 

 Zacutus, a Portuguefe phyfician, author of the 

 famous Definiton of a Spoon *i a young lady 

 was cured of convulfions, in prefence of Zacutus, 

 by putting a paper cap, filled. with magical cha- 

 rafters, on her head. Dr. Balthafar Han com- 

 municates to Sennertus the cafe of a Lady, who 

 was fubjedl to fudden eruptions of crojfes and 

 ajlrological charaSlersy on different parts of her 

 Ikin : it is remarkable that Dr. Warburton 

 quotes a fimilar ftory from Ifaac Cafaubon, to 

 fupport the miracles attending Julian's effort to 

 rebuild the temple of Jcrufalemf. Mercatus, 

 phyfician to Philip II. of Spain, a writer of un- 

 common accuracy and information, appears 

 ftrongly inclined to deny the cxfftence of fafci- 

 natory difeafes; but he is conftrained to ac- 

 knowledge them for two reafons; firft, becaufe the 

 inquifition had decided in favour of their reality j 

 fecondly, becaufe he had feen a very beautiful 

 woman break a fteel mirror to pieces, by a fingle 

 glance of her eyes, and blaft fome trees by 

 merely looking on them ; Jolo afpe£iu. 



Heurnius did not admit morbid fafcination, 

 but he came round very ingenioully to the com- 

 mon fuperftition. He finds it recommended to 



• See Echard's Dialogue, (agalnft Hobbes) and King's 

 Ufeful Tranfaftions. 



f See his Julian. 

 Vol. III. E drink 



