INTRODUCTION. XXV 



We daily observe what extraordinary things can 

 ^e achieved by persevering practice, and what 

 strange facts are brought to light by scientific in- 

 vestigation ; nevertheless, there are men of our day, 

 'who will not even admit the truth of animal 

 magnetism ; still less will they give credence to 

 that remarkable power of suspending existence, as 

 illustrated in the account of the Faqiieer HaridaSy 

 who could place himself in a state of asphyxia^ and> 

 after remaining buried in the earth for months, could, 

 •by pursuing his instructions, again be restored to life. 

 This fact is already known to the reading world, and 

 •appears in a detailed form, in this volume, page 127. 



We may perceive from what is passing around us, 

 that nature works destructively on one side, and pro- 

 ductively on the other; incessantly striving, as it were^ 

 to preserve a balance. In this continual change of 

 matter, subtile elements are generated which some- 

 times have pernicious influences on living beings,, 

 and occasion various diseases. We know, that the 

 preserving and healing power of nature fviz.y conser- 

 vatrix et viz mcdicatrix 7iaturae) may go hand in 

 hand with medical assistance, although we do not 

 know by what agency they operate ; nor do we 

 •know anything of the formation and constituent parts 

 of any disease, epidemical or endemical. Do we 

 know the nature of mineral, or, animal magnetism ? 

 electricity, attraction, or repulsion ? Who can say, 

 how aerolites are formed in the higher atmospheric 

 regions? The book of nature lies open before us; 

 but, who can decipher it ? 



The different qualities of a medicament can be 

 determined, only by careful and reiterated trials on 

 healthy as well as on diseased individuals. Experience 



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