I^ PARACELSUS 



flammation existing in such a part, because it attracts the 

 superabundance of magnetism carried to that place by 

 the rush of the blood. The Mumia coming from the 

 body of a person continues to remain for a while in sym- 

 pathetic relationship (magnetic rapport) with the Mumia 

 contained in such a person, and they act magnetically 

 upon each other. If, therefore, the Mumia is extracted 

 from a diseased part of a person by a microcosmic magnet, 

 and the magnet mixed with earth, and an herb is planted 

 into it, the Mumia in the magnet will be extracted by 

 that plant, and lose its diseased matter, and react in a 

 beneficial manner upon the Mumia contained in the body 

 of the patient ; but it is necessary that the selected plant 

 should be one which bears the signature of the disease 

 with which the patient is affected,, so that it will attract 

 the specific influence from the stars. In this way 

 diseased elements may be magnetically extracted out 

 of a person and inoculated into a plant. This is called 

 the transplantation of diseases ; and diseases may, in a 

 similar manner, be transplanted into animals that are 

 healthy and strong, or the virus be transferred upon 

 other persons ; and many practices of sorcery are based 

 upon that fact.^ In this way diseases can be cured in 



^ It is nothing uncommon, especially in Mohammedan countries, to 

 see packages lying in the road tied together with a string. On opening 

 them, hair, bloody rags, excrements, &c., will be found. Such packages 

 are laid there by some sick persons or their friends ; they contain the 

 Mumia of the sick, and it is intended that he who opens the package 

 should get the disease of the patient, and the latter get well. Occasion- 

 ally such a " magnet " is buried under the doorstep of an enemy, so as 

 to cause him to walk over it and become sick. It is dangerous for sensitive 

 persons to handle such things. 



The mode of curing diseases by transplanting the virus into trees has 

 been used by the successors of Paracelsus, Tentzel, Helmont, Flood, 

 Maxwell ; and others practised them to a great extent, and acquired 

 great r( putations. They give some of the following instructions : — 



'* Many diseases may be cured by way of sympathy, by employing the 

 warm blood of the patient as a niagnet for the Mumia. The blood may 

 be extracted by venesection or cupping, and made to run into lukewarm 

 water or milk, and this is given to a hungry dog to eat. The process can 

 be repeated several times, until the patient recovers. 



