70 
toner's address. 
prognosticator in disease, and his success in this led to 
his attempting to foretell coming events. 
Here the practice of magic begins, and seems a 
natural outgrowth from physic, and even antedates 
the development of religious ideas and observances. 
Fear is older than gratitude, and impulse is a more 
primitive faculty than reflection and judgment. It will 
readily be perceived that a people in the condition from 
which I draw this picture have not their mental powers 
sufficiently developed to fully appreciate laws either 
moral or physical. The perceptive faculties in such are 
as yet feeble and untrained ; the imagination and emo- 
tional part of their nature is much too obtuse to spec- 
ulate on a future state, or practice self-denial with a 
view to merit an eternal life. A belief in magic, 
therefore, probably represents the first recognition by 
man of the existence of some occult powers in nature 
above and not subject to himself 
As health and security from enemies were of the 
first importance in a barbarous state of society, these 
were the particular conditions which the magicians as- 
sumed to control and secure to their patrons. The 
Magi of the East, and other similar early orders of 
seers and priests, probably had their origin in this 
primitive condition of society."^ 
The origin of magic must be placed far back in history, if not at 
the very dawn of human society. The art in some form has been 
found among all uncivilized races; and lingering traces of it may be 
seen occasionally at the present day. In every age and country there 
are credulous persons who fall easy victims to the professors of the 
magical art. Among all primitive nations there have been found 
classes of persons laying special claim to the possession of divining 
power, and thereby exercising great control and influence over their 
contemporaries. Even the most powerful and civilized nations of 
