394 
SUPERSTITION. 
early times, when much superstition existed in connexion 
with medicine. 
Dr. Paris, in his f Pharmacologia/ adverting to this subject, 
says, “ It is, however, necessary to state that many of the 
practices which superstition has at different times suggested, 
although in themselves extremely absurd, have by accident 
possessed natural powers of considerable efficacy, or have led 
to results and discoveries of great practical importance. The 
most remarkable instance of this kind upon record is, that of 
the sympathetic powder of Sir Kenelm Digby, Knight of 
Montpelier. Whenever any wound had been inflicted, this 
powder was applied to the weapon that had inflicted it, 
which was, moreover, covered with ointment, and dressed two 
or three times a day. The wound itself, in the mean time, 
was directed to be brought together, and carefully bound up 
with clean linen rags, but, above all, to be let alone 
for seven days ; at the end of which period the bandages were 
removed, when the wound was generally found perfectly 
united. The triumph of the cure was decreed to the myste- 
rious agency of the sympathetic powder which had been so cun- 
ningly applied to the weapon, whereas it is hardly necessary 
to observe, that the promptness of the cure depended upon 
the total exclusion of air from the wound, and upon the 
sanative operations of Nature, not having received any dis- 
turbance from the officious interference of art. The result, 
beyond all doubt, furnished the first hint which led surgeons 
to the improved practice of healing wounds by what is tech- 
nically called the * first intention .’ 
“The rust of the spear of Telephus, mentioned in Homer 
as a cure for the wounds which that weapon inflicted was 
probably verdigris , and led to the discovery of its use as a 
surgical application. 
“ Soon after the introduction of gunpowder, cold water was 
very generally employed throughout Italy, as a dressing to 
gunshot wounds ; not, however, from any theory connected 
with the influence of diminished temperature or moisture, 
but from a supposed supernatural agency imparted to it by 
certain mysterious and magical ceremonies, which were daily 
performed immediately previous to its application. The con- 
tinuance of the practice, however, threw some light upon the 
surgical treatment of these wounds, and led to a more rational 
management of them.’ 5 
The like superstitious practice is repeatedly alluded to by 
poets. Thus Dryden has introduced it in his Enchanted 
Island , Act v, sc. 2. 
