680  Egyptian  Secrets  and  Magical  Spirit  \Km'cJctr,\m^m' 
authority.  It  is  distinctly  a  book  of  faith  cures.  The  last  few 
pages  of  the  book  are  devoted  to  astrological  influences  upon  man 
and  the  magical  cures  of  the  old  Hebrews.  Among  the  latter  are  the 
following  examples : 
Diseases  of  the  Eye : — The  saliva  of  the  first-born  on  the  male 
side  (not  of  the  female  side)  is  effective  in  the  cure  of  eye  diseases. 
Fever : — Take  a  seat  on  a  cross-road  and  as  soon  as  you  observe 
a  large  ant  carrying  something,  take  her  up  and  place  her  in  a  copper 
tube.  Close  the  opening  with  lead  and  seal  it  with  sixty  seals,  shake 
the  tube  and  hang  upon  your  body  and  say  to  the  ant :  Thy  burden 
upon  me  and  my  burden  upon  thee. 
Another  literary  curiosity  is  found  in  the  book  of  Egyptian 
Secrets  by  Albertus  Magnus,  revealing  the  forbidden  knowledge  and 
mysteries  of  the  ancient  philosophers.  The  statement  is  made  in 
the  preface  that  this  book  was  issued  for  the  purpose  of  rendering 
a  great  service  to  mankind  and  in  order  to  bridle  and  check  the 
doings  of  the  devil.  It  is  also  claimed,  by  Albertus  Magnus,  that 
these  secrets  have  been  proven  and  found  efficacious  by  those  having 
the  true  belief. 
The  following  list  of  examples  taken  from  this  volume  gives  a 
fair  conception  as  to  the  nature  of  its  contents : 
For  Bad  Hearing.  Take  the  oil  with  which  the  bells  of 
churches  are  greased  and  smear  it  behind  the  afflicted  ears  and  relief 
will  not  fail  to  come  at  once. 
To  Make  Ones  Self  Invisible.  You  must  obtain  the  ear  of  a 
black  cat,  boil  it  in  the  milk  of  a  black  cow,  then  make*  a  thumb  cover 
of  it  and  wear  it  on  the  thumb  and  no  one  will  be  able  to  see  you. 
How  To  Be  Able  To  See  In  The  Darkest  Night.  Grease  the 
eyes  with  the  blood  of  a  bat. 
To  Ascertain  Whether  A  Sick  Person  Will  Become  Well  Again. 
Cut  a  piece  of  bread,  rub  the  patients  teeth  therewith,  and  throw  it 
before  a  dog.  If  the  dog  eats  it  the  patient  will  recover.  Otherwise 
the  disease  is  dangerous. 
To  Facilitate  Healthy  Sleep.  Procure  two  rabbit  ears,  place 
them  under  the  pillow  of  a  person  who  cannot  sleep,  without  his 
knowledge. 
To  Drive  The  Mice  Away  From  Barns.  Burn  a  rotten  crab  to 
powder,  fumigate  the  barns  with  it  and  all  the  mice  therein  will 
die. 
