On superstitions connected with the history and practice of medicine and surgery / by Thomas Joseph Pettigrew.

Date:
1844
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On superstitions connected with the history and practice of medicine and surgery / by Thomas Joseph Pettigrew. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

    15/190
    CONTENTS. Introduction:—Value of Health—Veneration for Physicians— Empiricism—Paracelsus; bis character—The ‘Six Follies of Science’—Speculative Conceits of Learned Men Alchymy;—Origin of Chemistry—Geber—Alchymy of Egyptian origin ; evidence of it afforded by the Enchorial Manuscripts ; propagated by the Arabians—Objects of the Alchymists— The most celebrated—Royal Alchymists—Elias Asbmole ; his ‘ Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum’—Philosopher’s Stone— Mineral Stone — Vegetable Stone — Magical or Prospective Stone—Angelical Stone—Secresy of the Alchymists—Eminent Men chargeable with the folly—Girtanner’s Prophecy Astrology :—Origin of Talismans—Doctrine of Signatures—Pla- netary Influence—Sol-Lunar Influence upon Diseases—Colours of Substances—Gathering of Plants ..... Early Medicine and Surgery:—Ridiculous Speculations—Surgi- cal Instruments—Combined Duties of Physician and Surgeon ; when separated—First Surgical Operation—Royal Egyptian Physician wrote on Anatomy—Practice of Medicine with the Priesthood—Supposed Celestial Influence in the production of Diseases—Theological Anatomy—Appropriation of parts of the Body to various Deities—Zodiacal Constellations—Hippocrates the first Physician to relieve Medicine from the trammels of superstition—Egyptian Aesculapius—Magic and Divination— Prohibition of Priests to practise Medicine and Surgery— Various Decrees of Councils to effect the same—Miraculous Cures by the Interposition of Saints—Particular Saints for special diseases—Holy Cures—Holy Wells and Fountains—Relics of Saints ........... Talismans :—Cabalistical Characters — Astronomical—Magical— Mixed—Sigilla Planetarum—Hebrew Names and Characters— Phylacteries—Characts ....... Amulets:—Eastern origin—Various kinds—Grigris— Odd Num- bers—Abraxas—Abracadabra ...... Charms :—Origin of the term—Charm for Luxation ; for Protec- tion against Diseases in general; against Accidents; against Malignant Influences—Evil Eye — Epilepsy—Convulsions and Fits—Hysteria—St. Vitus’s Dance—Madness—Palsy—Sciatica —Lameness—Headach—Toothach—Plague—Fevers—Ague— page 1-4 5—16 17-24 25-42 43-46 47-54