Volume 1

The occult sciences. The philosophy of magic, prodigies, and apparent miracles / From the French of Eusèbe Salverte, with notes illustrative, explanatory, and critical, by Anthony Todd Thomson.

  • Salverte, Eusèbe, 1771-1839.
Date:
1847
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The occult sciences. The philosophy of magic, prodigies, and apparent miracles / From the French of Eusèbe Salverte, with notes illustrative, explanatory, and critical, by Anthony Todd Thomson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    321/350 (page 313)
    T1i6 influence of nioclulcitecl sounds upon uni- niais must liave been more studied formerly than it is in the présent day ; the experiments were inoie varied, and their results moie extended. liCt us remeinber that, in the temples, they sought out and tried every method of working what they desiied to be regarded as miracles ; and what won- der conld be more seducing or more worthy of be- ing lepresented in the célébration of those myste- ries, ol which Orpheus was one of the pn'ncipal founders, than that which realized the brilliant miracle of that musician 1 We are ignorant how far the moral development of animais extends. We, who in our relations with them, obtain every thing by terror, by con- straint, by hardship, and by punishments, rarely or never seek to know what may be obtained from them by mildness, by caresses, or by amiable feel- ings. W e seem practically to follow the absurd opinion of Descartes : we treat animais as if they were only machines. Less enlightened nations than ourselves treat them as sensible beings, as créatures not less susceptible of kindness than men —beings who may be led by good treatment, and by that part of their feelings and affections of which these nations know how to take îidvantage. what can be thus obtained, renders probable ail that ancient authors hâve related of savage animais which hâve become domesticated, and bave even been rendered affectionate. Cynocephali hâve lost their love of unsettled independence, and bnlls their wikl and suspicions temper ; even lions and eagles ave lowered their pride, and exchanged it for a nfio by the firing, yet it is not likely that Wp mn continue to such an extent as to cause death. s.inna susceptibility of dogs for iiervoùs systemlEÏ concussion of the air on his