by two drops until the thirty-second day. On the dawn of the thirty-third day of the retreat a fresh bloodletting must be performed. Once this is done, the patient will immediately go to bed until the close of the fortieth day. As soon as the patient awakes after the second bleeding, he must take a grain of the Universal Medicine, which can be expected to produce convulsions, excessive perspiration, and purging in most cases. Now the subject may be permitted to take a little broth which has been made from lean meat, together with rice, valerian, vervain, and balm. The next day another grain of Universal Medicine will be taken. This medicine will be known as astral mercury in combination with sulphur of gold. On the thirty-sixth day a glass of Egyptian wine is drunk. On the following day the last grain of the Universal Medicine is taken. At this stage the patient may expect to fall into a deep sleep. During this sleep the hair, the teeth, the nails, and the skin will be renewed. On the thirty-eighth day a warm bath must be taken; herbs must be steeped in the water, and these will be rice, valerian, vervain, and balm. When the thirty-ninth day breaks, the patient must drink ten drops of Acharat Elixir in the medium of a small amount of red wine. On the fortieth day the subject will find that the work of rejuvenation has been completed and youth has been returned.
Jasper is a stone which prevents fever and dropsy. It is also highly reputed as a preservative against defluxions, the nightmare, and epilepsy.
Among the objects which possess curative properties are the bones of toads, old coins, and the teeth of wolves.
To cure most colds, take garlic cloves and chop them and wrap them in a small bundle. The patient must be put to bed under warm covers with the garlic bundle in a position as close as possible to his nose, to insure the constant breathing of the strong fumes.
Any medicine that contains gold leaf is especially effective in curing.
To cure drunkenness, ashes of toad mixed with brandy.
To ease the pain a baby suffers in teething, hang around its little neck a tooth extracted from a live mouse.
If the body is afflicted, take an eggshell and stuff it with horsehair; rub this on the afflicted part and it will absorb the disease, after which the eggshell and the disease may be easily discarded.
Betony, any plant of the figwort tree, gives relief from toothache.
Rue, a bitter woody perennial herb, is successful as an antidote for poison.
Those diseases of the breast which plague women can be made to disappear by the simple method of applying sedative cataplasms made of henbane. Henbane is a fetid Old World herb that contains a poison especially deadly to fowls; its leaves yield an extract used in medicine which has properties similar to those of belladonna.
Henbane is effective for irritable conditions; it can be used as a sedative in asthma or whooping cough.
For breast complaints of women, red clover is advised.
A sachet of belladonna applied to the stomach will ease the pain and convulsions of difficult childbirth. Belladonna is effective also for the gout and rheumatism.
If one has been bitten by a mad dog or by any venomous beast, he must drink wine in which verbena stalks have been boiled. Or he may apply to the wound directly leaves of the verbena plant.
Vervain and plantain are fine nerve tonics and can be used for feverish colds, fits, convulsions, and other complaints.
Take myrtle berries, dry and pound these, and preserve with the white of egg. When applied in the form of a plaster to the mouth and the stomach, they prevent vomiting.
Myrtle leaves applied in compresses on the forehead, as well as the temples and feet, will bring calm and healing sleep to sufferers of fever. Stubborn colds and severe head pains can be relieved by inhaling the warm vapors of an infusion of myrtle leaves. Myrtle is effective as well for chest complaints and night sweats.
Abscesses which often prove mortal under the scalpel of surgery can be cured by bean flour, applied to the breast. Some use ordinary white flour and honey for the same purpose.
Marshmallow, a European perennial herb, is the best cure for abscess.
To cure abscess, apply any of the following, alone or in combination—red clover, slippery elm, and aconacia, but only these.
Onyx has properties similar to those of jasper; also, it increases saliva in boys and sometimes brings terrible shapes to the dreamer, from which the future can be divined. If applied to the eye, onyx acts as if alive, creeping about and removing noxious matter.
Opal is said to recreate the heart, to preserve from contagion in the air, and to be fine for weak eyes, making them quickly stronger.
Mugwort is a cure for gout and for fever.
Lodestone is universally known to possess diverse magical properties. If one is ill, one has to hold the lodestone in one’s hands and shake it well. This will cure most wounds, snakebites, headaches, weak eyes; it will restore lost or weakened hearing.
Limachie is squeezed out of the head of a slug, which must be done the instant it is seen. This is an amulet highly effective against fever.
Red bezoar is known to have magical properties and is highly prized by all healers. It is a certain remedy against any poison and against contagion, whether it is taken internally or worn about the neck. There are nine varieties of bezoar and these differ greatly in composition, although all are found in the alimentary organs of animals; but generally these may be listed as those which consist mainly of mineral matter and those which consist mainly of organic matter. As to the origin of this stone, it is said that the stags of the Orient, when they became oppressed with years, fed upon certain serpents which restored their youth. But it was necessary to counteract this poison which was quickly absorbed into their systems, and for this purpose they plunged into running streams, keeping their heads above the water. A viscous fluid was distilled from their eyes, which was indurated by the sun’s heat and formed bezoar. But whether such is true or not does not lessen the effect of these stones.
Emerald can be seen to be an excellent preservative against decay; it promotes childbirth, and arrests dysentery. Also it heals the bites of venomous animals. It is good for the eyes.
Live earthworms should be placed on an infected wound to cause a cure.
To prevent food poisoning, unicorn horn is most favorable.
Mummy powder is regarded by most physicians as powerful in curing disease. For the best results this must be from the mummy of a saint, or that of a very healthy young person who has recently been drowned, or has been killed by a fall. Somewhat less effective, but still to be desired, are thieves cut down from the gallows or beheaded rebels. As this flesh yet radiates life power it can regenerate failing spirits.
If a red-haired person will boil children’s hair, this will produce an effective treatment for frost blisters.
Live toads are effective against bubonic pustules.
For very foul wounds, heap them with three handfuls of steamed pigeon’s dung.
Moss grown on a skull is sometimes effective for hemorrhage.
Frog’s eggs can be used as a disinfectant.
To bring forth the occult virtues in pearls, boil them in meat, then they will heal the quartan ague (malaria).
If pearls are
