causes, by attributing them to spiritual agencies.

According to this view, the majority of superstitious fancies are of
animistic origin. These include, not only many methods of primitive
psycho-therapy, but also the belief in goblins, haunted houses, and the
veneration of holy relics.

Magic writings have been and often are efficient psychic remedies for
functional affections, in direct proportion to the user's faith in them.
A certain sense of mystery seems essential. Given that, and plenty of
confidence, and it matters not whether the inscriptions are biblical
verses, unintelligible jargon, or even invocations of the Devil.

As an illustration of the attitude of the clergy towards the practice of
heathen medical magic in Britain during the seventh century, we quote
the words of an eminent French writer, St. Eligius, Bishop of Noyon
(588-659), as recorded by the English ecclesiastical historian, Rev.
Samuel Roffey Maitland (1792-1866), in his series of essays, entitled
"The Dark Ages":--

Before all things I declare and testify to you that you shall
observe none of the impious customs of the pagans, neither
sorcerers, nor diviners, nor soothsayers, nor enchanters, nor
must you presume for any cause, or for any sickness, to
consult or inquire of them; for he who commits this sin loses
unavoidably the grace of baptism. In like manner pay no
attention to auguries, and sneezings; and when you are on a
journey pay no attention to the singing of certain little
birds. But whether you are setting out on a journey, or
beginning any other work, cross yourself in the name of
Christ, and say the Creed and the Lord's Prayer with faith and
devotion, and then the enemy can do you no harm. . . . Let no
Christian place lights at the temples, or the stones, or at
fountains, or at trees . . . or at places where three ways
meet, or presume to make vows. Let none presume to hang
amulets on the neck of man or beast; _even though they be made
by the clergy, and called holy things, and contain the words
of Scripture_; for they are fraught, not with the remedy of
Christ, but with the poison of the Devil. Let no one presume
to make lustrations, nor to enchant herbs, nor to make flocks
pass through a hollow tree, or an aperture in the earth; for
by so doing he seems to consecrate them to the Devil.

Moreover, as often as any