(1) See "Medicine and Magic." (2) _Op. Cit_., p. 343 A curious and ancient amulet for the cure of various diseases, particularly the ague, was a triangle formed of the letters of the word "Abracadabra." The usual form was that shown in fig. 19, and that shown in fig. 20 was also known. The origin of this magical word is lost in obscurity. The belief in the horn as a powerful amulet, especially prevalent in Italy, where is it the custom of the common people to make the sign of the _mano cornuto_ to avoid the consequence of the dreaded _jettatore_ or evil eye, can be traced to the fact that the horn was the symbol of the Goddess of the Moon. Probably the belief in the powers of the horse-shoe had a similar origin. Indeed, it seems likely that not only this, but most other amulets, like talismans proper--as will appear below,--were originally designed as appeals to gods and other powerful spiritual beings. \ ABRACADABRA / \ ABRACADABRA | \ ABRACADABR / \ BRACADABRA | \ ABRACADAB / \ RACADABRA | \ ABRACADA / \ ACADABRA | \ ABRACAD / \ CADABRA | \ ABRACA / \ ADABRA | \ ABRAC / \ DABRA | \ ABRA / \ ABRA | \ ABR / \ BRA | \ AB / \ RA | \ A/ \ A | \/ \ | (1) See FREDERICK T. ELWORTHY'S _Horns of Honour_ (1900), especially pp. 56 _et seq_. To turn our attention, however, to the art of preparing talismans proper: I may remark at the outset that it was necessary for the talisman to be prepared by one's own self--a task by no means easy as a rule. Indeed, the right mental attitude of the occultist was insisted upon as essential to the operation. As to the various signs to be engraver on the talismans, various authorities differ, though there are certain points connected with the art of talismanic magic on which they all agree. It so happened that the ancients were acquainted with seven metals and seven planets (including the sun and moon as planets), and the days of the week are also seven. It was concluded, therefore, that there was some occult connection between the planets, metals, and days of the week. Each of the seven days of the week was supposed to be under the auspices of the spirits of one of the planets; so also was the generation in the womb of Nature of each of the seven chief metals. In the following table are shown these particulars in detail:-- Planet. Symbol. Day of Metal. Colour.