[122:2] J. P. Mahaffy, _Greek Antiquities_, p. 71. [123:1] J. B. Thiers, _Traité des Superstitions_, p. 420. [124:1] Herbert Spencer, _Principles of Sociology_, vol. iii, p. 37. [124:2] _The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire._ [125:1] M'Clintock and Strong, _Biblical Cyclopædia_, art. "Incantations." [125:2] Kurt Sprengel, _Histoire de la Médecine_, tome i, p. 123. [126:1] Rodolfo Lanciani, _A Manual of Roman Antiquities_, p. 357. [126:2] Frank Granger, _The Worship of the Romans_, p. 227. [127:1] C. W. King, _The Gnostics and their Remains_, p. 316. [128:1] _Archæologia_, vol. xxx, pp. 427-28; 1884. [129:1] Brand, _Popular Antiquities_, vol. iii, p. 269. [129:2] _Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms, and Superstitions of Ireland_, vol. ii, p. 74. [129:3] _Ancient Cures, Charms, and Usages of Ireland_, p. 9. [129:4] Vol. i, pp. 356 _seq._ [130:1] George F. Fort, _Medical Economy during the Middle Ages_, p. 296. [130:2] Vol. iv, p. 1698. [132:1] George F. Fort, _Medical Economy_, p. 296. [133:1] Robley Dunglison, _History of Medicine_, p. 18. [133:2] _The Sacred Books of the East_, edited by F. Max Müller, vol. xlii, p. 2. CHAPTER XI MEDICINAL RUNIC INSCRIPTIONS The discovery of the script of the ancient Germans, supposed to be of Egyptian or Phenician origin, was attributed to Wodan, who was regarded as the chief expert in magical writing. The so-called noxious runes were thought to bring evil upon enemies; the helpful ones averted misfortune, while the medicinal runes were credited with healing properties.[135:1] These ancient characters formed the earliest alphabets among the Germanic peoples, and are found throughout Scandinavia, as well as in Great Britain, France, and Spain, engraved upon monuments, stones, coins, and domestic utensils. The Gothic word _runa_ meant originally a secret magical character, and was used to signify a mysterious speech, song, or writing. The reputed inherent therapeutic qualities of medicinal runes were potent psychic factors, through the subconscious mind, in healing disease. The Anglo-Saxons made use of runic inscriptions, not only as curatives, but also to banish melancholy and evil thoughts. After their conversion to Christianity, biblical texts were substituted for the runes, and the art of composing the former was studied with as much care as had been devoted to the heathen charms.[136:1] The term _rune_ became a synonym for knowledge and wisdom; an oracular, proverbial expression.[136:2] The traditional belief of the Anglo-Saxons in the efficacy of healing runes persisted in the fourteenth century. When foreign medical practitioners settled in England at that period, the cures wrought by them were attributed to the superior virtues of the charms employed, rather than to their professional skill.[136:3]