The medieval priests and monks, who were actively interested in the development of medical science, encouraged the therapeutic use of such relics. Miraculous agencies were the more eagerly sought after on account of the popular belief in devils and witches as morbiferous creatures. The reliquary, or repository for relics, was regarded as the most precious ornament in the lady's chamber, the knight's armory, the king's hall of state, and in the apartments of the pope or bishop.[171:1] Gradually the custom of relic-worship degenerated into idolatry. In the year 1549 John Calvin published a tract on the subject, wherein he stated that the great majority of alleged relics were spurious, and that it could be shown by comparison that each Apostle had more than four bodies, and that every Saint had two or three at least. The arm of Saint Anthony, which had been worshipped at Geneva, when removed from its case, proved to be part of a stag. Among the vast number of precious relics, presumably false, which were exhibited at Rome and elsewhere, were the manger in which Christ was laid at his birth, the pillar on which he leaned, when disputing in the temple, and the waterpots in which he turned water into wine at the marriage feast of Cana at Galilee.[171:2] FOOTNOTES: [165:1] _Century Dictionary._ [166:1] E. Cobham Brewer, _A Dictionary of Miracles_, art. "Relics." [167:1] Otto A. Wall, M.D., _The Prescription_. [168:1] _Boston Courier_, March 26, 1910. [168:2] Dr. Hugo Magnus, _Superstition in Medicine_. [169:1] H. C. Sheldon, _op. cit._ [169:2] William Smith and Samuel Cheetham, _A Dictionary of Christian Antiquities_, art. "Relics." [170:1] _All the Year Round_, vol. 69, p. 246; 1891. [170:2] _Time_, vol. v; February, 1887. [171:1] Henry Hart Milman, D.D., _History of Latin Christianity_, vol. vi, p. 248. [171:2] Philip Schaff, _History of the Christian Church_. CHAPTER XVI THE HEALING INFLUENCE OF MUSIC Dubito, an omnia, quae de incantamentis dicuntur carminibusque, non sint adscribenda effectibus musicis, quia excellebant eadem veteres medici. HERMANN BOERHAAVE. (1668-1738.) Preposterous ass! that never read so far To know the cause why music was ordained. Was it not to refresh the mind of man, After his studies, or his usual pain?-- _The Taming of the Shrew_, Act III, Scene 1. I think sometimes, could I only have music on my own terms, could I live in a great city, and know where I could go whenever I wished and get the ablution and inundation of musical waves, that were a bath and medicine. R. W. EMERSON. Musick, when rightly order'd, cannot be prefer'd too much. For it recreates and exalts the Mind at the same time. It composes the Passions, affords a strong Pleasure, and excites Nobleness of Thought. . . .