Origin of Alchemy--Argument for Transmutation--Golden Age of Alchemy--Alchemists in the 13th century--Medals metaphorically described--Jargon of Dr. Dee--The Green Lion--Roger Bacon--Invention of Gunpowder--Imprisonment of Alchemists--Edict of Henry VI.--Pope John XXII.--Pope Sixtus V.--Alchemy applied to Medicine--Paracelsus--Evelyn’s hesitation about Alchemy--Narrative of Helvetius--Philadept on Alchemy--Rosicrucians--A Vision--Hayden’s description of Rosicrucians--Dr. Price--Mr. Woulfe--Mr. Kellerman. 230 CHAPTER XVIII. Supposed Origin of Astrology--Butler on the Transmission of Astrological Knowledge--Remarks on Astrology by Hervey--Petrarch’s Opinion of Astrology--Catherine of Medicis--Casting of Nativities in England--Moore’s Almanack--Writers for and against Astrology--Horoscope of Prince Frederick of Denmark--Astrologers contributed sometimes to realize their own Predictions--Caracalla 244 CHAPTER XIX. State of Medicine in remote Ages--Animals Teachers of Medicine--Gymnastic Medicine--Cato’s Cure for a Fracture--Dearness of ancient Medicines and Medical Books--Absurdity of the ancient Materia Medica: Gold, Bezoar, Mummy--Prescription for a Quartan--Amulets--Virtues of Gems--Corals--Charms--Charm for sore Eyes--Medicine connected with Astrology--Cure by Sympathy--Sir Kenelm Digby--The real Cause of the Cure--The Vulnerary Powder, &c.--The Royal Touch--Evelyn’s Description of the Ceremony--Valentine Greatrakes--Morley’s Cure for Scrofula--Inoculation--Vaccination--Dr. Jenner--Animal Magnetism--M. Loewe’s Account of it--Mesmer, and his Feats--Manner of Magnetizing--Report of a Commission on the Subject--Metallic Tractors--Baron Silfverkielm and the Souls in White Robes--Mr. Loutherbourg--Empirics--Uroscopy--Mayersbach--Le Febre--Remedies for the Stone--The Anodyne Necklace--The Universal Medicine 250 CONCLUDING CHAPTER. Superstition of the Hindoos--The Malays--Asiatic Superstitions--The Chinese--Miracle of the Blessed Virgin--Stratagem of an Architect--Michael Angelo’s Cupid--Statue of Charles I.--Ever-burning Sepulchral Lamps--Lamp in the Tomb of Pallas--The art of Mimicry--Superiority of the Ancients--Fable of Proteus--Personation of the insane Ajax--Archimimes at funerals--Demetrius the cynic converted--Acting portraits and historical pictures--War dances of the American Indians--The South Sea Bubble--Gay the poet--Law’s Mississippi Scheme--Numerous Bubbles--Speculations in 1825 274 SKETCHES OF IMPOSTURE, DECEPTION, AND