Epilepsy was to be cured by wearing a ring in which a portion of an elk’s horn was to be inclosed; while the hoof of an ass, worn in the same way, had the reputation of preventing conjugal debility.[232] Michaelis, a physician at Leipsic, had a ring made of the tooth of a sea-horse, by which he pretended to cure diseases of every kind.[233] Rings of lead, mixed with quicksilver, were used against headache; and even the chains of criminals and iron used in the construction of gibbets were applied to the removal of complaints. Rings simply made of gold were supposed to cure St. Anthony’s fire; but, if inscribed with magic words, their power was irresistible. With regard to rings supposed to possess magical properties, there is one with an inscription in the Runic character, on jasper, being a Dano-Saxon amulet against the plague. The translation is thus given: “Raise us from dust we pray thee, From Pestilence, O set us free, Although the Grave unwilling be.”[234] On another ring, inscribed with similar characters, and evidently intended for the same purpose, the legend is as follows: “_Whether in fever or leprosy, let the patient be happy and confident in the hope of recovery._”[235] Rings against the plague were often inscribed Jesus--Maria--Joseph or I. H. S. _Nazarenus_--_Rex_--_Judæorum_. A ring was dug up in England, with the figure of St. Barbara upon it. She is the patroness against storms; and it was most likely an intended amulet against them.[236] However, St. Barbara was not solely here depended upon, for it has around it Jesu et Maria. § 7. The ordeal of touch, by a person accused of murder, remarkably appears in an English trial.[237] There, the murdered woman, at the touch of the accused, “thrust out the ring or marriage finger three times and pulled it in again and the finger dropped blood upon the grass.” The report goes on to say, that “Sir Nicholas Hyde, seeming to doubt the evidence, asked the witness, ‘Who saw this besides you?’ _Witness._ ‘I cannot swear what others saw; but, my lord, I do believe the whole company saw it; and if it had been thought a doubt, proof would have been made of it, and many would have attested with me.’ The witness observing some admiration in the auditors, spake further: ‘My lord, I am minister of the parish and have long known all the parties, but never had any occasion of displeasure against any of them, nor had to do with them or they with me, but as I was minister, the thing was wonderful to me; but I have no interest in the matter, but as called upon to testify the truth, that I have done. My lord, my brother here present is minister of the next parish adjoining, and, I am assured, saw all done that I have affirmed.’” The clergyman so appealed to confirmed the statement; and the accused were convicted and hanged.