Athothis : a satire on modern medicine / by Thomas C. Minor.

taught that these demons strove to overthrow and destroy human happiness with false doctrines. Pythagoris and Plato possessed strong mediumistic power, and invoked the presence of these evil phantoms at will. They learned the art in Egypt, where, instructed hy the Brotherhood of the Sphinx, they took the 85° as Grand Masters of the Memphian Magic." "Enough !" cried Paulus Androcydes ; " for, by the spirit of the demon who lurked at the sword-hilt of Paracelsus, I swear to unravel this mystery ; and should I become infected with this strange malady known as spirit- ualism, I shall, on my return to physical life, resort to the remedies prescribed for such an affliction by Avicenna, Rhazes, and Sennertus. Yet, tell me before we enter the mansion of Professor Diabolus, how, on awakening, I may test the truth of these mysteries ?" " Should you wish to invoke the presence of these demons," said Athothis, " remember that they always assume the appearance of mortals when presenting themselves to human eyes. Should you desire to see the apparition of some departed friend, gaze fixedly on the bright, shining sun for the space of five minutes, in the meantime concentrating your mind on your friend as he appeared in life ; then quickly darken the room, and lo ! standing before you will be the counterpart of him you desire to meet." " This is shallow trickery," responded Paulus An- drocydes, " and a mere illusion caused by the combined action of an irritated retina on an overexcited mind. Besides, such a test might induce blindness, owing to the dazzling brightness of the sun's rays on weak eyes." " To see these ghostly shadows at night," continued Athothis, endeavoring to restrain a spiritual smile, " fol-