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

practice as it appears to a physician of an early dy- nasty. But, in order to become a spirit, it will be neces- sary to desert your present human habitation for a short space of time. You must become invisible, so that you may accompany me to the sick rooms of your fellow men. You must agree to undergo physical pain and submit to the agony known to mortals as death—which is, after all, but the renewal of life. I will remain with you but a few hours; at the end of which time I will restore your spirit to its primal abiding place, and leave you forever. This is the highest reAvard I can offer any man. Are you willing to travel with me ? " " Let me suffer the worst of tortures! " cried Paulus Androcydes. " I am willing to submit to any ordeal in order to learn ! " " Brave mortal! " exclaimed Athothis, in a tone of ad- miration. " I will teach you many curious things ; but, first of all, that your spiritual vision may be distinct, you must bow thrice to the east, saying aloud with each inclination of the body, ' Oh, Horus! Divine Horus! Thou son of Ra. I beseech thee let thy light shine on me !' Then, turning, look me in the eye for a single in- stant. Again incline your head. Then truly you shall learn how rapid is the transition from mortal to spiritual life." Without a moment's hesitation, and filled with great joy, Doctor Paulus Androcydes bowed to the Orient and repeated the invocation as directed. Turning, he gazed at Athothis, and looking straight into the Egyptian's eyes, he saw flashing in living letters of light the sym- bols T A 0. Before their dazzling splendor the physi- cian bowed his head. At the same instant an electric shock like lightning tore through the mortal's body, and