HOWEVER That be, I very well know that when the Soul is elevated and inflam’d with a fervent IMAGINATION, it may not only affect its own proper Body, but also That of Another.
FOR the Longing of a Woman that has conceiv’d, acts apparently upon Another’s Body, when it marks the Infant in her Womb with the Figure or Mark of the Thing long’d for: Besides, who knows not that one Body may be easily affected with the Vapours of another diseased Body? As is plain in Cases of Plague, Leprosy, and several other Distempers. Thus also in the Effluvia’s or Vapours of the Eyes, there is so great a Power, that they can bewitch and infect the Beholders about them; as the monstrous Catoblepas, and Cockatrice or Basilisk, kill People with their very Looks[[45]]. So in like manner Witches by their intent Desire to hurt, have been thought to bewitch Persons most perniciously by their steady malicious Looks only, directed and inforc’d by IMAGINATION.
NOW this Force of IMAGINATION affecting other Bodies, holds good even among Brute-Creatures; as One bit by a Mad Dog, presently falls a-raging, and the Likeness of Dogs is clearly impressed upon his Urine. Moreover, by IMAGINATION in time of copulating, Peacocks and other Birds, impress a particular Colour upon the Wings, &c. of their Brood; and from hence it is, that the Curious may have store of white young-ones, by hanging the Places where they couple with white Linnen-Cloths, Papers, &c: As in Snowy Mountainous Countries we find always white Peacocks, Quails, Wolves, Hares, and other Creatures.
AND This holy Jacob[[46]] was not ignorant of, when he used that ingenious subtile Stratagem of placing white-streaked Rods before Laban’s Flocks; which also answer’d effectually, in the Cattle’s producing their speckled and white spotted Young. In like manner by the same Experiment, the curious Admirers may be supply’d with Variety of spotted Birds, speckled Horses, Dogs, &c.
THE Mind also being inflam’d with a vehement IMAGINATION, may affect both the Soul and Body of Another: Which we need not wonder at, considering how much more powerful, fervent, and prevalent the Mind is in its Motion, than any exhaling Vapours; and that it does not want its proper and peculiar Mediums by which it may operate.
THIS (I think) is also evidently shewn from the many Miracles, which we find have been done by Prophets, Apostles, and other Holy Men; (not to mention those Wonders of Pythagoras, Apollonius, Empedocles, &c. which cannot come in Competition with the Others, being ascrib’d to Natural Causes): Whose Minds being firmly fix’d upon God, with full Intent for Good, affected both the Souls and Bodies of others, as well as Themselves, with what Divine Gifts, or other Blessings, they wanted.
HENCE it is that Philosophers advise, to shun the Society of wicked and impious Men; because their Souls, being full (as it were) of pernicious Rays, infect them who are near, with a resembling Contagion: As they enjoin likewise on the other hand, to keep and frequent the Fellowship of good and fortunate Men; because (by such a Proximity) they are diffusive of their own Good, and infuse it into Those about them. For as Bad of something bad, so Good of something good, always descends and adheres to the nighest; which virtually (like the Smell of Musk, or Assa-Fœtida) continues a long time its lasting Impression.
HERE might be indeed a great deal said upon the Efficacy of the Constancy of the Mind; but because I’ve already been too prolix on this Head, I shall only observe, that in all our Business and Applications, a strong IMAGINATION, zealous Affection, firm Hope, and stedfast Belief, are great Advantages, and necessary Helps. As some most excellent Physicians have experimentally verified this Notion, that a strong Belief, and constant Hope, together with the Love and Confidence of the Patient towards the Physician, conduce very much to the Recovery of Health, and sometimes perhaps more than the Medicine itself: Because the firm IMAGINATION of the honest Physician concurring (in effect) with the Medicine, and strongly hoping it will do him Good, he thereby influentially changes the Symptoms, and virtually alters the Qualities in the Body of the Sick; especially if the Patient reposes an entire Confidence in him, by which means he becomes mutually disposed to receive the Virtue of the Physician, as well as That of the Physick.
THE[[47]]Arabian Philosophers join’d in this Opinion, establishing it for a Fundamental Maxim among them; that whatever the constant Mind affected with a fervent Desire, would be effected: As in the Case of the MIND of Him, who is vehemently in Love, whatever it affects, has an Efficacy to cause Love; and so in other such like Cases.
BUT however, to come closer to the IMAGINATION of the Pregnant Woman, who knows not that it affects the Infant in the Womb? Whence is it then that we have so many deform’d Persons, crooked Bodies, ugly Aspects, distorted Mouths, wry Noses, and the like, in all Countries; but from the IMAGINATION of the Mother; while she either conceives such shapeless Phantasms in her Mind, or while she frequently and intently fixes her Eyes upon such deform’d Persons or disagreeable OBJECTS? Wherefore it is very wrong, and highly imprudent in Women that have conceived, to please themselves so much in playing with Dogs, Squirrels, Apes, &c. carrying them in their Laps or Bosoms, and feeding, kissing, or hugging them, as I have both often heard, and seen with my own Eyes.