PREFACE.
It is surprising, considering the gigantic strides effected by modern science, how many of the errors and prejudices engendered by the ignorance of the dark ages remain current in the world in its present days of enlightenment. Like the winged seeds of certain weeds, their light and impalpable nature renders them only the more difficult of extirpation.
A cursory review and refutation of these popular prejudices and vulgar errors has been attempted in the following Manual. A more scientific analysis of so spreading a field would have expanded into a Cyclopædia. But the ancient traditions and modern instances collected in its pages may afford the reader amusement and instruction for the passing hour, as well as an incentive to more profound investigations in hours to come.
LONDON,
NOVEMBER, 1845.
CONTENTS.
| PAGE | |
| [CHAPTER I.] | |
| LONGEVITY OF ANIMALS | [1-10] |
| [CHAPTER II.] | |
| INCOMBUSTIBLE MEN | [11-22] |
| [CHAPTER III.] | |
| VENTRILOQUISTS | [23-31] |
| [CHAPTER IV.] | |
| POPE JOAN AND THE WANDERING JEW | [32-36] |
| [CHAPTER V.] | |
| THE FABLES OF HISTORY | [37-45] |
| [CHAPTER VI.] | |
| MELONS AND MONSTERS | [46-53] |
| [CHAPTER VII.] | |
| THE JEWS | [54-60] |
| [CHAPTER VIII.] | |
| VERBAL DELICACY | [61-64] |
| [CHAPTER IX.] | |
| AEROLITES AND MIRACULOUS SHOWERS | [65-74] |
| [CHAPTER X.] | |
| NOSTRUMS AND SPECIFICS | [75-82] |
| [CHAPTER XI.] | |
| PHYSIOGNOMISTS | [83-95] |
| [CHAPTER XII.] | |
| LAST WORDS OF DYING PERSONS | [96-98] |
| [CHAPTER XIII.] | |
| THE ANTIPODES—MORNING AND EVENING DEW | [99-102] |
| [CHAPTER XIV.] | |
| PERPETUAL LAMPS AND ARCHIMEDES | [103-109] |
| [CHAPTER XV.] | |
| THE LYNX AND THE CAMELEON | [110-115] |
| [CHAPTER XVI.] | |
| WILD WOMEN | [116-118] |
| [CHAPTER XVII.] | |
| SYBILS | [119-123] |
| [CHAPTER XVIII.] | |
| FORTUNE-TELLERS AND CHIROMACY | [124-130] |
| [CHAPTER XIX.] | |
| ALBERTUS MAGNUS AND NOSTRADAMUS | [131-137] |
| [CHAPTER XX.] | |
| LEECHES, SERPENTS, AND THE SONG OF THE DYING SWAN | [138-146] |
| [CHAPTER XXI.] | |
| NEGROES | [147-160] |
| [CHAPTER XXII.] | |
| FASCINATION; OR, THE ART OF PLEASING | [161-170] |
| [CHAPTER XXIII.] | |
| THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE | [171-177] |
| [CHAPTER XXIV.] | |
| GIANTS AND DWARFS | [178-183] |
| [CHAPTER XXV.] | |
| ASTROLOGY | [184-190] |
| [CHAPTER XXVI.] | |
| THE MOON AND LUNAR INFLUENCE | [191-193] |
| [CHAPTER XXVII.] | |
| APPARITIONS | [194-201] |
| [CHAPTER XXVIII.] | |
| NOBILITY AND TRADE | [202-208] |
| [CHAPTER XXIX.] | |
| MERIT AND POPULARITY | [209-219] |
| [CHAPTER XXX.] | |
| COMETS | [220-223] |
| [CHAPTER XXXI.] | |
| POPULAR ERRORS | [224-232] |
| [CHAPTER XXXII.] | |
| DREAMS | [233-237] |
| [CHAPTER XXXIII.] | |
| PREJUDICES ATTACHED TO CERTAIN ANIMALS | [238-243] |
| [CHAPTER XXXIV.] | |
| CONTENT AND COURTESY | [244-248] |
| [CHAPTER XXXV.] | |
| THE DIVINING ROD | [249-254] |
| [CHAPTER XXXVI.] | |
| BEES AND ANTS | [255-260] |
| [CHAPTER XXXVII.] | |
| PREPOSSESSIONS AND ANTIPATHIES | [261-265] |
| [CHAPTER XXXVIII.] | |
| THE INFLUENCE OF BELLS UPON THUNDER STORMS | [266-269] |
| [CHAPTER XXXIX.] | |
| SMALL POX AND VACCINATION | [270-273] |
| [CHAPTER XL.] | |
| PRECOCIOUS AND CLEVER CHILDREN | [274-279] |
| [CHAPTER XLI.] | |
| EDUCATION OF CHILDREN | [280-282] |
| [CHAPTER XLII.] | |
| PREJUDICES OF THE FRENCH | [283-288] |
| [CHAPTER XLIII.] | |
| MONSTROUS BIRTHS | [289-293] |
| [CHAPTER XLIV.] | |
| THE ICHNEUMON AND THE HALCYON | [294-295] |
| [CHAPTER XLV.] | |
| SORCERERS AND MAGICIANS | [296-300] |
| [CHAPTER XLVI.] | |
| MALE AND FEMALE | [301-307] |
| [CHAPTER XLVII.] | |
| MINOR SUPERSTITIONS | [308-309] |
| [CHAPTER XLVIII.] | |
| SOMNAMBULISM | [310-314] |
| [CHAPTER XLIX.] | |
| A FEW MORE WORDS ABOUT GHOSTS AND VAMPIRES, AND LOUP-GAROUX | [315-344] |
| [CHAPTER L.] | |
| APOCRYPHAL ANIMALS | [345-352] |
| [CHAPTER LI.] | |
| PROFESSIONS ESTEEMED INFAMOUS | [353-356] |
| [CHAPTER LII.] | |
| SUPERNATURAL HUMAN BEINGS | [357-361] |