Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/165

MAG times greater than it could bear in its natural state ; and, by loading it with ponderous bodies, its tbrce, instead of being diminished, is con- siderably improved. On the con- trary, by charging a loadstone with an inadequate weight ; exposing it to heat, rust and lightning ; by keeping it in an improper direftion to the" poles, or frequently drop- ping it on the floor, its virtues will soon be diminished. MAGNETISM, Aximal, a sympatijy which was lately believed to subsist between the magnet and the human body ; and, in conse- quence of which, the former was supposed to be capable of curing almost every disease. This fanciful system v/as origi- nally invented by Father Hehl, of Vienna, though first brought into general notice, in lyjQ, by M. Messmer, who realized a prince- ly fortune in France, by imposing ins doctrines on the fanatical and credulous : his pretended myste- ries were at lengdi completely de- veloped by a committee of learned and ingenious men, who were ap- pointed to investigate his preten- sions. Although this successful juggler refused to explain the prin- ciples of his art, yet from the ac- count of one of his most eminent pupils, it appears, 1. That animal magnetism is an universal fluid, pervading the hole creation, and forming a medium of mutual in- fluence between the planets ; and also between the earth and animal bodies. 2. It is the most subile fluid in nature, being capable of flux and reflux ; and of receiving, propagating, and continuing all kinds of motion. 3. That the ani- mal body is subjeA to the influence cf this fluid by means of tp.e urrves, "Wliich are immediately afl'etted by NO. X. — .VOL. III. M A G [145 it. 4. It operates at a distance, ^^•ithout die intervention of any person, 5. That, notwithstanding its universaUty, there are 'certaia animal bodies, which are not equal- ly susceptible of this fluid, and th* presence of which even destroys the etFeds of animal magnetism. Lastly, it cures all nervous disor- ders ivimediatdy, and others me- dlately : in short, its virtues extend to the universal cure and preserva^^ tion of mankind ! Such are some of the principle* of tliis wild and incoherent system, the fallacy of which has been so clearly pointed out, that we should have consigned it to oblivion, had not a similar farce been lately ob- truded, and is still operating, oa the biassed part of the public. We allude to certain metallic, or even wooden, points, which professedly charm aU paia from the bodies of animals, in whatever part it may be situated. — How is it possible to believe such absurdities, even though apparently corroborated by the testimonies of titled and unti- tled fanatics ? JMagxifyixg Glass. See Mi- CEOSCOPE. MAGPYE, or Corvvs pica, L. a crafty, and well-known Britisk bird, which is about 18 inches in length, and weighs from eight to .nine ounces. It has a black bill, wings, and tail ; but the latter are variegated with white, green, pur- ple, and blue of dift'erent shades. Magpies construiS their nests with art, making a thorny cover, and leaving a hole at the side for . admittance : the female deposits six or seven pale greenish eggs, tliickly spotted with black. Simi- lar to the crow, this bird feeds in- discriminately on both animal and vegetable substances 3 and, like the L xaven.