Soefficaciousisfaithinthecureofanymalady，thatthepatientactuallyfeltmuchbetterafterathreeweeks’courseofthisprescription。Thenotablecharmwhichthequackhadgivenwasafterwardsopened，andfoundtobeapieceofparchment，coveredwithsomecabalisticcharactersandsignsoftheplanets。

　　Thenext-doorneighbourswereingreatalarmthatthewitch-doctorwould，onthesolicitationoftherecoveringpatient，employsomemeanstopunishthemfortheirpretendedwitchcraft。Toescapetheinfliction，theyfeedanothercunningman，inNottinghamshire，whotoldthemofasimilarcharm，whichwouldpreservethemfromallthemaliceoftheirenemies。Thewriterconcludesbysayingthat，“thedoctor，notlongafterhehadbeenthusconsulted，wrotetosaythathehaddiscoveredthathispatientwasnotafflictedbySatan，ashehadimagined，butbyGod，andwouldcontinue，moreorless，inthesamestatetillhislife’send。“

　　AnimpostorcarriedonasimilartradeintheneighbourhoodofTunbridgeWells，abouttheyear1830。Hehadbeeninpracticeforseveralyears，andchargedenormousfeesforhisadvice。Thisfellowpretendedtobetheseventhsonofaseventhson，andtobeendowedinconsequencewithmiraculouspowersforthecureofalldiseases，butespeciallyofthoseresultingfromwitchcraft。Itwasnotonlythepoorwhoemployedhim，butladieswhorodeintheircarriages。Hewasoftensentforfromadistanceofsixtyorseventymilesbythesepeople，whopaidallhisexpensestoandfro，besidesrewardinghimhandsomely。Hewasabouteightyyearsofage，andhisextremelyvenerableappearanceaidedhisimpositioninnoslightdegree。HisnamewasOkey，orOakley。

　　InFrance，thesuperstitionatthisdayisevenmoreprevalentthanitisinEngland。Garinet，inhishistoryofMagicandSorceryinthatcountry，citesupwardsoftwentyinstanceswhichoccurredbetweentheyears1805and1818。Inthelatteryear，nolessthanthreetribunalswereoccupiedwithtrialsoriginatinginthishumiliatingbelief:weshallciteonlyoneofthem。JulianDesbourdes，agedfifty-three，amason，andinhabitantofthevillageofThilouze，nearBordeaux，wastakensuddenlyill，inthemonthofJanuary1818。Ashedidnotknowhowtoaccountforhismalady，hesuspectedatlastthathewasbewitched。Hecommunicatedthissuspiciontohisson-in-law，Bridier，andtheybothwenttoconsultasortofidiot，namedBaudouin，whopassedforaconjuror，orwhite-witch。ThismantoldthemthatDesbourdeswascertainlybewitched，andofferedtoaccompanythemtothehouseofanoldman，namedRenard，who，hesaid，wasundoubtedlythecriminal。Onthenightofthe23rdofJanuaryallthreeproceededstealthilytothedwellingofRenard，andaccusedhimofafflictingpersonswithdiseases，bytheaidofthedevil。

　　Desbourdesfellonhisknees，andearnestlyentreatedtoberestoredtohisformerhealth，promisingthathewouldtakenomeasuresagainsthimfortheevilhehaddone。Theoldmandeniedinthestrongesttermsthathewasawizard；andwhenDesbourdesstillpressedhimtoremovethespellfromhim，hesaidheknewnothingaboutthespell，andrefusedtoremoveit。TheidiotBaudouin，thewhite-witch，nowinterfered，andtoldhiscompanionsthatnoreliefforthemaladycouldeverbeprocureduntiltheoldmanconfessedhisguilt。Toforcehimtoconfessiontheylightedsomesticksofsulphur，whichtheyhadbroughtwiththemforthepurpose，andplacedthemundertheoldman’snose。Inafewmoments，hefelldownsuffocatedandapparentlylifeless。Theywereallgreatlyalarmed；andthinkingthattheyhadkilledthe。man，theycarriedhimoutandthrewhimintoaneighbouringpond，hopingtomakeitappearthathehadfalleninaccidentally。Thepond，however，wasnotverydeep，andthecoolnessofthewaterrevivingtheoldman，heopenedhiseyesandsatup。

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