John George Hohman's Pow Wows or Long Lost Friend
John George Hohman's Pow Wows or Long Lost Friend
John George Hohman's Pow Wows or Long Lost Friend
POW-WOWS;
OR,
LONG LOST FRIEND:
A COLLECTION
OF MYSTERIOUS AND INVALUABLE
ARTS AND REMEDIES,
FOR
MAN AS WELL AS ANIMALS,
WITH MANY PROOFS
Of their virtue and efficacy in healing diseases, ect, the greater part of which was never published
until they appeared in print for the first time in the U. S. in the year 1820.
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PREFACE
TO THE FIRST EDITION OF THIS USEFUL BOOK.
The author would have preferred writing no preface whatever to this little book, were it not indispensably necessary, in order to meet the erroneous views some men entertain in regard to works of this
character. The majority, undoubtedly, approve of the publication and sale of such books, yet some
are always found who will persist in denouncing them as something wrong. This latter class I cannot
help but pity, for being so far led astray; and I earnestly pray everyone who might find it in his power,
to bring them from off their ways of error. It is true, whosoever taketh the name of JESUS in vain,
committeth a great sin. Yet, is it not expressly written in the fiftieth Psalm, according to Luthers
translation: Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. In the
Catholic translation, the same passage is found in the forty-ninth Psalm, reading thus: Call upon me
in the day of thy trouble, and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
Where is the doctor who has ever cured or banished the panting or palpitation of the heart, and
hide-boundness? Where is the doctor who ever banished a wheal? Where is the doctor who ever
banished the mother-fits? Where is the doctor that can cure mortification when it once seizes a
member of the body? All these cures, and a great many more mysterious and wonderful things are
contained in this book; and its author could take an oath at any time upon the fact of his having successfully applied many of the prescriptions contained herein.
I say: any and every man who knowingly neglects using this book in saving the eye, or the leg, or
any other limb of his fellow-man, is guilty of the loss of such limb, and thus commits a sin, by which
he may forfeit to himself all hope of salvation. Such men refuse to call upon the Lord in their trouble,
although He especially commands it. If men were not allowed to use sympathetic words, nor the
name of the MOST HIGH, it certainly would not have been revealed to them; and what is more, the
Lord would not help where they are made use of. God can in no manner be forced to intercede
where it is not his divine pleasure.
Another thing I have to notice here: There are men who will say, if one has used sympathetic words
in vain, the medicines of doctors could not avail any, because the words did not effect a cure. This is
only the excuse of physicians; because whatever cannot be cured by sympathetic words, can much
less be cured by any doctors craft or cunning. I could name at any time that Catholic priest whose
horse was cured with mere words; and I could also give the name of the man who did it. I knew the
priest well; he formerly resided in Westmoreland county. If it was desired, I could also name a
Reformed preacher who cured several persons of the fever, merely by writing them some tickets for
that purpose; and even the names of those persons I could mention. This preacher formerly resided
in Berks county. If men but use out of this book what they actually need, they surely commit no sin;
yet woe unto those who are guilty that anyone loses his life in consequence of mortification, or loses
a limb, or the sight of the eye! Woe unto those who misconstrue these things at the moment of danger, or who follow the ill advice of any preacher who might teach them not to mind what the Lord
says in the fiftieth Psalm. Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. Woe unto those who, in obeying the directions of a preacher, neglect using any means
offered by this book against mortification, or inflammation, or the wheal. I am willing to follow the
preacher in all reasonable things, yet when I am in danger and he advises me not to use any prescriptions found in this book, in such a case I shall not obey him. And woe also unto those who use
the name of the Lord in vain and for trifling purposes.
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I have given many proofs of the usefulness of this book, and I could yet do it at any time. I sell my
books publicly, and not secretly, as other mystical books are sold. I am willing that my books should
be seen by everybody, and I shall not secrete or hide myself from any preacher. I, Hohman, too,
have some knowledge of the Scriptures, and I know when to pray and call unto the Lord for assistance. The publication of books (provided they are useful and morally right) is not prohibited in the
United States, as is the case in other countries where kings and despots hold tyrannical sway over
the people. I place myself upon the broad platform of the liberty of the press and of conscience, in
regard to this useful book, and it shall ever be my most heartfelt desire that all men might have an
opportunity of using it to their good, in the name of Jesus.
Given at Rosenthal, near Reading, Berks county Penn., on the 31st day of July, in the year of our
Lord, 1819.
JOHN GEORGE HOHMAN.
Author and original publisher of this book.
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TESTIMONIALS,
Which go to show at any time, that I, Hohman, have
successfully applied the prescriptions of this book.
BENJAMIN STOUDY, the son of a Lutheran schoolmaster, at Reading, suffered dreadfully from a
wheal in the eye. In a little more than 24 hours this eye was so sound as the other one, by the aid I
rendered him with the help of God, in the year 1817.
HENRY JORGES, residing in Reading, brought to me a boy who suffered extreme pain, caused by
a wheal in the eye, in the year 1814. In a little more than 24 hours, I, with the help of God, have
healed him.
JOHN BAYER, son of Jacob Bayer, now living near Reading, had an ulcer on his leg, which gave
him great pain. I attended him, and in a short time the leg was well. This was in the year 1818.
LANDLIN GOTTWALD, formerly residing in Reading, had a severe pain in his one arm. In about 24
hours I cured his arm.
CATHERINE MECK, at that time in Alsace township, suffered very much from a wheal in the eye. In
a little more that 24 hours the eye was healed.
MR. SILVIS, of Reading, came to my house while engaged at the brewery of my neighbor. He felt
great pain in the eye caused by a wheal. I cured his eye in a little more than 24 hours.
ANNA SNYDER, of Alsace township, had a severe pain in one of her fingers. In a little more than
twenty-four hours she felt relieved.
MICHAEL HARTMAN, Jr., living in Alsace township, had a child with a very sore mouth. I attended it
and in a little more than twenty-four hours it was well again.
JOHN BINGEMANN, at Ruscombmanor, Berks county, had a boy who burnt himself dreadfully. My
wife came to that place in the fall of the year 1812. Mortification has already set in my wife had
sympathy for it, and in a short time the mortification was banished. The boy was soon after perfectly
cured and became well again. It was about the same time that my wife cured John Bingemanns
wife of the wild-fire, which she had on a sore leg.
SUSANNA GOMBER had a severe pain in the head. In a short time I relieved her.
The wife of David Brecht also felt a severe pain in the head, and was relieved by me in a short time.
JOHN JUNKINS daughter and daughter-in-law both suffered very much from pain in the head; and
his wife too had a sore cheek, on which the wild-fire had broken out severely. The headache of the
daughter and the daughter-in-law was banished by me; and the wild-fire of the wife was cured in
some seven or nine hours; the swelled cheek burst open and healed very fast. The woman had
been laid up several days already on account of it. The family of Junkins live in Nackenmixen, but
Brecht and Gomber reside in and near Reading. Nackenmixen is in Bucks county. The four last
mentioned were cured in the year 1819.
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The daughter of John Arnold scalded herself with boiling coffee; the handle of the pot broke off while
she was pouring out coffee, and the coffee ran over the arm and burnt it severely. I was present and
witnessed the accident. I banished the burning; the arm did not get sore at all, and healed in a short
time. This was in the year 1815. Mr. Arnold lived near Lebanon, Lebanon county, Penn.
JACOB STOUEFER, at Heckak, Bucks county, had a little child who was subject to convulsions
every hour. I sold him a book containing the 25 letters; and he was persuaded by his neighbor,
Henry Frankenfield, to try these 25 letters. The result was that the child was instantaneously free
from convulsions and perfectly well. These letters are also found in this book.
--> If any one of the above named witnesses, who have been cured by me and my wife through the
help of God, dares to call me a liar, and deny having been relieved by us, although they have confessed that they have been cured by us, I shall, if it is at all possible, compel them to repeat their
confessions before a Justice of the Peace.
A letter to cure rheumatism, sold at from one to two dollars, and did not even give directions how to
make use of it: these depending on verbal communications. John Allgaier, of Reading, had a very
sore finger. I used sympathy to banish the wild-fire and to cure the finger. The very next morning the
wild-fire was gone; he scarcely felt any pain, and the finger began to heal very fast. This was in
1819.
> This book is partly derived from a work published by a Gypsy, and partly from secret writings,
and collected with much pain and trouble, from all parts of the world, at different periods, by the
author, John George Hohman. I did not wish to publish it; my wife, also, was opposed to its publication; but my compassion for my suffering fellow-men was too strong, for I had seen many a one lose
his entire sight by a wheal, and his life or limb by mortification. And how dreadfully has many a
woman suffered from mother-fits? And I therefore ask thee again, oh friend, male or female, is it not
to my everlasting praise, that I have had such books printed? Do I not deserve the rewards of God
for it? Where else is the physician that could cure these diseases? Besides that I am a poor man in
needy circumstances, and it is a help to me if I can make a little money with the sale of my books.
The Lord bless the beginning and the end of this little work, and be with us, that we may not misuse
it, and thus commit a heavy sin! The word misuse, means as much as to use it for anything unnecessary. God bless us! Amen. The word Amen means as much as that the Lord might bring to pass
in reality what had been asked for in prayer.
HOHMAN.
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NOTE.
There are many in America who believe neither in a hell nor in a heaven; but in Germany there are
not so many of these persons found. I, Hohman, ask: Who can immediately banish the wheal, or
mortification? I reply, and I, Hohman, say: All this is done by the Lord. Therefore, a hell and a heaven must exist; and I think very little of any one who dares deny it.
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{001.} A good Remedy for Hysterics (or Mother Fits), to be used three times. Put that joint of the
thumb which sits in the palm of the hand on the bare skin covering the small bone which stands out
above the pit of the heart, and speak the following at the same time:
Matrix, patrix, lay thyself right and safe,
Or thou or I shall on the third day fill the grave. + + +
{002.} Another Remedy for Hysterics and for Colds. This must be attended to every evening, that
is, whenever you pull off your shoes and stockings, run your finger in between all the toes and smell
it. This will certainly effect a cure.
{004.} A remedy to be used when anyone is falling away, and which has cured many persons. Let
the person in perfect soberness and without having conversed with anyone, catch rain in a pot,
before sunrise; boil an egg in this; bore three small holes in this egg with a needle, and carry it to an
ant-hill made by big ants; and the person will feel relieved as soon as the egg is devoured.
{005.} Another Remedy to be applied when anyone is sick, which has affected many a cure where
doctors could not help. Let the sick person, without having conversed with anyone, put water in a
bottle before sunrise, close it up tight, and put it immediately in some box or chest, lock it and stop
up the keyhole; the key must be carried in one of the pockets for three days, as nobody dare have it
except the person who puts the bottle with water in the chest or box.
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{010.} TO ATTACH A DOG TO A PERSON, PROVIDED NOTHING ELSE WAS USED BEFORE TO
EFFECT IT.
Try to draw some of your blood, and let the dog eat it along with his food, and he will stay with you.
Or scrape the four corners of your table while you are eating, and continue to eat with the same
knife after having scraped the corners of the table. Let the dog eat those scrapings, and he will stay
with you.
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{011.} A VERY GOOD REMEDY FOR PALPITATION OF THE HEART, AND FOR PERSONS WHO
ARE HIDE-BOUND.
Palpitation and hide-bound, be off [name] ribs,
Since Christ, our Lord, spoke truth with his lips.
{016.} A SAFE REMEDY FOR VARIOUS ULCERS, BOILS AND OTHER DEFECTS.
Take the root of an iron-weed, and tie it around the neck; it cures running ulcers; it also serves
against obstructions in the bladder (stranguary), and cures the piles, if the roots are boiled in water
with honey, and drank; it cleans and heals the lungs and effects a good breath. If this root is planted
among grape vines or fruit trees, it promotes the growth very much. Children who carry it are educated without any difficulty; they become fond of all useful arts and sciences, and grow up joyfully
and cheerfully.
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{026.} ANOTHER REMEDY FOR THE WHOPPING COUGH WHICH HAS CURED THE MAJORITY
OF THOSE WHO HAVE APPLIED IT.
Thrust the child having the whooping cough three times through a blackberry bush, without speaking
or saying anything. The bush, however, must be grown fast at the two ends, and the child must be
thrust through three times in the same manner, that is to say, from the same side it was thrust
through in the first place.
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{036.} A REMEDY FOR EPILEPSY, PROVIDED THE SUBJECT HAD NEVER FALLEN INTO FIRE
OR WATER.
Write reversedly or backwards upon a piece of paper: IT IS ALL OVER! This is to be written but
once upon the paper; then put it in a scarlet-red cloth, and then wrap it in a piece of unbleached
linen, and hang it around the neck on the first Friday of the new moon. The thread with which it is
tied must also be unbleached.
+++
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{051.} STINGING NETTLES GOOD FOR BANISHING FEARS AND FANCIES, AND TO CAUSE
FISH TO COLLECT.
Whenever you hold this weed in your hand together with Millifolia, you are safe from all fears and
fancies that frequently deceive men. If you mix it with a decoction of the hemlock, and rub your
hands with it, and put the rest in water that contains fish, you will find the fish to collect around your
hands. Whenever you pull your hands out of the water, the fish disappear by returning to their former places.
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{055.} SWALLOW-WORT.
A means to overcome and end all fighting and anger, and to cause a sick man to weep when his
health is restored, or to sing with a cheerful voice when on his death bed; also a very good remedy
for dim eyes or shining of the eyes. This weed grows at the time when the swallows build their nests
or eagles breed. If a man carries this about him, together with the heart of a mole, he shall overcome all fighting and anger. If these things are put upon the head of a sick man, he shall weep at
the restoration of his health, and sing with a cheerful voice when he comes to die. When the swallow-wort blooms, the flowers must be pounded up and boiled, and then the water must be poured off
into another vessel, and again be placed to the fire and carefully skimmed; then it must be filtered
through a cloth and preserved, and whosoever has dim eyes or shining eyes, may bathe his eyes
with it, and they will become clear and sound.
{057.} A VERY GOOD AND CERTAIN MEANS OF DESTROYING THE WHEAL IN THE EYE.
Take a dirty plate; if you have none, you can easily dirty one, and the person for whom you are
using sympathy shall in a few minutes find the pain much relieved. You must hold that side of the
plate or dish, which is used in eating, toward the eye. While you hold the plate before the eye, you
must say:
Dirty plate, I press thee,
Wheal in the eye, do flee.
+++
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{069.} TO MAKE HORSES THAT REFUSE THEIR FEED TO EAT AGAIN ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE WHEN THEY ARE AFFLICTED IN THIS MANNER ON THE PUBLIC ROADS.
Open the jaws of the horse, which refuses his feed, and knock three times on his palate. This will
certainly cause the horse to eat again without hesitation, and to go along willingly.
{081.} TO MAKE AN OIL OUT OF PAPER, WHICH IS GOOD FOR SORE EYES.
A man from Germany informed me that to burn two sheets of white paper would produce about
three drops of oil or water, which would heal all sores in or about the eye if rubbed with it. Any affection of the eyes can be cured in this way, as long as the apple of the eye is sound.
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{085.} A GOOD REMEDY FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT KEEP THEIR WATER.
Burn a hogs bladder to powder, and take it inwardly.
{089.} FOR DEAFNESS, ROARING OR BUZZING IN THE EAR, AND FOR TOOTHACHE.
A few drops of refined camphor-oil put upon cotton, and thus applied to the aching tooth, relives very
much. When put in the ear it strengthens the hearing and removes the roaring and whizzing in the
same.
{090.} A GOOD WAY TO CAUSE CHILDREN TO CUT THEIR TEETH WITHOUT PAIN.
Boil the brain of a rabbit and rub the gums of the children with it, and their teeth will grow without
pain to them.
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{093.} VERY GOOD CURE FOR WEAKNESS OF THE LIMBS, FOR THE PURIFICATION OF THE
BLOOD, FOR THE INVIGORATING OF THE HEAD AND HEART, AND TO REMOVE GIDDINESS,
ETC.
Take two drops of oil of cloves in a tablespoonful of white wine early in the morning, and before eating anything else. This is also good for the mother-pains and the colic. The oil of cloves which you
buy in the drug stores will answer the purpose. These remedies are also applicable to cure the cold
when it settles in the bowels, and to stop vomiting. A few drops of this oil poured upon cotton and
applied to the aching teeth, relieves the pain.
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{098.} A VERY GOOD MEANS TO INCREASE THE GROWTH OF WOOL ON SHEEP, AND TO
PREVENT DISEASE AMONG THEM.
William Ellis, in his excellent work on the English manner of raising sheep, relates the following: I
know a tenant who had a flock of sheep that produced an unusual quantity of wool. He informed me
that he was in the habit of washing his sheep with buttermilk just after shearing them, which was the
cause of the unusual growth of wool; because it is a known fact that buttermilk does not only
improve the growth of sheeps wool, but also the hair of other animals. Those who have no buttermilk may substitute common milk, mixed with salt and water, which will answer nearly as well to
wash the sheep just sheared. And I guarantee that by rightly applying this means, you will not only
have a great increase of wool, but the sheep-lice and their entire brood will be destroyed. It also
cures all manner of scab and itch, and prevents them from taking cold.
{104.} ANOTHER WAY TO STOP BLEEDING, AND TO HEAL WOUNDS IN MAN AS WELL AS ANIMALS.
On Christs grave there grows three roses; the first is kind, the second is valued among the rulers,
and the third says: blood, thou must stop, and wound, thou must heal. Everything prescribed for
man in this book is also applicable to animals.
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Notice. If anyone write such a letter for another, the Christian name of the person must be mentioned in it; as you will observe, where the N stands singly in the above letter, there must be the
name.
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{113.} A SAFE AND APPROVED MEANS TO BE APPLIED IN CASES OF FIRE AND PESTILENCE.
Welcome, thou fiery fiend! do not extend further than thou already hast. This I count unto thee as a
repentant act, in the name of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.
I command unto thee, fire, by the power of God, which createth and worketh everything, that thou
now do cease, and not extend any further as certainly as Christ was standing on the Jordans
stormy banks, being baptized by John the holy man.
This I count unto thee as a repentant act in the name of the holy Trinity.
I command unto thee, fire, by the power of God, now to abate thy flames; as certainly as Mary
retained her virginity before all ladies who retained theirs, so chaste and pure; therefore, fire, cease
thy wrath.
This I count unto thee as a repentant act in the name of the holy Trinity.
I command unto thee, fire, to abate thy heat, by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, which he has
shed for us, and our sins and transgressions.
This I count unto thee, fire, as a repentant act, in the name of God the Father, the Son and the Holy
Ghost.
Jesus of Nazareth, a king of the Jews, help us from this dangerous fire, and guard this land and its
bounds from all epidemic disease and pestilence.
REMARKS. This has been discovered by a Christian Gypsy King of Egypt. Anno 1740, on the
10th of June, six gypsies were executed on the gallows in the kingdom of Prussia. The seventh of
their party was a man of eighty years of age and was to be executed by the sword on the 16th of
the same month. But fortunately for him, quite unexpectedly, a conflagration broke out, and the old
Gypsy was taken to the fire to try his arts, which he successfully did to the great surprise of all present, by bespeaking the conflagration in a manner that it wholly or entirely ceased and disappeared in
less than ten minutes. Upon this, the proof having been given in daytime, he received pardon and
was set at liberty. This was confirmed and attested by the government of the King of Prussia, and
the General Superintendent at Koenigsberg, and given to the public in print. It was first published at
Koenigsberg in Prussia, by Alexander Bausman, Anno 1745.
Whoever has this letter in his house will be free from all danger of fire, as well as from lightning. If a
pregnant woman carries this letter about her, neither enchantment nor evil spirits can injure her or
her child. Further, if anybody has this letter in his house, or carries it about his person, he will be
safe from the injuries of pestilence.
While saying these sentences, one must pass three times around the fire. This has availed in all
instances.
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{128.} HOW TO TREAT A COW AFTER THE MILK IS TAKEN FROM HER.
Give to the cow three spoonfuls of her last milk, and say to the spirits in her blood: Ninny has done
it, and I have swallowed her in the name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Pray what you choose at the same time.
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APPENDIX.
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Or take a handful of parsley, pound it fine, and work it to a salve with an equal proportion of fresh
butter. This salve prevents mortification and heals very fast.
{185.} PEACHES.
The flowers of the peach-tree, prepared like salad, opens the bowels, and is of use in the dropsy.
Six or seven peeled kernels of the peach-stone, eaten daily, will ease the gravel; they are also said
to prevent drunkenness, when eaten before meals.
Whoever loses his hair should pound up peach kernels, mix them with vinegar, and put them on the
bald place.
The water distilled from peach flowers opens the bowels of infants and destroys their worms.
If sweet oil is put in a large glass, so as to fill it about one-half full, and the glass in then filled up
with the flowers of the St. Johnswort, and well covered and placed in the sun for about four weeks,
the oil proves then, when distilled, such a valuable remedy for all fresh wounds in men and animals,
that no one can imagine its medicinal powers who has not tried it. This should at all times be found
in a well-conducted household. In a similar manner, an oil may be made of white lilies, which is likewise very useful to soften hardened swellings and burns, and to cure the sore breasts of women.
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This remedy has cured a great many persons, and among them a woman of 70 years of age, who
had the dropsy so badly that she was afraid to get out of bed, for fear her skin might burst, and who
it was thought could not live but a few days. She used this remedy according to the directions given,
and in less than a week the water had passed off her, the swelling of her stomach fell, and in a few
weeks afterward she again enjoyed perfect health.
Or: Drink for a few days very strong Bohea tea, and eat the leaves of it. This simple means is said
to have carried away the water from some persons in three or four days, and freed them from the
swelling, although this disease had reached the highest pitch.
Or: Take three spoonfuls of rape-seed, and half an ounce of clean gum myrrh, put these together in
a quart of good old wine, and let it stand over night in the room, keeping it well covered. Aged persons are to take two teaspoonfuls of this an hour after supper, and the same before going to bed;
younger persons must diminish the quantity according to their age, and continue the use of it as
long as necessary.
Or: Take young branches of spruce pine, cut them into small pieces, pour water on them and let
them boil a while, then pour it into a large tub, take off your clothes, and sit down over it, covering
yourself and the tub with a sheet or blanket, to prevent the vapor from escaping. When the water
begins to cool let some one put in hot bricks; and when you have thus been sweating for a while,
wrap the sheet or blanket close around you and go to bed with it. A repetition of this for several days
will free the system from all water.
The following Valuable Recipes, not in the original work of Hohman, are added by the publisher.
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INDEX,
TO THE
Arts and Remedies Contained in this Book.
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> Whoever carries this book with him, is safe from all his enemies, visible or invisible; and whoever has this book with him cannot die without the holy corpse of Jesus Christ, nor drowned in any
water, nor burn up in any fire, nor can any unjust sentence be passed upon him. So help me.
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THE END.
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