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A history of inventions and discoveries : alphabetically arranged / by Francis Sellon White
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bians, in cases of excision or accidental wounds, thoughneglected in amputation.

AMULETS have been used by all nations as a charm orpreservative against mischief or disease. The Persians adopted,from the Egyptians, the custom of suspending to the necksmall cylinders, adorned with figures and hieroglyphics. TheJews were extremely superstitious in the use of them. TheGreeks called them phylacteries. Among the early Christians,amulets were made of the wood of the cross, or ribbons,with a text of scripture written on them. The agnus Deis ofthe Pope, are the amulets still worn by the catholics. In thesixteenth century, we have amulets worn round the neck,against pestilence, made of arsenic, and warehoused in largequantities. An item, noticed in Gages Hengrave, says, ahundryth wight of Amlets for neke, xxxs. iiijd. Thoughamulets are now fallen much from the repute in which theywere anciently held, yet, notwithstanding the progress oflearning and refinement, there is not any country in Europe ,even at this day, where the lower order of the people do notbelieve in some, charm or other.

ANABAPTISTS , a denomination of Christians , who main-tain that baptism ought always to be performed by immersion,and not administered to children before the age of discretion.Storck,Stubner, andMunzer, were the first disciples of Luther,who, about the year, 1521, stiled themselves Anabaptists .This sect was brought into great disrepute by the fanaticismand cruelty of some of its followers, who attempted to levelall distinctions in society, and to make property common :having obtained possession of Munster, they called it MountSion, and, though guilty of the most extravagant excesses andcruelties, they affected to establish a kingdom of saints. Someof these infatuated people found their way into this countryin 1549, and were burnt as heretics. So late as 1661, a body