by Bishop
Wilkins, Bishop Patrick, Dr. Cudworth, Dr. Whichcote, and others of
distinction and intelligence. After the retirement of Greatrakes, John
Leverett, a gardener, succeeded to the "manual exercise," and declared
that after touching thirty or forty a day, he felt so much goodness go
out of him that he was fatigued as if he had been digging eight roods
of ground.

About the same time that Greatrakes was working among the people of
London, an Italian enthusiast, named Francisco Bagnone, was operating
in Italy with equal success. He had only to touch the sick with his
hands, or sometimes with a relic, to accomplish cures which astonished
the people.

Hardly less famous than Greatrakes was Johann Jacob Gassner
(1727-1779). He was born at Bratz, near Bludenz, and became Roman
Catholic priest at Kloesterle. He believed that most diseases were
caused by evil spirits which could be exorcised by conjuration and
prayer. He began practising and soon attracted attention. In 1774 he
received a call from the bishop at Ratisbon to Ellwangen, where by the
mere word of command, "Cesset" (Give over), he cured the lame and
blind, but especially those who were afflicted with epilepsy and
convulsions, and who were thereby supposed to be obsessed. His cures
were not permanent in some cases, and before he died he lost power and
respect.

[57] A. D. White, _History of the Warfare of Science
with Theology_, II, pp. 5-22.

[58] W. E. H. Lecky, _History of European Morals_, I,
pp. 347 f.

[59] P. Dearmer, _Body and Soul_, pp. 252 f. I am
indebted to this excellent book for my material on the
subject of Unction, as well as for many other quotations
in this chapter.

[60] F. W. Puller, _Anointing of the Sick_, pp. 155-158.

[61] G. F. Fort, _History of Medical Economy During the
Middle Ages_, gives this and the other incidents just
quoted. See pp. 155, 160, 272, 275, 327.

[62] Bede, _Ecclesiastical History_, bk. V, chap. V.

[63] Quoted by P. Dearmer, _Body and Soul_, p. 359.

[64] J. Cotter Morison, _Life and Times of St. Bernard_,
pp. 422 and 460, for this and the following incident.

[65] Thomas of Celano, _Lives of St. Francis of Assisi_
(trans. A. G. F. Howell).

[66] _Dublin Review_, January, 1876, pp. 8-10.

[67] G. F. Fort, _History of Medical Economy During the
Middle Ages_, pp. 278 f.

[68] See J. Butler, _Life of St. Catharine of Siena_,
for many examples.