Remarkable Delusions; or, Illustrations of Popular Errors is a historical survey of human superstition, false sciences, and historical misconceptions, written from a 19th-century rationalist and theological perspective. It was published as part of an educational, cheap monthly series designed to debunk historical myths and explain the psychology behind why large groups of people fall for massive deceptions.
The book is structured into thematic chapters, primarily focusing on:
- The Occult and False Sciences: Critical examinations of the fruitless searches, foundational theories, and eventual demystification of alchemy, astrology, and sorcery.
- The Supernatural: Chapters investigating popular hysterias surrounding witchcraft, pretended miracles, and ghostly apparitions.
- Historical Hysteria: Analysis of social and cultural manias, drawing structural and thematic inspiration from Charles Mackay's famous 1841 work, Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds.
The overall intent of the work was to contrast these historical "delusions" with natural philosophy and empirical science, framing the eradication of superstition as a triumph of modern reason, education, and religious clarity.
Table of Contents
- CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY. Belief and credulity—General prevalence of error—Delusions originate in the fall—Are fostered by ignorance—Incomplete knowledge—Prejudice—Morbid sensibility—Interested priestcraft—Hypocrisy—Covetousness.
- CHAPTER II. DELUSIONS GENERALLY ILLUSTRATIVE OF PREVALENT POPULAR IGNORANCE. Superstitions of ancient nations—Of Rabbins—Of Anglo- Saxons—Of aboriginal descendants—Of sailors—Sir T. Browne—Miscellaneous superstitions—St. Paul’s-day—St. Swithin’s—Bees in mourning—Charms in numbers—The hand of glory—Influence of moon—Marriage ring—Spots on finger-nails—Other portents—Fern seed—Deadly nightshade—Mandrake—Glastonbury thorn—Candlemas-day in the Highlands.
- CHAPTER III. DELUSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPERFECT DISCOVERY. Marvels of early ages—Geography—Rabbins—Herodotus- Strabo—Mela—Arabians—Monks of dark ages—Ibn Bathuta—Influence of Crusades—El-Dorado—Natural philosophy—Roger Bacon’s brazen head, etc.—Magic lantern—Galileo—Invention of printing.
- CHAPTER IV. DELUSIONS INVOLVING HEALTH AND LIFE. Ancient remedies and prescriptions—Death of king John—Diseases presided over by saints—Charms—Aurum potabile—Bezoars—Dead man’s touch—Touching for king’s evil—Gold bullet—Harvey—Jenner—Animal magnetism.
- CHAPTER V. DELUSIONS INVOLVING SUPERNATURAL VISITATIONS. Old English legends—Vampyres—Ordeals—Ghosts—Dreams—Somnambulism—Practical Reflections.
- CHAPTER VI. DELUSIONS CONNECTED WITH THE BELIEF IN WITCHCRAFT. Witchcraft forbidden by the law of God—Origin of the ancient magical practices—Familiar arts used to promote them—The being supposed to preside over witchcraft—Legendary tales—Other absurdities—Laws directed against witchcraft—Joan of Arc—Burning of witches—The witches of Warboys—Lady Glammis—Forel—John Knox—Gellie Duncan and others—“Discoverie of Witchcraft”—James I.—Matthew Hopkins—Witches’ bridle—Alice Kyteler—Influence of the imagination.
- CHAPTER VII. DELUSIONS CONNECTED WITH THE BELIEF IN ASTROLOGY. Origin of the art—Antiquity—Its practice forbidden in the early ages of Christianity—Alonzo of Castile—Astrological predictions—Failures—Charles XI.—Charles I. and II. of England—Dr. Simon Forman—David Ramsay and John Scott—Lilly—Kepler—Francis Moore.
- CHAPTER VIII. DELUSIONS PROMPTED BY MORBID ACQUISITIVENESS. Conditions under which wealth may be enjoyed—Alchemy—Bubbles: the Mississippi and South Sea schemes—the Tulip mania—the Bank panic—Railway speculations.
- CHAPTER IX. DELUSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH RELIGION. Heathen oracles—Stones of Druids—Romish legends—St. Gregory—Empress Helena—St. Dionysius—Relics—Blood of St. Januarius—Other legends—Coat of Trèves—Crusades—Mohammed—Seva—Rosenfeld—Enthusiasts at Munster—French prophets—Miracles at tomb of Abbé Paris—Joanna Southcott, etc.—Mormonites.
- CHAPTER X. CONCLUSION.
1st edition 1848, PDF 81 pages.
word count: 44764 which is equivalent to 179 standard pages of text
