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Magnetic Amulets
Amulet: a charm (as an ornament, gem, or relic), often inscribed with a spell, magic incantation, or symbol and believed to protect the wearer against evil (as disease or witchcraft) or to aid him (as in love or war). -- Webster's Third International Dictionary Amulets are, in essence, solid invocations of an invisible power. In Babylon, the invisible power was the god Marduk. In America, at the beginning and end of the twentieth century, one of the invisible powers was magnetism. And just as people may differ on the existence of Marduk, they can differ on the benefits of wearing magnets upon the body. The purest form of a magnetic amulet, then, would have the word "magnetic" on it, but no actual magnetism.
This is an ordinary comb made of aluminum, and labeled "magnetic". But aluminum is as invisible to magnetism as the clearest glass is invisible to light. This comb is not a magnet, nor is it affected by magnets. Its only special virtue is that, being metal, it will prevent flyaway hair by draining static electricity from your hair as you comb it. Many stores and catalogs in the year 2001 sell magnetic bracelets, magnetic mattress pads, and magnetic belts. Though they often claim deep-seated benefits, most of them have magnetic fields that only penetrate a few millimeters into the body - possibly useful for skin ailments, but hardly for arthritic joints. Similar items were being sold over a hundred years ago, as shown in the following 1885 advertisement. (Have patience - it's a big file, but it's worth it.)
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