An eighteenth century view of the placebo effect (Rétif de la Bretonne).

Placebo - the promise to please the Lord of medieval prayer became the "pious fraud" (Thomas Jefferson) of late 18th century medical practice. Quoted here is Rétif de la Bretonne (1734-1806), one of the most prolific novelists and popular encyclopedists ever, also highly regarded by some illustrious critics, as he is giving his cynical views about the "prejudices", (rather then "placebos") in religion, politics, and the art of healing.