Some five years ago a notorious "wise man" of Somerset, known as
Dr. Stacey, fell down stairs and broke his neck. The doctor's clients
doubtless had expected a more dignified ending to his career, for,
judging from his powers of keeping evil or misfortune at arm's-length,
it was a regular thing for people who had been "overlooked" to seek a
consultation so as to get the upper hand of the evil influence. His
patients were usually received at midnight, when incantations were
held and mysterious powders burned. In most instances this was
done where there had been continual losses in stock, or on farms
where the cattle had fallen sick.