or PHILTRE, (Philtrum), in Pharmacy, &c., a strainer.

Philters, is also used for a drug or preparation, which it is pretended will excite love.—The word is formed from the Greek \(\phi\alpha\lambda\alpha\sigma\), "I love," or \(\phi\lambda\alpha\sigma\), "lover."

Philters are distinguished into true and spurious, and were given by the Greeks and Romans to excite love. The spurious are spells or charms, supposed to have an effect beyond the ordinary laws of nature by some magic virtue; such are those said to be given by old women, witches, &c.—The true philters are those supposed to work their effect by some natural and magnetic power. There are many grave authors who believe the reality of these philters, and allege matter of fact in confirmation of their sentiments: among the rest, Van Helmont, who says, that upon holding a certain herb in his hand for some time, and taking afterwards a little dog by the foot with the same hand, the dog followed him wherever he went, and quite deserted his former master; which he pretends to account for thus: The heat communicated to the herb, not coming alone, but animated by the emanations of the natural spirits, determines the herb towards the man, and identifies it to him: having then received this ferment, it attracts the spirit of the other object magnetically, and gives it an amorous motion. But this is mere cant; and all philters, whatever facts may be alleged, are more chimeras.