in 1755 was published (posthumously) mead's "medica sacra; or, a commentary on the most remarkable diseases, mentioned in the holy scriptures". he made use of the work of his supposed relative joseph mede's "doctrine of demons" and also of his once patient isaac newton's "chronology" to argue that pagan ideas regarding demons had entered christianity. like arthur ashley sykes and others, mead understood those afflicted by demons in the new testament to refer simply to those suffering from a variety of illnesses: