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Book VI gems: diamond, emeralds, sapphire, topaz, chrysoberyl, carbuncle, jaspis

Book VI gems: diamond, emeralds, sapphire, topaz, chrysoberyl, carbuncle, jaspis Page of 251 Book VI gems: diamond, emeralds, sapphire, topaz, chrysoberyl, carbuncle, jaspis Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
146
DE NATURA FOSSILIUM
a cock. This is a rare stone that is found in the craw and liver of cocks and capons, occurring most commonly in the liver. Recently one was found in a capon that measured one inch by three-quarters of an inch by one and one-half inches. The widest surface contained shallow hollows. The narrower upper portion protruded to the right, the left was flatter and darker and the rest of the stone was light grayish black. When these stones are found in the craw they are usually the shape of a lupine seed and about the same size or the size of a bean. They may be light gray or grayish black but not of intense colors. Sometimes a quartz-like species is found that is dark in color and may contain light red veinlets. Pliny writes that Milo of Crotona used these in contests in which he wished to appear as invincible. When highly polished the stones that resemble quartz can be placed between the eyeball and the lower eyelid and moved from one place to another without injury to the eye. This same thing can be done with other gems such as lapis-lazuli, onyx, etc. but only if the stones are small.63
Chelidonius takes its name from swallows since it is found in the craws of these birds. They have a symmetrical form and are always hollow and for this reason are quite fragile. They are usually light gray on top while the hollow convex portion is a dark purple, often with irregu­lar spots. There are two species of this stone both of which are used in eye salves. They are hung about the necks of boys to cure epilepsy.64
Pliny writes that hyenia comes from the eye of a hyena and for that reason they are said to be found in hunting utensils. He certainly did not see one of these. Chehnia is the eye of an Indian tortoise. Cinaedia is a white, oblong stone found in the brain of a fish of the same name. Actually in our own small fish with large heads two small, flat, white, oblong stones are found with one part divided into small teeth. Likewise synodontites comes from the brain of the fish called "synodus." According to Pliny there is no such gem or fish. Two hemispherical stones are found in the head of the river crab which some people set in jewelry. These produce abundant urine when taken internally.66
Pearls (unio) are found in mollusks. When they are white, round, large, smooth and heavy, such as those sometimes found in India and Arabia, they command a higher price than any gem except the diamond. Con-chiliae that are small, white and with a navel are sometimes set in jewelry.
63 The alectorius or "cock-stone" was one of the most widely known animal con cretions in ancient times. It was supposed to transfer the fighting qualities of the cock to one who held the stone in his mouth. The name embraces calcareous con­cretions and siliceous pebbles.
64 A legendary stone that enjoyed wide popularity as a remedy in ancient and medieval times. In medieval times varieties of quartz were sold as this stone.
86 No mention is made of several other mystical and fabulous stones that were well known in Medieval Europe, particularly bezoar and kenne. The bezoar stone was the subject of scientific investigations and learned papers until well into the eight­eenth century.
Book VI gems: diamond, emeralds, sapphire, topaz, chrysoberyl, carbuncle, jaspis Page of 251 Book VI gems: diamond, emeralds, sapphire, topaz, chrysoberyl, carbuncle, jaspis
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