 Chapter 10 Part 1 of the Curious Lore of Precious Stones. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Chapter 10 Planetary and Astral Influences of Precious Stones. The talismanic influence of the stones associated with the planets and also with the signs of the zodiac is closely connected with the early ideas regarding the formation of precious stones. In an old work on the occult properties of gems, we read, The nature of the magnet is in the iron, and the nature of the iron is in the magnet, and the nature of both polar stars is in both iron and magnet, and hence the nature of the iron and the magnet is also in both polar stars, and since they are Martian, that is to say their region belongs to Mars, so do both iron and magnet belong to Mars. The author then proceeds to describe an analogous relation between a man and any natural object or product to which his imagination draws him, and shows that if this object be one that stands in a sympathetic relation with the star beneath which the man was born, the man, the star, and the object will constitute a traplicity of great utility. As an explanation of the particularly intimate relation between stars and precious stones, we read on page 12, Metals and precious stones usually lie with their first seeds deep down in the earth and require continuous moisture and a mild heat. This they obtain through a reflection of the sun and the other stars in the manifold movement of the heavens. Therefore also, the metals and precious stones are nearest related to the planets and stars, since these influence them most potently and produce their peculiar qualities for they are enduring and unchangeable and show therein their concordance with the stars and the planets. Hence it is that the influence over human fortunes ascribed by astrology to the heavenly bodies is conceived to be strengthened by wearing the gem appropriate to certain planets or signs for a subtle emanation has passed into the stone and radiates from it. A combination of several different stones each partaking of this special quality was believed to have an influence similar to that exercised by several planets in conjunction that is grouped in the same house or division of the heavens. The same is true of the stones dedicated to the guardian angels. The color and appearance of the stone was not merely emblematic of the angel but by its sympathetic quality it was supposed to attract his influence and to provide a medium for the transmission of his beneficent force to the wearer. The whole theory whether consciously or unconsciously rested on the idea of harmony of the accord of certain ethereal vibrations either those of the visible light of the stars and planets or the purely psychic emanations from the spiritual powers and principalities. The wearing of the appropriate zodiacal gem was always believed to strengthen the influence of the zodiacal sign upon those born under it and to afford a sympathetic medium for the transmission of the stellar influences. The gem was thus something more than a mere symbol of the sign. The same was true of the stone of the saint who ruled over the month and that of the holy guardian angel set over those born in the month. In each and every case the material form and color of the stone was believed to attract the favor and grace of the saint or angel who would see in the selection of the appropriate gem an act of respect and veneration on the part of the wearer. The old writers never tired of assisting upon the idea that while the image graven upon a stone was in itself dead and inactive the influence of the stars during whose ascendancy the work had been executed communicated to the inert material talismanic qualities and virtues which it before lacked. In these instances the images could be regarded as outward and visible signs of the planetary or zodiacal influence. Even in the case of the bizarre stone, a generally recognized antidote for all sorts of poisons, it was held that the scorpion's bite could be most effectively healed by a bezoar upon which this creature's figure had been cut during the time when the constellation Scorpio was in the ascendancy. In the production of engraving stones to serve as amulets, the influence of the respective planet was made to enter the stone by casting upon the latter during the process of engraving reflections from a mirror which had been exposed to the planet's rays. In addition to this, the work was executed while the planet was in the ascendant and the design was emblematic of it. With these combined influences the gem was believed to be thoroughly impregnated with the planetary virtue. An old writer finds in the hardness of precious stones a reason for their retaining longer the celestial virtues they receive. After they have been extracted these virtues persist in them and they keep the traces and gifts of mundane life which they possessed while clinging to the earth. These gifts of mundane life signify the stored up energy derived from the stars and planets which penetrates the matter of the stone and each stone is peculiarly sensitive to the emanations from a certain planet, star, or group of stars. A fine Cornelian gem engraved with a design consisting of a star surrounded by the images of a ram, a bull, and a lion is described by M. Mehran. He sees in the star the emblem of the splendid comet which appeared shortly after the assassination of Caesar and which, according to Suetonius, was believed to be the soul of Caesar newly received into the sky. The ram, bull, and lion are the symbols of the zodiacal signs Ares, Taurus, and Leo, the first name signed referring perhaps to the death of Caesar on the Ides, or 15th of March, while the other two signs may allude to the position of the comet at different dates. In the cabinet duois in Paris there was an engraved Cornelian the design showing Jupiter enthroned with thunderbolt and scepter and Mars and Mercury standing on either side of the central figure. Separated from the gods of the upper air by a bow, probably representing the arch of the sky, appears the bust of Neptune emerging from the sea. The border of the design is formed by the 12 signs of the zodiac. Virgo being of an unusual type, the virgin and unicorn, said to have been used only during the reign of Domacian, 81 to 96 AD. Some choice examples of astrological gems may be seen in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Among these is a green jasper, bearing symbols of Luna, Capricorn, and Taurus. This gem is from the collection of the late Reverend C.W. King, which has been acquired for the museum and is described as figuring the horoscope of the owner. In the same collection is a bandit agate engraved with Sagittarius as a centaur surrounded by the stars of this constellation in their proper order. King states that this was the earliest horoscopical gem known to him. Still, another gem of this collection is a sard bearing the symbol of Aries carrying a long caduceus. This type appears on the coins of Antioch because the city was founded in the month over which the sign Aries presides. The Austrian imperial collection in Vienna contains the celebrated Gemma Augustia, sometimes called the Apotheosis of Augustus. This commemorates the Panonian triumph of Tiberius, 13 AD, and above the figure of Augustus appears the sign of Capricornus, the constellation of his nativity. Beneath the figure of Tiberius is engraved the sign of Scorpio, under which that emperor was born. This celebrated cameo, the work of the famous gem engraver Deoscaritas, is mentioned in an inventory of the Treasury of Saint Cernan in Toulouse dated 1246. It is said to have been offered by Francis I of France to Pope Clement VII on the occasion of their meeting in Marseille in 1535. However, as the gem only reached Marseille two days after the Pope's departure, Francis decided to retain possession of it. The royal treasure at Fontainebleu was plundered in 1590 and the stone was offered for sale and was purchased in 1619 by Emperor Rudolf II for the sum of 12,000 ducats. A ruby called Sandastros is described by Pliny as containing stellated bodies which he compares to the hiatus. Hence, says he, they are the objects of great devotion of the chael day, or Assyrian magi. According to Morales, de las piedras preciosas, the ruby and the diamond were both under the influence of the sign of Taurus. The same writer informs us that the hiatus and the sun were supposed to have a potent effect upon the ruby or carbuncle. In ancient Babylonia, the sign of Taurus was regarded as the most important and Winkler believes that the presence in this sign of the five stars of the hiatus and the seven of the piedas was brought into connection with the twelve-fold division of the zodiac. The hiatus signified the five signs visible in Babylonia at the summer solstice while the piedas typified the seven invisible signs. It seems probable that the piedas were associated with the diamond, although Morales, who was very familiar with the Moorish astrology current among the Spaniards of his time, attributed the crystal to this group. His attribution proves at least that the stone of the piedas was a colorless one. In Sanskrit, the diamond is called varra, thunderbolt, and also indra-huda, Indra's weapon, and another name is asira, fire, or the sun. All these designations are probably suggested by the brilliant flashes of light emitted by this stone. It is not easy to determine the reason that induced the Hindus to dedicate the diamond to the planet Venus rather than to the sun or to the moon. However, as the most brilliant of the planets, Venus was not unworthy of this honor, and if we substitute the goddess of love for her planet, it seems quite appropriate that she should be adorned with the most brilliant of precious stones. Certainly these sparkling gems are often enough offered at the shrine of Venus in our own day, and they often serve to win the good graces of the divinity to whom they are presented. The Sanskrit name for the sapphire, nila, signifies blue, so that, as the topaz is the yellow stone par excellence, the sapphire is the blue stone, nilakhman. In both cases, the name indicates a variety of corundum distinguished merely by the coloring matter. As a talisman, the Hindus believe that the sapphire rendered the planet Saturn favorable to the wearer. An important consideration from the astrological point of view for Saturn's influence was generally supposed to be unfavorable. The Hindus distinguished four classes of sapphires corresponding to the four castes, Brahmins, Satriyas, Vyas, and Sudras. The respective sapphires were light blue, reddish blue, yellowish blue, and dark blue. The same distinction is made in the case of the diamond, and a like rule applies to both stones, namely, that only the appropriate stones should be worn by the members of each cast in order to profit by the virtues inherent in the sapphire or diamond. One of the Sanskrit appellations of the hyacinth, Zircon, is Rahunatra, that is, the jewel dedicated to the mysterious dragon that was supposed to be the cause of the periodic eclipses of the sun and moon. As the stone was sacred to this malevolent influence, we need not be surprised that it was believed to avert misfortune, for nothing was so effective against the lesser spirits of evil as an evil genius of greater power. According to the Hindu mystics, it was very lucky to have a turquoise at hand at the time of the new moon for whoever after first looking at the moon on the Pratapada the first day after the new moon should cast his eye upon a turquoise was destined to enjoy immeasurable wealth. Zodiacal gems, Aquarius, January 21 to February 21, the garnet. If you would cherish friendship true in Aquarius, well you'll do to wear this gem of warmest hue, the garnet. Pisces, February 21 to March 21, the amethyst. From passion and from care kept free shall Pisces' children ever be who wear so all the world may see the amethyst. Aries, March 21 to April 20, the bloodstone. Who on this world of ours his eyes and Aries opens shall be wise if always at his hand there lies bloodstone. Taurus, April 20 to May 21, the sapphire. If on your hand this stone you bind, you and Taurus born will find twill cure diseases of the mind, the sapphire. Gemini, May 21 to June 21, the agate. Gemini's children health and wealth command and all the ills of age withstand who wear their rings on either hand of agate. Cancer, June 21 to July 22, the emerald. If born in cancer sign they say your life will joyful be all way if you take with you on your way an emerald. Leo, July 22 to August 22, the onyx. When youth to manhood shall have grown under Leo, Lorne and Lone twill have lived but for this stone the onyx. Virgo, August 22 to September 22, the carnelian. Success will bless whatever you do through Virgo's sign if only you place on your hand her own gem true carnelian. Libra, September 22 to October 23, the chrysolite. Through Libra's sign it is quite well to free yourself from evil spell for in her gem so cease doth dwell the chrysolite. Scorpio, October 23 to November 21, the barrel. Through Scorpio this gem so fair is that which everyone should wear or tears of sad repentance bear, the barrel. Sagittarius, November 21 to December 21, the topaz who first comes to this world below under Sagittarius should know that their true gem should ever show a topaz. Capricorn, December 21 to January 21, the ruby. Those who live in Capricorn no trouble shall their brows adorn if they this glowing gem have worn the ruby. An old Spanish list of the gems of the zodiacal signs differs from those given above and probably represents Arab tradition. Aries, Crystal, Taurus, Ruby and Diamond, Gemini, Sapphire, Cancer, Agate and Barrel, Leo, Topaz, Virgo, Magnet, Libra, Jasper, Scorpio, Garnet, Sagittarius, Emerald, Capricorn, Chalcedony, Aquarius, Amethyst, Pisces, Left Blank. Of planetary stones there is a sign to the sun the jacinth and the chrysalite when this latter name was applied to the yellow Brazilian chryso-barrel, while the moon controls the barrel, the rock crystal and also the pearl. To the share of Venus fall the sapphire and carbuncle as well as coral and pearl. Usually the emerald is the stone of Venus. Mars lays claim to the diamond, jacinth and ruby, the last name stone according with the ruddy hue of our neighbor planet. Under the control of Jupiter are placed the emerald, sapphire, amethyst and turquoise, so that this planet has the richest assortment of gems. It will be remarked that the celestial sapphire unites the influence of Venus and Jupiter, the two especially propitious planets. Lastly, far away Saturn must be content with all dark black and brittle stones. There was indeed little inducement to wear a Saturnian stone, for the influence of this cold and distant planet was always regarded as baleful. The planetary controls of precious stones, as given in the lapidario of Alfonso X, according to Chaldeic tradition, show that the same stone was influenced in many or most cases by more than one of the seven planets, including the sun and the moon. Thus the diamond belonging to the first degree of the sign Taurus was dominated by both Saturn and the sun. The emerald was controlled by Jupiter and also by Mercury and by Venus. The red jargon was influenced by Mars, the yellow variety by Jupiter, and the white jargon by Venus. The Carnelian received virtue from the sun and from Venus. The ruby, although more especially a sunstone, came as well under the influence of the planet of love. Coral belonged both to Venus and to the moon, while Lapis Lazuli and the Chalcedony only owed allegiance to Venus. This planet also lent virtue to the barrel. End of chapter 10 part 1 Recording by Richard Garifo Chapter 10 part 2 of The Curious Lore of Precious Stones This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Richard Garifo The Curious Lore of Precious Stones by George Frederick Coons Among the Mohammedans, six of these seven heavens were supposed to be made of precious substances. The first was of emerald, the second of white silver, the third of large white pearls, the fourth of ruby, the fifth of red gold, and the sixth of jasinth. The seventh and highest heaven, however, was of shining light. Here we have the three precious colored stones, emerald, ruby, and sapphire, jasinth, to which is added the pearl. The scarcity of the diamond in early times and its comparative lack of brilliancy before the invention of rose and brilliant cutting account for the absence of this king of gems. Rebellier, describing the temple of the Oracle of the Divé Boutier, says that of its seven columns, the first was of sapphire, the second of jasinth, the third of diamant, the fourth of the male ballas ruby, the fifth of emerald. More brilliant and glistening than were those which were set in place of eyes in the marble lion stretched before the tomb of King Hermias. The sixth column was of agate, and the seventh of transparent selenite, with a splendor like that of Hamishian honey, and within appeared the moon in form and motion such as she is in the heavens, full and new, waxing and waning. We are then told that these stones were attributed to the seven planets by the Chaldeans as follows. Sapphire, Saturn, jasinth, Jupiter, diamond, sun, ruby, Mars, emerald, Venus, agate, Mercury, selenite, moon. Some of these attributions differ from those usually made and may represent another tradition. Planetary influences of stones. Jasper, Venus and Mercury. Sapphire, Jupiter and Mercury. Emerald, Venus and Mercury. Chalseldine, Jupiter, Mercury and Saturn. Sardonyx, Saturn and Mars. Chrysalite, Mercury and Venus. Barrel, Venus and Mars. Topaz, Saturn and Mars. Chrysopraise, Mercury and Venus. Jasinth, Mars and Jupiter. Amethyst, Mars and Jupiter. Pearl, Venus and Mercury. Carbuncle, Mars and Venus. Diamond, Jupiter. Agate, Venus and Mars. Electoria, Sun, Turquoise, Venus and Mercury. Celadon, Jupiter. Aethitus, Sun. Dionysia, Saturn. Hermitite, Mercury. Lapis lazuli, Venus. Armena, Mercury and Venus. Garnet, Sun, Amber, Sun. Jet, Saturn. Lycurius, Sun. Crystal, Moon and Mars. Bizarre, Jupiter. Armenia, Jupiter. Selenite, Moon. Dignite, Mars. Judeka, Heganite or Cogonite, Mercury. Iris, Jupiter. Halcyon, Saturn and Mars. Asbestos, Saturn. Sarcophagus, Moon. Arabian White, Moon. Arabian Green, Jupiter. Hyena, Sun. Andromedus, Moon. Pyrites, Copper colored, Sun, Venus. Sun, Silver colored, Moon. Tin colored, Moon, Saturn. Ash colored, Jupiter. Colatia, Moon. Stalactite, Venus. Thinarcus, Sun. Carnalian, Jupiter, Mars, Venus. Opal, Sun, Mercury. Fixed stars associated with precious stones. Diamond, Caput algal, 18 degrees of Taurus. Crystal, the Pleiades, 24 degrees of Taurus. Ruby, Carbuncle, Aldalbaran, 3 degrees of Gemini, also the Hyades. Sapphire, the Goat, 15 degrees of Gemini. Barrel, Sirius, 10 degrees of Cancer. Garnet, Heart of Lion, 23 degrees of Leo. Magnet, Tail of the Great Bear, 8 degrees of Scorpio, also the Pole Star. Topaz, right and left wing of Raven, 8 degrees of Libra. Emerald and Jasper, Spica Virginius, 17 degrees of Libra. Amethyst, Scorpion, 3 degrees of Sagittarius. Chrysolite, Tortoise, 12 degrees of Capricorn. Chausaldiné, Tail of Capricorn, 15 degrees of Aquarius. Jasinth, shoulder of Equus Major, 18 degrees of Pisces. Pearl, Umbilico Sondramide, 20 degrees of Aries. Sardonyx, same as Topaz. Images and virtues of the constellations as well. Ursa Major, Ursa Minor and Draco. Both bears are represented in the folds of a serpent, the Great Bear in the upper and the lesser bear in the lower folds, in almost all the signs. Nature, Ursa Major, Mars and Venus. Ursa Minor, Saturn. Draco, Saturn and Mars renders the wearer wise, cautious, versatile and powerful. The boundary lines of the various signs are carried up to the pole and any constellation that is within these lines is considered to belong to the respective signs. Thus, every constellation belongs to one or more signs. Corona Borealis, a royal crown with many stars, sometimes the crowned head of a king. Sign Sagittarius, Nature, Venus and Mercury. Engraved on the stone of the one who is fitted for honors and knowledge, it gives him great favor with kings. Hercules, a man with knees bent holding a club in his hand and killing a lion, sometimes a man with a lion's skin in his hand or on his shoulder and holding a club. Sign, Scorpio, Nature, Venus and Mercury. Engraved on a stone that brings victory like the agate, it renders the wearer victorious in all conflicts in the field. Cygnus, a swan with outstretched wings and curved neck. In the north, Nature, Venus and Mercury. Renders the wearer popular increases knowledge and augments wealth. Cures gout, paralysis and fever. Cepheus, a man dirt with a sword and holding his hands and arms extended. Sign, Aries, Nature, Saturn and Jupiter. Causes pleasant visions if placed beneath the head of a sleeping person. Cassiopeia, a woman seated in a chair and with hands extended in the form of a cross, sometimes with a triangle on her head. Sign, Taurus, Nature, Saturn and Venus. Restores the sickly worn body to health, gives quiet and calm after labor and procures pleasant and tranquil sleep. Andromeda, a young girl with disheveled hair and hands hanging down. Sign, Taurus, Nature, Venus. Reconciles husband and wife, strengthens love and protects the human body from many diseases. Perseus, a man holding a sword in his right hand and the gorgon's head in his left. Sign, Taurus, Nature, Saturn and Venus. Guards the wearer from misfortune and protects not only the wearer but the place where it may be from lightning and tempest. Dissolves enchantments. Serpents, a man in the folds of a serpent and holding its head in his right hand and its tail in his left. Sign, Taurus, Nature, Saturn and Venus. Antidote to poisons and to the bites of venomous creatures. Aquila, a flying eagle with an arrow beneath his feet. Sign, Cancer, Nature, Jupiter and Mercury. The arrow, however, is of Mars and Venus. Preserves former honors, adds new ones and helps to victory. Pisces or Delfinius. Figured in relief. Sign, Aquarius, Nature, Saturn and Mars. If this engraved gem be attached to nets it causes them to be filled with fish and it renders the wearer fortunate in fishing. Pegasus. Some represent the half of a winged horse. Others the whole figure and without a bridle. Sign, Aries, Nature, Mars and Jupiter. Gives victory in the field and makes the wearer swift, cautious and bold. Cetus. Figure of a large fish with curved tail and capacious gullet. Sign, Taurus, Nature, Saturn renders the wearer fortunate on the sea and makes him prudent and agreeable. It also restores lost articles. Orion. With or without armor a man holding a sword or a scythe in his hand. Sign, Gemini, Nature, Jupiter, Saturn and Mars. Gives the wearer victory over his enemies. Navus. A ship with prowl curved back and spread sails sometimes with and sometimes without oars. Sign, Leo, Nature, Saturn and Jupiter renders the wearer fortunate in his undertakings. He runs no risk on sea or water. Neither can he be injured by water. Canis Major. Figure of a dog for coursing hairs with a curved tail. Sign, Cancer, Nature, Venus. Cures lunacy, insanity and demoniical possession. Lepus. Figure of a hair with ears pricked up and the feet represented as though in swift motion. Sign, Gemini, Nature, Saturn and Mercury. Cures frenzy and protects from the wilds of demons. The wearer cannot be hurt by a malignant spirit. Centaur. Half figure of a bull bearing a man on whose left shoulder rests a lance from which depends a hair. In his right hand the man holds a small supine animal with a vessel attached to it. Sign, Libra, Nature, Jupiter and Mars. Gives constancy and perpetual health. Canis Minor. Figure of a dog sitting. Sign, Cancer, Nature, Jupiter. Guards from dropsy, pestilence and the bites of dogs. Sicarius. Terribulus. Ara. An altar with signs. Sign, Sagittarius, Nature, Venus and Mercury. Gives the wearer power to recognize spirits to converse with them and to command them. Also confers chastity. Hydra. A serpent having an urn at its head and a raven at its tail. Sign, Cancer, Nature, Saturn and Venus. Gives riches and all good gifts to the wearer and makes him prudent. Corona Australis. An imperial crown. Sign, Libra, Nature, Saturn and Mars. Augments wealth and makes the wearer gay and happy. Aurega. A man in a chariot bearing a goat on his left shoulder. Sign, Gemini, Nature, Mercury makes the wearer successful in hunting. Vexillum. A flag flying from the extremity of a lance. Sign, Scorpion. Gives skill in war and confers victory in the field. Figures of the planets. Saturn. An old man holding a curved sigh in his hand and with a not very heavy beard. Engraved on a stone of the nature of Saturn it renders the wearer powerful and augments his power continually. Jupiter. A seated figure, sometimes in a chariot holding a staff in one hand and a spear in the other. It renders the wearer fortunate especially if engraved on a cabrata stone and he easily gains what he wishes especially from priests. He will be raised to honors and dignities. Mars. Represented sometimes with a banner of the lance or other weapon. He is indeed always armed and at times mounted on a horse. Gives victory, boldness in war and success in everything especially if engraved on an appropriate stone. Sun. Sometimes as the solar disc with rays sometimes as a man in a chariot and this occasionally is surrounded by the signs of the zodiac renders and a symbol and a victor. This gem is prized by hunters. Venus. Many forms among them that of a woman in a voluminous dress and a stole holding a laurel in her hand gives skill in handling affairs and usually brings them to a successful issue removes fear of drowning. Mercury. Figure of a slender man usually with a beautiful beard without he has winged feet and holds the caduceus increases knowledge and confers eloquence it aids merchants enabling them to acquire wealth. Moon. Various forms sometimes as a crescent sometimes as a young woman in a chariot and holding a quiver and at others as a woman with a quiver and following the chase with dogs aids the fortune of those who are sent on an embassy and enables them to acquire wealth and honor there by is said to confer speed and facility and undertakings and a happy issue. When Hutibras attacked and overcame the sorcerer Sidrafal he rifled the ladders pockets of all his mystic treasures. Among these were several constellation stones engraved in planetary hours that over mortals had strange to make them thrive in law or trade and stab or poison to evade in wit and wisdom to improve and be victorious in love. These manifold influences exerted by the stars and planets through the medium of the gems not only concerned those actually present in a material form but also those that were seen in dreams and interpretations of such dreams are given by old writers. Many honoracritica or dream books were written or compiled in the early centuries of our era one of the most noted being the work of Artemodorus who flourished in the second century AD. Every object seen in a dream was given a special meaning and it is interesting to note that Artemodorus believed dreams of rings or other ornaments as well as of precious stones to be of favorable significance only for women. Such dreams indicated marriage for unmarried women and the birth of children for those already married. If a woman was both wife and mother when she saw sparkling jewels in her dreams then the vision pretended the acquisition of great wealth. Artemodorus here sagely remarks that women are by nature devoted to riches and passionately fond of ornaments. For men on the other hand to dream of jewels was an ill omen probably because it foreshadowed the necessity of buying them for a good friend or a faithful wife. Another of these dream books probably composed in the 8th century AD appears under the name of Achometis and is of Arabic origin. Many of the interpretations in this refer to a Hindu source and among these are visions of crowns that appear to kings. Such a dream in itself usually portended increased power and success for the sovereign but this depended upon the color and character of the jewels which adorned the crown. For example, we read that if the gems were red and of the kind known as like knights, carbuncles or rubies the dream indicated that the king would have great joy and good fortune and would be more feared by his enemies than before. But if he saw blue gems in the crown it was a bad omen foreshadowing the loss of part of his kingdom. If the stones were of a light green hue the color of a leak the king would gain a great name in the world both by his good faith and by the greatness of his kingdom for the writer adds this color in precious stones is universally accepted as signifying good faith and religious devotion to God. There is signified by dreaming of agates, a journey amber, a voyage amethysts freedom from harm aquamarines, new friends barrels happiness in store bloodstones, distressing news carbuncles acquirement of wisdom carnalions, impending misfortune cat's eyes treachery chalcedony friends rejoined chryso barrels, a time of need chrysalites necessary caution coral, recovery from illness crystal, freedom from enemies diamonds, victory over enemies emeralds, much to look forward to garnets the solution of a mystery heliotropes, long life hyacinths a heavy storm jacinths, success jasper love returned jet sorrow lapis lazuli faithful love moonstones, impending danger moss agates an unsuccessful journey onyx a happy marriage opals great possessions pearls, faithful friends porphyry death rubies, unexpected guests sapphires escape from danger sardonyx, love of friends topaz no harm shall befall tourmalines, an accident turquoise prosperity if precious stones be so combined in a ring, or other jewel that the initial letters of their names spell words significant of a tender sentiment or implying good fortune or else the name of someone dear to the giver of the jewel this is also supposed to strengthen their astral or planetary influence and to render them more potent charms in the following examples the gems in the first column are the more expensive, those in the second column being comparatively inexpensive ones acrostics formed with stones in France and England during the 18th century rings, bracelets, brooches, etc were often set with gems, the first letters of which combined formed a motto or expressed a sentiment the following is a list of those that may be used in this way the choice of stones afforded here brings these pretty devices within the reach of all faith column 1 fire opal alexandrite aiolite, tourmaline, hyacinth column 2 feldspar, amethyst eidacrace, topaz heliotrope hope, hyacinth opal, pearl, emerald hematite olivine, pyrope, esonite charity cat's eye, hyacinth, aquamarine ruby, aiolite tourmaline, yellow sapphire carbuncle, hematite, amethyst rose quartz eidacrace, topaz u, jade good luck golden barrel, opal, olivine diamond, lapis lazuli eurillian emerald cat's eye, kunzite garnet, onyx, obsidian dendrite, labradorite unio pearl, carnelian crocidolite forever fire opal ruby, emerald vermille, esonite rubelite fleches dimor onyx, rutile, esonite veredantique epidote, rose quartz regard, ruby, emerald garnet, alexandrite ruby, diamond rubelite, esonite garnet, amethyst rock crystal, dimantoid zes, greek meaning mayest thou live zircon, emerald sapphire zonoclarite, esonite sard mizpa, moonstone indecolite, zircon peridot, esteria hyacinth moldevite, edukrace zonoclarite, pyrope aquamarine, hematite friendship fleches dimor ruby, indecolite emerald, nephrite diamond, sapphire hyacinth, eolite pearl feldspar, rock crystal edukrace epidote, nicholo diopside sard, hematite edukrace, pyrite dearest diamond, emerald alexandrite, ruby esonite, sapphire turquoise dimantoid, esonite amethyst, rubolite epidote, spinel topaz souvenir sapphire, opal aurelian emerald vermille, emerald nephrite, eolite ruby sunstone, onyx eutolite, verdantique epidote nephrite, indecolite rock crystal bonheur beryl opal nephrite, hyacinth, emerald aurelian emerald ruby bloodstone, onyx nephrite, hematite esonite, eutolite rodenite amethy alexandrite moonstone, indecolite tourmaline edukrace, emerald alamondine moonstone indecolite, topaz edukrace, esonite love me lapis lazuli, opal vermille, emerald moonstone, esonite labrador spar onyx verdantique esonite, moonstone epidote ai, greek meaning forever eternity alexandrite, emerald indecolite alamondine, esonite edukrace an attractive engagement ring formed of a central diamond from which extend the rays of a five-pointed star. Between the rays are set the stones emblematic of the zodiacal sign of the guardian angel of the month of the planet control of the hour and also the two stones indicating the initial letter of the two Christian names. This ring is in the form of the mystic pentagon, the grand symbol of constancy and durability, since the number five is composed of three which signifies creative power and two which typifies the balance that is stability. As according to the old fancy, the influences due to the light emanations from the planets or fixed stars or from the combination of the stars in the zodiacal sign would have a peculiar and more or less intimate connection with the fate of one country rather than of another. An attempt is here made to give a characteristic stone for each country. In the case of the United States the various gemstones found within the boundaries of each of the states of the union are given. That this special influence was exponentially potent in regard to those born in the countries in question was also taught and hence a national gem would have a greater charismatic power than any other for the natives of each separate country. For those who may feel a certain degree of sympathy for time honored fancies and for who may perhaps also have a trace of superstition hidden away in some part of their consciousness one of our state gems would have a similar significance. Gems of countries. Alaska, Garnet, Algiers Coral, Arabia Pearl, Austria, Hungary Opel, Belgium Crystal, Bohemia Garnet, Bokhara La Poslasli, Bolivia La Poslasli, Brazil Turmaline, Brazilian Emerald, Burma Ruby, Canada Soda Light, Ceylon Cat's Eye, Chile La Poslasli, China Jade, Congo Tays, Denmark Agate, Egypt Peridot, England Diamond, France Pearl, Germany Amber, German West Africa Diamond, Greece Sapphire, Holland Diamond, Hungary Opel, India Pearl, Ireland Precious Serpentine, Connemara Italy Coral, Japan Brazil Korea, Abalone, Pearl Madagascar, Morganite Mexico, Obsidian Morocco, Coral New England, Turmaline New South Wales, Opel New Zealand, Jade Norway, Sweden Carnelian Panama, Agate Persia, Turquoise Peru, Emerald Philippines, Pearl Chris O'Barrell Romania, Amber Russia, Rodenite Sandwich Islands, Olivine Scotland, Karngorm Smoky Courts Serbia, Coral Siam, Ruby Sicily, Amber South Africa, Diamond Spain, Emerald Switzerland, Rock Crystal Turkestan, Jade Turkey, Turquoise United States, Sapphire Uruguay, Amethyst United States, Stones Precious, Semi Precious or Gem Stones are found in nearly every state of the Union. The most important are enumerated below. Alabama, Barrel Blue and Yellow, Smoky Courts Arizona, Agatized Wood Azur Malachite Turquoise, Garnet, Peridot Arkansas, Rock Crystal Smoky Courts Agat, Diamond Novecolite California, Agat Benetite California, Diamond Gold Courts Tormolite, Abalone Pearl Cressopraise, Kunzite Morganite Colorado, Barrel Aquamarine Fennecite, Garnet, Amethyst Agat, Gold Courts Pyrite Connecticut, Barrel, Yellow and Green Rose Courts, Tormoline Delaware, Pearl Florida, Chiseldony Conch Pearl Georgia, Ruby, Barrel Amethyst, Gold Courts Garnet Idaho, Opal, Agat Obsidian Illinois, Florite, Pearl Indian Territory Obsidian, Pearl Indiana, Pearl Iowa, Fossil Coral Pearl, Chiseldony Kansas, Chiseldony Kentucky, Pearl Louisiana, Chiseldony Maine, Tormoline Barrel, Rose Courts Pearl, Topaz Amazonite, Smoky Courts Rock Crystal Maryland, Barrel Liam, Pearl Massachusetts, Barrel Michigan, Agat, Hermitite Minnesota, Chlorasterlite Tomasite, Agat Mississippi, Pearl Chiseldony Missouri, Pearl Florite, Pyrite Montana, Sapphire Barrel, Smoky Courts Agat, Amethyst Agatized Wood, Obsidian Nebraska, Chiseldony Pearl Nevada, Gold Courts Rock Crystal New Hampshire, Barrel Rock Crystal, Garnet New Jersey, Fowlerite Willamite, Prenite Smoky Courts, Agat Pearl New Mexico, Turquoise Garnet, Obsidian Paradote, Rock Crystal New York, Barrel Brown Tormoline, Rose Courts Freshwater Pearl Clam Pearl Condrudite North Carolina Aquamarine, Barrel Emerald, Almadite Garnet Rotolite, Propaid Garnet Diamond Cyanite, Hidden Dite Amethyst, Ruby Sapphire, Smoky Courts Rock Crystal, Routyle North Dakota Chiseldony, Agat Ohio, Fossil Coral Chiseldony Oregon, Agat Obsidian Hyderlite, Pennsylvania Amethyst, Barrel Sunstone, Moonstone, Amazonite Almadite, Garnet Pyrope, Garnet, Routyle Rhode Island Hornblendon Courts Amethyst, Rock Crystal South Carolina Barrel, Smoky Courts Rock Crystal Dakota, Courtsite Barrel, Agat Tennessee, Pearl Texas, Barrel, Pearl Tormoline Utah, Topaz, Garnet Virginia, Amethyst Specerite, Garnet Barrel, Moonstone, Stolerite Alanite Vermont, Barrel, Pearl Washington, Pearl, Agat West Virginia, Rock Crystal Wisconsin, Agat Wisconsin, Agat, Pearl Wyoming, Moss Agat Agat End of Chapter 10, Part 2 End of Chapter 10, Part 2 End of Chapter 10, Part 2 Chapter 11, Part 1 Chapter 11, Part 1 of The Curious Lore of Precious Stones Chapter 11, Part 1 of The Curious Lore of Precious Stones This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org recording by Avae in December 2018 The Curious Lore of Precious Stones by George Frederick Cuntz Chapter 11 On the Therapeutic Use of Precious and Semi-Precious Stones The medicinal use of precious stones may be traced back to very ancient times. It has been conjectured that their employment for such purposes was introduced to U.S. from India when many of the stones were derived. Nevertheless the earliest evidence we have rather points to Egypt as the source and indeed it appears that in early Egyptian times the chemical constituents of the stones were much more rationally considered than at a later period in Europe. The Aebas Papyrus for instance recommends the use of certain astringent substances such as lapis lazuli as ingredients of iselves and hematite and iron oxide was used for checking hemorrhages and for reducing inflammations. Little by little however superstition associated certain special virtues with the color and quality of precious stones and their virtues were thought to be greatly enhanced by engraving on them the image of some god or of some object symbolizing certain of the activities of nature. Later still the science of astrology most highly developed in Assyria and Babylonia was brought into combination with the various superstitions above indicated so that the image was believed to have much greater efficacy if the engraving were executed when the sun was in a certain constellation or when the moon was someone of the planets was in ascendant at the time. If we exclude certain fragmentary notices in Egyptian literature, notably the statements in the Ibas Papyrus and the very uncertain sources in Hindu literature the earliest authority for this branch of the subject is the natural history of Pliny. In this connection however it is only just to call attention to a fact which has been often ignored namely that Pliny himself had very little faith in the teachings of the magi as he calls them in regard to the superstitious use of gems for the prevention or cure of diseases. Indeed he seems to have been almost as skeptical in his attitude as many modern writers for certain quite recent authorities still credit amber and a few other mineral substances with therapeutic effects other than those which can be explained by the known action of their chemical constituents. Still Pliny yielded so far to the taste of his time as to preserve for us many of the statements of earlier writers on the subject naming them in most cases and so enabling us to form some idea of the character of this pseudo science in the Roman world in the first century of our era. With the gradual decay of ancient learning the less valuable elements of popular belief were more and more into the foreground and the old superstitions were freely copied by successive authors each of whom felt called upon to add something new on his own account. This explains much of the confusion that rains in regard to the attribution of special virtues to the different stones for the wider the reading of the author the greater became the number of virtues attributed to each separate stone until at last we might almost say that each and every precious stone could be used for the cure of all diseases. Nevertheless it is comparatively easy to see that either the color or constitution of the stone originally indicated its use for this or that disease. A distinction is often made between the talismanic qualities of precious stones for the cure or prevention of disease and the properly medicinal use of them as mineral substances. In the former case the effect was attained by merely wearing them on the person while in the latter case they were reduced to a powder which was dissolved as far as possible in water or some other liquid and then taken internally. As however the end to be attained is the same whether the stone be worn or taken internally as a power or liquid it seems more logical to treat of both methods of therapeutic use together reserving for the chapter on the talismanic use of gems only their employment to avert misfortunes other than those caused by disease and their influence in the procuring of wealth honors and happiness for their wearers. The belief in the curative properties of precious stones was at one time universal among all those to whom gems were known. When we read today of the various ills that were supposed to be cured by the use of these gems we find it difficult to understand what process of thought could have suggested the idea of employing such ineffectual remedies. It is true that a constituence of certain stones can be absorbed by the human body and have a definite effect upon it but the greater part of the elements are so combined that they cannot be assimilated and they pass through the system without producing any apparent effect. In ancient and medieval times however other than chemical agencies were supposed to be efficient in the cure of diseases and the primitive animistic conception of the cause of illness and hence of the therapeutics of disease long held sway among those who practiced the medical art. Remedies were prized because of their rarity and also because it was believed that these spiritual or planetary influences had aided in their production and were latent in them. Besides this the symbolism of color played a very important part in recommending the use of particular stones for special diseases. This may be noted in the case of the red or reddish stones such as the ruby, spinel, garnet, carnelian, bloodstone etc. These were thought to be sovereign remedies for hemorrhages of all kinds as well as for all inflammatory diseases. They were also believed to exercise a calming influence and to remove anger and discord. The red hue of these stones was supposed to indicate their fitness for such use upon the principle similia similebus scurantur. In the same way yellow stones were prescribed for the cure of bilious disorders, for diseases in all its forms and for other diseases of the liver. The use of green stones to relieve diseases of the eye was evidently suggested by the beneficial influence exerted by this color upon the sight. The verdant emerald represented the beautiful green fields upon which the tired eye rests so willingly and which exerts such a soothing influence upon the sight when it has been unduly strained or fatigued. One of the earliest, probably the very earliest, reference in Greek writings to the therapeutic value of gems appears in the works of Theophrastus who wrote in the third century before Christ. Here we are told of the beneficial effect exercised by the emerald upon the eyes. The sapphire, the lapis lazuli and other blue stones with a hue resembling the blue of the heavens were believed to exert a tonic influence and were supposed to counteract the wiles of the spirits of darkness and procure the aid and favor of the spirits of light and wisdom. These gems were usually looked upon as emblems of chastity and for this reason the sapphire came to be regarded as especially appropriate for use in ecclesiastical rings. Among purple stones, the amethyst is particularly noteworthy. The well-known belief that this gem counteracted the effects of undue indulgence in intoxicating beverages is indicated by its name, derived from methuo to be intoxicated and the privative alpha the name thus signifying the sobering gem. It is not unlikely that a fancied resemblance between the prevailing hue of these stones and that of certain kinds of wine first gave rise to the name and to the idea of the peculiar virtues of the amethyst. We have mentioned only a few of the more obvious analogies suggested by the colour of gems and we might be tempted to cite many others were it not that symbolism is always treacherous ground since there is practically no limit to the correspondences that may be found between sensuous impressions and ideas. One great difficulty which meets anyone who is trying to find a clue to guide him through the labyrinth of the medical affinities of gems is the fact that there was from an early period a tendency to attribute the virtues of one gem to another probably owing to the commercial instinct which urged the dealer to praise his wares in every possible way so that no part of his stock should fail to find a purchaser. This tendency is especially marked in the old Hindu lapideries wherein it is almost impossible to find any differentiation of the stones in respect to their curative or talismanic virtues. Only the condition and perfection of the gems are made the criterion of their worth. Any given stone if perfect was a source of all blessings to the wearer and possessed all remedial powers while the defective stone or one lacking the proper master or colour was destined to be a source of untold misfortune to the owner. The European writers on the medical properties of precious stones were influenced by quite different considerations. Their chief aim was to represent each stone regarded simply as a mineral substance as being the abode of the greatest possible number of curative properties. Indeed, many of the most highly recommended electuaries contained all kinds of stones as though the effect to be produced did not depend upon the qualities of any single stone or a class of stones but rather upon the quantity used. In our nobios Tesore delle Giore we have a receipt for the composition of the most noble electuary of Jacint. This contains Jacint, Emerald, Sapphire, Topaz, Garnet, Pearl, Ruby, White and Red Coral and Amber as well as many animal and vegetable substances in all 34 ingredients. It would indeed seem that a good dose of such a mixture should have provided a cure for all the ills that flesh is heir to but a simple and effective means of removing the unhappy patient to a better world. Treating of the metallic affinities of precious stones Paracelsus 1493-1541 affirmed that the Emerald was a copper stone. The Carbuncle and the Jasper were golden stones the Ruby and the Calcedony silver stones. The White Sapphire Corundum was a stone of Jupiter while the Jacinth was a mercurial stone. Powdered Jacinth mixed with an equal quantity of Lodanum was recommended as a remedy for fevers resulting from putrefraction of the air or water. This illustrates the custom of combining an inefficacious material such as the powder of a precious stone with another possessing genuine remedial virtue the name of the stone appealing to the popular superstitions regarding its therapeutic powers and thus rendering the preparation more acceptable. It is related by Plutarch that when Pericles was dying of the plague he showed to one of his friends who was visiting him an amulet suspended from his neck. This had been given to Pericles by the women of his household and Plutarch cites the instance as a proof that even the strongest minds will at certain times yield to the influence of superstition. There were skeptics in ancient times who put no faith in the popular superstitions as to the curative powers of precious stones. Eusebius, circa 264 to circa 349 in his oration on the emperor Constantine the Great 272 to 337 says he held that the varieties of stones so greatly admired were useless and ineffective things. They possessed no other qualities than their natural ones to hold evils aloof. For what power can such things have either to cure disease or to avert death? Nevertheless, although he well knew this, he was in no wise opposed to their use simply as ornaments by his subjects. The Middle High German didactic poem on precious stones composed by Volmar or Volamar about 1250 appears to have been written as a rejoinder to a satirical poem, the work of a writer called the Stricker, rascal. What chiefly aroused Volmar's wrath was the fact that this irreverent personage dared to assert that a piece of colored glass set in a ring looked just as well and possessed the same virtues as a genuine precious stone of the same color. Volmar does not mince matters and roundly declares that whoever should kill the man who wrote thus would do no harm. While we can scarcely recommend such drastic action we must admit that we feel a little sympathy with the medieval champion of genuine stones against imitations. A most interesting item recording one face of a great tyrant's character is reported by Sir Jerome Horsay who was entrusted with messages to and from Elizabeth of England and Ivan the Terrible of Russia. He gives, in his travels, a graphic recital of an interview with Ivan just before the latter's death in 1584. We retain the archaic spelling as it is reproduced in the hack-light publication from the original manuscript. Writing of Ivan Horsay says carried every day in his chair into his treasure. One day the prince beckoned me to follow. I stowed among the rest venturously and heard him call for some precious stones and jewels. Told the prince and nobles present before and about him the virtue of such and such, which I observed and do pray I may a little digress to declare for my own memory's sake. Below the stone you all know have great and hidden virtue, without which to seize that compassed the world are not navigable, nor the bounds nor circles of the earth cannot be known. In the comet the Persians prophet his tomb of steel hangs in their repata at Darbent most miraculously, caused the waiters to bring a chain of needles touched by his lodestone hanged all one by the other. This fair curl coral and this fair turcus you see, taken your hand, of this nature are orient colors put them on my hand and arm. I am poisoned with disease you can see they show their virtue by the change of their pure color into pole, declares my death. Reach out my staff royal and unicorn's horn garnished with very fair diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds and other precious stones that are rich in value, cost seventy thousand marks sterling of David Gower from the Falkers of Ausborg. Seek out for some spiders. Caused his physicians Johannes Lough to scrape a circle thereof upon the table, put within it one spider and so one other and died and some other without that ran alive a pace from it. It is too late it will not preserve me. Behold these precious stones. This diamond is the orient's richest and most precious of all other. I never affected it. It restrains fury and luxury and abstinacy and chastisy. The least parcel of it in powder will poison a horse given to drink much more a man. Points at the ruby. Oh this is most comfortable to the heart, brain, vigor and memory of man clarifies congelled and corrupt blood. Then at the emerald. The nature of the rainbow, this precious stone is an enemy to cleanness. The sapphire I greatly delight in it preserves and increases courage joys the heart, pleasing to all the vital senses, pressures and very sovereign for the eyes, clears the sight, takes away bloodshot and strengthens the muscles and strings thereof. Then takes the onyx in hand. All these are God's wonderful gifts secrets in nature and yet reveals them to man's use and contemplation as friends to grace and virtue and enemies to vice. I faint carry me away till another time. Some believed that when precious stones were worn to relieve or prevent disease it was important that the different stones should be worn on different parts of the body. According to one authority the jasinth should be worn on the neck, the diamond on the left arm, the sapphire on the ring finger, the emerald or the jasinth on the index finger and the ruby or turquoise on either the index finger or the little finger. There is however little reason to assume that these rules were generally known and observed. That precious stones not only appealed to the eye by their beautiful colors but also possessed a fragrant odour was one of the many fanciful ideas regarding them. If we could believe the following circumstantial account this was once experimentally proved. When precious stones are to be used in medicine they must be pulverized until they are reduced to a powder so fine that it will not grate under the teeth. Or in the words of Galen this power must be as impulpable as that which is blown into the eyes. Since this triteration is not usually operated with sufficient care by the apothecaries I begged a medical student who was lodging with me to pass an entire month in grinding some of these stones. I gave him emeralds to synths sapphires rubies and pearls an ounce of each kind. As these stones were rough and whole he first crushed them a little in a well polished iron mortar using a pistol of the same metal. Afterward he employed a pistol and mortar of glass devoting several hours each day to this work. At the end of about three weeks his room which was rather large became redolent with a perfume agreeable both from its variety and sweetness. This odor which much resembled that of March violets lingered in the room for more than three days. There was nothing in the room to produce it so that it certainly proceeded from the powder of precious stones. End of chapter 11 part 1 Chapter 11 part 2 of the curious lore of precious stones. This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Avayee in February 2019. The curious lore of precious stones by George Frederick Cuntz Chapter 11 part 2 Diamond Of the many medicinal virtues attributed to the diamond one of the most noteworthy is that of an antidote for poisons. Strangely enough the belief in its efficacy in this respect was coupled with the idea that the stone in itself was a deadly poison. The origin of this latter fancy must be sought in the tradition that the place where in the diamonds were generated in the land where it is six months day and six months night was guarded by venomous creatures who in passing over the stones were wounded by the sharp points of the crystals and thus imbued the stones with some of their venom. The attribution of curative properties in case of poisoning arose from association of ideas. The lapidario of Alfonso the 10th recommends the diamond for diseases of the blather. Hence, however, that this stone should be used only in desperate cases. The diamond was also believed to afford protection from plague or pestilence and the proof of its powers in this direction was found in the fact that the plague first attacked the poorer classes sparing the rich who could afford to adorn themselves with diamonds. Naturally in common with other precious stones this brilliant gem was supposed to cure many diseases. Marabodas tells us that it was even a cure for insanity. In the Babylonian Talmud we read of a marvellous precious stone belonging to Abraham. This was perhaps a diamond or possibly a pearl. The accounts vary and the same word is often used to designate precious stone and pearl. The following version represents it to be a diamond. R. Simeon, Ben Yohanan said a diamond was hanging on Abraham's neck and when a sick man looked upon it, he was cured and when Abraham passed away the Lord sealed it in the planet of the Sun. The Hindus believed that it was extremely dangerous to use diamonds of inferior quality for curative purposes as they would not only fail to remedy the disease for which they were but might cause lameness, jaundice, pleurisy and even leprosy. As to the use of diamonds of good quality very explicit directions are given. On some day regarded as auspicious for the operation the stone was to be dipped in the juice of the Kantakara, Solanium Jaakiri and subjected for a whole night to the heat of a fire made by dried pieces of the dung of a cow or of a buffalo. In the morning it was to be immersed in cow's urine and again subjected to fire. These processes were to be repeated for seven days at the end of which termed diamond could be regarded as purified. After this the stone was to be buried in a paste of certain leguminous seeds mixed with azafotida and rock salt. Herein it was to be heated twenty-one successive times to be reduced to ashes. If these ashes were then dissolved in some liquid the potion would conduce to longevity, general development of the body, strength, energy, beauty of complexion and happiness, giving an adamantine strength to the limbs. An Austrian nobleman who for a long time had not been able to sleep without having terrible dreams was immediately cured by a small diamond set in gold on his arm so that the stone came in contact with his skin. The fact that in this case as in many others the stone was required to touch the skin proves that the effect supposed to be produced was not altogether magical but in the nature of a physical emanation from the stone to the body of the wearer. We are told that when Pope Clement VII was seized by his last illness in 1534 his physicians resorted to powders composed of various precious stones. In the space of fourteen days they are asserted to have given the Pope forty thousand dukads worth of these stones a single those costing as much as three thousand dukads. The most costly remedy of all was a diamond administered to him at Marseille. Unfortunately this lavish expenditure was of no avail. Indeed according to our modern science the remedies might have sufficed to end the Pope's life without the help of his disease. The old fancy that the diamond grew dark in the presence of poison is explained by the Italian physician Gonelli as caused by minute and tenuous particles which emanated from the poison impinged upon the surface of the diamond and able to penetrate its dense mass accumulated on the surface thus producing a superficial discoloration. The diamond being a cold substance may have condensed moisture from the body and the one suffering from the poison may have emitted exudations. But this elaborate explanation of a phenomenon which never existed except in the imagination of those who related it is characteristic of Gonelli and is ready to elucidate in some similar way any of the marbles recounted in regard to precious stones. Emerald The emerald was employed as an antidote for poisons and for poisoned wounds as well as against the maniacal possession. If worn on the neck it was said to cure the semitation fever and epilepsy. The use of the emerald to rest the eye is the only remedial use of a precious stone mentioned by Theophrastus in his Treaties on Gems written in the third century B.C. Alluding to its powers as an antidote for poisons Rueas asserts that if the weight of 80 barley corns of its powder were given to one dying from the effects of poison the dose would save his life. The Arabs prized emeralds highly on purpose and Abenzoar states that, having once taken a poisonous herb, he placed an emerald in his mouth and applied another to his stomach whereupon he was entirely cured. A certain cure for dysentery also was to wear an emerald suspended so that it touched the abdomen and to place another emerald in the mouth. Mikayle Pascali, a learned Spanish physician of the 16th century, declared that he had affected a cure of the disease by means of the emerald in the case of Juan de Mendoza, a Spanish grandee, and Wolfgang Gabelkova of Carve in Württemberg writing in 1603 asserts that he had often tested the virtues of the emerald in cases of dysentery and with an invariable success. It speaks not a little for the beauty of the emerald that so good a judge of precious stones as Pliny should have pronounced this gem to be the only one that delighted the eye without fatiguing it, adding that when the vision was wearied by gazing intently at other objects it gained renewed strength by viewing an emerald. So general in the early centuries of our era was the persuasion that the pure green hue of emeralds aided the eyesight that gem engravers are said to have kept some of them on their work tables so as to be able to look at the stones from time to time and thus relieve the eye strain caused by close application to their delicate task. Sellers says that a Cater plasm made of emeralds was of help to those suffering from leprosy. He adds that if pulverized and taken in water they would check hemorrhages. They were especially commended for use as amulets to be hung on the necks of children as they were believed to ward off and prevent epilepsy. If however the violence of the disease was such that it could not be overcome by the stone the latter would break. Hermes Trismegistus says the emerald cures of Talmia and hemorrhages. The great Hermes must have had a special preference for this stone since his treatise on chemistry, Chemaeus, is said to have been found inscribed on an emerald. By the Hindu physicians of the 13th century the emerald was considered to be a good laxative. It cured dysentery, diminished the secretion of bile and stimulated the appetite. In short, it promoted bodily health and destroyed demoniacal influences. In the curious phrase of the school the emerald was cold and sweet. Te Fashi, 1242 AD believed that the emerald was a cure for hemoptysis and for dysentery if it were worn over the liver of the person affected. To cure gastric troubles the stone was to be laid upon the stomach. Furthermore, the wearer was protected from the attacks of venomous creatures and evil spirits were driven from the place where emeralds were kept. The direction to place the stone on the affected part, a recommendation often met with in the treatises on the therapeutic use of ornamental stones shows that these were believed to send forth emanations of subtle power. Probably enough the brilliant play of reflected light which proceeds from many of these gems suggested the idea that they radiated a certain curative energy. This theory need not surprise us. Although it is altogether fanciful in the case of the diamond, ruby, emerald, etc. the newly discovered substance radium really possesses the active properties ascribed by old writers to precious stones. Jade A stone the therapeutic quality of which was specialised is the Jade or Nephrite. Strange to say although there are very few places where the mineral can now be obtained the chief sources of supply being the province of Khotan in Turkestan and New Zealand in prehistoric times the stone must have been found in many different localities since ax heads and other artefacts of Jade have been discovered in many lands both of the old and new world. When the Spaniards discovered and explored the southern part of the American continent there were numerous native ornaments and amulets made of Jade Jadeite and brought many of these with them to Europe. The name Jade is derived from the Spanish designation Piedra de Ichada meaning literally stone of the flank which is said to have been bestowed on the stone because the Indians used it for all diseases of the kidneys. The name Nephrite owes its origin to the same idea. In ancient times Jade appears to have been looked upon as a great aid in parturition and many ingenious conjectures have been advanced as to the connection between disbelief and the form of some of the prehistoric objects made of this material. Whether the Spaniards really learned from the Indians that the stone was especially adapted to cure renal diseases or whether they only suggested this special and peculiar virtue in order to give an enhanced value to their Jade ornaments is a question not easily answered. An early notice of Jade as a remedial agent appears in Sir Walter Riley's account of his travels in Guyana treating of a people of Amazons said to dwell in the interior of the country Riley says these Amazons have likewise great store of these plates of gold which they recover by exchange chiefly for a kind of green stone which the Spaniards called Piedras y Hadas and we use for spleen stones and for the disease of the stone we also esteem them of these I saw diverse in Guyana and commonly every king or kassike hath one which their wives for the most part wear and they esteem them as great jewels. By the middle of the 17th century the curative powers of Jade for the various forms of Calculi was very generally admitted. A singular instance is offered us in one of Watul's letters he was a great sufferer from the stone and he had received from a Mademoiselle Poulet a beautiful Jade bracelet. Gracefully acknowledging the receipt of this peculiar gift he expresses himself in the following Frank Wei a mixture of indelicacy and mystery that seems strange to us quote if the stones you have given me do not break mine they will at least make me bear my sufferings patiently and it seems to me that I ought not complain of my colleague since it has procured me this happiness end quote the name used for Jade by Watul, Lejad supplied a missing link in the derivation of our name Jade Ichada. When the lady's gift was received by Watul some friends danced to be present and they were disposed to regarded as a token of love until he assured them that it was only a remedy. It appears that Mademoiselle Poulet was a fellow sufferer and alluding to this Watul writes on this occasion the Jade had for you an effect you did not expect from it and its virtue defended your own. Renal Calculi and poetry do not seem to have much in common but the following lines freely rendered from an old Italian poem on the subject by Ciri de Perres show that even this unpromising theme is susceptible of poetic treatment. Other white stones serve to mark happy days but mine do mark days full of pain and gloom. To build a palace or a temple fair stones should be used but mine do serve to wreck the fleshy temple of my soul. Well do I know that death doth wet his glaive upon these stones and that the marble white that grows in me is there to form my tomb. As Jade was and still is the most favoured stone in China although never found within the boundaries of China proper it was very naturally accorded wonderful medical virtues. An old Chinese encyclopedia the work of Li Xie Chan and presented by him to the Emperor Wan Li of the Ming dynasty in 1596 contains many interesting notices of Jade. When reduced to a powder of the size of rice grains it strengthened the lungs the heart and the vocal organs and prolonged life more especially if gold and silver were added to the Jade powder. Another and certainly a pleasant way of absorbing this precious mineral was to drink what was enthusiastically called the divine liquor of Jade. To concoct this elixir equal parts of Jade rice and dew water were put into a copper pot and boiled the resultant liquid being carefully filtered. This mixture was said to strengthen the muscles and make them supple to harden the bones to calm the mind to enrich the flesh and to purify the blood. Whoever took it for a long space of time ceased to suffer from either heat or cold and no longer felt either hunger or thirst. Galen born circa 130 AD wrote thus of the green jasper. Some have testified to a virtue in certain stones and this is true of the green jasper that is to say this stone aids the stomach and navel by contact. And some therefore set the stone in rings and engrave on it a dragon surrounded by rays according to what King Negepsis has transmitted to posterity in the 14th book of his works. Indeed I myself have thoroughly tested this stone for I hung a necklace composed of them about my neck but that they touched the navel and I received not less benefit from them than I would had they borne the engraving of which Negepsis wrote. Ruby Sanskrit medical literature as represented by Naharari a physician of Kashmir who wrote in the 13th century finds in the Ruby a valuable remedy for flatulency and biliousness. Moreover, aside from these differential uses, an elixir of great potency could be made from rubies by those who properly understood the employment of precious stones in the compounding of medicines. This famous Ruby elixir may have had little in common with the stone except its color as such remedies were generally said to have been made by some secret and mysterious process in the course of which all material evidence of the presence of any precious stone or stones completely disappeared. Sapphire One of the earliest specimens of English literature, William Langley's vision of William concerning Piers de Plowman written about 1377 contains a mention of the sapphire as a cure for disease. I looked on my left half as the lady me thought and was wore of a woman worthily used. Perfiled with Pellua the finest upon earth you crowned with a crown the king hath none better. Fetishlich her fingers were fretted with gold wire and thereon read rubies as red as any glade and diamonds of dearest price and double manier sapphires orientals and uviges and unanimous to destroy. Among the rich gifts offered at the shrine of St. Urkinwald in Old St. Paul's was a sapphire given in 1391 by Richard Preston, a citizen and grocer of London. He stipulated that the stone should be kept at the shrine for the cure of diseases of the eyes and that proclamation should be made of its remedial virtues. St. Urkinwald was the son of Offa, king of the east Saxons and was converted to Christianity by Meletus, the first bishop of London. In 675 A.D. he himself became bishop of London being the third to attain that rank after the death of Meletus. His body was interred in the cathedral and his shrine which was richly embellished during the reign of Edward III 1327 to 1377 received many valuable donations. The usefulness of the sapphire as an ice stone for the removal of all impurities or foreign bodies from the eye is noted by Albertus Magnus who writes that he had seen it employed for this purpose. He adds that when a sapphire was used in this way it should be dipped in cold water both before and after the operation. This was probably not so much to make the stone colder to the touch as to cleanse it certainly a very necessary proceeding when the same stone was used by many persons suffering from contagious diseases of the eyes. Richard Preston's sapphire appears to have been only one of a class regarded as having special virtue to cure diseased eyes as is shown by the existence of various other similar sapphires in different parts of Europe. It is not very easy to determine the precise reason if there be one which rendered any single sapphire more useful than another in disrespect. An entry in the inventory of Charles V notes an oval oriental sapphire for touching the eyes set in a band of gold. Possibly the fact that a particular gem of this kind was used immediately and was not set for wear as an ornament may have been the only cause for a belief in its special virtue. That a sapphire should have been regarded as especially valuable for the cure of eye diseases serves to illustrate the wide reaching and persistent influence of Egyptian thought and the curious transformations through which an originally reasonable idea may pass in the course of time. We have already noted that the sapphire of the ancients was our lapis lazuli and in the abus papyrus lapis lazuli is given as one of the ingredients of an eye wash. This ingredient is believed to have originally been the oxide of copper, sometimes called lapis arminis a material possessing marked astringent properties and which might be used to advantage in certain morbid conditions of the eye. Lapis lazuli another blue stone was later substituted because of its greater intrinsic value its similarity of color rendering it equally efficacious according to primitive ideas on this subject. When however, in medieval times the name sapphire came to signify the blue corandum gem known to us by this designation the special curative virtues of the lapis lazuli were transferred to this still more valuable stone. The proper method of applying a sapphire to cure plague boils is given at some length by one helmet. A gem of a fine deep color was to be selected and rubbed gently and slowly around the pestilential tumor. During and immediately after this operation the patient would feel but little alleviation but a good while after the removal of the stone favorable symptoms would appear provided the malady were not too far advanced. This one helmet attributes to a magnetic force in the sapphire by means of which the absent gem continues to extract the pestilential virulency and contagious poison from the infected part. Topaz The use of a topaz to cure dimness of vision is strongly recommended by St. Hildegard. To attain the desired end the stone was to be placed in wine and left there for three days and three nights. When retiring to sleep the patient should rub his eyes with the moistened topaz so that this moisture lightly touched the eyeball. After the stone had been removed the wine could be used for five days. A Roman physician of the 15th century was reputed to have wrought many wonderful cures of those stricken by the plague through touching the plague sores with a topaz which had reached to two popes, Clement VI and Gregory II. The fact that this particular topaz had been in the hands of two supreme pontiffs must have added much to the faith reposed in the curative powers of the stone by those upon whom it was used and this faith may really have helped to hasten their recovery. Bloodstone A historical instance of the use of the bloodstone to check a haemorrhage is recorded in the case of Giorgio Vasari 1514 to 1578 the author of The Lives of the Italian Painters of the Renaissance period. On a certain occasion when the painter Luca Signorelli 1439 to 1521 was placing one of his pictures in a church at Arezzo Vasari who was present was seized with a violent haemorrhage and fainted away. Without a moment's hesitation Signorelli took from his pocket a bloodstone amulet and slipped it down between Vasari's shoulder blades. The haemorrhage is said to have seized immediately. The bloodstone was used as a remedy by the Indians of New Spain and Monardes notes that they often cut the material into the shape of hearts. This seems a very appropriate form for an object used to check haemorrhages. The best effect was attained when the stone was first dipped in cold water and then held by the patient in his right hand. Of course the application of any cold object would serve to congeal the blood, but the connection with the heart vanishes in the direction to place the stone in the right hand. Monardes states that both Spaniards and Indians used the bloodstone in this way. The Franciscan friar Bernadino de Sahagún, a missionary to the Mexican Indians shortly after the Spanish conquest writes that in 1576 he cured many natives who were at the point of death from haemorrhage, a result of the plague by causing them to hold in the hand a piece of bloodstone. By this means he claims to have saved many lives. Robert Boyle in his essay about the origin and virtues of gems London 1672 Pages 177-78 tells of a gentleman of his acquaintance who was of a complexion extraordinary sanguine and was much afflicted with bleeding of the nose. A gentle woman sent to him a bloodstone directing him to where it suspended from his neck and from the time he put it on he was no longer troubled with his blood. It recurred however if he removed the stone. When Boyle objected that this might be a result of imagination his friend disposed of his objection by relating the instance of a woman to whom the stone had been applied when she was unconscious from loss of blood. Nevertheless as soon as it touched her the flow of blood was checked. Boyle states that this stone did not seem to him to resemble a true bloodstone. It may have been that the cold of the stone congealed the blood or that the flow was checked by exhaustion. End of chapter 11 part 2 End of The Curious Lore of Precious Stones by George Frederick Kuntz