CATALOGUE OF GEMS AND PRECIOUS STONES. 159 



The oriental chrysolite (chrysoberyl) dispelled pestilential vapors 

 and infectious airs. Taken internally, it alleviated asthma. (Ru- 

 landus, Medicina Practica. 1564.) 



It was said to cool boiling water when immersed in it, soften anger, 

 lose its luster on contact with poison, and induce its wearer to repent 

 of the faults he had committed. (Porta, Magiae Naturalis. 1561.) 



According to the Mani-Mala, the chrysoberyl, when set in gold 

 and worn about the neck or hand, removes disease and vicious 

 habits, and increases family, life, and happiness. 



Chrysolite. — Cardanus, in his "De subtilitate, " says that he cured 

 one C. Palavicinus of a fever and another person of the " falling 

 sickness" by the administration of powdered chrysolite with wine. 



The powder was prescribed as a remedy for asthma. Held under 

 the tongue, it assuaged thirst in fever. (Arcula Gemmea. 1653.) 



Chrysoprase. — Preserved the sight, banished covetousness, and 

 rendered its wearer cheerful. (Mirror of Stones. 1750.) 



Worn as an amulet, it assuaged the pains of gout. (Arcula Gem- 

 mea. 1653.) 



Bound around the arm, it was supposed to become a diuretic, to 

 expel gravel, and prevent the generation of the stone. (Rulandus, 

 Medicina Practica. 1564.) 



Citrini. — The citrini (yellow corundum) protected the wearer 

 from danger while traveling, secured him from pestilential vapors, 

 and procured him every courtesy. (Arcula Gemmea. 1653.) 



Coral. — In the " Arcula Gemmea" is a rather interesting account 

 of the coral, as follows: 



This is a but of maratime beauty, and the delight of children, the best of nature's 

 buds, as somewhat furthering the springtide of their growth. The corall is a plant of 

 nature's setting in the sea, which, though being covered with the waters of the sea, it 

 bee green and soft, yet so soon as it is elevated above the waves and discovered in the 

 region of the aire it altereth its colour and changeth its nature; its colour from green 

 to a very noble and beautiful red; its softne3se into the compacted firmness and 

 solidnesse of a stone, beautifull and lasting; by the operation of the aire encompassing 

 its sometimes soft and flaccid substance. It is (under the waters of a brinish sea) a 

 thriving, growing plant, sprung by nature with the ornament of many pretty branches, 

 which is no sooner violently forc'd from the place of its growth and brought to light 

 above the overflowing of the waters, but it blushes at the injurious hand that offereth 

 violence to its secret, silent, tender, spreading growth. 



Ovid, the Roman poet, accounts for the origin of the coral in the 

 "Metamorphoses" in the following manner: 



Perseus, having cut off the head of the Medusa, placed it upon 

 some twigs and leaves near the seashore. The twigs were turned 

 to stone on contact with the head, were scattered far and wide beneath 

 the sea by sea nymphs, and thus became the seeds of coral. 



The coral was thought to be of greater beauty when worn by a man 

 than by a woman. Bv its change of color it was thought to fore- 



