CATALOGUE OF GEMS AND PRECIOUS STONES. 167 



Porta, in the Magiae Naturalis, says: It alleviates the pain of the 

 kidneys, expels gravels from the bladder, and when worn as a charm 

 is a preservative against venomous things. 



Jasper. — -Was a charm againsl scorpions and spiders. (Boot, Gem- 

 marum et Lapidarum Historia. 1690.) 



Checked the How of blood; strengthened the chest, lungs, and 

 stomach; cured fevers and dropsy; cleared the sight, and prevented 

 conception. (Leonardus, Speculum Lapidum. 1502.) 



In the list of valuables left by George. Earl Marischal, who died in 

 1620, is "ane jaspe stone for steming of bluid." 



Mottled jasper, suitably engraved, was believed to prevent its 

 wearer from death by drowning and to render him free from injury 

 while on the water. (Arcula Gemmea. 1653.) 



Burton, in the Anatomy of Melancholy, says: 



If hung about the neck, or taken in drink, it much resisteth sorrow. 



Nonus, a physician of the Middle Ages, reported of it that it cured 

 epilepsy. 



Galen asserted that a green jasper, worn as an amulet suspended 

 from the neck so that it was above the navel, would cure dyspepsia 

 and strengthen the stomach. 



Jet. — Cardanus (De Subtilitate, lib. 5) says: 



The wearing of this stone doth secure men from nocturnal fears, from incubus or 

 succubus, or the nightmare, and from evil spirits; and that being drunk will show 

 whether a maid hath her virginity or no. 



Believed to dissolve spells and enchantments. 



If burned as incense, its smoke drives away devils and relieves the dropsical. 

 (Boetius, De Gagate.) 



Bruised in water and given to a gravid animal, it brings forward 

 the fetus. Its powder cures epilepsy and fastens loose teeth. Mixed 

 with the marrow of a stag and taken internally it cures snake bites. 

 (Speculum Lapidum. 1502.) 



Used as a perfume it prevented irregularity in female periods. 

 (Wurtz, Tab. gener. prac.) 



Lapis-lazuli. — Believed to cure melancholia. (Speculum Lapi- 

 dum.) Dioscorides, in De Materia Medica, suggests its use as a cure 

 for melancholy, and states that it is a good purgative. 



Cardanus advises its use in pectoral diseases of children and in 

 epilepsy. The dose to be 5 grains. (De Subtilitate.) 



Boetius (Tract, de Lapidibus et Gemmis) states that it is a good 

 purgative. Unwashed, it purges by vomiting; washed, it purges by 

 stool. L^sed for this purpose to-day in India, Chile, and Peru. 



A. Mussa Brassavolus (Lib. de Med. purgant.) used it as a pur- 

 gative according to the following prescription: 



1} Lapidis lazuli praeparati, 5j- Camphorae, anisi, cinnamomi, zinziberi?, mas- 

 tiches ana, gr. 6. Misce, cum succo salviae vel diacatholico fiant pilulae quinq. 



