Chap. 41.] ARABIAN STOKE. 365 



those of Africa in appearance, but is larger and flat, while the 

 others are of a globular form : it contains a sand within, of a 

 pleasing colour, and mixed with small stones ; being so soft 

 itself as to admit of being crushed between the fingers. 



The fourth variety is known as the Taphiusian aetites, and 

 is found near Leucas,^^ at Taphiusa, a locality which lies to 

 the right as you sail from Ithaca tov*^ards Cape Leucas. It is 

 met with in the beds of- rivers there, and is white and round; 

 having another stone in the interior, the name given to which 

 is " callimus :" none of the varieties of aetites have a smoother 

 surface than this. Attached to pregnant women or to cattle, 

 in the skins of animals that have been sacrificed, these stones 

 act as a preventive of abortion, care being taken not to remove 

 them till the moment of parturition ; for otherwise procidence 

 of the uterus is the result. If, on the other hand, they are not 

 removed at the moment when parturition is about to ensue, 

 that operation of iS"ature cannot be effected. 



CHAP. 40. SAMIAN STONE : EIGHT REMEDIES. 



Samian stone®^ comes from the same island which produces 

 the earth in praise of which we have spoken already. ^^ It is 

 useful for giving a polish to gold, and it is employed medicinal^ 

 for the treatment of ulcerations of the eyes, combined with milk 

 in manner already^^ described. It is good, too, for watery dis- 

 charges of a chronic nature, from the eyes. Taken internally, 

 it is useful for affections of the stomach, and it has the effect 

 of dispelling vertigo and restoring the spirits when depressed. 

 Some writers are of opinion that this stone may be administered 

 with advantage for epilepsy and strangury ; and it is employed 

 as an ingredient in the restoratives known as " acopa."^- The 

 test of its purity is its weight and its whiteness. Some persons 

 will have it that, worn as an amulet, it acts as a preventive of 

 abortion. 



CUAP. 41. AEABIAN STONE ; SIX REMEDIES. 



Arabian^^ stone resembles ivor}^ m appearance ; and in a 



^ See B. iv. c. 2. 



^3 A kind of pumice, Ajasson thinks, or porous feldspathic scoria froni 

 volcanos. ^° In B, xxxv, c. 53. 



91 In Chapter 37 of this Book. ^- See B. sxiii. cc. 45, 80 



93 Probably of a similar nature to the Samian stone. 



