CATALOGUE OF GEMS. 565 



Amher. — Supposed to be '" generated out of the urine of the lynx, 

 and is hardened by time; that voided ])y the male, brown; by the 

 female, sati'ron. int'lining to a darkness." Amber assuaged pain in 

 the stomach. I'ured jaundice, flux, and king's evil. 



It naturally resjitraius the flux of the belly; is an efticacious remedy for all dis- 

 orders in the throat (a belief still prevalent). It is good against poison. If laid on 

 the breast of a wife when she is asleep, it makes her confess all her evil deeds. 

 Being taken inwardly it provokes urine, brings down the menses, and facilitated a 

 birth. It fastens teeth that are loosen'd, and h\ the smoke of it poisonous insects 

 are driven away. (Camillus Leonardus, Speculum Lapidum. 1502. ) 



AVhen buried in a moist soil it was supposed to generate a fungus, 

 which was administered to those troubled with the gravel. It cured 

 fits, dysentery, scrofula, and jaundice. Used as an amulet it charmed 

 away toothache, asthma, croup, and diseases of the throat: supposed 

 to be efficacious as a curative and prophylactic if rublied on the parts 

 or tiiken internally, after dissolving in white wine. (Dissertatio med- 

 ica de Succino, 1682.) These beliefs are still current. 



Thomas Nicols states that the — 



white odoriferous amber is esteemed the best for physic use, and thought to be of 

 great power and force against many diseases, as against the vertigo and asthmatic par- 

 oxysmeit, against catharres and (irthrilirall pains, against diseases of the stomach, and 

 to free it from sluflings and putrefactions, and against diseases of the heart, against 

 plagues, venoms, and contagions. It is used either in powder, or in oil, or in troches, 

 either in distempers of men or of women, either married or unmarried, either with 

 child or without, or in the distempers of children. [Arcula Gemmea, 1653.] 



Olaus Worm, of Copenhagen, writing in 1640, says that amber was 

 received as a panacea; a sovereign remedy for toothache, asthma, and 

 dropsy. 



In the work " De Proprietatibus Rerum," by Bartholomaeus Glan- 

 villa, amber is reported to possess the property of driving awa\" adders 

 and of being contrary to friends. 



The Shah of Persia is said to wear an amulet of amber reported to 

 have fallen from heaven, and which has the property of rendering him 

 invulnerable. 



Amber is used to-day in Lombardy and the Piedmont as a cure for 

 goitre, a belief that dates back to the time of Pliny. 



Amethyst. — Emblematic of sincerity. 



As an amulet it dispelled sleep, sharpened the intellect, prevented 

 intoxication, gavx victor}^ to soldiers, and protected its wearer from 

 sorcery. (Leonardus.) 



"The amethy.st banishes the desire for drink and promotes chastity." 

 (Art ^Nlagic; or Mundane, Submundane, and Supermundane Spir- 

 itism.) 



Lost its color in contact with and was an antidote for all poisons. 

 (Albertus Magnus.) 



According to Pliny, the amethyst was an antidote to drunkenness, 



