CATALOGUE OF GEMS. 567 



Used with the proper incantations, its owner was enabled to foretell 

 the future, and if rubbed with the juice of the heliotrope, it rendered 

 its wearer invisible. The stone brought safety and long life to its 

 possessor, stopped the flow of blood, and was an antidote for poisons. 

 (Camillas Leonai'dus, Speculum Lapidum. 1502.) 



Albertus Magiuis taught that it cured dyspepsia, strengthened the 

 stomach, and, if '* washed according to medicinal art," was a styptic. 

 Mixed with honey or the white of an egg, its powder was held by him 

 to be an excellent remedy for hard tumors, while its dust would cure 

 proud flesh and running sores. 



Pliny" and Leonardus mention that if placed in a basin of water con- 

 taining the, juice of the heliotrope and set in the sun, the water will 

 appear red and the sun blood} . After a time the water will appar- 

 ently boil and overflow the basin. Taken out of the water, the sun 

 and solar eclipses could then be viewed in the water as in a mirror. 



In a '" Booke of the Thinges that are brought from the West Indies," 

 published in 1574, the statement is made — 



They doo hring from the New Spain a stone of great virtue, called the stone of 

 the hlood. The Bloodstone is a kind of jasper of divers colours, somewhat dark, full 

 of sprinkles like to blood, being of colour red, of the which stones the Indians dooth 

 make certayne Hartes, both great and small. The use thereof both there and here is 

 for all fluxe of bloode, and of wounds. The stone must be wet in cold water, and 

 the sick man must take him in his right hand and from time to time wet him in cold 

 water. And as touching the Indians, tliey have it for certayne that touching the 

 same stone in some part where the lilood runneth, that it doth restrain. 



The bishop of Rennes, in the eleventh centurj^, writing on the 

 talismanic eflicaty of stones, asserts that the bloodstone endows its 

 bearer with the gift of prophecy' and renders him proof against poison. 



During the Middle Ages the belief was prevalent in Europe tbat the 

 stone had its origin in a dark-green jasper which happened to lie at 

 the foot of the cross at the time of the crucifixion, and upon which the 

 blood of Christ fell, hence the red spots. 



Carnelian. — According to Epiphanius, it cured tumors and all 

 wounds made hs iron. 



It preserved the strength, prevented hoarseness, and cleared the 

 voice. (Camillus Leonardus.) 



It cheered the soul, banished fear and enchantments, and preserved 

 harmony. (Albertus Magnus.) 



According to the work by Giov. B. Porta, the Avearing of a carne- 

 lian insured victory in all contests save those of love. 



As an amulet and as a powder it was supposed to be a sovereign 

 remedy for hemorrhage. De Laet, in 1647, has described from a 

 personal experience its power in stopping bleeding at the nose, and 

 advises the wearing of rings cut entirely from the stone for this pur- 

 pose. The belief in its eflicacy in such cases still persists. 

 NAT MUS 1900 39 



