576 KKPOKT OK NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1900. 



Suspended from the neck, it kept oft' plag-ue and thunder, strength- 

 ened the heart, and increased riches and honors. (Giov. B. Porta. 

 Magiae Natural is. 1 561 . ) 



According to the Puranas — 



A garnet wliich is coldivd liki' the conch, the lotus, the ])lack bee, or the sun, and 

 which is strunji on a thread, is sound and auspicious, and heralds good fortune. A 

 garnet whii-h is i-olored like the crow, the horse, the ass, the jackal, the bull, or the 

 blood-stained beak of a vulture holding a i)iece of flesh, brings on death. 



Jacinth. — Procured sleep, riches, honor, and wisdom. A preserva- 

 tive against pestilence and foes. (Leonardus. Speculum Lapidum. 

 1502.) 



Cardanus, in l)e Lapidibus preciosis, sa3'S that he was in the habit 

 of carrj^ing a jacinth about him for the purpose of inducing .sleep, 

 wdiich he says "it did seem somewhat to confer, but not much."" 



Xicols, quoting Cardanus, .says that jacinth procured sleep, cheered 

 the heart, drove awa}' plagues, brought protection from thunder, and 

 increased wisdom and honor when worn on the finger or about the 

 neck as an amulet. (Arcula Gemmea. 1653.) 



Jdde. — Worn as an amulet or administered internally, it was a cura- 

 tive of di.seases of the kidney and loins. 



Wecker, in the Antidotae speciale de Lapidibus minus preciosis 

 Alterantibus, saA's that a nobleman, well known to him, had a fine 

 "nephritiek stone," which he wore on his arm — 



by the power of which he voided a very great quantity of gravel, .so great as that he 

 feared lest he should suffer harm by so large an expulsion of it in so short a time. 



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. 



Jas2)e)\ — Was a charm against .scorpions and spiders. (Boot, Gem- 

 marum et Lapidarum Historia. 1690.) 



Checked the How of blood; .strengthened the che.st, 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 Mari.schal, 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 nuich 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. 



