338 PJJNY'S NATURAL HISTORY. [Book XX 



in the quarries of this stone, all maladies of the le^s disappear, 

 whereas, in mines in general, the legs become affected with 

 disease. " Flower of stone of Assos" is the name given to 

 a soft stone which crumbles into dust, and is found very effi- 

 cacious in some cases ; it resembles red pumice in appearance. 

 In combination with Cyprian wax, this stone is curative of affec- 

 tions of the mamillo) ; and, employed with pitch or resin, it 

 disperses scrofulous sores and inllammatory tumours. Used in 

 the form of an electuary, it is good for phthisis, and, with honey, 

 it causes old sores to cicatrize, and consumes proud flesh. It 

 5? used, also, for the cure of wounds of on obstinate nature 

 inflicted by animal.*, and acts as a desiccativo upon suppura- 

 tions. Plaist*rs, too, aro made of it for gout, bean-meal being 

 incorporated with it for the purpose. 



CHAP. 29. (18.) OSSEOUS STONKS. PALM STONES. COUAXI. 

 ULACK STONES. 



Theophrastus and Mucianus are of opinion that there uro 

 certain stones which bring 24 forth other stones. Theophrastus 

 states, also, that a fossil* ivory is found, both white and 

 black ; that the earth, too, produces bones, and that osseous" 

 stones are sometimes found. In the vicinity of Munda in. 

 Spain, the place where the Dictator Cirsar defeated Pompeius, 39 

 there arc stones found, which, when broken asunder, bear the 

 impression of palm leaves. 39 



There are some black stones, also, which aro held ir much 

 the same esteem as the marbles ; the Tacnarian 40 stone, for 

 example. Varro says that the black stone of Africa is more 

 durable than that of Italy ; while, on the other hand, the white 

 corani 41 are harder than Parian marble, lie states, also, that 



25 Democritus, amongst the ancients, and Savonarola ami Cardan, in more 

 recent times, have attributed to stones the powers of reproduction. Vives 

 speaks of certain diamonds which conceive and fructify; and Aviccnna 

 speaks of the selenite or moon-stone of Arabia, which, when suspended 

 from a tree, generates other stones of a similar nature. Tourneiort also 

 entertained similar opinions. 



** Fossil teeth of niammiferip, probably. 

 7 Fossil animal remains, no doubt. 



38 Cneius Pornpcius. See 15. iii. c. 3. 



lp " Palmati." This is more probably the mcanin?, than the "human 

 palm/* as Littrc renders it. They were fossil impressions of leaves, in 

 all probability. 



<J See Chapter 43 of this Book : also B. ir. cc. 7, 8. 



41 Clones so culled, potbibly, 1'rom being found in the vicinity of Cora 



