Chap.' 34.J OAQATES. 2G1 



like honey. Uruiscd and incorporated with wax, it is curative 

 of pituitous eruptions, .*pots upon the., skin, and ulcoratious of 

 the fauces. It removes epinyctis^ also, and, applied as a pes- 

 sary, in wool, it alleviates pains in the uterus. 



CHAP. 34. GAOATES t SIX KEMKWES. 



Gagates* 7 is a stone, so called from Gages, the name of a 

 town and river in Lycia. M It is asserted, too, that at Leu- 

 colla'- 3 the sea throws it up, and that it is found over a space 

 twelve stadia in extent, it is black, smooth, light, and porous, 

 (liifers hut little from wood in appearance, w * is of a brittle 

 texture, and emits a disagreeable odour 60 when rubbed. Marks 

 made upon pottery with this stone cannot be effaced. AVhen 

 burnt, it gives out a sulphureous smell; and it is a singular 

 fact, that the application of water ignites it, while that of oil 

 quenches it. 61 The fumes of it, burnt, keep serpents at a dis- 

 tance, and dispel hysterical affections: they detect a tendency 

 also to epilepsy, 6 - and act as a test of virginity/ 3 A decoction 

 of this stone in wine is curative of tooth-ache ; and, in combina- 

 tion with wax, it is good for scrofula. The magicians, it is 

 said, make use of gagates in the practice of what they call 



ble that it derived its .name from /if\, 4 ' honey," in consequence of its 

 colour than by rcasou of its supposed sweet juices. The Mcllite, Melli- 

 tte, or lionev-stono of modern Mineralogy, also known as Mellate of 

 Alumina, has Its name from its hom-y-yellow colour. It is found in Thu- 

 ringia, Moravia, and Bohemia; hut. most probably was unknown in the 

 days ot Pliny. ** See H. xx. cc. 0, '21. 



* 7 Our jet, which somewhat resembles camiel-coal, and is found in cl:iy 

 soils. 



M See 15. v. c. 28, where a place called u Oagre" is mentioned. InXoto 

 o to that Chapter, ** gagates" is erroneously rendered * agate." 



*' J See H. v. c. '26. 



y> * This comparison is not inapt, as it is closely akin to Lignite, or brown 

 coal. 



*' A bituminous and nnimnl odour, Ajasson says, miitc peculiar to itself. 



61 lie has borrowed this erroneous usserti.on, probably, from Nicander, 

 who, with riiny, nays tlr^same of the *'Thraeiau stone," which has not be-on 

 identified, but 'is supposed to have been a sort of coal. See 15. xxxiii. c. 30. 



62 This is, probably, the meaning of "suiiticu* morbus," a disease, 

 which, according to the jurists, excused those atlected with it, from attend- 

 ing in courts of justice. 



03 Albertus Magnus, DC Mineral, B. ii., says that if it is given in water to 

 a female, it will have a -diuretic eilVet immediately, if she is not in a state 

 of virginity, and that the contrury will be the case if she is. 



