294 BEZOAE STONE. 



LlB - IY - Vicunas, Pacos, Tarugas, nor Huanacos, but only stags, 

 in some of which they finde these stones. 



The principall vertue of the Bezoar stone is against 

 poison and venomous diseases, although there bee heerein 

 divers opinions ; some hold it for a mockerie, others 

 for a miracle. Howsoever it be, it is most certaine that 

 it is of a great operation when it is applied in time, 

 and convenient in a maner as hearbes, and to persons 

 capable and disposed ; for there is no medicine that 

 doth alwaies cure infallibly. In Spaine and Italic we 

 have seene admirable effects of this stone against the 

 tabordete^ which is a kinde of plague, but not so much as 

 in Peru. They do apply it beaten and put into some 

 liquor, which may make it fit for the cure of melancholy, 

 the falling sickness, pestilent feavers, and many other 

 diseases. Some take it in wine, others in vinegar, in 

 lemonade, with bullock s tongue, borrage and other 

 ways, as the Phisitians and Apoticaries prescribe. The 

 Bezoar stone hath no proper savour, as Rasis the Arabian 

 doth testifie. Wee have seene notable trialls, and there is 

 no doubt but the Author of this vniversall world hath given 

 great vertues to this stone. The Bezoar stones which come 

 from the East Indies have the first place of account, they 

 are of an olive colour ; the second are those of Peru, and 

 the third those of New Spain. Since that these stones 

 were in request, they say the Indians have made artificiall 

 ones ; and many when they see these stones greater then 

 the ordinarie, they take them to be false and counterfeit ; 

 triall and experience is the best mistres to know them. 

 One thing is worthy admiration, that they grow and are 

 fashioned vpon very strange things, as vpon the tagge of a 

 point, vpon a pinne, or a peece of wood, which they finde in 

 the centre of this stone, and yet do they not hold it false, 

 for that the beast might swallow it, and the stone thicken 



1 Fever. 



