432 THE A NT I LOPES, 



of their having been deceived. We mud not, 

 therefore, conclude, like our ancient naturalifts, 

 that the oriental bezoar is produced folely by a 

 a particular fpecies of gazelle. I acknowledge, 

 that, after having examined not only the evi- 

 dence of travellers, but the fads themfelves 

 which might decide this queftion, I am inclined 

 to believe that the bezoar ftone proceeds equally 

 from the raoft part of ruminating animals, but 

 more commonly from goats and gazelles. It 

 is formed of concentric coats or ftrata, and fre- 

 quently contains foreign fubftances in its centre. 

 I endeavoured to inveftigate the nature of thefe 

 fubftances, which ferve as a nucleus to the be- 

 zoar, in order to difcover the animal that 1 wal- 

 lowed them. In the centre of thefe ftones, I 

 found fmall flints, ftones of plums, and of ta- 

 marinds, feeds of caffia, and efpecially pieces of 

 flraw, and buds of trees. Hence I could no 

 longer hefitate in attributing this production to 

 animals which browfe herbage and leaves. 



We are perfuaded, therefore, that the Oriental 

 bezoar proceeds not from any one, but from a 

 number of different animals. Neither is it diffi- 

 cult to reconcile this opinion with the teftimo- 

 nies of travellers ; for, though each of them 

 contradicts his neighbour, yet all of them make 

 near approaches to the truth. The bezoar was 

 unknown to the ancient Greeks and Latins. 

 Galen is the firft who mentions its virtues a- 



gainft poifon. The Arabians fpeak of the be- 

 zoar 



