294 IVORY AND THE ELEPHANT 



Gerbel. The "horn" when placed upright would have at- 

 tained the height of a tall man, had the point not been broken 

 off. This act of vandalism was chargeable to one of the cus- 

 todians, who had learned that this part was especially valua- 

 ble as an antidote for poisons and as a remedial agent against 

 the plague. When the mutilation was discovered the cus- 

 todian was of course discharged, and it was expressly decreed 

 that no one of his family should ever be entrusted with a share 

 in the custody of the cathedral treasures. Otherwise, this 

 " horn " was in perfect condition and displayed the spiral lines 

 characteristic of the narwhal tusk; similar to those in "St. 

 Blaise's Candles," says Gerbel. Of the weight he simply 

 remarks that it was *' greater than one would dare believe " — 

 a rather vague statement; its circumference is indicated by 

 the declaration that he could just span it with his right hand. 

 The colour was that of old ivory, a yellowish white. To 

 whom the cathedral was indebted for this gift the informant 

 could not tell.* 



Gesner also mentions two of these "horns" of the type 

 used at royal banquets to test the viands for the presence of 

 poison. According to his version they were laid upon the 

 table and were believed to reveal the poison by immediately 

 becoming covered with abundant moisture. He notes two 

 of these horns, each measuring two cubits in length, and 

 having a circumference equal to that of an arm. One of 

 them was given to Sultan Solyman the Magnificent by the 

 Venetian Senate, and the other was presented to the King of 

 France by Pope Clement VII, this latter had the point taken 

 off and was inserted in a silver base. Gesner neither ven- 

 tures to affirm nor deny the miraculous qualities of the horns, 

 merely giving the popular belief as it was commonly ac- 

 cepted.f He adds that when the French spoiled Vercellse, in 



*Conradi Gesneri, "Historia animalium," Francoforti, 1602, Lib. I, de quadruped, 

 viviparis, p. 693. flbid. 



