318 IVORY AND THE ELEPHANT 



from the body of the owner. The other specimen, also a 

 boar's tusk, is a modern amulet from Perugia, and represents 

 a type in common use in Italy against the Evil Eye or similar 

 spells. Such amulets are also given children to wear as an 

 aid to their dentition.* 



Boars' tusks were regarded as valuable remedies for 

 bronchitis, pleurisy, and other internal inflammations, result- 

 ing from a congestion of the blood vessels, or from coagula- 

 tion of the blood. t The fact that very severe and painful 

 wounds were often inflicted by wild boars doubtless led to the 

 belief in their virtue to cure blood diseases and inflammations. 



The hoof of the "Great Beast," highly prized by many 

 Italians as an amulet against poison, witches, and the Evil 

 Eye, was in former times a piece of the hoof of a rhinoceros ; 

 but in view of the diflSculty in obtaining such fragments, the 

 hoof of the elk has been substituted. The amulets formed 

 of this material are generally shaped into small tablets; they 

 are often bordered with silver and provided with two rings 

 on either side, by means of which the object is attached 

 either to a ribbon, or to the two extremities of a coral neck- 

 lace. Sometimes the amulet consists of a silver heart marked 

 with the monogram of Christ and the three sacred nails, a 

 piece of the elk's hoof being set in the reverse side. Here, as 

 in so many other Italian amulets, the sanction of the Church 

 has given added virtue to the pagan amulet. | 



The superstition in regard to the good fortune brought by 

 wearing elk teeth, and the use of them to adorn the insignia 

 of the widespread Order of Elks, has led to a very great de- 

 mand for these teeth, a demand far exceeding the normal 

 supply. Those having a number of circles and of a light 



*Bellucci, "II feticismo primitivo in Italia," Perugia, 1907, p. 35 (2 figures). 

 tValentini, "Museum museorum, oder Vollstandige Schau-Biihne," Franckfurt am 

 Mayn, 1714, Bk. Ill, cap. 17, 3, pp. 454. 



JBellucci, "II feticismo in Italia," Perugia, 1907, pp. 111-113. (Figures.) 



