66 Pearls. 



the betel nut and sirih. In the East they were 

 credited with the property of strengthening the eyes, 

 were considered efficacious in hemorrhages, and 

 were in general use for diseases of the heart, for 

 ague and indigestion. Though never now prescribed 

 or used medicinally in this country — for " Pearl 

 powders," and kindred preparations retain nothing 

 but the name — they are still in repute in China and 

 some other Eastern countries ; large quantities of 

 seed Pearls are used in the composition of majooms 

 or electuaries, in the formation of which several 

 precious stones are sometimes employed. The ma- 

 joom in which there is a large quantity of Pearls 

 is much in use for its supposed stimulating and 

 restorative qualities. At the present time however, 

 the healing virtue of the Pearl is regarded with 

 less favour than formerly in the East, and it is 

 now recognised and even admitted by their own 

 writers that ** there is nothing in the gems or in the 

 shells which can render any more beneficial service 

 than that done by chalk and other antacids." 



We subjoin an extract on the Indian idea of 

 the supposed medicinal properties of Pearls, from 

 the Mani-Mala, written in 1881 by the Rajah 

 Sourindro Mohun Tagore: ** The use of Pearls 

 conduces to contentment of mind and to strength 

 of body and soul. The burnt powder of this 



