286 C'JRAI.LIUM KUllRUM. 



divested of its leaves, being usually about two inches in diameter 

 at its base, and seldom exceeding three feet in height. The axis 

 or central portion is stony, solid, with a vitreous fracture, and of a 

 bright crimson colour. In the recent state, the stem and branches 

 are covered with a soft cortical substance or epidernus, which is 

 the habitation of numerous small, whitish, soft, semi-transparent 

 polypi. The coral is said to be fixed, by its base, to submarine 

 rocks and other solid bodies, always in a pendant or reversed 

 position. 



According to the analysis of M. Vogel, the components 

 of Red Coral are 27'50 of carbonic acid, 50"50 of lime, 

 3-00 of magnesia, l'OO of oxide of iron, 5*00 of water, 0-50 of 

 animal matter, 0-50 of sulphate of lime, with a trace of muriate of 

 soda.* Though it has been regarded as an antacid, and as such 

 was at one time used in medicine, it does not appear to possess any 

 advantages over other calcareous productions, and is now dis- 

 carded from the British pharmacopoeias. It was also considered 

 a powerful tonic, and extolled as a remedy against disorders of the 

 most opposite kinds. The Roman ladies suspend it round their 

 neck, as a charm to ward off diseases, and other evils, to which 

 infancy is subject. Gansius, who has written very fully on its 

 properties, in his " Corallium Historia," thinks it an admirable 

 remedy against demoniacal possession ; and in this notion he is 

 supported by Marbodseus. 



Fulmina, Typhones, Tempestatesque repellit 

 A rate vel tecto * * * * 

 Umbras, dasmoniacas, et Thessala monstra repellit 

 Collo suspensus pellit de ventere dolorem. 



De Lapidibus pretiosis, xx. 



The use of red Coral is now confined to ornaments of dress, and 

 for these it is as universally employed as in the days of Pliny. 



* Annulet <l<: Chimie, lxxxix. p. 113. 



