AMU1.,F.TS. 
6B1 
while he deprecates the use of* others, as cures for melancholy. — I 
sa}' with Renodeus, they are not altogether to be rejected he adds — 
“ Peony doth cure epilepsie; pretious stones most diseases ; w'olf’sdung 
borne with one, helps the collie ; a spider, an ague,” &c. The cele- 
brated Mr. Bayle mentions the application of some amulets, as a 
proof of the power of external effluvia over the corporeal system ; 
and states the fact of having cured himself of a tendency to bleeding 
at the nose by the application of moss from a dead man’s skull. Seve- 
ral physicians have noticed similar phenomena ; and it is well 
known, from the wearing of camphor and other substances, that the 
effluvia of various bodies is very powerful in preventing contagion. 
It may be some assistance to the readers of our early poets, to sub- 
join a curious extract from the scarce w^ork of Regnald Scot, On the 
Discoverie of Witchcraft, with respect to what was then thought to 
be the specific virtues of certain stones, worn as amulets in the “ olden 
time.” 
*‘An agat,” they saie, “ hath virtue against the biting scorpions or 
serpents. It is written, but I will not stand to it, that it maketh eloquent, 
and procureth favour from princes ; yea, that the fume thereof doth turn 
awaie tempests. Alectorius is a stone about the bigness of a bean, as 
clear as the christall, taken out of a cock’s bellie, which has been 
gelt or made a capon foure years. If it be held in one’s mouth, it 
assuageth thirst ; it maketh the husband to love the wife, and the 
bearer invincible. Chelidonius is a stone taken out of a swallowe, 
which cureth melancholic, bowbeit, some authors saie it is the 
herbe whereby the swallowes recover the sight of their young, even if 
their eies be picked out with an instrument. Garanites is taken out 
of a crane, and Dracoaites out of a dragon. But it is to be noted, 
that such stones must be taken out of the bellies of the serpents, 
beasts, or birds, wherein they are, while they live ; otherwise, they 
vanish awaie with the life, and so they reteine not the virtues of those 
starres under which they are. Amethysus maketh a drunken man 
sober, and refresheth the wit. The coral preserves such as bear it 
from fascination or bewitching, and in this respect they are hanged 
about children’s necks. But from whence that superstition is derived, 
and who invented the lie, I know not ; but I see bow redie people 
are to give credit thereunto, by the multitude of corals that waie 
employed. Heliotropius stancheth blood, driveth awaie poisons, pre- 
serveth health ; yea, and some write that itprovokethraine, and darken- 
eth the sunne, suffering not him that beareth it to be abused. Hyacin- 
thus doeth all that the other doeth, and also preserveth from lighten- 
ing. Dinothera, banged about the necke, collar, or yoke of any crea- 
ture, tameth it presentlie. A topase healeth the lunatike person of 
his passion of lunacie. Aitites, if it be shaken, soundeth as if there 
were a little stone in the bellie thereof; it is good for the falling sick- 
nesse, and to prevent untimelie birth. Chalcedonius maketh the bearer 
luckie in lawe, quickeneth the power of the bodie, and is of force 
also against the illusions of the divell, and phantastical cogitations 
arising of melancholic. Carneolus mitigateth the heat of the mind, 
and qualifieth malice ; it also stancheth bloodie duxes. Iris helpeth a 
woman to speedie deliverance, and maketh rainebow^s to appeare. A 
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