Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-03-31
PROPERTIES OF JEWELS.

Their Virtues. Medicinal and Otherwise
as Set Forth by superstition.
Although popularity supposed to be it.
self a deadly poison, the diamond has
Tor remote ages been credited with the
power of protecting the wearer from
the eVli eHects OF other poisons, a rep
utatlon which it retained until compar-
atlvely recent times According to Plinv
IL also keeps off insanity. Amber. too.
was supposed to possess the latter vir-
tue BESIDES the diamond, several other
stones were supposed to possess medic
inal virtues
Inc ruby was considered good for de-
rangement of the liver as well as for
bad eyes The sapphire and emerald
We're also credited with properties
which rendered them capable of infiu-
-enclng ophthalmic disorders, and there
is superstitious belief that serpents
are blinded by looking at the latter
stone.
The turquoise, although not credited
with either remedial or protective prop
critics SO far as disease was concerned.
was nevertheless regarded as a kind of
sympathetic indicator, the intensity of
Its color being supposed to fluctuate
with the health of the wearer. The
latter, moreover, by virtue of the stone
he carried, could, it was said, fall from
any height with impunity. The mar
qms OF Vllena's fool, however was
somewhat nearer the truth when he re-
versed the popular superstition in his
assertion that the wearer of turquoise
might fall from the top of high tower
and be dashed to pieces without break
ing the stone
The opal was looked upon as thun-
der stone, and although many women
are now given to a strong superstitious
prejudice against wearing one, it was
in bygone days held in the highest
estimation, for it was supposed
to combine the virtues of several
other gems On the other hand, the
onyx-so named on account of it's re-
semblance to the finger nails-could
scarcely have been nice stone to
wear; for, according to medieval SUI
perstition. it rendered one particularly
susceptible to annoyance from night
mares and demons.
Temperance advocates, if they have
any regard for the belief of the Greeks
and Romans. might seriously consider
the advisability of distributing anne
thysts among drunkards, for it was
supposed that these stones prevented
intoxication.
Coral was made use of by the Ro-
mans as a protection against the evil
eye and popular superstition has cred
tied the topaz with the power of depriv-
ing boiling water of it's heat.
Perhaps the most wonderful proper
hOwRuqr 70 no
chimerical stones which many creatures
Were supposed to carry in their heads.
Most of our readers have no doubt
heard of the precious jewel which the
toad carries in his brain box, and So
called toad stones, which are in reality
the teeth of the fossil fish, were for
merly worn in finger rings as q protec-
ton against poisons.
1t was thought that the best stones
were those voluntarily elected by the
living toads; but, as the latter were not
addicted to freely giving up their treas
nres in that way, it was necessary to
procure the coveted articles by other
means, and the recognized method was
to decapitate the hapless batrachian at
the instant he swallows his breath.
The feat naturally demanded con-
siderable celebrity, such as could
only be acquired by constant prac-
tice; and 1t is not reasonable,
therefore, to assume that although the
endeavors to gain possession of the
jewels were perhaps numerous, they
must invariably have been unsatis-
factory, especially to the toads.
The eagle stone was considered an
excellent thing to wear during preg-
nancy, and the swallow carried in its
stomach stones of great medicinal value.
The brain of the tortoise was sup
posed to contain wonderful stone.
which was efficacious in eXtinguishing
fire, and when placed under the tongue,
would produce prophetic inspiration.
Another stone possessing the latter
property was to be found in the eye Of
the hyena-
The head of cat, however, was
thought to contain what would up
doubtedly have been the most wonder
full and most desirable treasure of all.
could it only have had a real instead of
an imaginary existence, for that man
who was SO fortunate as to possess this
precious stone would have all his wishes
Magazine.