The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-12-15
PRECIOUS STONES AS CURE.

Prescribed aS uACu1CAuS 6ASs~S 1880
In the Second Century.
Truly, among the ancient volumes
there are none which yield better enter
tainment to the student Of human ma
ture and its foibles and follies than
those dealing with ways and means to
preserve mankind from ailments and
disease, says the Westminster Gazette.
And though the present day is said to
furnish better opportunities to the
quack doctor and the valetudinarian
than any former period in the worlds
history, a glance through some of the
medical works Of four or five centuries
ago shows that it would be difficult to
beat some of the suggested cures and
prescriptions.
We have come across some informa-
ton gathered In an ancient volume tell
ing of the marvellous properties Of pre-
cious stones In curing disease. The
compiler of the volume tells his read
ers that in the second century, A. D..
a famous medical man cured King
Necho of Egypt of digestive troubles
by causing him to wear, tied around his
neck, "a dragon cut out of green jas
per-" And whosoever wished for valor
and daring had only to wear diamond
about his person. "But If taken inter-
nally in any shape or form it is pois-
onous"
Ten centuries later an Italian med
ical celebrity caused his patients to
wear rubies "for to make them cautious
and to drive away idle and foolish
thoughts" Taken internally, the ruby
kept the plague at bay and fortified
the system against all manner Of dis
ease. The emerald, crushed to powder
and administered in doses from six to
thirty grains, was an infallible remedy
against collie, snake bites, plague and
epileptic fits. Likewise it stopped bleed
ing, strengthened the memory "and
banished the fear of ghosts and evil
spirits" and seems, in fact, to have
been panacea against all ills, SO that
one can almost read with approval Of
this otherwise cruel system of crushing
into powder one Of the most wonderful
bits Of color which nature can produce.
The sapphire ran the emerald close for
remedial virtues, and in powdered form
strengthened the heart and cured run
ming eyes," while the Strengthening OF
the heart" was also a property Of the
crushed turquoise and the ruby.
Apart from the curative qualities
which each separate kind of precious
stone possessed there were various mix
lures. mainly manufactured in France,
for which fabulous prices were paid,
and there was one remedy in particu
lar, composed Of mixture Of powdered
corals, pearl, sapphire, emerald, topaz,
gold leaf, silver leaf. grease of serpent,
toad and unicorn, which was considered
as indispensable In household as food
and drink.
An old French medical man writes
that this powder, Notwithstanding it,
enormous price, Is found In almost ev.
cry home in France. especially in Prov.
ence and Languedoc. But he adds,
'.the great popularity Of the remedy Ii
the reason why there are thousands OF
limitations, and 1t is very rare thina
to find tiny pot Of the real thing"
Among the properties Of the topaz
was the invaluable one OF improving
bad temper, and one Is apt to think
that In this respect 1t may, even ii this
day Of exploded "superstidons," retain
It's power, especially II, instead Of being
held Under TIE nose q the snfferef
tpresuma6ly f0r inhalatien), II 10 PR
oented In dainty and artistic setting
Ireland's high-water mark In popu-
mtion was reached In 1874. She had