The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1907-01-12
PRECIOUS STONES AS CURE.


Prescribed as Medicine Away Back
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 witAeYays and means to
preserve mankind {Gom ailments and
disease, says the Westminsi ezette.
And though the present day I'D to
furnish better opportunitfsA@ the
quack doctor and the valetMdiitAri an
than any former period in the worlds
history, glance through some of the
medical works of four or FIVE centuries
ago shows that 1t 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.,
famous medical man cured King
ANCShO VI HSy ~ VI ul6CSllNC tlOuDlcs
by causing him to wear, tied around his
neck, "a dragon cut out of green jas,
per-" And whatsoever wished for valor
and daring had only to wear diamond
about his person. But If taken inter.
naliy 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 1t stopped bleed.
ing, strengthened the memory land
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 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 a household as foo6
and drink.
| An old French medical man write.
that this powder, notwithstanding 1t.
enormous price, is found In almost ev
cry home In France, especially In Prov
enca and Languedoc. But he adds
1.-THE great popularity Of the remedy 1,
the reason why there are thousands Of
limitations, and 1t Is very rare thins
to find tiny pot of the real thing"
Among the properties of the topa,
was the invaluable one of improyin,
bad temper, and one is apt to thinl
that in this respect 1t may, even In thl,
day Of exploded "superstitions," retair
Its power, especially II, instead of beln.
held under the nose" Of the sufrerel
presumably for inhalation), 1t is pre-
sented In a dainty and artistic setting