Los Angeles herald., 1910-10-16
JEWELS ONCE USED AS MEDICINE

" w EGO OINSE ~ SS-D ~ |"
Stones of healing, as they used to
be called, may not have been quite
such fakes as skeptical moderns think.
AT least a writer in the Ladys PIC
torial inclines to believe that theremay
have been some foundation for the
faith once placed in them.
He points out that "every gem is the
focus of a light ray, and it is note
worthy that the traditional attributes
of jewels are quite along the line OF
later scientific ideas. The amethyst
and the sapphire, prisms of the sooth-
ing violet and blue ray, have ever been
considered calming in their influence,
while the ruby, the bloodstone, etc,
have always been said to exercise the
rousing, stimulating effect of the red
ray.
"Gems are highly electric The
chrysalite acts on the magnetic needle
and this presupposes the radiation of
living force from jewels, so strongly
insisted upon in ancient medieval
writings. Precious stones applied ex-
ternally or internally formed an ac-
cepted part of the medical pharma-
copeia in ancient and medieval times
An ancient and costly jewel COM
pound was "the five precious frag-
ments," consisting of powdered rubies,
topaZes, emeralds, sapphires and
hyacinths. A famous French confec-
ton of 1712 was composed of jacinth,
coral, sapphires, topaz, pearl and en-
erald mixed with gold and silver leaf
and "herbs of power"
'"This confection," says Pomet, the
French kings apothecary, lis much
used in Florence and Languedoc, where
you meet few persons not having a
pot thereof" 1t was supposed to be
an excellent recipe for many physical
ailments.
Precious stones were prepared medi-
cinally by % powdering q. e., by
grinding); (2) calcination (by fire or
corrosion); 90 publication; (D liqua-
ton; (5) distillation or Yolatilizatlon
q. e., dissolved in spirits of wine and
distilled); (6) sirupization (solution
mixed with citron, barberries, sugar
and water).
Powder of emeralds in doses of 80
to 40 grains was considered an astrin-
gent. It stanched blood and strength
ened the eyes. Powdered topaz and
rosewater prevented bleeding and was
good for digestion; it was sold by
apothecaries as an antidote to mad
ness, and, taken in time, cured asthma
and induced sleep.
Powder of rubies was usually taken
in doses of 30 to 40 grains ito strength
en- the Vitals and restore lost
strength" and also prevented infec-
ton. Sapphires are highly electric;
there was powder of sapphire and oil
of sapphire some prepare sapphire
with cordial water; others
dissolve the fine dust of sapphire in
pure vinegar and juice of limons, and
give the solution with some other cor
dial" Powder of sapphire healed boils
and sores and was also good for the
eyes. Pearls were given in consump-
tion, cured quartan, ague, strengthened
the nerves. "Sah of pearl was much
thought of by Paracelsus; pearls were
sometimes taken in doses of six grains
in water cor dissolved in vinegar, bar
berry juice or limons."
Poison was the terror of the middle
ages; it is natural, therefore, to ma
many remedies among gems-the
jacinth the sapphire, the diamond, the
corneian, the ruby, the agate, the
toadstone the bezoar stone were all
used as autidotes to poison.
The Lee Penny was a famous stone
of healing, set in coin brought back
from the Crusades by one of the
I.ockarts of Lee; it was specially used
in cattle diseases. The coin, attached
to a chain, was dipped in a bucket of
water-"three dips and a swirl" as
the country people expressed it-and
the water was given to the cattle. In
the reign of Charles I the Laird of Lee
lent the penny to the inhabitants of
Newcastle where the pague was rag