Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1916-08-10
NATIVES OF CENTRAL AMERICA
lNLAlD THEIR TEETH WITH
GEMS
IS PHOSPHATE OF ALUMINIUM
Stone Invested With Great Virtues 40
Cure-All by Writer

large collection of the gem known as
turquois. In the exhibits of the di-
vision of anthropology additional spec
linens are to be seen which fact goes
to vouch for its historical value and
its close relations to the life of man.
DR.. Joseph e. Pogue, late of the
museum staff has made an exhaustive
study of this mineral, which has re.
Gently been published.
The turquois is an Opaque mineral,
priced mainly for its perfection OF
color, since it lacks the brilliant lus-
tire which forms the chief charm of
transparent gems. Specimens Of the
finest quality possess soft and pleas
ing blue tone like the color Of the sky
called in the trade sky blue or robins
egg blue, but the value is often les
sened by a greenish cast, while In
many stones the green predominates.
1t occurs near the surface of the
earth where it is readily found and
mined. Being but slightly harder
nan glass, 1t may be worked with
ease, even by primitive people who
possess only the crudest tools.
Chemically the turquois is a phos-
phate of aluminium carrying small
quantities Of copper and iron, to which
its color is due. With variscite,
green mineral of similar character but
less value and beauty, 1t is the only
phosphate to find place among the
precious stones. Like many minerals,
this stone has more than one origin.
1t is usually formed, however, By
the percolation of surface water
through aluminous rocks containing
apatite and disseminated copper min
elals.
Although at the present day this
stone is outranked by the diamond,
ruby, sapphire and other gems among
the civilized peoples, with semi civil
HEED peoples it takes foremost rank,
its value depending not only upon
It's intrinsic worth, but also upon the
mystic properties and religious sig
nificance it is supposed to possess.
| 1t is the most highly priced pos
session of the Navajo Indian of the
deserts of Arizona, and the Bedouin
of the plains of Arabia, while the Tibe-
tan and Mongolian natives esteem this
gem no less than. do the Hopi and
Zuni pueblo dwellers in our own south
west.
BY virtue of this general use in
parts of the Orient and America, and
its introduction into legends and
myths of diverse and widely separat-
ed peoples, the turquois has consider
able ethnologic interest.
From the dawn of civilization down
to the present day the turquois has
played an important role and found
variety of ornamental and religious
uses. Not only was it always held in
In high esteem but it was frequently
invested with marvellous virtues. From
the tombs of the earliest Egyptian
kings has come beautiful jewelry u
laid with turquoises from the Sinai
peninsula.
The inhabitants of central Asia have
long valued the turquois and been Law
ish IN its use, while the Persians and
ueighboring races of Western Asia
have from time immemorial drawn up.
On the famous Nishapur deposits near
the Caspian Sea. The mineral was
probably known in Europe even pricr
70 the beginning Of the Christian era.
TurQuois occurs in but few places
On the globe, most of them barren
and arid, yet in nearly every place
where 1t has been found prehistoric
mining sites have also been discover
Cd, showing that the ancients knew
nearly all the localities Of this stone.
Many early writer's attributed great
medicinal value to this pretty blue
stone. They also held that this gem
brought good luck, fortune. etc. and
protected its wearer from harmful
accidents. even death itself. Another
virtue was its supposed ability to
prevent horse from firing.
Medical properties were also claim
cd for it in Mexico by the Aztecs, al
though there this gem had more of q
religious value, being offered or devot-
cd primarily to divinities, and at first
worn only by priests and the mightiest
mobiles.
The natives of Central America ARE
said to have inlaid their teeth With
turQuoises, and an ancient jaw stud
ded with these gems unearthed in
Yucatan attests to this belief.
Alphabetically the turquois has a
long and curios history, both with the
ancients and the ignorant of today.
Its color, varying from blue to green,
was significant for ages as representa-
tive of the sky, sea and verdure.
'It cures all diseases Of the head
and heart. By application over the
eyes 1t insures their lustre, and pre-
vents the fall of fluid therefrom. II
is sovereign remedy for flatulence,
dyspepsia, insanity. and ulcers. Wheth.
er taken with other drugs or simply
with honey, it has the power Of curing
epilepsy, spleen, etc."