Evening star., 1922-11-26

victim responded to treatment and re-
covered. Later he declared that he was
,,t satisfied with the explanation OF
lis illness and caused all examination
- the ring to be made by experts. 1t
vas found that the head Of the golden
.:erpent of which the ring was formed
vas hollow and large enough to contain
cvcral drops of fluid. Moreover. the
luer side of the ring under the SER
,,eut's head contained tiny sharp points
# metal. possibly designed to cut or
rick the skin of its wearer. In addl-
on, there was disclosed minute hole
n the center of these fine metal points.
through which fluid in the head of the
serpent might have seeped. like the We
!om through a serpent's TOOTH, into the
inc abrasions of the skin.
The ina gination Of the antiquary. his
!.:ends and the public was Immediately
:fed to visions Of Borgian poisoning
,,!ots and strange medieval crimes
"erhaps the ring was one Of those made
or Alexander VI or Caesar Borgia and
.sed for the destruction of their enc
MES and rivals. All that weird par
san history of Guicciardini was re-
wed from its sleep. and every one who
,;.d bought any of the antique jew
.-'ry and art objects which have lately
L-en flowing out of Italy began to ex-
.,:nine his treasures with a new and
rrr.tied interest
TWAS it possible that d ring, I'M
w prisoning one of those subtle and
unexplained pOisons of the renals-
lance had survived 400 years and
ONE by some strange machination of
he fates to exert it's evil potency
lpon an innocent dabbler III antiques?
The student of toXlcology will find
trreconcilable difficulties in the way
ii accepting this romantic story, yet
Ie explanation seems to have gained
le credence of the Swiss police au
aorities and several men of scientific
s'anding, who were asked to examine
he patient and his ring.
The whole account of poisoning by
.reans of minute quantities of some
mysterious drug or venom concealed
N pieces of jewelry long ago raised
= question which is still open to seri-
us debate. Even modern chemistry.
it'll its thousandfold advance over
ne Borgian age. would likely find
difficult to make such a ring for
my modern tyrant who might arise
md wish to treat his friends in the
fifteenth century manner. We do not
now even today of any poisons
hich might be practically applied
= this manner and with mortal re-
llts. Naturally. we doubt whether
ne comparatively ignorant late mid
Ie ages knew more. On the other
and. the accounts of these ancient
oisonings are so convincing that the
rost cautious investigator finds it i'm
ossible to discredit them.
Poisoning was great and much
cultivated art in Europe for 1900
ears. Rulers either employed their
ificial poisoners or encouraged the
mister artists and used their prod
IT'S. Again, many thousands of
lchemists and maGicians were at
ork through centuries of history
aking strange experiments and. it
.ay be, profound discoveries. Per
rps some of their knowledge was
st with other arts that mankind has
rrgotten. Hence the deadly ring
,ay be left In the, limbo of improb-
Bile possibilities.
To Americans close interest arises
.ut Of the recent flow of renaissance
imports. The Italian law against the
xport of old art goods and objects
historical interest remains in force,
ut apparently there is good deal of
.akage, especially of small orna-
ients and the like. In addition, many
antilles in other parts of Europe
ave been forced by poverty to dis
.erse valuable collections. not only of
aintings, tapestries. antique furni-
Ire and other art creations. but nota-
" of old jewelry. The bulk of Rus
las crown jewels appears to have
remained in the hands of the new
'overnment, but countless rich and
toble families in every European
ountry have been compelled to throw
.hsir ornaments on, the Market ana