The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-23
Frederick Haskin's Letter
A Ne.D Birthstone for April.

I ular acceptance of the birtbs+,u
idea, DR.. kunZ attributes to the s-
perssitions regarding the heaIir.
power of jewels. Precious stopass
were. from very early times used =
agents of healing and of warGi, -
of trouble and disease. In tI
middle ages philosophers had NM
mysterious information regar5ins
the power of gems.
The ruby would prevent attacl.
of rheumatism. A topaz wn,,IS
cure diseases of the eye. A vim
colored amethyst would prevent M
wearer from becoming intoxicstsS
regardless of the amount of Iiono-
consumed.
Powdered Gems for Sickness
The dust of diamonds, Jade. ana
other stones was regarded as medi-
cine for various diseases. Emsr-
aid powder mixed with water womb
cure leprosy, it was believed ~
great was the peoples faith in tbe
potency of jewels and in the wis.
dom of the philosophers that vain
able jewels were ground to now.
der and consumed with the idea
that the virtue of the GENTS
strength, purity, fire or other char
acteristics-wouId enter into the
diseased part of the system and ef-
feet curt.
To the people of medieval En-
rope, a beautiful stone was as mys.
teriously powerful as radium seems
to US. Their wisest men told them
that a turquoise would prevent the
wearer from injury if he should
fall. If the wearer of a turquoise
tumbled down stairs and arrived al
the foot with a broken arm. that
was easily explained. Perhaps the
turquoise was not properly worn.
1t should touch the skin in order to
divert the shock of a fall from the
wearer to itself. If it was touching
the skin, then the wearer should an
preciate that if he had not worn il,
undoubtedly his neck as well as his
arm would have been broken. The
turquoise took the worst of the fall
to itself. If either of these argu-
ments failed to convince, the man OF
learning could significantly observe
that if jewel failed to function as d.
obviously it was an imi-
tation and not true, living gem.
The people, princess and poorer
folk alike listened to the scholars
and when they could afford to do
so, wore the proper assortment Of
jewels to keep healthy, or to get
TaE, 10 a+f o4
ship. When this gem cult -four
ished, the individual needed stone
for each emergency. One lucky
stone was not so good as half a
dozen, each with its special powers.
But, eventually, the people lost
faith in connections of powdered
jewels, and lamentations said over
gems while holding them &c a dis
eased eye or leg.
Origin of Tradition.
About this time the old associa-
ton of the II Biblical stones with
the IL months was recalled, and out
Of Poland, Germany or France-it
IS not certain Which-came the
custom.
III I1dhInS OuL %AG gem NdAtlLuHAi
the first stone was assigned to
March, and January and February
were given the last two stones. In
spite of this arrangement, and in
spite of the fact that in different
countries the gem calendar varies
somewhat, there is no mistaking
he source from which the Il stones
we're taken.
A few years ago the National AS
ISOLATION of jewelers. agreed on an
official list for this country, The
stones for the Il months in order
ire garnet, amethyst, bIoodstone,
diamond, emerald, pearl, ruby, sar-
1onyx, sapphire, opal, topaz and
Alternative stones for
i've months also were made official
is follows: Aquamarine, for
March; moonstone, for June; peri
lot for August; tourmaline, for Oc-
ober; and lapis-laZuli for Decem-
Der.