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DE NATURA FOSSILIUM
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a
cock. This is a rare stone that is found in the craw and liver of cocks
and capons, occurring most commonly in the liver. Recently one was
found in a capon that measured one inch by three-quarters of an inch by
one and one-half inches. The widest surface contained shallow hollows.
The narrower upper portion protruded to the right, the left was flatter
and darker and the rest of the stone was light grayish black. When
these stones are found in the craw they are usually the shape of a
lupine seed and about the same size or the size of a bean. They may be
light gray or grayish black but not of intense colors. Sometimes a
quartz-like species is found that is dark in color and may contain
light red veinlets. Pliny writes that Milo of Crotona used these in
contests in which he wished to appear as invincible. When highly
polished the stones that resemble quartz can be placed between the
eyeball and the lower eyelid and moved from one place to another
without injury to the eye. This same thing can be done with other gems
such as lapis-lazuli, onyx, etc. but only if the stones are small.63
Chelidonius takes
its name from swallows since it is found in the craws of these birds.
They have a symmetrical form and are always hollow and for this reason
are quite fragile. They are usually light gray on top while the hollow
convex portion is a dark purple, often with irregular spots. There are
two species of this stone both of which are used in eye salves. They
are hung about the necks of boys to cure epilepsy.64
Pliny writes that hyenia comes
from the eye of a hyena and for that reason they are said to be found
in hunting utensils. He certainly did not see one of these. Chehnia is the eye of an Indian tortoise. Cinaedia is
a white, oblong stone found in the brain of a fish of the same name.
Actually in our own small fish with large heads two small, flat, white,
oblong stones are found with one part divided into small teeth.
Likewise synodontites comes from the brain of the fish called "synodus." According
to Pliny there is no such gem or fish. Two hemispherical stones are
found in the head of the river crab which some people set in jewelry.
These produce abundant urine when taken internally.66
Pearls (unio) are
found in mollusks. When they are white, round, large, smooth and heavy,
such as those sometimes found in India and Arabia, they command a
higher price than any gem except the diamond. Con-chiliae that are small, white and with a navel are sometimes set in jewelry.
63 The alectorius or
"cock-stone" was one of the most widely known animal con cretions in
ancient times. It was supposed to transfer the fighting qualities of
the cock to one who held the stone in his mouth. The name embraces
calcareous concretions and siliceous pebbles.
64 A
legendary stone that enjoyed wide popularity as a remedy in ancient and
medieval times. In medieval times varieties of quartz were sold as this
stone.
86
No mention is made of several other mystical and fabulous stones that
were well known in Medieval Europe, particularly bezoar and kenne. The
bezoar stone was the subject of scientific investigations and learned
papers until well into the eighteenth century.
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