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The garnet was a preventive of fever and dropsy, and rendered its wearer agreeable, powerful, and victorious.
The hyacinth gave second sight, promoted sleep, and preserved from thunderstorms and pestilences.
Iolite foretold storms by changing hue.
Jasper had the power of stopping overflowing blood, or water, and was a preventive of poison.
Jet induced fertility.
Moonstone
was believed to contain an image of the moon, which grew clear upon
days and occasions fortunate to its owner, and dim with the reverse. It
was thought to wax and wane with the moon and was a cure for epilepsy.
The
onyx exposed its wearer to lawsuits, bad dreams, and demons. If a sard
were worn with it, however, these evil influences were counterÂacted.
It symbolized and insured conjugal felicity.
The opal faded upon the insincere, deceitful, and impure; but when worn by the innocent united the special virtues of all gems.
The pearl insured entrance to Heaven; but this privilege might be lost by carelessness of life.
Quartz if burned averted storms, and powdered and mixed with water cured serpents' bites.
The
ruby preserved its owner's house or vineyard from lightning, tempest,
and worms if the former were touched by it. It was also a disinfectant
and preventive of infectious diseases. Bruised in water it relieved
weakness of the eyes, and cured liver complaints.
The sapphire was a preventive of despair and fire; a curative of madness and boils.
The
topaz was good for burns, and if thrown into boiling water deprived it
of its heat. It prevented melancholy and cured hemorÂrhages. Its
internal brilliancy was believed to follow the phases of the moon.
Tourmaline when heated was capable of charming away pain, such as toothache, headache, etc.
A
turquois grew pale if its owner became sick, and lost its color at
death until placed upon a princess's finger. It prevented injury in
case of a fall. Held suspended in a glass it told the hour by strokes
against the sides. It was a cheerer of the soul and insured prosperity.
Such
opinions regarding the virtues of gems were not confined to the lower
classes but were held generally. There is little doubt that rulers were
accustomed to carry their gems to the battle-field with them for the
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