Coral were hung about the necks of children to preserve them from danger, or to cure some of their ailments.
Even
at the present day, in Italy, Coral is worn as a protection from the
evil eye ; and by females as a cure for sterility. In colour the Red
Coral varies, through all shades of red, from a deep crimson to a
delicate rose pink, or flesh-colour, fine tints of which are rare, and
highly prized. Sometimes also Coral is obtained of a milk-white hue.
While the price of the finest tints of rose-pink may range from eighty
pounds to one hundred and twenty pounds an ounce, ordinary red-coloured
small pieces sell for about two pounds the ounce ; and the diminutive
fragments called " collette," as used for children's necklaces, cost
about five shillings an ounce. In China large spheres of good-coloured
Coral command high prices, being in great requisition there for the
Button of Office worn by a Mandarin.
"
By means of certain acids," says M. Pomet, " the Japanese make a
tincture of Red Coral, which is afterwards reduced to a so-called
syrup ; this being reckoned an admirable cordial, and useful to purine,
and cleanse the mass of blood." " There is likewise a magistery, and
salt made of this substance; but the most common way of using it is
when reduced to an impalpable powder, by levigating it upon a marble,
with rose-water, etc." Oddly enough, Mr. Tournefort (1712), generally a
correct authority, and translated by M. Pomet for the French King,—
has erroneously described Coral as " a plant that grows at the bottom
of the sea ; it has neither leaf, flower, nor seed ; nevertheless, it
sticks to the rocks in the nature of a root, and is cover'd with a
bark, that is adorn'd with pores like stars, which descend to the
bottom." " It is undoubtedly increased by its seed, which is the
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