" Magnetes lapis," according to Marbodus, (eleventh century),
" Conoiliare potest uxoribus ipse maritos ;
Et, vice conversa, nuptas revoeare maritis."
Though
not esteemed for personal wear as an ornamental gem, or for being set
as a jewel, nevertheless the LoadÂstone, (or Lode-stone) can exercise
so many undoubted virtues that it well merits attentive consideration
in these pages. " You would be surprised," says Mr. Henson, the Regent
Street mineralogist, (well known in London), " at the uses people make
of Loadstones now-a-days. One gentleman with whom I am acÂquainted
never goes to sleep without a loadstone in his hand; another keeps one
on a little shelf at the head of his bed ; he says he sleeps the better
for it; and he is thinking of placing another at his feet. Yet a third
gentleman carries one always about in his pocket, near his person ; he
tells me that when out walking he finds a difference of distance
through its aid, of a mile an hour. " This piece which you see here I
am purposing to grind flat for a lady, who will use it (as known by her
from past experience to be most helpful) for applying upon her face
when suffering from neuralgia."
It
must be conceded that Helmont (quoted above) was given to many
fanciful, and superstitious notions. For instance, whilst extolling (in
this very same chapter) the numerous, and varied virtues of magnetism,
he adds, quaintly enough, " If anyone happens to committ a nuisance at
thy door, and thou will't prevent that beastly trick in future, take
the poker, red-hot, and put it into the excrement; and, by magnetism,
his posteriors shall become much scorched, and inflamed." Again, " if
women, weaning their infants, shall milk out their
