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Aetites, Eagle-Stone

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AETITES.
appearance like water frozen. It was therefore a gem, as the feminine gender in the Greek denotes, not a mere rough stone like the Aetites. Marbodus says of it—
" The mountains of the Macedonian bold Within their mines the Pœonites hold ; Unknown the cause, with imitative throes It heaves, and all the pangs of childbirth knows. Hence pregnant women its protection bless In that last hour when travail's throes oppress."
Of the Aetites another most singular property is alluded to by Dioscorides,—that of detecting theft. His meaning is explained by the traditional practice of the Greek monks, described by De Boot from his own experience. All the persons suspected of the theft being called together, the monk kneads up in their presence flour and water, sprinkled with the powder of this stone, repeat­ing at the same time a certain incantation, and, moulding the paste into balls as big as eggs, gives three to each, with a little drink. The guilty party finds it impossible to swallow one mouthful, or is ready to choke in the attempt. By an odd coin­cidence the Hindoos still employ a similar ordeal, but substitute dry rice for the paste. No doubt, where all are believers, the mere effect of the guilty conscience on the nerves will suffice to hinder the culprit from getting down the enchanted morsel ; but De Boot affects a pious horror at the whole proceeding, and ascribes its efficacy to diabolical agency.
He ascribes all its medicinal virtues to its natural attractive power ; hence its effect as an antidote against poison, which it consequently extracted from the system. On this too depended its more special use ; for, if tied round the female's arm, it kept up the fœtus until maturity, but, if transferred to her thigh, it at­tracted it downwards, and thus ensured a speedy delivery. Such was its established reputation for this object, that, at the time he wrote, ladies used to pay from ten to twenty thalers for a genuine one.
Aetites, Eagle-Stone Page of 453 Alabandicus, Almandine, Garnet
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