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INTRODUCTION. 23
It
was not before the opening of the next century that a work on
Mineralogy appeared which still retains any practical value—and that
too in a very high degree. In the year 1609, Anselm de Boot, latinized into "Anselmus Boethius," a
native of Bruges, and physician to the Emperor Eudolf II., published
his book (written in 1600)* 'De Gemmis et Lapidibus.' Of this a third
edition came out in 1647, enriched with many good notes and corrections
by Tolling. To it are appended the Greek text of Theo-phrastus with a commentary, and another shorter work, ' De Gemmis,' both by Johann de Lact of
Antwerp : the latter dedicated to Elizabeth, "sexus sui
praestantissimse gemmae," daughter of the unfortunate Frederic, king of
Bohemia, and grand-daughter to our James I. Whoever desires to become
acquainted with a work exhibiting in every line the mode of thought of
that age, in its extraordinary mixture of credulity with the most
extensive and various learning, and great practical experience will
find his trouble amply repaid by the perusal of this book, written as
it is in elegant and easy Latin by the confidant and helper of the
imperial alchemist and virtuoso. The learned physician displays much
critical knowledge in his attempts to identify gems known to the
ancients by names transferred to others, quite different, in mediaeval
times; and it has been a satisfaction to me to find his attributions
for the most part coinciding with my own, made independently ; my
researches into that particular division of my subject having been
nearly completed before De Boot's dissertation came to my knowledge. In
his disquisitions upon the innate properties of stones he draws a
distinction that curiously illustrates the struggle then going on
between traditional superstition and reason aided
* As he informs us, when noticing the selling price in Germany of the Bezoar.
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