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370 CURIOUS LORE OF PRECIOUS STONES
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planetary
influences had aided in their production and were latent in them.
Besides this, the symbolism of color played a very important part in
recommending the use of particular stones for special diseases. This
may be noted in the case of the red or reddish stones, such as the
ruby, spinel, garnet, carnelian, bloodstone, etc. These were thought to
be sovereign remedies for hemorrhages of all kinds, as well as for all
inflammatory diseases; they were also believed to exercise a calming
influence and to remove anger and discord. The red hue of these stones
was supposed to indicate their fitness for-such use, upon the principle
similia similibus cjurantur. In the same way yellow stones were
prescribed for the cure of bilious disorders, for jaundice in all its
forms and for other diseases of the liver.
The
use of green stones to relieve diseases of the eye was evidently
suggested by the beneficial influence exerted by this color upon the
sight. The verdant emerald represented the beautiful green fields, upon
which the tired eye rests so willingly, and which exert such a soothing
influence upon the sight when it has been unduly strained or fatigued.
One of the earliest, probably the very earliest reference in Greek
writings to the therapeutic value of gems, appears in the works of
Theo-phrastus, who wrote in the third century before Christ. Here we
are told of the beneficial effect exercised by the emerald upon the
eyes.
The
sapphire, the lapis-lazuli, and other blue stones, with a hue
resembling the blue of the heavens, were believed to exert a tonic
influence, and were supposed to counteract the wiles of the spirits of
darkness and procure the aid and favor of the spirits of light and
wisdom. These gems were usually looked upon as emblems of chastity, and
for this reason the sapphire came to be
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