ON THERAPEUTIC USES OF STONES 377
and thus embued the stones with some of their venom.9 The
attribution of curative properties in case of poisonÂing arose from
association of ideas. The Lapidario of Alfonso X recommends the diamond
for diseases of the bladder ; it adds, however, that this stone should
be used only in desperate cases.
The
diamond was also believed to afford protection from plague or
pestilence, and a proof of its powers in this direction was found in
the fact that the plague first attacked the poorer classes, sparing the
rich, who could afford to adorn themselves with diamonds. Naturally, in
common with other precious stones, this brilliant gem was supposed io
cure many diseases. Marbodus10 tells us that it was even a cure for insanity.
In
the Babylonian Talmud we read of a marvellous precious stone belonging
to Abraham. This was perhaps a diamond, or possibly a pearl; the
accounts vary, and the same word is often used to designate "precious
stone" and "pearl." The following version represents it to be a diamond
: "
E.
Simeon, ben Johanan said : "A diamond was hangÂing on Abraham's neck,
and when a sick man looked upon it he was cured. And when Abraham
passed away, the Lord sealed it in the planet of the sun."
The
Hindus believed that it was extremely dangerous to use diamonds of
inferior quality for curative purposes, as they would not only fail to
remedy the disease for which they were prescribed, but might cause
lameness,
"Lapidario del Rey D. Alfonso X, Codice Original, Madrid, 1881, f. xi.
10"De lapidibus," Friburgi, 1531, f. 8.
11 New
edition of the Babylonian Talmud, ed. and trans, by Michael L.
Rodkinson, vol. ν (xiii), Baba Barat, New York, 1902, p. 53. See also
Beer, " Leben Abraham's," Leipzig, 1859, p. 79.
