64 THE MAGIC OF JEWELS AND CHARMS
of producing oil of amber. Although Meckenbach was not entitled
to the credit he claimed, as the experiment had already been
successfully made, he gained great repute by this means, and when he
communicated to Duke Albrecht of Prussia the secret of his process, the
rulers of other lands overwhelmed the duke with requests for a supply
of the precious remedy. Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria, sent a special
messenger the long journey to Berlin, twice in a year, for a few flasks
of the oil, which was regarded as a cure for many diseases.118 The oil of amber—oleum succiali of
the Pharmacopoeia—has maintained its repute as a cure for various
affections up to the present day. In some forms of gout and rheumatism
it relieves the inflammation and pain in the joints; and its
antispasmodic action makes it a valuable remedy in cases of asthma,
whooping-cough, hysteria, bronchitis, and infantile convulsions.114
An
early version of the strange tale that ships were attracted by masses
of rocks, or even mountains of loadstone, is given by Palladius (c.
367-c. 431 a.D.). He
relates that the loadstone was produced on a group of islands called
the Maniolae, which were on the route to Taprobane (Ceylon), and
continues, "if any ship constructed with iron nails approached these
islands they were drawn by the power of the loadstone and their course
was arrested. For this reason those voyaging to Taprobane use
ships especially put together with wooden pegs." Probably the legend
arose from the fact that wood was often used in the case of vessels
trading in this region, because iron was scarce and expensive. This is
the view of Procopius, who found the same story still current in the
sixth century.115
"· Raumer, " Historisches Taschenbuch," I Ber., vol. vi, Leipzig, 1835, p. 366.
"* Pyle, " The Therapeusie of Precious Stones," in hie " Medicine," Detroit, 1897, vol. iii, p. 115.
"* Palladii, " De gentibua Indise," ed. Bissaus, London, 1665, p. 4.
