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ON THE VIRTUES OF FABULOUS STONES 171
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or new, it conferred the power of divination, and this power lasted for one entire day.26 This virtue was not, however, altogether peculiar to the chelonia, for
it was shared by several other substances ; in each case the stone was
to be placed in the mouth, thus coming into more immediate contact
with the organs of speech, and stimulating to prophetic utterance. A
later writer states that it was the uterine stone from the tortoise
that gave the gift of prophecy. That from the head cured head-aches and averted lightning, while the stone taken from the liver, if administered in solution, was a remedy for ague.27
The wild ass was another of the animals that furnished concretions prized for
their talismanic and medicinal powers. That taken from the animal's
head cured headache and epilepsy; that from the jaw made the owner
indefatigable, so that he yielded to none in battle. It was also a
remedy for ague and for the bites of venomous creatures, as well as a
marvellously efficacious vermifuge for children.28 Very likely the story of Samson, who wrought such slaughter
* Plinii, " Naturalis hietoria," lib. xxxvii, cap. 56.
Leonardi, " Speculimi lapidum," Venetia, 1502, fol. xxviii.
"Ibid., fol. xxiv.
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