Show gems 6 e s to cure his many of the precious gems that are so highly valued as ornaments were acce supposed to possess curative powers the amethyst for instance was the stone of temperance and so firlet and was said to prevent the wearer from strong drinks and from indulging in too much sleep further it was belle eved ed to quicken the wits and drive vapors from the head altogether a most desirable gem to have about ones person amethysts should certainly become fashionable pearls were administered in cases of con and when powdered vere were recommended in ten grain doses to strengthen the heart besides these virtues they were believed to fortify the nerves cure weak ayos eys old ego and even a cordial to resist the plague when taken in loses oses oc of six grains in water sweetened with manna amber was given to cure coughs and diseases of the head while red coral was said to be an excellent purifier pu of the blood and good for the liver jasper was employed by the early physic physicians lano as an astringent and a cure for epilepsy and stone it is p probable able the wonderful effects attrib buted to this stone were due more to the faith falth of the patient than to the substance itself the beryl was said to help Ide defaux flux ions of the throat and the to make malte men cheerful and avert melancholy an choly the was reputed to ward off fevers while the onyx when worn around the neck was believed to prevent epileptic fits tho the opal was waz said to cure weak eyes and the bloodstone was often carried by warriors to arrest bleeding from a wound it will be seen from this list which might be considerably extended that the physicians of old had in precious stones a formidable armament to combat many of the diseases flesh Is heir to whether modern descendants ants will bo be bold enough to try their effects remains to be seen who knows but we ve may yet hear of the specialist in nervous diseases prescribing ting powdered jasper for his epileptic patients nor need wo we be surprised to see the tile amethyst cuie advertised verti sed as the latest treatment for inebriates |