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Chalcedony
An ingenious though far-fetched explanation of the power attributed to chalcedony of driving away phantoms and visions of the night is supplied by Gonelli, writing in 1702. For him the source of this asserted power was to be found in what has been erroneously termed the alkaline quality of the stone. This dissipated the evil humors of the eye, thus removing the diseased condition of that organ which caused the apparitions to be seen. (Josephi Conelli, "Thesarus philosophicus, seu de gemmis," Neapoli, 1702.) However absurd this explanation may be, it nevertheless shows that the author put little faith in visible ghosts, and rightly enough recognized the purely subjective character of such phenomena.
Chrysoberyl
The cat's-eye variety of chrysoberyl, or precious cat's-eye, is used by the natives of Ceylon as a charm against evil spirits. As a proof of the high value set upon the gem in India, De Boot states that a cat's-eye estimated as worth ninety gold pieces in Lusitania was sold for six hundred in India. ("Gemmarum et lapidum historia," Lug. Bat., 1636) Some of the finest specimens come from Ceylon. |
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Precious Stones Guide Vol 9
>> The History and Folklore Surrounding the Chalcedony and Chrysoberyl
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