The following 17th century prescription was administered as a cure for colic, purging and vomiting, and is given here as of especial interest:
Tabellæ Corallatæ
([Transcription])
Amongst the Spaniards it was usual at one time for conjurers and jugglers especially to wear tight-fitting coral-coloured costumes. Good specimens of coral are greatly esteemed by dancers. It is especially a luck gem of the ballet, the sign Pisces of the Zodiac, under which all corals are placed—ruling the feet.
CORUNDUM. Also written at earlier periods as coriundum, corundon, corindon. (See under Ruby, Sapphire.)
CORDIERITE. See [IOLITE].
CROCIDOLITE. Also written Krokydolite, krocidolite. This stone was named in the year 1831, from the Greek KROKIS, a variation of KROKUS, the nap of woollen cloth, and LITHOS, a stone. It is well described as an asbestiform variety of hornblend of indigo-blue, leek-green or golden-brown colour—the latter variety being also known as Tiger’s Eye. When cut en cabochon this stone has a fine chatoyant effect. There is little doubt that the ancients knew of this stone of the asbestos family under the zodiacal Gemini. It was regarded as a fortunate stone for people of literary or mercurial tendencies, and as a nerve and lung soother. Held against the temple when the Moon is passing through the sign Gemini, in good aspect to Mercury, it would assist thought and mental speculation.
The crystal obtains its name from the Greek word KRUSTALLOS, ice. It is a pure and transparent variety of Quartz, so called because of its resemblance to clear ice. In literature it appears as cristalla, cristal, crestal, kristall, cristalle, christall, chrystal. Webster writes that the English spelling was gradually changed to CRYSTAL between the 15th and 17th centuries. We have evidence of its early use by man, Egyptian scarabei and Babylonian cylinders having been found, dating back as far as 1500 B.C. In the trial of Psyche—that beautifully symbolic legend—Venus gives this graceful lover of Eros the magical vase of pure crystal with the request that it be filled with the waters from the Fountain of Forgetfulness. The Fountain waters flowed through a narrow channel at the summit of a steep mountain, and they murmured: “To attempt is to perish. Be warned. Be warned. To attempt is to perish; fly from us.” Psyche saw two caves, one on each side of these icy waters, and in these caves were two terrible dragons. With the precious vase in her trembling hands, the faithful lover prayed for help in her perilous task. Jupiter heard her prayer in pity, for love had been kind to him, and he sent his eagle to her. The eagle drew the vase from Psyche and, filling it with the waters, brought it to her. Then she ran to Venus, thinking that pitying love would exact no more. “Thy witchery has gained thee these waters,” said the Goddess, “I have another test for thee.”
The King of the Ethiopians showed the messengers of Cambyses amongst other wonders the tombs of pure crystal in which could be seen the bodies of the departed, perfect in form and feature. In the imperial vault of the Hapsburgs in the Church of the Capucins, Vienna, there are 150 crystal vases, gold mounted, with a crown on the top of each, which contain the hearts of the Royal members of the Family. This practice dates from Duke Francis who, dying in Switzerland, directed that his heart should be preserved and sent to Vienna.