On the magnet, magnetick bodies also, and on the great magnet the earth / a new physiology, demonstrated by many arguments & experiments

by Unknown

אבן שאבת

‎ A person referring to Buxtorf's Lexicon Talmudicum would in the index look out for "Lapis magnesius," or for "magnes." He would then, in the first instance, be referred to the two words already quoted. Not knowing the value of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, he reads

אבן שאבת

‎ thus:

אכזשאבת

‎ achzhab'th. It is true that Buxtorf has inserted in his Lexicon the vocable

מַגְנִיסֵס

‎, "corruptum ex gr. μάγνης, μαγνήτης, μαγνῆτις, named after the Asiatic city Magnesia." He goes on to say, "Inde Achilles Statius istum lapidem vocavit μαγνήσιαν λίθον. Hinc

אבן המגניסס חמשוך הברזל

‎. Lapis Magnesius trahit ferrum." Here he quotes from (Sepher) Ikkarem IV., cap. 35.