Franz Hartmann, a physician of note and distinguished writer, says that he knew of cases of melancholy, depression of mind, hypochondria, etc., that had been successfully treated by the wearing of red corals, while other articles employed for the same purpose had no effect, the cure therefore not being merely attributable to the belief of the patient. He concludes: “The ignorant will find it easier to ridicule such things than to explain them.” A curious passage in Bartholomeus (“De Proprietatibus Rerum,” 1536) is of interest: “Wytches tell that this stone withstondeth lyghtnyng, whirlewynde, tempeste and stormes fro shyppes and houses that it is in. The Red Corall helpeth ayenst the feudes, gyle and scorne, and ayenst divers wonderous doyng and multiplieth frute, and spedeth begynnyng and ending of causes and of nedes.” Oriental mystics warn against the wearing of dull, dirty or discoloured specimens. The pure coral was deemed a protection from plague, poison, storm and tempest. In a house it charmed away disharmony, envy and evil influences. It banished evil dreams and the “terrors of the night,” wild animals, the lightning stroke, witchcraft, epilepsy, stomach complaints, night sweats, etc. It was a cure for sores, diseased gums, whooping cough, disorders of the spleen, teething troubles, troubles of the feet and toes, madness, etc. It is interesting to note that natural corals in the form of vegetable growths were, and in some places still are, tied to fruit trees to ensure their fertility, and that women of ancient times wore such specimens as charms against sterility. Thus, “she who hath risen from the sea foam,” Venus, was regarded as employing the moistures so needed in perfecting the material dresses of the animal, mineral and vegetable worlds when entering earth conditions: and the ancient masters held that such examples of the doctrine of Sympathies, Similitudes, Signatures and Correspondences guide man to a correct knowledge and understanding of the mysteries of Nature. The ancient Greeks attached coral to the prows of their ships to protect them from the onslaughts of sea and storm. Lemnius says: “Bind corall to the neck, it takes off turbulent dreams and allays the nightly fears of children.” The gem of the Arabian Garden of the Everlasting Life—Jannat al Khuld—is the yellow coral. To dream of red, pink and coral of beautiful lustre is said to denote recovery to the sick and good health to any one, but ill-conditioned specimens symbolize the opposite. As a cardiac stimulant, for stopping hæmorrhages, warding off contagion, etc., the old physician Rulandus (Medicina Practica, 1564) prescribed half a drachm of powdered coral. The following 17th century prescription was administered as a cure for colic, purging and vomiting, and is given here as of especial interest: [Illustration]