Pliny says that Haematites are found in mines and when burned have the colour of Minium. (Minium of today is our red lead of commerce, Red Oxide of Lead). He recommends it for affections of the bladder and for the healing of dangerous wounds, bites of serpents and as a check to female disorders. It seems probable in these enumerations that he refers to Loadstone (q.v.), for he says “the sanguine Loadstone called Haematite.” The Haematite and the Loadstone were used in Babylon, Assyria and other ancient lands as far back as 2000 B.C. Amongst the specimens handled by the author was one notable Haematite intaglio cylinder of very fine workmanship—an old magistrate’s seal of great antiquity. The ancient Egyptians generally selected Haematite as a fitting pillow (Urs) for the head of the Mummy to rest upon. On it were often cut verses from Chap. CLXVI of the “Book of the Dead”—the Per em Hru or Coming forth by Day. An old 17th century writer, Andreas Balvacensis, advances the curious idea that the Haematite was made of “dragon’s bloud,” and Holme in his “Armoury” says that it is called a Stench stone, for its accredited virtue of stopping the flow of blood. Generally the old writers of the Middle and later ages followed Galen in prescribing Haematite for inflamed eyes and headaches, and he was undoubtedly learned in the wisdom of the Egyptians and the old medical philosophies mentioned by Sotacus. Several modes of use are mentioned; one was to mix the powdered stone with honey and apply it to the eyelids, another was to rub the smoothed stone lightly over the lids. The Kidney Ore Haematite which has a strong metallic silky lustre and is formed somewhat like a kidney, was recommended for external application over the region of that organ when ill conditions prevailed. This application of a Mars substance for the cure of a Venus affection is technically dealt with in works devoted to medical astrology, ancient and modern. The Haematite is under the celestial Aries. HIDDENITE. (See Spodumene.) HORNSTONE. Hornstone obtains its name from the Anglo-Saxon STAN. It is a fragile variety of flint, and is known in its more impure state as Chert. It had some reputation as an eye stone in certain parts, and is regarded as under the celestial Taurus. HYACINTH “_The island of Sandareeb ... containeth varieties of jacinths and different kinds of minerals._” __The 6th Voyage of Es-Sindabad of the Sea.__