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Citations
... A large number of fossils have been used medicinally and therapeutically from classical to modern times (ammonites, belemnites, sea urchins, amber, shark and fish teeth and many others), (e.g. DUFFIN 2008). ...
... While the myth of the toadstones goes back deep into the Middle Ages (e.g. FOR- BES 1972, DUFFIN 2008, 2010, GREGOROVÁ et. al. 2020, the so-called snake eyes are found in written sources later in 16 th century (e.g. ...
... In the entire collection of cabochons (minerals and teeth) from the Strahov Monastery in which the fossil fish teeth were identified, there is an imitation of toadstone from a banded rock ( fig. 7). An analogous example of such imitation of a toadstone is given by DUFFIN (2008) from the collection of the Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde in Stuttgart. It is likely that the entire collection of polished stones together with the fossil teeth represented raw material for further use on an art object or jewellery. ...
Twelve button-like fossil teeth from the Cabinet of curiosities of Strahov Monastery in Prague and the former Imperial collection in Vienna are analysed. Teeth belong to different systematic groups of various geological ages. Some teeth are modified by grinding and polishing and they were probably used as raw material for an art object or jewellery. These teeth were thought to be so-called toadstones (crapaudine, lapis bufonis, batrachites) and snake eyes (occhi di serpe, oculis serpentum) in the pre-scientific history. The tradition of toadstones is associated above all with Western Europe (mainly England and France) and its origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages. Snake eyes are only associated with the island of Malta and their tradition is most widespread only from the 16th–17th century. While there are many artefacts, especially toadstone rings, tangible evidence of snake eyes is relatively scarce. Fossil teeth (toadstones and snake eyes) from the Strahov Cabinet of curiosities and Vienna Imperial collection are important relics of the historical understanding of fossils.
... Elements of this tale are remi-niscent of those in the lore surrounding the Eagle Stone or Aetites, Chelidonius or Swallow Stone and Bufonites or Toad Stone. 76 Th e only amuletic use of stag's tears I have come across is the otherwise unattributed comment by Robert James who stated in 1745 that 'When worn by way of Amulet, and frequently applied to the Nostrils, it is said to be a Panacea, or universal Medicine'. 77 Although James asserts that by the mid-eighteenth century 'this Substance is not used for medicinal Purposes', as late as 1846, it was still being recorded that stag's tears were used in the treatment of epilepsy. ...
The history of 'Stag's tears' as an item of materia medica is traced here for the first time. The background to their use relied heavily on the legendary belief that a natural enmity existed between deer and snakes; stags fed on snakes and, as a consequence, shed tears which hardened into stone. Presented as a type of bezoar in medieval Arabic literature, stag's tears were also known as Kenne. Seen as possessing drying, strengthening, astringent , alexipharmic and diaphoretic qualities, they were employed medicinally mainly in the treatment of poisoning and in cases of fever.
... Medieval authors of encyclopaedias and scientific treatises during the 13th century, such as ARNOLD SAXO, BARTOLOMAEUS ANGLICUS, THOMAS DE CANTIMPRÉ, VINCENTIUS BELLO-VACENSIS and ALBERTUS MAGNUS mention the stone under a variety of names -borax, botrax, nose, noset, nuse or crapadina. Basic historical overviews are given by FORBES (1972) and DUFFIN (2008DUFFIN ( , 2010, and a more detailed analysis of the sources is planned (STEHLÍ-KOVÁ et al., in preparation). Medieval authors agree on the curative effects the stone was able to exercise against poisons or reptile bites, and the means by which it was harvested from the head of a still-living toad. ...
Two inconspicuous brown stones in the crown on the reliquary bust of Charlemagne held in the Treasury of Aachen Cathedral are set next to cameos, pearls, precious and semi-precious stones. Rather unusually, they are the button-shaped teeth of a Mesozoic fish called Scheenstia (Lepidotes) maximus (WAGNER, 1863). In the Middle Ages, the prevailing belief was that these stones came from the heads of ancient toads and they were attributed magical, protective and healing powers on the basis of sympathetic medicine. The most important of these fabulous properties was the ability to detect and neutralize poisons. This paper presents a short chronological overview of the historical records of toad stones from Antiquity to the emergence of scientific palaeontology as a basis for future study. The principal European palaeontological localities yielding Scheenstia maximus (WAGNER, 1863) are summarised as possible historical sources for these particular stones. A number of specimens have been studied from museum collections for comparative purposes.
... Thus, learning about changes in Earth history and modern shifting baselines can be linked to experiences and perspectives of such underrepresented groups providing an opportunity to value insight from non-dominant cultures that can be incorporated into the paleontology classroom. Other meaningful connections in learning about the fossil record could draw on the use of native languages (Meyer & Crawford, 2011;Meyer et al., 2012), injustice related to fossil discoveries (Mayor, 2007a), significance or use of fossils in different cultures (Duffin, 2008), and related place-based connections (Mayor, 2007b;Hughes et al., 2015). These examples provide a glimpse into how meaningful connections can be related to learning paleontology; specific applications are explored in more depth later in this Element upon considering how to approach implementation. ...
The diversity crisis in paleontology refers not to modern biota or the fossil record, but rather how our discipline lacks significant representation of individuals varying in race, ethnicity, and other aspects of identity. This Element is a call to action for broadening participation through improved classroom approaches as described in four sections. First, a brief review of the crisis and key concepts are presented. Next, culturally responsive pedagogy and related practices are introduced. Third, specific applications are offered for drawing cultural connections to studying the fossil record. Finally, recommendations including self-reflection are provided for fostering your own cultural competency. Our discipline offers much for understanding earth history and contributing new knowledge to a world impacted by humans. However, we must first more effectively welcome, support, and inspire all students to embrace meaning and value in paleontology; it is critical for securing the future of our field.
... They were transferred to the Mineralogy Department and became the focus of her research (Sweet, 1935). The drawers have subsequently been discussed by Thackray (1994) and Duffin (2013), and the medicinal materials have been useful in discussions concerning the history of individual medicaments (Duffin, 2006(Duffin, , 2007(Duffin, , 2008. ...
... Likewise, geological components are well represented and required little preparation other than reducing to a powder, including: silver (Ag), gold (Au); Chalcitis (Chalcopyrite); antimony (Sb); Cinnabar (HgS); zinc (Zn); bismuth (Bi); Cerussa (PbCO 3 ); Litharge (PbO); Silex (flint); Crystallus (rock crystal or quartz); graphite (C); Haematite (Fe 2 O 3 ); Pyrite (FeS); Lapis calaminaris (ZnCO 3 ); Lapis lazuli (Duffin, 2014); Lapis lincis (fossil belemnites; Duffin, 2008); lapis judaicus (fossil echinoid spines; Duffin, 2006Duffin, , 2008; Gypsum (CaSO 4 ); realgar (As 4 S 4 ); orpiment (As 2 S 3 ); lapis hibernicus (Irish slate; Duffin, 2013b); pumice (Duffin, 2013c) and numerous others. ...
... Likewise, geological components are well represented and required little preparation other than reducing to a powder, including: silver (Ag), gold (Au); Chalcitis (Chalcopyrite); antimony (Sb); Cinnabar (HgS); zinc (Zn); bismuth (Bi); Cerussa (PbCO 3 ); Litharge (PbO); Silex (flint); Crystallus (rock crystal or quartz); graphite (C); Haematite (Fe 2 O 3 ); Pyrite (FeS); Lapis calaminaris (ZnCO 3 ); Lapis lazuli (Duffin, 2014); Lapis lincis (fossil belemnites; Duffin, 2008); lapis judaicus (fossil echinoid spines; Duffin, 2006Duffin, , 2008; Gypsum (CaSO 4 ); realgar (As 4 S 4 ); orpiment (As 2 S 3 ); lapis hibernicus (Irish slate; Duffin, 2013b); pumice (Duffin, 2013c) and numerous others. ...
The frontispieces of the Gart der Gesundheit (1485) and the Pharmacopée royale galénique et chymyque (1676) illustrate the changes taking place in pharmacy over that time period: increasingly rapid distribution of information as printing technology and efficiency developed, changes to the philosophical underpinnings of the science, reduced reliance on medical authorities from Antiquity, access to therapies from newly discovered sources, and the rise of iatrochemistry. Seven British late seventeenth and early eighteenth century materia medica collections representing medical chests, teaching resources and personal cabinets contain a mixture of ‘galenical’ simples, iatrochemical derivatives and exotic pharmaceutical materials.
... Th e creation of a systematic inventory of the contents of surviving late seventeenth and early eighteenth century materia medica collections from the United Kingdom has provided an opportunity to examine the history of use of a wide range of medicinal simples. 1 Initial results have been reported mostly for zoological and geological medical materials. 2 Th e object of the present contribution is to consider the use to which ichthyocolla was put in the history of pharmacy. ...
... In brief, the functions of the swim bladder are (1) to maintain neutral buoyancy; (2) to act as an adjustable fl oat thereby optimising swimming energetics at diff erent depths -by varying the bladder volume, the fi sh adjusts its overall specifi c gravity allowing it to sink or ascend the water column; (3) to act as a stabilising agent by maintaining a proper centre of gravity -the bladder is located in the dorsal midline above the gut, so that the centre of mass is below the centre of volume; (4) to provide a reservoir of stored oxygen for aerobic respiration; and (5) to act as a resonating chamber in order to produce or receive sound. ...
Ichthyocolla is a collagen-rich medicinal simple, originally derived from many parts of the parent fi sh, but more commonly restricted to Acipenseriform swim bladders imported from Russia in early modern times. Used to treat headache, tetanus and leprosy in classical times, the medieval Arabic tradition saw it utilised against haemorrhoids. Th e colloidal nature of the processed material was exploited in early modern medicine where it was used to treat haemorrhoids, leucorrhoea, diarrhoea, and dysentery. Remarkable for its adhesive properties, it was used topically to bind the separated lips of wounds together, to stabilise broken ribs, and in medicinal plasters.
... These accounts of Serpents eyes and their identification with fossil fish teeth are clearly closely related to the lore concerning Toad Stones, Crapaudines or Lapis Bufonius (Duffin 2008 (Zammit-Maempel 2010: 61). This evokes the uses of Toad Stones, which were set as cabochons in rings, often designed in such a way that the back of the stone was in contact with the skin. ...
... Впоследствии эти ящики рассматривались в работах Дж. Тэкрея (Thackray, 1994), а также автора настоящей статьи (Duffin, 2013), а к со-держащимся в них медицинским веществам об-ращались в дискуссиях по вопросам истории отдельных лекарственных средств (Duffin, 2006(Duffin, , 2007(Duffin, , 2008. ...
The frontispieces of the Gart der Gesundheit (1485) and the Pharmacopée royale galénique et chymyque (1676) illustrate the changes taking place in pharmacy over that time period: increasingly rapid distribution of information as printing technology and efficiency developed, changes to the philosophical underpinnings of the science, reduced reliance on medical authorities from Antiquity, access to therapies from newly discovered sources, and the rise of iatrochemistry. British late seventeenth and early eighteenth century materia medica collections representing medical chests, teaching resources and personal cabinets contain a mixture of ‘galenical’ simples, iatrochemical derivatives and exotic pharmaceutical materials.
... 6 Dyer (1889) wrote that the Doctrine of Signatures was 'a development of the much older notion of a real connection between object and image' . 7 Duffin (2008) states that the Doctrine of Signatures' roots are 'firmly based on Aristotelian principles' . 8 (Genesis 30:14-16) where the anthropomorphic mandrake ( Figure 1) appears as an aphrodisiac and cure for impotence . ...
... 7 Duffin (2008) states that the Doctrine of Signatures' roots are 'firmly based on Aristotelian principles' . 8 (Genesis 30:14-16) where the anthropomorphic mandrake ( Figure 1) appears as an aphrodisiac and cure for impotence . The concept re-surfaces in Franciscan Friar Albertus Magnus' De Mineralibus (c . ...
Generally viewed as a quaint, if puzzling, relic of the folk medical tradition, the Doctrine of Signatures and wider concepts of 'sympathetic magic' have informed selection patterns of natural medicines the world over. Associations between form and perceived medical value are idiosyncratic and culture specific. Briefly considered here are the factors that led to the development of a Doctrine of Signatures in the western tradition and what lessons it might impart when re-considered as an evolving series of ideas, rather than as a single doctrine.
... Other fossil materials, by contrast, have little associated mythology as regards their origins. Lapis lincis, whose identity in antiquity may have been amber (Caley & Richards, 1956; although other suggestions include tourmaline, jacinth and sapphire; Duffin, 2008), is ascribed to the petrified urine of the Lynx. According to Theophrastus (372-287 BC) (Eichholtz, 1965: 68-69): ...
... The Norse legend of Freya holds that amber forms from her tears as they are shed into water, while they as often including mention of this legend of origins in their descriptions and lists of properties exhibited by the stone. Indeed, although coming increasingly under suspicion, remnants of this belief were still influencing discussion in the late 17 th and early 18 th centuries, in spite of increasingly scientific approaches to the question of the origins of minerals and fossils, and a now generally held belief that the Lynx Stone was represented by fossil belemnites (Plot, 1705: 95;Duffin, 2008). more commonly associated narwhal incisors and rhinoceros horn. ...
... 6838B, Folio 4r; Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4 º , Folio 6r), a lynx guarding the stone between its hind legs (Bodleian Library manuscript Bodley 764 f.11r), or quickly covering it in order to hide it from discovery (Sloane 3544 in the British Library) (George & Yapp, 1991;Duffin, 2008;Barber, 1992). To make the task of creeping up on the animal to steal its gem more difficult was the fact that it was credited with remarkable visual acuity; Pliny (Naturalis Historia 8.28) stated that the lynx was "the most clear sighted of all quadrupeds," while Plutarch added that it "can penetrate through trees and rocks with its sharp sight" (Gould, 2000: 28), and Topsell (1658: 383) indicated "of All Beasts they see most brightly, for the Poets saign, that their eye sight pierceth through every solid body, although it be as tick as a wall." ...
