Galaxias,[1] by some called "galactitis,"[2] is a stone that closely
resembles those next mentioned, but is interspersed with
veins of blood-red or white. Galactitis[3] is of the uniform
colour of milk; other names given to it are, leucogæa,[4] leucographitis,[5]
and synnephitis,[6] and, when pounded in water,
both in taste and colour it marvellously resembles milk. This
stone promotes the secretion of the milk in nursing women, it
is said; in addition to which, attached to the neck of infants, it
produces saliva, and it dissolves when put into the mouth.
They say, too, that it deprives persons of their memory: it is
in the rivers Nilus and Acheloüs that it is produced. Some
persons give the name of "galactitis" to a smaragdus surrounded
with veins of white. Gallaica is a stone like argyrodamas,[7]
but of a somewhat more soiled appearance; these stones are
found in twos and threes clustered together. The people of
Media send us gassinade,[8] a stone like orobus in colour, and
sprinkled with flowers, as it were: it is found at Arbela.
This stone, too, conceives,[9] it is said; a fact which it admits
when shaken; the conception lasting for a period of three
months. Glossopetra,[10] which resembles the human tongue, is
not engendered, it is said, in the earth, but falls from the
heavens during the moon's eclipse; it is considered highly necessary
for the purposes of selenomancy.[11] To render all this
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