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Toadstones / Toad Stones

I've just been reading about 'Toad Stones' .. there's some nice folklore around these stones ..

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toadstone

Only heard about Toad Stones (palatal teeth of Mezozoic rays) yesterday when my copy of 'Formed Stones', Folklore and Fossils (Michael G Bassett) arrived. Front cover shows a 'snake stone' which is a natural ammonite with a carved head - but does have a hole in it.

Formed stones.jpg
 
This online article provides an overview of toadstones' origin and their use in jewelry.
The Legend
The 2nd century Kyranides cites the belief that an ‘earth toad’ possesses a stone ‘in the marrow of its head’1. This recalls the soliloquy of Duke Frederick in Shakespeare’s ‘As You like It’: ‘The toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in his head.’ According to Kyranides, the stone was to be collected whilst the moon was waning, and kept on a linen cloth for forty days. ...

FULL ARTICLE: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259953001_The_Toad_Stone_-_a_rather_unlikely_gem
 
Damn, I just survived a bidding war on a Snakestone today and now I need to get a Toadstone in case - well - just in case.
There's a ring in the V&A museum (must be one closer to home).

"The round, brown toadstone, also known as 'crapaudine' or 'crappot', was believed to be effective against kidney disease and was a sure talisman of earthly happiness, according to Johannes de Cuba, writing in his Hortus Sanitatis (Garden of Health) in 1498. Wearers also believed that it would give off heat if exposed to poison. This was described by Fenton in 1569 "Being used in rings they give forewarning of venom". In 1627, Lupton claimed that ‘A Tode stone (called Crapaudina) touching any part be venomed, hurte or stung with Ratte, Spider, Waspe or any other venomous Beasts, ceases the paine or swelling thereof’. It was also said to protect pregnant women from fairies and demons and to prevent their child being exchanged for a changeling"

http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O115560/ring-unknown/.
 
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