Lapis Lazuli: a blue stone, cold and dry in the second degree. Its color is very like the color of the heavens, and in it are small particles of the color of gold. It purges a certain melancholia, and for that reason is suitable for those having quotidian fever, for those having hemorrhoids, for ailments of the spleen and is convenient for every kind of melancholic humor. It is bad for the stomach. When washed it promotes vomiting without ill effect. Dosage: it suffices as maximum dose of it two scruples; and as minimum dose one scruple. Note that the method of washing it is to put it into a silver cup or other strong vessel, to crush it with a pestle, in a mortar and to mix it with water afterwards until it is made muddy. Then, let it be poured off, let more water be added to it, and let it be done in this way ten or twenty times. Others say to wash it thirty times. The sign that it is well washed is when the water is no longer affected. Note particularly that it is not proper to administer lapis lazuli in a draught since it would sink to the bottom, but to give the draught first, and when it has operated five or six times to administer along with syrup of violet the lapis lazuli which has been washed. The manner in which it then purges melancholia is remarkable.