gems, jade, Fischer-Book, lapis nephriticus, nephrite, medicine, medicinal use of gems

Christian Menzel’s De jaspide antinephritico is a short medical-mineralogical notice concerning the so-called “anti-nephritic jasper,” a stone believed to possess therapeutic properties against ailments of the kidneys and urinary tract. Menzel discusses the material within the early modern European tradition of lapis nephriticus, in which certain stones—particularly jade-like materials brought from the Americas and Asia—were worn or otherwise employed as remedies for renal complaints. The article is of particular interest to historians of gemology because it documents the medical reputation, identification, and use of ornamental stones associated with nephrite before jade was recognized mineralogically as a distinct material. It illustrates the close relationship between mineralogy, medicine, commerce, and traditional lapidary beliefs in the late 17th century.