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An encyclopedic survey that first catalogs marine animals, algae, and shellfish, describing habitats, curious behaviors, reported antipathies, and numerous folk remedies and practical uses attributed to specific species, organized by ailments and applications. The later portion treats metals and their ores—including gold, silver, mercury, copper, and brass—describing modes of occurrence, extraction, alloying, testing, gilding, and decorative and monetary uses, alongside technical observations and medicinal remedies derived from metallic substances, with systematic lists and practical instructions interwoven throughout.
The stone called “spongites” is found in sponges, and is a marine formation. By some persons it is called “tecolithos,”2714 from the circumstance that it is curative of affections of the bladder. Taken in wine, it breaks and disperses urinary calculi.