There are a number of similar myths in Ausonius, Claudian, and Cassiodorus, and in the writings of later ecclesiastical historians, such as Rusinus and Prosper Aquitanus. The very meagre accounts they have left, and the scattered references to the reputed magical powers of the loadstone, suggest that there existed amongst the primitive religions of mankind a _magnet-worship_, of which these records are traces.
[8] PAGE 2, LINE 37. Page 2, line 41. _Brasevolus_ [or _Brasavola_].--The list of authorities here cited consists mostly of well-known mediæval writers on _materia medica_ or on minerals: the last on the list, _Hannibal Rosetius Calaber_, has not been identified.
The following are the references in the order named by Gilbert:
Antonio Musa Brasavola. _Examen omnium simplicium medicamentorum_, Section 447 (Lugdun., 1537).
Joannes Baptista Montanus. _Metaphrasis summaria eorum quæ ad medicamentorum doctrinà attinet_ (Augustæ Rheticæ, 1551).
Amatus Lusitanus. _Amati Lusitani in Dioscoridis Anazarbei de materia medica libros quinque_ (Venet., 1557, p. 507).
Oribasius. _Oribasii Sardiani ad Eunapium libri 4 quibus ... facultates simplicium ... continentur_ (Venet., 1558).
Aetius Amidenus. _Aetii Amideni Librorum medicinalium ... libri octo nunc primum in lucem editi_ (Greek text, Aldine edition, Venet., 1534). A Latin edition appeared in Basel, 1535. See also his _tetrabiblos ex veteribus medicinæ_ (Basil., 1542).
Avicenna (Ibn Sinâ). _Canona Medicinæ_ (Venice, 1486), liber ii., cap. 474.
Serapio Mauritanus (Yuhanná Ibn Sarapion). In hoc volumine continentur ... _Ioan. Sarapionis Arabis de Simplicibus Medicinis opus præclarum et ingens ..._ (edited by Brunfels, Argentorati, 1531, p. 260).
Hali Abbas ('Alí Ibn Al 'Abb[=a]s). _Liber totius medicinæ necessaria c[=o]tinens ... quem Haly filius Abbas edidit ... et a Stephano ex arabica lingua reductus_ (Lugd., 1523, p. 176 _verso_).
Santes de Ardoniis (or Ardoynis). _Incipit liber de venenis quem magister santes de ardoynis ... edere cepit venetiis die octauo nou[=e]bris_, 1424 (Venet., 1492).
Petrus Apponensis (or Petrus de Abano). The loadstone is referred to in two works by this author.
(1) _Conciliator differentiarum philosophorum: et precipue medicorum clarissimi viri Petri de Abano Patauini feliciter incipit_ (Venet., 1496, p. 72, _verso_, Quæstio LI.).