Lapis De Goa

Description

Invented by Jesuit priests in Goa, these stones were artificial versions of bezoars – lumps of matter found in the stomachs of various animals and prized for their ability to counteract poisons. Due to high demand for bezoars many counterfeit versions appeared on the market, however Goa stones were a more respected alternative that were believed to have the same healing properties, and not just a cheap knock-off. In fact, recipes for Goa stones contained precious stones and gold leaf.

Fact

If you look closely at the examples here, you can see where parts of the Goa stone have been scraped off and used.