Tests of a True Alicorn

In Medieval times there was much concern over alicorns (unicorn's horns). Many people could not afford real alicorns and rumors circulated that many horns were actually fakes. Since people were so concerned over the authenticity of their alicorns, many scientists came up with tests to tell whether the alicorn was a real horn or a counterfeit. These are some of their tests. · The true horn, when thrown into water, sends up little bubbles. The water seems to boil, though cold, and one can hear the boiling. · The true horn gives out a sweet odor when burned. · Poisonous plants and animals, when brought near the true horn, burst and die. · The true horn sweats in the presence of poison. · The true horn is always striated, is extremely hard, very heavy, the color of boxwood, and able to save the life of a pigeon poisoned with arsenic. · Enclose a spider in a circle drawn on the floor with an alicorn. If the horn is true the spider will not be able to cross outside of the circle and will starve to death inside it. · Place the horn in a vessel and with it three or four live and large scorpions, keeping the vessel covered. If four hours later the scorpions are dead, or almost lifeless, the alicorn is a true one. -The Unicorn was a mystical creature described in ancient Greek and Roman myths. They were placed among virgin saints and said to be an emblem of purity. Though it would fight savagely when cornered, it could be tamed by a virgin's touch. During the Middle Ages, and even later, the unicorn's horn (as it was alleged to be), because of its fabled purity, was a popular ingredient for medicines and for alchemical reactions. Potentates and pontiffs obtained reputed unicorn's horn because it was considered a strong protection against poison. The horn was also believed to ward off stomach trouble and epilepsy. The Unicorn is found throughout world legends.