Be'zoar

Be'zoar (through Fr. and Span. from Persian pād-zahr, 'counter-poison,' zahr, 'poison'), a concretation found in the stomachs of goats or antelopes, and formerly much valued on account of imaginary medicinal virtues, particularly as an antidote to poisons. Concretions of various kinds are found in the stomachs of herbivorous quadrupeds, very generally having for their nucleus some small indigestible substance which has been taken into the stomach. Sometimes they are of a radiating structure; sometimes formed of concentric layers; sometimes they are principally composed of superphosphate of lime; sometimes of phosphate of ammonia or magnesia. Other concretions found in the intestines, &c. of various animals are sometimes also called bezoar (see CALCULUS). The value of a bezoar being supposed to increase with its size, the larger ones have been sold, particularly in India, for very great prices.