Translated by D. L. Ashliman  Thunderbolts and Toadstones  A.
Haas  Belemnites, remnants from pre-flood cuttle-fish, are very
common on the island of Rügen, especially in the stone rubble on
chalk beaches. In common language they are called
"thunderbolts," "thunder-arrows," or sometimes "devil-fingers."
It is believed that during thunderstorms they are hurled to the
earth with lightning. A person killed by lightning is struck by
a thunderbolt carried by the lightning.  Another belief is that
a thunderbolt is created when lightning strikes the earth. Thus
thunderbolts are only found in places where lightning has struck
the earth.  Thunderbolts are collected with enthusiasm and then
kept at home, for it is believed that a thunder-arrow protects a
house from lightning. People especially like to keep them in
their milk rooms.  Stomach-aches can be cured by scraping off
and swallowing a little of the thunderbolt.  The toadstone, a
fossilized sea-urchin, is also considered to be a proven
protective agent against l