10 LIMACID^E. 



vellous. The testaceous rudiment of the Limax acquired 

 in this respect a preeminence above the animal itself, and 

 enjoyed a high rank among the numerous bezoars and 

 amulets which were supposed to protect the body from 

 evil influences, and to impart health and activity to its 

 various functions.* The accounts of their virtues, copied 

 from one author to another, on the authority of names, 

 show how easily error is perpetuated, and how difficult it 

 is to eradicate from the public mind a false opinion which 

 has once obtained a footing. A full relation of all the 

 absurdities which gained credence, would form a curious 

 page in the history of credulity and superstition. The 

 more general diffusion of knowledge at the present day 

 has dispelled these ideas in a great degree ; but some 

 relics of them still linger among the rural population 

 of many parts of Europe. In this country, no such 

 belief has ever prevailed ; and so hidden and clandes- 

 tine are the habits of the animals, that but a small part 

 of the population is aware of their existence, and those 

 who are familiar with them view them with such feelings 

 of disgust as would effectually prevent their use either 

 as medicine or as food. They have also from very early 

 times been used in the preparation of cosmetics ; and the 

 water procured from them by distillation, no longer than 

 two or three centuries ago, was much celebrated and used 

 by ladies, to impart whiteness and freshness to the com- 

 plexion. 



* As late as the close of the sixteenth century, Helling published a disser- 

 tation with this title : " Ossiculorum limacum usus infebribus." 



