42 MEALS MEDICINAL. 
that I am telling of it my heart smites me that there was more 
of pleasantry in the conceit of seeing how an ass would eat a 
macaroon than of benevolence in giving him one, which presided 
in the act.” Well might Thackeray say of this passage, ‘‘ The 
critic who refuses to see in it wit, humour, pathos, a kind nature 
speaking, and a real sentiment, must be hard indeed to move, and 
to please.” 
A nourishing dish for a child, or invalid, is good bread-sauce 
to which has been added two ounces of ground almonds well 
pounded ina mortar. It may be served with spinach if approved. 
Baked almonds lightly salted, and ground, make excellent 
sandwiches. Whether taken thus, or in a simpler form, they 
should always be previously blanched, as their brown skin is 
possessed of irritating properties The sweet almond oil is used 
in making “ Rowland’s macassar.” The French “ orgeat,” 
or “ orgeade,’ is a syrup made chiefly from sweet almonds. 
ANGELICA. 
Tue candied stems of this aromatic English herb, as sold com- 
monly by our confectioners, are of excellent service to relieve the 
flatulence of weakly digestion. They smell pleasantly of musk, 
being a capital tonic, and carminative. Furthermore they are 
antiseptic. It was said in the Speculum Mundi (1643) : 
“Contagious aire ingendering pestilence. 
Infects not those, who in their mouths have taine 
Angelica, that happy counterbane.”’ 
The herb is known as Masterwort, or more popularly, ‘ Jack 
Jump-about,” also as Lingwort. It is grown abundantly near 
London, and may be cultivated in.our gardens. Its peculiar 
resin, “ angelicin,” is stimulating also to the lungs, and the skin, 
especially for aged, and feeble persons with bronchial catarrh. 
Some writers have said this plant—the Archangelica—was 
revealed in a dream by an angel to cure the plague; others aver 
that it blooms on the day dedicated to Michael the Archangel 
(May 8th, old style), and is therefore a preservative against evil 
spirits, and witchcraft. Angelica taken somewhat freely as a 
sweetmeat will cause a distaste for alcoholic liquors. 
ANIMAL Foops. 
A DISTINCTION is to be made between animal foods, and flesh 
foods, which latter do not include milk, cheese, butter, or eggs, 
