ASTRINGENTS. 69 
not susceptible of any tuberculous disease, such as pulmonary 
consumption. 
Horace Walpole, and after him Byron, accused Lawrence 
Sterne (1758) of having preferred whining over a dead ass (see 
Sentimental Journey) to relieving a living mother in distress. 
During the siege of Ladysmith, in the recent South African 
war, it became proved that while horseflesh is but sorry fare, and 
that of the dog not to be desired, yet the humble moke is, when 
dressed for table, rather a delicacy than otherwise. Thirty odd 
years ago the experience of the Parisians pointed to the same 
conclusion. Genin, the famous Restaurateur, pronounced that 
the dog was the siege-cook’s despair ; its flesh has a particularly 
disagreeable flavour which no seasoning can disguise. But “as 
to the other animal,” said he, “lane etait rare: on se trouvait 
heureux den avoir a quinze, ou vingt francs la livre. Le 
consommé d’ane a un petit gofit de noisette tres agréable. En 
rosbif, avec des haricots a la Bretonne, assaisonné de sa graisse, 
cetait un vrai régal.” Elia has discoursed ot a young ass in 
“ Christ’s Hospital, five and thirty years ago,” to pamper which 
animal, a petty Nero of a schoolmaster nearly starved forty of 
the boys, by exacting contributions to the one half of their bread. 
Incredible as it may seem, he had contrived to smuggle the ass 
in, and keep it upon the leads of the said boys’ dormitory. 
“This game went on for better than a week, till the foolish beast, 
not able to fare well but he must cry roast meat ; foolisher, alas, 
than any of his species in the fables, waxing fat and kicking, in 
the fullness of bread, one unlucky minute must needs proclaim 
his good fortune to the world below; and laying out his simple 
throat blew such a ram’s-horn blast as (toppling down the walls 
of his own Jericho) set concealment any longer at defiance. 
The client was dismissed, with certain attentions, to Smithfield, 
but I never got to learn that the patron underwent any censure 
on the occasion.” 
ASTRINGENTS. 
THE Crab-apple has already been referred to as furnishing 
verjuice—a powerful astringent—of particular use when applied 
externally for old sprains. 
Tannin in another form, or gallo-tannic acid, which is contained 
plentifully in what are known as Oak-apples (or galls), as well as 
in oak-tree bark, will serve to restrain bleedings if taken 
