70 MEALS MEDICINAL. 
internally ; and the bark when finely powdered, and inhaled 
pretty often, has proved very beneficial against consumption of 
the lungs in its early stages. Working tanners are well known to 
be particularly exempt from this disease, in all probability through 
their constantly inhaling the peculiar aroma given off from the 
tanpits ; and a similar remedial effect may be produced by using 
constantly as a snuff some fresh oak bark, dried, and reduced to 
a sufficiently fine powder, whilst also inhaling day after day the 
steam given off from recent oak bark infused in boiling water. 
A strong decoction of oak bark is most useful for applying to 
reduce prolapse of the lower bowel, through a relaxed 
fundament. 
Gospel Oaks were formerly resting stations for short religious 
services when beating the parish bounds. 
** Dearest, bury me 
Under that holy Oke, or Gospel tree, 
Where, though thou see’st not, thou may’st think upon 
Me, when thou yearly goest procession.” —Herrick. 
For a useful astringent drink, as advised by Dr. Yeo, add to a 
pint of boiling milk a quarter of an ounce of powdered alum, 
previously mixed with three or four tablespoonfuls of hot water ; 
then strain. Again, for croup, combine a teaspoonful of 
powdered alum (sulphate of alumina and potash) with two 
teaspoonfuls of sugar, and give this promptly; when almost 
immediate relief will follow. 
BACON (See also Pork). 
Tue side, and belly of a pig are called Bacon, when salted and 
cured in a way similar to that which converts the leg of pork 
into ham. If the whole side of a pig has been salted, and smoke- 
dried, it is known as a flitch of bacon. In many districts 
saltpetre and sugar are used, in addition to salt, for curing the 
meat to be smoke-dried. 
About Germany the bacon is so splendidly cured that it may 
be eaten without any further cooking. But the pig is more 
liable to diseased flesh than the ox, or sheep, because of its 
greediness for unwholesome food, though this risk may be 
guarded against by care in feeding the animal. A harmful 
parasite, the Trichina spiralis, is frequently noticed in Germany 
as infesting the human body, through eating smoked ham, and 
