84 MEALS MEDICINAL. 
in them a flavour that he would not exchange for the finest 
pineapple About Shropshire “blanks and prizes” are beans 
and bacon boiled together, and chopped up in union, being also 
called ‘ blendings.” Both peas and beans contain sulphur 
(whilst richer in mineral salts of potash, and lime than wheat, 
barley, or oats), and are therefore apt to provoke flatulent 
indigestion by the sulphuretted hydrogen gas which is engendered 
within the stomach, and bowels. Cayenne pepper dusted on 
such foods, or taken therewith in infusion as a tea, will stimulate 
a languid digestion, and will correct the flatulency often 
incidental to such a vegetable diet. In Dickens’ time costers 
were crying, “‘ Fine Prooshan Blues,” as the very best kind of 
peas, all over London, and thus it came about that Sam Weller, 
in Pickwick, addressed his old father, Tony Weller, the stage- 
coachman, as “‘My Prooshan Blue ” in words of endearment. 
Dried, or “‘ parched ” peas, as ordinarily supplied, are refractory 
enough, when eaten, to strain the digestive powers of an ostrich : 
the human stomach has to pass them on into the long-suffering 
intestines to pe negotiated. 
The Soy Bean (Glycina soja) is of three varieties, black, green, 
and white. These Beans are to be boiled, then mixed with 
barley, or wheat, until, through fermentation, they become 
covered with fungi; then brine is added, and further fermenta- 
tion goes on for a couple of years. The ssuce thus concocted 
is afterwards boiled afresh, and put, when cool, into bottles, 
or casks. From a nutritive point of view it is superior to any 
other sauce in our markets. Soy is made all over Japan, and 
is partaken of by the entire Japanesé population, almost with 
‘every meal. In China, Soy Cheese is extensively eaten, whils : 
various sauces, and pastes are prepared from the Beans. 
“Les Soissonais sont heureux ; 
Les Haricots sont chez eux.” 
_ An old fable said that Soy was made from certain beetles, and 
Londoners have improved this to ‘ black beetles.” 
“* There was an old person of Tr 
Whose drink was warm lenny. nl soy, 
Which he took from a spoon, by the light of the moon 
In sight of the City of Troy.” He 
Thus sings Edward Lear in his Book of Howie (1862), which 
book so delighted Ruskin with its “corollary carols, inimitable 
