224 MEALS MEDICINAL. 
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bent back in a singular manner. Before the blossom expands 
the fruit stalk resembles the head and neck of a crane; the 
subacid fruit makes excellent tarts, and is signally antiscorbutic. 
This is the Ozxycoccos palustris. Cranberries are also imported 
in barrels from Norway, and Russia ; likewise a larger kind from 
America, Oxycoccos macrocarpus. 
The Berberry, or Barberry, has already been told about ; 
it is intensely, but agreeably, acid. 
The Whortleberry, popularly called as to its fruit “ whorts ” 
(which ripen about the time of St. James’ Feast, July 25th), 
is in its etymology corrupted from Myrtleberry by the initial M. 
having suffered a change into W. In the middle ages the 
Myrtleberry was used in medicine, and cookery. 
The Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus)—(and see “ Fruits ”)— 
is an admirable astringent, and is treated of here explicitly 
among Fruits. Its fresh juice is antidotal to the bacillus of 
typhoid fever, as well as to some other kindred bacilli, generally 
killing these within twelve hours after reaching them within 
the intestines. Neither the acid gastric juice of the stomach, 
nor the alkaline contents of the bowels, will interfere with such 
germicidal action, which extends down to the lowest part of the 
alimentary canal. Likewise this fruit confers sure benefit 
against dysentery by its destructive power on bacilli. In 
Germany the berries are a favourite popular remedy for diarrhea, 
being used either dry, or in fruit wine, syrup, or vegetable 
extract. Bilberry jam is excellent against diarrhea, with 
putridity, and flatulence, from bacterial fermentation. This 
fruit, when stewed, is eaten cold by the Germans at the commence- 
ment of dinner in the place of soup. 
“ Our last Thanksgivin’ dinner we 
Ate at Granny’s house, and she 
Had—just as she allus does— 
The bestest pies as ever wus. 
Canned blackbury pie, an’ luscious goose- 
Burry, squashin’ full of juice ; 
An’ rosburry, an’ likewise plum, 
Yes, an’ cherry pie; yum! yum! 
Peach, an’ pumpkin too, you bet ; 
Lawky, I can taste ’em yet. 
Yes, an’ custard pie, an’ mince! 
I aint ate no sich nice pies since !” 
These various berries have induced some wag to string their 
terminal appellations together in an odd fashion: “ Hquidem 
