360 MEALS MEDICINAL. 
and even rats. In the London Pharmacopwia (1696) it was 
stated: ‘‘ The flesh roasted makes pleasant meat; its ashes 
cure dropsies, as well as the bed-wetting, or not holding the 
water.” Gypsies have an excellent way of roasting the delicate 
little ‘‘ Hotchi-witchi ’’ in a ball of clay, which is a slow con- 
ductor of the fire, and defends the small creature’s body from 
unsavoury products of charring, whilst the fat, and the gravy 
which ooze out assist, the cooking within the clay. Hedgehog 
pie is a dish which is much relished on the continent. For 
deafness in the head, several old medical authors advise to take 
the drippings from a roast Hedgehog, and put the same to the 
patient’s ears so grieved, and stop them with black wool. Quite — 
recently the Tramps Handbook (1903) instructs that “‘ from 
September to January is the season for Hedgehogs, when nice 
and fat, especially at Michaelmas when they have been eating the 
crab-apples which fall from the hedges. Some have yellow fat, 
and some have white fat, so that we calls °em mutton, and beef 
Hedgehogs ; and very good eating they be, sir, when the fat 
is on ’em.” A second recipe for cooking these small creatures 
of the hedgerow, or plantation, is thus explained: ‘‘ You cut 
the bristles off ’em (after they have been fust killed) with a sharp 
knife ; then you sweals ’em (burn them with straw like a bacon 
pig), and makes the rind brown; then you cuts ’em down the 
back, and spits *em on a bit of stick pointed at both ends, and 
then you roasts *em with a strong flare.” The little animal 
should first be despatched by a blow on the head, and then 
roasted just as caught; when it is done the bristles, and skin, 
will come off en bloc, and he is found to be juicy, and full 
of most delicate flavour. In France the Marquis de Cherville 
tells how the foresters on his estate are given to concoct a 
delicious stew made of the Hedgehog, and the Morille (Fungus 
meruleus), a choice mushroom gathered in the woods. In ancient 
times the Greeks ate Hedgehogs’ flesh (Erinaceus Europeus). 
HERBS. 
Besrpes those edible Herbs which come under notice here 
seriatim, there are several others which may be considered 
collectively, with a more brief, though sufficient, description. 
These are commonly used, or of cultivation for the kitchen, 
whilst likewise embodying curative principles for culinary 
