364 MEALS MEDICINAL. 
Gerarde has told that “ the juice of Balm glueth together greene 
wounds ;” and “ the leaves,” say Pliny, and Dioscorides, “ being 
applied do close up wounds without any perill of inflammation.” 
It is now understood as a scientific fact that the balsamic oils 
of aromatic plants make excellent surgical dressings ; they give 
off ozone, and thus exercise anti-putrescent effects ; moreover, 
being chemical hydrocarbons, they contain so little oxygen 
that in wounds dressed with the fixed balsamic herbal oils the 
atomic germs of disease are starved out. Furthermore, the 
resinous parts of these balsamic oils as they dry upon the sore, 
or wound, seal it up, and effectually exclude all noxious air. 
Thus the essential oils of Balm, Peppermint, Lavender, and 
similar herbs, as well as Pine Oil, the resin of Turpentine, and 
Benzoin (Friar’s Balsam), should serve admirably for ready 
application, on lint, or soft fine rag, to cuts, and superficial sores. 
A couple of hundred years ago pancakes were made whilst 
using the herb Coltsfoot (Tussilago farjara), and fried with Sage 
butter. ‘‘ Hark! I hear the Pancake bell,” said poor Richard, 
making allusion thereto in his Almanack (1684). It is said that 
the Pancakes particular to Shrove Tuesday were originally 
appointed to be made then so as to dispose of the dripping and 
fat remaining over from the prolonged Christmas festivities, 
before the advent of the Penitential Fast. The bell rang for 
Confessional in every Church throughout England in Catholic 
times on the morning of Shrove Tuesday. 
“ It is a day whereon both rich and poore 
Are chiefly feasted on the selfsame dish ; 
When every paunch till it can hold no more 
Is fritter-filled as well as beast can wish; 
And every youth and maid do take their turn, 
And tosse their pancakes up for fear they burn, 
And all the kitchen doth with laughter sound 
To see the pancake fall upon the ground.” 
In our day the modern confectioner provides Coltsfoot Rock, 
concocted in fluted sticks, of a brown colour, as a sweetmeat, 
flavoured with some essential oil, as of Anise, or Dill. The herb 
Coltsfoot, which grows abundantly throughout England, 
especially along the sides of our railway banks, has been justly 
termed “‘ nature’s best herb for the lungs, and her most eminent 
thoracic.” Its very name suggests this virtue,—tussis, a cold, 
ago, I dispel. All parts of the plant contain tannin, with a 
special bitter principle, and free mucilage. Coltsfoot tea can 
