NUTS. 503 
tells of “a sailor’s wife with chesnuts in her lap,’ who 
“munch’d, and munch’d, and munch’d.” Brazil Nuts (Juvia, 
or Castanha) are of true use against chronic constipation, and 
piles. One pound of these Nuts will yield eight ounces of the 
kernels, which furnish five ounces of vegetable oil, the residue 
being proteids, and mineral constituents. If well masticated, 
and taken even as a principal dish at a meal, they will not 
disagree. The entire fruit contains four, five, or even eight 
of these Nuts. When grated they are an excellent substitute 
for suet, and may be used for making cakes, and puddings, 
instead of other fat: four ounces of the grated kernels to twelve 
ounces of flour; thus teaches Mr. Albert Broadbent, of 
Manchester. 
Similarly, thirty large Walnuts, without the shells, will contain 
as much fat as two and three-quarter pounds of moderately 
lean beef. The Walnut is botanically Juglans regia, “ the Royal 
Nut of Jupiter’; it is also named Ban nut, Ball nut, and Welsh 
nut (Walnut). Whilst unripe this Nut has medicinally worm- 
destroying virtues; if pickled when green, it serves to make 
by the vinegar, diluted with water, a capital gargle for sore 
throats, even if slightly ulcerated. The kernel, or inside edible 
part (minus its skin), affords an oil which is not congealed 
by cold, and which painters find very useful on this account ; 
it proves, further, of service when applied externally for trouble- 
some skin diseases of the leprous type. Indeed, the Walnut 
has been justly termed vegetable arsenic, because of its curative 
virtues in eczema, and other obstinate skin diseases. The 
unripe fruit is laxative, also of beneficial use in thrush; whilst 
the leaves are found to antidote syphilis, as likewise do the 
green husk, and the unripe shell. Obstinate ulcers may be cured 
with sugar well saturated with a strong decoction of Walnut 
leaves. Kiln-dried Walnuts, well kept, and of some age, are 
better digested than newer fruit; in contrast to old gherkins, 
about which it has been humorously said, “Avoid stale 
Q-cumbers: they will W up.”. In many parts of Germany the 
peasants literally subsist on Walnuts for several months together. 
The bark, or thin, yellow skin, which clothes the inner nut, is a 
notable remedy for colic, being first dried, and then rubbed into 
powder, its dose ranging from thirty to forty grains, with a 
tablespoonful or two of peppermint water. To eat Walnuts 
produces troublesome coughing in some persons. After expressing 
