SALADS. 607 
the mixture for fifteen minutes, whilst constantly stirring ; 
then remove from the fire, and let it cool. Beat three eggs, 
and pour in a little thereof at a time until all is used thus; and 
perhaps some almond flavouring may be discreetly added. Put 
the mixture into a pudding dish, and bake for half an hour. 
Sift a little powdered sugar over it, and serve immediately in 
the dish in which it has been baked.” Tapioca is another food 
of like character, being pure starch, as prepared from the root 
of the Cassava, or Manioc plant, which grows in _ tropical 
America, Asia, and Africa. It is more easy of digestion than 
any other kind of farinaceous nourishment, and less liable to 
produce acidity. When the root is freshly cut a milky juice 
exudes which is highly poisonous; but after this is withdrawn 
the remainder of the root yields Tapioca starch, which is in no 
way whatever deleterious. Its agglomerate masses distinguish 
it from the regular shaped grains of Sago. Our chief supplies 
of Tapioca are imported from Brazil. Whether boiled in water, 
or milk, or steeped in boiling water, and then baked, it makes, 
when sweetened, and flavoured to taste, a very palatable, and 
light food, which is to be highly commended for invalids, and 
children : (see also page 564.) 
SALADS. 
Ir is an essential requirement for the body’s health that chemical 
changes shall take place in the blood as to its salts of potash, 
and soda, for setting free the carbonic acid gas with which these 
earths are combined. In order to effect such chemical changes 
Salads, or their equivalents, are needed, otherwise the said gas 
becomes difficult of excretion, and proves more or less poisonous. 
John Evelyn, in his quaint Acetaria, or Book of Sallets (1706), 
puts the matter thus: “ We see how necessary-it is that in the 
composure of a Sallet every plant should come in to bear its 
part without being overpowered by some herb of a stronger 
taste, but should fall into their place like the notes in music.” 
Therefore it was the comical Magister Cook introduced by 
Damoxemus, when asked (Aéticé) “ What harmony is there in 
meats ?” answered, “ That very same that a diatesseron, and 
diapason, have to one another in a consort of music.” Again, 
“ Raw Sallets, and herbs have experimentally been found to be 
the most sovereign diet in that epidemical with us, and almost 
