638 MEALS MEDICINAL. 
SHELL-FISH. 
Amone edible molluscs (having soft skeletons) which possess 
certain curative properties, the Cuttle (Sepia officinalis) deserves 
notice. It is found in some of our European seas, being known 
to Cornish fishermen as Squid, or Cuddles. It lives in shallow 
water, owning a broad internal bone-plate, and under its throat 
a bladder, or bag, containing a humour which is blacker than 
ink; such juice (Sepie succus) being discharged defensively into 
the surrounding water when the creature is pursued, so as to 
intercept the sight of the fishermen; it is dried, and used 
commercially in this country as a pigment for artists, and as a 
medicine of considerable efficacy. The Cuttle finds a place in 
fishermen’s baskets all along the sea-coasts of France, and Italy, 
being sold for cooking in oil, and offered in the streets to passers- 
by, with the commendatory words “It is good, very good.” 
Broths made from this mollusc were esteemed of old for remedying 
urinary troubles, and several diseases of the skin. Athenzeus 
taught how to concoct a Cuttle sausage ; and in the present day 
about the Neapolitan markets may be seen the arms, or tentacles 
of this fish cut up into portions, ready for cooking. In Greece 
a black broth is prepared by the poor, and is found to be excellent 
when composed of small Cuttlefish (including their ink-bags) 
boiled up with rice, and other vegetables. Modern Greeks, and 
Romans deem Cuttle eggs (which are to be found in clusters 
on the beach) a great delicacy. The shell, or bone-plate, is 
known technically as the “ sepiostaire,” or “ pounce.” A sauce 
of reduced Espagnole, coloured deeply by ink from the bag 
of this mollusc, is sent to table, together with the cartilaginous 
plate at the back of the creature, trimmed, and stewed. It is 
attractive, refined, and digestible. The black humour which 
the Cuttlefish discharges into the sea when pursued, possesses 
distinct medicinal properties. Its primary, and essential toxic 
action when given in considerable doses is to cause congestion 
of the veins, first about the liver, and biliary organs, and then 
throughout the body. If administered in reduced quantities, 
Cuttle-juice lessens venous turgidity, particularly for women 
about the child-bearing organs. Likewise for persons of each 
sex, sluggish piles become materially relieved by taking the 
Sepia juice sufficiently diluted. In token, as it were, of the 
_ frequent juxtaposition of certain maladies in some particular 
