644 MEALS MEDICINAL. 
old recipe, “‘ excellent for one that is in a consumption,” ran as 
follows: ‘‘ Take Garden Snails, break their houses, and remove 
them whole ; do not wash them, but put them into the strokings 
of milk, and set them on the fire together till they be ready to 
boyl, but let it not boyl; then strain it, and drink it warm,— 
a draught each morning, and at four o’clock in the afternoon, 
and at night last.”” Quantities of Garden Snails are packed in 
old cases, and sent to America as delicacies. The glass men at 
Newcastle have a Snail feast once a year; they collect the Snails 
in the fields, and hedgerows, on the Sunday before this anniversary. 
Again, Francatelli, an eminently sensible chef, considerate for 
the cottager no less than for the lavish epicure, advises thus 
in his Modern Cook: ‘‘ Take two, or three Garden Snails; add 
to these the hind-quarters only of two dozen stream-frogs 
previously skinned; bruise them together in a mortar, after 
which put them into a stewpan with a couple of turnips chopped 
small, a little salt, a quarter of an ounce of hay saffron, and 
three pints of spring-water. Stir these on the fire until the 
broth begins to boil, then skim it well, and set it by the side ot 
the fire to simmer for half an hour, after which it should be 
strained by pressure through a tammy cloth into a basin for use. 
This broth, from its soothing qualities, will often successfully 
counteract the straining effects of a severe cough, and will 
alleviate more reliably than any other culinary preparation the 
sufferings of the consumptive.” Birds’-nest Soup of the Hast, 
and Snail Soup of the West, are nearly allied to each other. The 
Ashantees, and other African tribes smoke Snails, and eat them 
as daily food all the year round. The London Gazette of March 
23rd, 1739, tells that “‘ Mrs. Joanna Stephens received from the 
Government of that time five thousand pounds for revealing 
the secret of her famous cure for stone in the bladder, and gravel. 
This consisted chiefly of egg-shells, and Snails, mixed with soap, 
honey, and herbs. It was given in decoctions, powders, and 
pills.” Some do report that a calculus, or bladder stone, when 
taken out of the human body will, if wrapt in chamomile flowers, 
become speedily disintegrated, and will crumble away ; so that 
for stone in the bladder, or kidneys, a strong infusion of chamo- 
mile flowers (virtually chamomile tea), if taken systematically 
every morning while fasting, and each night at bedtime, should 
be effectual to disperse it. Pepys, in his Diary (1663), wrote: _ 
‘* April Ist, this being my feast in lieu of what I should have 
