STRAWBERRY. 661 
society their ‘ stiffening,’ and to infuse into their manners that 
beneficial political Starch which may qualify them for levees, 
conferences, visits, etc.” Formerly, in this country, before tea 
and coffee were introduced, a restorative starchy drink known 
as Salep was prepared from the roots of the common male 
Orchis. It was held in high repute for recruiting the exhausted 
vitality of aged, and enfeebled persons ; and it may still be pre- 
pared from a powder as supplied by the druggist, which is to 
be boiled in water with some spirit added. This differs from 
Saloop (page 565), also a former restorative drink, (made 
famous by Elia,) the ground-work of which was Sassafras wood. 
STRAWBERRY. (See Fruits). 
Aut the former herbalists have agreed in pronouncing Straw- 
berries (Fragaria) wholesome, and beneficial beyond every other 
English fruit; their smell is refreshing to the spirits ; they 
abate fever, promote urine, and are gently laxative. So salu- 
brious are Strawberries that if leff by themselves to decompose 
they will decay without undergoing any acetous fermentation ; 
nor can their kindly temperature be soured even by exposure © 
to the acids of the stomach. They are constituted entirely of 
soluble matters, and leave no residuum to hinder digestion. 
It is probably for this reason, and because the fruit contains 
so little nutriment as a food, that the custom has arisen of 
combining clotted cream with it at table, whilst at the same 
time the sharp juices are thus agreeably modified. 
** Mella que erunt epulis, et lacte fluentia fraga.” 
“ Then sit on a cushion, and sew up a seam, 
And thou shalt have Strawberries, Sugar, and Cream.” 
“ They are eaten asa reare service, whereunto claret wine, cream, 
or milke is added, with sugar, as everyone liketh. They are 
good for perturbation of the spirits.” —(Terrestial Paradise, 
1629). 
Horace Walpole, writing from Paris, in the autumn of 1775, 
said: ‘Madame du Deffand has been so ill that the day she 
was seized I thought she could not live till night. Her Herculean 
weakness, which could not resist Strawberries and cream after 
supper, has surmounted all the ups, and downs which followed 
her excess.” Dr. Boteler is quoted in Walton’s Compleat Angler 
