718 MEALS MEDICINAL. 
large breakfastcupful of sugar), a tablespoonful of flour, or of 
bread crumbs, ten cloves, a tumblerful of white wine and vinegar 
mixed ; pour this wine over the uppermost layer of marrow and 
sugar, adding a pinch of salt. Then let the stewpan simmer for 
two hours, stirring carefully for fear of its burning. 
VINE. (See GRAPES.) 
VINEGAR. (See Matr). 
A uirrte Vinegar, when administered to animals about to be 
killed for eating, will render their flesh less tough than it otherwise 
would prove ; and it is not unusual to give a spoonful of vinegar 
to poultry shortly before their slaughter for the table. 
VIOLET SWEETMEATS. (See Conrections.) 
By the Romans of old a favourite wine was made from Violet 
flowers. What is known familiarly as Violet powder, for nursery 
uses, and cosmetic purposes, is the pulverized rhizome, or root 
stalk of Iris florentina, the blue flag. This sweet-scented rhizome 
is peeled, and dried in the sun, its agreeable violet-like odour 
becoming thus more fully developed. Orris root contains a 
fragrant volatile oil, much starch, and some soft brownish resin, 
of an acrid taste : also some tannin, which turns iron salts green. 
About Norfolk, and elsewhere in England, a piece of the root is 
suspended by a tape around the neck of a child who is cutting 
his, or her teeth, so as to assist the process by munching, and 
mumbling the tender gums thereupon: when, it may be that 
the profuse flow of saliva which is thus stimulated mitigates 
soreness. But Dr. Pereira admonishes that such a practice is 
objectionable, since it is not unfrequently attended with irrita- 
tion of the mouth, and disorder of the stomach and bowels. 
Furthermore, the risk of the rhizome getting into the gullet, or 
windpipe, is not to be overlooked. One fatal case of this kind 
is recorded. Crystals of oxalate of lime have been found in 
Orris root. 
WALNUT. (See also Nuts). 
‘THE Juglans regia, royal nut of Jupiter (see also page 503), and _ 
known to us as Walnut, is so named from the word Wal, as_ 
