WHEAT. 731 
and oil, it makes a bland cooling ointment, for dressing wounds 
and superficial sores. ‘Telling me the sovereign’st thing on 
earth was parmacity for an inward bruise ” (Henry IV. Part I). 
Spermaceti is nearly pure cetin, and contains an alcohol, ethal. 
Tf made into an emulsion with yolk of egg, or almond oil, it serves 
as a popular remedy for raw, sore throats, and bronchial cough ; 
likewise for an irritated condition of the membrane lining the 
bowels, or of the urinary passages. Respecting Ambergris, a 
restorative substance (excrementitious) got from the whale 
(see “Cordials ’’), it powerfully affects the nervous system, as 
containing a peculiar principle, Ambrein, with a resin, benzoic 
acid, and adipocere. From five to twenty grains of the odorous 
substance (which is dispensed by our druggists) are to be given 
for a dose. ‘It is,” quoth old Fuller (1656), “a rare cordiall » 
for the refreshing of the spirits, and sovereign for the strengthening 
the head, besides the most fragrant scent, far stronger in consort 
when compounded with other things, than when singly itself.” 
An old provincial English drink was “ Amber Caudle,” made 
of ambergris, and esteemed restorative of the sexual powers. 
‘You may talk,” said Ravenscroft (1622) “of your amber 
caudles, your chocolate and jelly broths, but they are nothing 
comparable to youth and beauty.” 
WHEAT. (See Breap). 
Frumenty, a dish made of mulled wheat boiled in milk, and 
seasoned, has been known since very early days of English history. 
In the Fabyan Chronicles (1516), we read that “ In the Great Halle 
of Westmynster the Kynge in his astate was servyd with ii 
coursys: Frument with venyson, etc., etc.” It was also at 
one time a Lord Mayor’s dish. For obstinate constipation, 
no food is so effectual as “ cracked wheat,” by which the difficulty 
is generally soon overcome; some of it should be steeped in 
water for about twelve hours, then boiled for an hour, and served 
with cream or milk. It may be further used for making a milky 
pudding therewith, containing also split raisins, free from the 
stones. Mr. Albert Broadbent, of Manchester, Secretary to 
the Food Reform Organization, declares that, “In cases of 
constipation long chronic, the entire wheat grain, bruised in 
some way, and thoroughly cooked, never fails to bring about 
cure.” He “cannot praise it too highly.” : 
