EDIBLE BRITISH MOLLUSCA. 



Tn Ireland the snail, or " shellimidy," was recom- 

 mended for many diseases, and "a water distilled from 

 shell-snails in canary wine, in the month of May, is a 

 great restorative in consumptions ; also strengthens 

 the liver ; outwardly applied it is a cosmetic ; it beau- 

 tifies the face, and the volatile oil and spirit extracted 

 from snails resist poison, open all manner of obstruc- 

 tions, cure the pleurisy, asthma, most disorders of the 

 lungs, and, after a wonderful manner, the consumption. 

 Dose of the volatile salt, from graius six to twelve ; of 

 the spirit, from thirty to forty drops."* 



The following recipes are from an old manuscript 

 book ; but though snails might be tolerated, I doubt 

 any person having sufficient courage to try them with 

 the addition of earthworms ! 



"For a Consumption. Take twelve snails, better 

 house snails, and twelve earthworms, clean washed; 

 boil them in a pint of new milk to half a pint, then 

 pour it on one ounce of eryngo-root. Take some every 

 night and morning." 



" For a Consumption. Twenty-four garden snails, 

 two sheep's trotters, half an ounce of comfrey-root, 

 one quart of spring-water, a quart of milk; boil all 

 together till reduced to half the quantity : take a cup of 

 this every night and morning." 



An excellent Remedy for a Consumption. Take 

 twenty snails, and a handful of broad daisies, and put 

 in a quart of water, and gently boil it to a pint, take a 

 spoonful every morning in some milk.f 



" Water against a Consumption Take a pound of 



* 'Zoologia Medicinalis Hibernica,' by John Keogh. 

 f 'The Housekeeper's Pocket-book/ by Mrs. Sarah Harrison of 

 Devonshire ^1751). 



