220 EDIBLE BRITISH MOLLUSCA. 



of sand found in the horns of snails, introduced into 

 hollow teeth, removed the pain instantaneously; and 

 that the ashes of empty snail-shells mixed with myrrh 

 were good for the gums (Pliny's ' Nat. Hist/ vol. v. 

 p. 43 K) 



Pliny also recommends " snails beaten up raw and 

 taken in three cyathi of warm water for a cough/' and 

 a snail diet for internal pains, the snails to be cooked 

 as follows : " They must first be left to simmer in 

 water for some time without touching the contents of 

 the shell ; after which, without any other addition, 

 they must be grilled upon hot coals, and eaten with 

 wine and garum (a kind of fish sauce) "* Again, 

 " that a kind of small elongated snail, dried upon tiles 

 in the sun, and reduced to powder, then mixed with 

 bean-meal in equal proportions, forms a cosmetic for 

 whitening and softening the skin/' 



In Austria, the teeth of snails are worn as amulets, 

 and are considered an invaluable safeguard against 

 convulsions, if worn round the neck of a baby ; and 

 Miss Eden says, " that there was only one person in 

 Salzburg, who could extract the teeth of snails/'f 



Mrs. Bury Palliser states, that pounded snails worn 

 round the neck are considered a cure for fevers in 

 Brittany ; and that near Guingamp is a small chapel 

 dedicated to St. Leonard, the patron saint of prisoners, 

 which was built by Charles of Blois on his return from 

 his captivity in England, and that, in the month of 

 May, those who are attacked with fever repair to 

 St. Leonard, to seek upon the walls of the chapel, or 

 on the calvary attached to it, snails as cures for their 



* Pliny, ' Nat. Hist/ vol. v. chap. xv. bk. xxx. p. 437. 

 t * My Holiday in Austria,' p. 30. 



