VALUE AS FOOD. 81 



kt There lately died at Martinico a coun- 

 sellor, about a hundred years old, who, for 

 thirty years past, lived on nothing but 

 chocolate and biscuit. He sometimes, in- 

 deed, had a little soup at dinner, but never 

 any fish, flesh, or other victuals. He was, 

 nevertheless, so vigorous and nimble that 

 at fourscore and five he could get on horse- 

 back without stirrups. 



" Chocolate is not only proper to pro- 

 long the life of aged people, but also of 

 those whose constitution is lean and dry, or 

 weak and cacochymical, or who use violent 

 exercises, or whose employments oblige 

 them to an intense application of mind, 

 which makes them very faintish. To all 

 these it agrees perfectly well, and becomes 

 to them an altering diet." 



