EARTH-EATING AND THE EARTH-EATING HABIT IN INDIA. 263 



42. Edible clay from Shillong, Assam ... A greyish-white porcellaneous clay probably halloysite 



and banded with brown, pink and purplish bands. 

 Contains also a few minute scales of white mica. 

 Specific Gravity z'25. 



43. Comestible clay from the district of the fort Lithomargic clay. 



de Cock, near Padang, Malay Peninsula, 

 through Rev. E. Francotte, S.J. 



IV. The Habit of Earth- Eating. 



Earth-eating is a secret habit and those addicted to it rarely own to it, and there is 

 great difficulty in obtaining reliable information on the subject. But the prevalence of 

 the habit throughout India has rendered it possible to bring together, through the assis- 

 tance of observers in town and country, a number of details and some general conclu- 

 sions regarding it. 



The reasons given for indulging in the habit are classified under the following 

 heads: — (1) A peculiar fascinating odour and taste in the clay, rendering it a delicacy. 

 (2) An unnatural craving due to disease. (3) To satisfy hunger. (4) The force of 

 example. (5) The supposed medicinal virtues. 



1 . It has been expressed by more than one of our correspondents that there is some- 

 thing in the particular kind of earth that entices people to it. The odour and taste are 

 so alluring to the senses that persons cannot resist the temptation of eating it. 



An earth-eater in Madras, a graduate in arts, confessed to a friend that the bland, 

 earthy odour was a great temptation to him, and the thought of it made his mouth water. 

 He always enjoyed the odour when April showers fell upon previously parched earth. It 

 is this odour which made him take to eating the earth. "Sometimes," his friend writes, 

 "he could not overcome the desire. He had been ansemic and had suffered from consti- 

 pation, dyspepsia and headache of the nature of hemicrania. For several days he 

 would go without it, but suddenly the craving would seize him and he would be forced 

 to eat it to satisfy the same, in spite of his knowledge of the injurious consequences that 

 would inevitably follow." 



There are some forms of black earth which, if burnt and then water poured on, will 

 give off a pleasant odour which is peculiarly attractive to earth-eaters. Lapis odorata 

 was known in ancient times, some varieties having the odour of violets, others of spring 

 flowers ; it was eaten as a luxury. 



Among children the salty nature of the ingredients of some of these earths is the 

 recommendation for their use. This, however, can be the reason in but few cases of the 

 habit as we are now dealing with it. 



2. The unnatural craving due to disease seems to be the chief cause of this habit in 

 the East. Hysteria prevails in young women when the generic organs are affected, and 

 the periods of menstruation and pregnancy are usually attended by delicate nervous 

 changes and perversion of instincts. Among the Tamil coolies in Travancore the 

 women and children eat a considerable quantity of earth a day. They carry it in their 

 waist-cloths and eat it while they are at work in the estates. They often deny the fact of 

 taking it, but cases of women cutting the clay for eating are so numerous that it is 



