HELICID^.-— SNAIL. 
5 
all tbe while ; this quantity is ordered to he drank every 
mornings and is a noble restorative in consumptions^, es- 
pecially for young people/^ 
Decoctum Antiphthisicum^ a Decoction against con- 
sumptions.— ox-eye daisy flowers, dried, a handful ; 
snails, washed dean, numb. 3 ; candied eryogo-root, half 
an ounce ; pearl-barley, 2 ounces : boil in spring-water 
from a pound to half a pound, and then strain for use. 
^^This brings a supply of such soft and inoffensive 
nourishment, as gives no trouble to a weak constitution, 
and therefore is of service in consumptions, hectic fevers, 
etc. etc. The patient must drink 4 ounces of this 
warm, with an equal quantity of milk, twice a day.^^ 
In 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 j also strengthens the 
liver; outwardly applied it is a cosmetic; it beautifies 
the face, and the volatile oil and spirit extracted from 
snails resist poison, open all manner of obstructions, 
cure the pleurisy, asthma, most disorders of the lungs, 
and, after a wonderful manner, the consumption. Dose 
of the volatile salt, from grains 6 to 12 ; of the spirit 
from 30 to 40 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.— 12 snails, better house 
snails, and 12 earthworms, clean washed ; boil them in a 
pint of new milk to half a pint, then pour it on 1 ounce 
of eryngo-root. Take some every night and morning.” 
* ‘ Zoologia Medicinalis Hibemica/ by J ohn Keogli. 
