LAND SNAILS. 
115 
Yet a few of these humble and persecuted objects 
may be ranked among the useful class of animals : 
some, as H. pomatia, aspersa, nemoralis , hortensis, 
Pisana , serving for food; and recently they have 
silently rendered a great service to man, in giving 
to Dr. de Lemare his precious Helicine. This 
material is the concentrated mucilage of snails ; 
and by means of this preparation, known under 
the names of the syrup of snails, pommade of 
snails, and helicine , this learned physician is 
stated to have radically cured, in the last few 
years, numerous cases of phthisis. From French 
newspaper reports it would appear that the 
effects of the employment of Helicine are truly 
marvellous. One provincial paper writes, that the 
Helicine of Dr. de Lemare is for phthisis what 
quinine is for intermittent fevers. 
In this country this species, boiled in milk, is 
still used by some in their domestic pharmacopoeia, 
and great faith is placed in it as a cure for pul¬ 
monary complaints ; but, so far as the experience 
of medical men goes, it does not appear to be a 
remedy of any efficacy. Like many other articles 
of a peculiar and out-of-the-way character, a 
dose of snail-broth may be productive of good, 
provided the patient indulging in its use is 
firmly convinced of its salutary powers. Reme¬ 
dies of the above nature in use among the lower 
classes owe their popularity to a vulgar creed, 
i 2 
