t snails must have been almost exterminated in the near
vicinity of towns, so largely were they sought for and employed
medicinally. There are several receipts for making snail-water, or
snail-pottage; here is one of the most pleasing ones:

"The admirable and most famous Snail water.--Take a peck of garden
Shel Snails, wash them well in Small Beer, and put them in an oven
till they have done making a Noise, then take them out and wipe
them well from the green froth that is upon them, and bruise them
shels and all in a Stone Mortar, then take a Quart of Earthworms,
scowre them with salt, slit them, and wash well with water from
their filth, and in a stone Mortar beat them in pieces, then lay in
the bottom of your distilled pot Angelica two handfuls, and two
handfuls of Celandine upon them, to which put two quarts of
Rosemary flowers, Bearsfoot, Agrimony, red Dock roots, Bark of
Barberries, Betony wood Sorrel of each two handfuls, Rue one
handful; then lay the Snails and Worms on top of the hearbs and
flowers, then pour on three Gallons of the Strongest Ale, and let
it stand all night, in the morning put in three ounces of Cloves
beaten, sixpennyworth of beaten Saffron, and on the top of them six
ounces of shaved Hartshorne, then set on the Limbeck, and close it
with paste and so receive the water by pintes, which will be nine
in all, the first is the strongest, whereof take in the morning two
spoonfuls in four spoonfuls of small Beer, the like in the
Afternoon."

Truly, the poor rickety child deserved to be cured. Snails also were
used externally:

"To anoint the Ricketed Childs Limbs and to recover it in a short
time, though the child be so lame as to go upon crutches:

"Take a peck of Garden Snailes and bruse them, put them into a
course Canvass bagg, and hang it up, and set a dish under to
receive the liquor that droppeth from them, wherewith anoint the
Childe in every Joynt which you perceive to be weak before the fire
every morning and evening. This I have known make a Patient Childe
that was extream weak to go alone using it only a week time."

There were also "unguents to anoynt the Ricketted Childs breast," and
various drinks to be given "to the patient childe fasting," as they
termed him in what appears to us a half-comic, though wholly truthful
appellation.

For wor