Reform Club, June 21. 1850.
Cure for Ague.—One of my parishioners, suffering from ague, was advised to catch a large spider and shut him up in a box. As he pines away, the disease is supposed to wear itself out.
B.
L—— Rectory, Somerset, July 8. 1850.
Eating Snakes a Charm for growing young.—I send you the following illustrations of this curious receipt for growing young. Perhaps some of your correspondents will furnish me with some others, and some additional light on the subject. Fuller says,—
"A gentlewoman told an ancient batchelour, who looked very young, that she thought he had eaten a snake: 'No, mistris,' (said he), 'it is because I never meddled with any snakes which maketh me look so young.'"—Holy State, 1642, p. 36.
He hath left off o' late to feed on snakes;
His beard's turned white again.
Massinger, Old Law, Act v. Sc. 1.
"He is your loving brother, sir, and will tell nobody