Athothis : a satire on modern medicine / by Thomas C. Minor.
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the metal to make a good tonic. But the fish before us is not an eel, my friend, but a pike—such a one as Archestratus was wont to call ' a gift from the gods.' Inhale its invigorating fragrance, and do not imagine, because it is highly seasoned, that the salt thereon is following your ancient belief—the saliva of Set." " Sneer not at my people on account of their preju- dices ! " answered Athothis. " Though I will admit that the Egyptians, as well as the Jews, disliked the admixture of salt with certain varieties of food. We were super- stitious, like all learned races ever are, but our prejudices were really the outcome of real wisdom, for only highly intellectual people have enough imagination to believe in things supernatural." "Yet, I am very sceptical, as regards the utility of certain Egyptian prejudices," remarked Paulus Andro- cydes, " and do not wonder that the Jews, whose instructors you claim to be, have so many stupid customs. I am enjoying the pike, and you await the next course, which, as I live ! is a choice Westphalia ham. See ! one of the gentlemen is carving a slice of pink pig meat." "Westphalia ham!" exclaimed Athothis, in spiritual disgust. " Of all vile food on earth, this is the worst. Are you aware, unhappy mortal, of the perils that linger in this meat ?" " It is so delicious, that I shall discard the fish, and take in the exquisite aroma of swine flesh!" retorted Paulus Androcydes. " I would brave many dangers for a dish like this! But why are the celebrated smoked joints of Westphalia more injurious than other meat of the same variety ?" " In Westphalia," responded Athothis, disdainfully, " they nourish and fatten their hogs on human offal, and