Athothis : a satire on modern medicine / by Thomas C. Minor.
130/210

" The Romans ate blackbirds, Galen enjoyed broiled sparrows and well roasted bustards, Athenaeus doted on roast swan and broiled crane, while a favorite dish with gourmand emperors was stewed heron tongue. I know that Seb, the father of Osiris, is usually depicted with a goose egg on his head, and that in Burmah it is claimed that this bird laid the cosmic egg, and 'tis true this cackling, waddling animal once saved Rome; yet we still continue to serve the eggs up in omelets, and swallow its diseased liver with avidity. I know that Brahma rode on the goose Hansa; that the fish, Matsya; the turtle, Kurma; the hog, Yaraha, are among the ten incarnations of Vishnu. I am also aware that Siva is typified by a bull, Vishnu by an eagle, Indra by an elephant, Ganesa by a rat, Varuna by a fish." " Enough I" exclaimed Athothis ; "for here before us are delicious spring vegetables—tender asparagi and delicate spinach, fresh lettuce with water cresses, boiled turnips and stewed parsnips." " The odor is divine !" said Paulus Androcydes. " But I love the lettuce above all for its quiet and soporific qualities. Galen cured himself of insomnia with the delicious lactucarium ; and, rubbed on the head, Florentinus claimed that it allayed his headaches and produced pleasant sleep. These asparagi are indeed juicy and the very food that Simeon Seth contends have all the nourishing qualities of meat." " Beware !" cried Athothis. " Remember that asparagi are violently diuretic, and that the spinach, though boiled, is, according to Haly Abbas, a quick laxative." " But these asparagi are dressed with caper sauce, which is all in good keeping and taste, since capers,