Athothis : a satire on modern medicine / by Thomas C. Minor.
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ness in the human brain, thus destroying reason and propagating crime." " Pliny admits that the liquor of ancient Egypt was bad," observed Paulus Androcydes, in a tone of gentle sarcasm ; " that it was made from corn-juice fermented in water, which leads the learned author to say that the Nile dwellers got drunk on corn-water." " There are modern peoples who indulge in the same practice," responded Athothis, dryly; "but I boldly as- sert that for several centuries after my time the Egyptians did not drug their potions with additional poison to those already contained in fermented juices. They cared not to increase the toxic action of a known dangerous agent for the mere purpose of cheapening the cost of the product, in order to extend its use among the poor work- ing classes. I must insist that in my time wines were unfermented and only used on the occasion of religious festivals." "Unfermented wine is very disagreeable," remarked Paulus Androcydes, sneeringly; " and some time after your first transmigration Egyptian tastes changed, for Mareotic and Antyllian wines of later dynasties were highly extolled by epicures of the Nile country. You are, no doubt, aware that such a bon vivant as Athenaeus has asserted that the ancient Egyptians were sadly given to drink, and only avoided the evil effects of liquors by eating cabbage as an antidote—a custom followed by some modern races to the present day. Do you know that cabbage seed used in wine or beer will prevent in- toxication?" " I never tried self-experimentation," answered Atho- this, quietly, " and never cared for headaches. Perhaps you speak from experience ?"