Leeds Mercury, 10th March 1928.
Snail hat (1928)
Wiltshire Snail Folklore
Snail Broth.
I knew two persons who were dosed with snail broth; it was used as a cure for consumption and wasting complaints. One of the patients was a young woman living at Bishopstrow, the other was a lad whose home was in Wales.
The black, shell-less slugs that come out at night when the dew falls on the grass were also recommended to be eaten for the same disease, and I have been told by old folks now living in South Wilts that they have known many who partook of them.
But for the snail broth I can myself vouch. The broth was made by boiling the nails, shells and all, in milk, straining it, and giving it to the sick person fasting, generally before breakfast. It was very slimy and jellified when cold.
As children, we used to amuse ourselves by picking up the snails and singing -
"Snail, snail, put out your horns,
Or else I'll kill you."
or
"Snail, snail, come out of your hole,
Or else I'll beat you as black as a coal."
In Wiltshire Notes and Queries volume 1 (1894-5), p315.
In the neighbourhood of Swindon, Wilts, it is a common thing to see men snail hunting in the road-side hedges - filling sacks with the dainty mollusc, for which they find a ready market in the town, where the snail is regarded as a delicacy. One man has told me he remembers some 30 years ago a doctor ordering snails, stewed, as a strengthening medicine after scarlet fever. The process generally adopted for cooking them is to put them on a hot iron, and when the shell is crumbled to pieces the snail is ready to eat. The Spectator published an interesting discussion on this subject a few months ago.
As above, p370.
I knew two persons who were dosed with snail broth; it was used as a cure for consumption and wasting complaints. One of the patients was a young woman living at Bishopstrow, the other was a lad whose home was in Wales.
The black, shell-less slugs that come out at night when the dew falls on the grass were also recommended to be eaten for the same disease, and I have been told by old folks now living in South Wilts that they have known many who partook of them.
But for the snail broth I can myself vouch. The broth was made by boiling the nails, shells and all, in milk, straining it, and giving it to the sick person fasting, generally before breakfast. It was very slimy and jellified when cold.
As children, we used to amuse ourselves by picking up the snails and singing -
"Snail, snail, put out your horns,
Or else I'll kill you."
or
"Snail, snail, come out of your hole,
Or else I'll beat you as black as a coal."
In Wiltshire Notes and Queries volume 1 (1894-5), p315.
In the neighbourhood of Swindon, Wilts, it is a common thing to see men snail hunting in the road-side hedges - filling sacks with the dainty mollusc, for which they find a ready market in the town, where the snail is regarded as a delicacy. One man has told me he remembers some 30 years ago a doctor ordering snails, stewed, as a strengthening medicine after scarlet fever. The process generally adopted for cooking them is to put them on a hot iron, and when the shell is crumbled to pieces the snail is ready to eat. The Spectator published an interesting discussion on this subject a few months ago.
As above, p370.
County Longford snail cures
Popular Cures
Chincough:
(no. 8) Boil a black snail in sweet milk and give milk to child.
Warts:
(no. 1) Get a black snail without looking for it, rub it on warts three times, then hang on a white-thorn bush. As snail withers warts will disappear.
Earache:
Get a black snail, cut off both horns with one cut - instant cure.
Excerpts from 'Folklore from Co. Longford' by Cait Ni Bhradaigh, in Bealoideas, v6 (1936).
* chincough = whooping cough.
Chincough:
(no. 8) Boil a black snail in sweet milk and give milk to child.
Warts:
(no. 1) Get a black snail without looking for it, rub it on warts three times, then hang on a white-thorn bush. As snail withers warts will disappear.
Earache:
Get a black snail, cut off both horns with one cut - instant cure.
Excerpts from 'Folklore from Co. Longford' by Cait Ni Bhradaigh, in Bealoideas, v6 (1936).
* chincough = whooping cough.
Divination of your future husband
At May Eve a snail is picked and put into a clean metal pot and covered close during the night by the young unmarried females, chiefly Roman Catholic, who in the morning expect to see the name of the man, to whom they will be married, written by the trail of the snail.
'Folklore in Maghera Parish* by O. Davies, in the Ulster Journal of Archaeology, v8, 1945.
*County Derry.
Taken from the 1835 O.S. Memoirs for Co. Derry.
'Folklore in Maghera Parish* by O. Davies, in the Ulster Journal of Archaeology, v8, 1945.
*County Derry.
Taken from the 1835 O.S. Memoirs for Co. Derry.
Snails and warts
Wart curing is very common, and in most classes there will be someone who has had experience of it. At Fowlmere in Cambridgeshire I was told this story by a man over seventy who, incidentally, never missed [an evening] class.
"When I was a boy I had warts on the back of my hands, and was advised to rub a black snail on them, then stick the snail on a thorn, and at the new moon I was to point my hand to the moon and blow along the back of it. I did that, and the warts went." He added humorously, "I don't know where they went to."
'Adult education and folklore', by GW Pattison, in Folklore v.64 (1953).
"When I was a boy I had warts on the back of my hands, and was advised to rub a black snail on them, then stick the snail on a thorn, and at the new moon I was to point my hand to the moon and blow along the back of it. I did that, and the warts went." He added humorously, "I don't know where they went to."
'Adult education and folklore', by GW Pattison, in Folklore v.64 (1953).
Orkney snail drink
There are in these isles many little Chappels, now generally ruinous, as in the isle of Unst there are 24 and upwards. In the isle of Yell there are 21 and many in other isles. I saw one of them in the Parish of Tingwal, wherein also there are several mo; it would have contained scarce 30. People, as I judge, and tho so little, yet very great Stones were in the Walls, which was strange to me, how that in this Countrey, where their Beasts are weak, and they have not the help of Machines, they got them lifted and laid.
These are said to have been built by Superstitious Zealots in the time of Popery, or as some rather think by Ship-wrackt Seamen, who coming late[?] to shore, have Built them according to their Vows made by them when in danger, which they dedicated to so many several Saints, whom they looked upon as the Patrons of their Respective Chappels. About which also Men and Women of Old had their night walkings, which occasioned much uncleanness, but now such walkings are but little used.
About the Walls of these old Chappels are found Snails, called Shell-Snails, which they dry and pulverize, mingling the dust with their drink for the Jaundice, by which means these who labour under this sickness in 3 or 4 days time will recover of the same, but if they let this dust ly for a Year, without making use of it, it turneth into small living Creatures or Vermine, which they dry and bray over again, if they make any further use of it.
From A new description of Orkney.. by John Brand, 1703.
These are said to have been built by Superstitious Zealots in the time of Popery, or as some rather think by Ship-wrackt Seamen, who coming late[?] to shore, have Built them according to their Vows made by them when in danger, which they dedicated to so many several Saints, whom they looked upon as the Patrons of their Respective Chappels. About which also Men and Women of Old had their night walkings, which occasioned much uncleanness, but now such walkings are but little used.
About the Walls of these old Chappels are found Snails, called Shell-Snails, which they dry and pulverize, mingling the dust with their drink for the Jaundice, by which means these who labour under this sickness in 3 or 4 days time will recover of the same, but if they let this dust ly for a Year, without making use of it, it turneth into small living Creatures or Vermine, which they dry and bray over again, if they make any further use of it.
From A new description of Orkney.. by John Brand, 1703.
"Wall Fish" in Somerset and beyond
WALL FISH. - Snails have long been recommended as a cure for tuberculosis, and in Somerset, in my younger days, it was quite common to meet with cases where this cure was applied.
I know, too, that in Bristol it was quite a usual practice for men to visit houses where ivy covered the walls to seek permission to search for wall fish, or wall fruit, as snails were often designated. Probably the custom is still in existence. Not long since an attempt was made in some quarters to make the snail a popular edible dish, but I have not heard it succeeded to any extent, as in France. Snail farming is said to be quite interesting once you can get over that slippery, slimy sort of feeling that every snail fancier must experience the first time he finds himself alone and unprotected in the midst of a few thousand real live snails.
Two years ago a note on snail eaters appeared in the "Herald." We were then told cooked snails were rather insipid, but are said to be as nutritious as calves' foot jelly when stewed in milk. Glass blowers in many parts of England have a firm belief in the efficacy of garden snails as a cure for consumption. Mr. Walter Raymond, in his "Book of Crafts and Character," devotes a chapter to the snail merchant who collects snails and they are described as tasting better than the best mutton.
Southey tells us that Maecenas of Cookery, Sir Kenelm Digby, who is remembered for so many odd things, was one of the persons who introduced the great shell snail (Helix Pomaria) into this country as a delicacy. He dispersed the breed about Gothurst, his seat near Newport Pragnel; but the merit of first importing it is due to Charles Howard, of the Arundel family.
Snails were sold in Covent Garden as a remedy for consumption. Fifteen years ago snails were sold in Swindon Market, being considered nourishing, especially in cases of consumption or after illness. The sort found most often is the common garden snail, Helix Aspersa.
Udal, in "Dorsetshire Folk-lore," says "The value of the snail for medicinal purposes is well known. Richard Jefferies, in his book, 'Round about a Great Estate' states that in Dorsetshire an extract of snails is sometimes prepared, and, mixed with rum, is rubbed into weak backs, or legs, especially of children. I myself have known of the use both internally and externally of the 'liquor' of snails, in West Dorset. I think this was used as a cure or palliative, for 'sore legs.'" -- W.G. Willis Watson.
In the Taunton Courier, 10th June 1925.
I know, too, that in Bristol it was quite a usual practice for men to visit houses where ivy covered the walls to seek permission to search for wall fish, or wall fruit, as snails were often designated. Probably the custom is still in existence. Not long since an attempt was made in some quarters to make the snail a popular edible dish, but I have not heard it succeeded to any extent, as in France. Snail farming is said to be quite interesting once you can get over that slippery, slimy sort of feeling that every snail fancier must experience the first time he finds himself alone and unprotected in the midst of a few thousand real live snails.
Two years ago a note on snail eaters appeared in the "Herald." We were then told cooked snails were rather insipid, but are said to be as nutritious as calves' foot jelly when stewed in milk. Glass blowers in many parts of England have a firm belief in the efficacy of garden snails as a cure for consumption. Mr. Walter Raymond, in his "Book of Crafts and Character," devotes a chapter to the snail merchant who collects snails and they are described as tasting better than the best mutton.
Southey tells us that Maecenas of Cookery, Sir Kenelm Digby, who is remembered for so many odd things, was one of the persons who introduced the great shell snail (Helix Pomaria) into this country as a delicacy. He dispersed the breed about Gothurst, his seat near Newport Pragnel; but the merit of first importing it is due to Charles Howard, of the Arundel family.
Snails were sold in Covent Garden as a remedy for consumption. Fifteen years ago snails were sold in Swindon Market, being considered nourishing, especially in cases of consumption or after illness. The sort found most often is the common garden snail, Helix Aspersa.
Udal, in "Dorsetshire Folk-lore," says "The value of the snail for medicinal purposes is well known. Richard Jefferies, in his book, 'Round about a Great Estate' states that in Dorsetshire an extract of snails is sometimes prepared, and, mixed with rum, is rubbed into weak backs, or legs, especially of children. I myself have known of the use both internally and externally of the 'liquor' of snails, in West Dorset. I think this was used as a cure or palliative, for 'sore legs.'" -- W.G. Willis Watson.
In the Taunton Courier, 10th June 1925.
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