The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-11-17
NATIONAL TASTES AND ANTIPATHIEs.

MIR. Murry, In his recent work on Consump-
ton, observes that almost every thing that
moves on earth, in the sea, or air, has been de-
! voured by man. In South America, nothing
/ in the shape of life comes wrong to them-they
! eat serpents, lizards, and ounces and Humboldt
has seen children drag enormous centipedes out
oil their holes, and cranch them up. At Esmer-
add their delicate morceau is a roasted monkey.
Puppies on the Missouri and Mississippi are
choice food Horse-fcsh in Arabia elephants
flesh in India; camel's flesh in Egypt. The
frlahs OF Hndostan contend for putrid carron
with the dogs, vultures, and kites. The Chi
nese devour cats, dogs, rats, and serpents /;
bears paws, birds nests, and seashy, are dainty
bits. The inhabitants of Cochin China prefer
rotten eggs to fresh. The Tonquneze and in
habtants of Madagascar, prefer locusts to the
ilnest fish In Australia good fat gull would
be preferred to any thing else and in the West
indies large caterpillar found on the palm is
esteemed a luxury; while the edible nests of
the Java swallow are rich dainty that the
ingredients of the dish will cost fifteen pounds.
The quantity OF frogs seen in the markets of
The Continent Is immense. At Terricina the
most asks his guest whether he prefers the eel
OF the hedge or that of the river The astron-
omer DE la Lande was remarkably fond of spi-
ders. Great Britain even transcends her con-
tlnental neighbors. The luxury of Scotland is
putrid mutton, the sheep having died Of the rot;
game and venison is seldom reshed till it is
nigh" or, in honest language, till it is mass
OF putrefaction, discnga ging in abundance one
OF the most septic posons the chemist knows
of; in numerous cases it is mass Of life and
motion, the offspring eff putrdity. Pigs are
still whipped to death Holsters are boiled alive;
cod are crlmped, and ees are skinned writhing
In agony hares are hunted, and die in fevered
Inflammation. The human antipathies are not
/ less remarkable. There is scarcely any product,
animal or vegetable, that has not reyoted some
individuals; Henry III of France, could not
endure a cat Tycho Brahe trembled at the
s'ghl OF a mare or fox; Erasmus could not taste
nsh without falling into fever; Waldislaus,
King of Poland, ran away at the sipht of an
pies and Johannes de Querceto, secretary 10
francls the FIRST of France, would fall bleed
ing II an apple were held near him. Cheese is
most frequently the subject of antipathy. but
we have also heard of cucumbers. and even
sweet almonds and strawberries Garden, the
philosopher, could not endure eggs. Crassus
mad an lnsuperable dislike to bread, and Scali-
ger was thrown into commissions at the sight of
| crosses. MIR. Wadd mentions a case in which
the odour of ipecacuanha produced the most
violent effects; and we know gentleman who
was taken suddenly i'll by accidentally smelling
at wal which contained the tincture of Dig
ltalis. We are personally acquainted with a
case wherein lady was seized with cutane-
Gus eruption all over the face, arms, &C., from
having accidentally eaten piece of sponge
cake into which rice flour had entered. The
head was swollen to an enormous size, and the
symptoms were altogether so trightful and
alarming, as to threaten immediate danger. The
gums OF some individuals have 0led at the tear
ing of brown paper. The feel of velvet with
some persons produces nausea and syncope.
Sir kenelim Digby says that Lady Heneage had
her checks blls,ered by laying rose upon one
OF them while asleep. Cardinal Hany de Car
donne swooned at the smell of rose; and we
believe there is British officer similarly af.
tected from the same cause. The chemicals
OF the toilette, duly compounded after the art
OF the apothecary, very materially assist the
messenger of death. There is scarce cosmet-
&c that is not deleterious and destructive pois-
on. Vegetable and Grecian dyes for the hair.
eyebrows, &e., are solutions of nitrate of sill
ver powerful escharotic. Depilatores are
compounds of arsenic, pearl-white, and proto-ni-
trate OF bismuth and lotions for the skin, cor
rosive submates, &c. Thus are unsuspectinp
delicate females lulled into the beliefthat these
are harmless, because they are graced by pretty
names, Oriental, Italian, or Dutch.