Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-09-10
COkYTyr,-
On Oysters,

l have lately read in the Alex,Dd.i,
xstte, an article on Oysters, wherein
is made of the popular notion, thu,
shell fish are unfit to be eaten tu,i,."
months whose names do not contain u,
ter "r;' viz: May, June, July, ard Az,
This is, perhaps, a matter Of MIR.
lance than Is commonly supposed b,
who have but q limited acquaiutaoc.
the subject.
Living on sal, water, near the Cbs.,,,
Bay, l have been familiar With OYSTER. "'
uses. and abuses, ell my lite.
Oysters should not be eaten, Tor ,,p,
persons living even a few miles f,oo
place where they are taken from III. u.,
during the months above usm,d. s,,,
cause they are generally unit for food "
ing that period, for that i, their .,.,
season. when they become poor, xbiI. ,I.ts
liquor is OF a milky appsarauce-No,.a,.
II they were ever 80 good, they Will nor ~,
transportation for even q short time q, -
lance. during hot, or warm yestDer -
Oyster when exposed 10 a heated stmo,,t'.
u undergoes the process VI decoup,.,i,,
and 80 insldious Is this process, thai !, =
be decayed TO 40 extent, dangerous, y.t =,
%perceptiple to those who haze but a .;'.'
acquaintance with the fish. Every hoive''
the Oyster country knows that O;.tsr, ,,,.
10 any degree, are poisonous, sui 70 the I,,"
a Il eating OF such, may. doubtless. BE- Az,
buted many sudden cases Of SIo.eot o,.,,,.
aud even death, to discover toe eau,..
which the learned puzzle their or.ln. IN Sal,
Oysters are seldom BIT Tor rraasugr,,r
September, a. that Is generally a vy,
month; IN fact, they are not iii 10 BE- e,,..
uutil tue irOsts OF autumn have chilled -.
water and the air-they are DOT suIus.
food tor warm weather, Tor they ore The a.,
stipu sting diet | AN acquainted wl,o, a.
should only be eaten by u large majority .,
people, during cold weather.
1t was late 10 October, a few wears a.,
that sporadic Cases Of Asiauc Cholera a,
peared 10 a neighborlnS city, causing .e,.u
deaths at the same time sundry case, O.
CURED in my vicinity, very nearly app,.I.
mating TO that dreadful scOurge-.u Il.
cases | knew Of were caused by Oysters. T..
weather was warm, aud the Oysters uuith,
food. ! was, also, informed that 10 toe trr
alluded to, Oysters were eaten at tue l..,,
IN a perceptIble state OF decay. | hope .av
were cooked, as they were eaten IL Iguyraas
of their condition.
The A,istic Cholera which prevailed 8
fatally on James and York Rivers 10 Il.
summer of 1919, was caused by carsJes I
spoilt Oysters, distributed at CERTAIN p.Ya
On thoee rivers.
10 short, not a summer passes 90 the as
gin of the Oyster beds. but cases Of v.glgi
disease occur, from the Improper ue e
Oysters, by persons who ought to know E.g
not to eat them. How dangerous lbeu Bgs
they be 10 u bot CITY, at q distance irOuItg
native depths. | could easily eE'eai 10
article. but wish u be brleI; aid lea.
write columns 10 praise OF Oy-Ier,, ~.
when properly used, nre one OF the mc.In
liable gifts OF q beniticeut Creator. !. ai
up all III q few word,, Oyster. are not !: :
be eaten 10 warm weather, aud tbOst oil
will not believe this, will most likely ts
vioced Of it sooner or later, at Their W
heavy cost. i would like to write % Cna
but will refrain for the present, although IL
public need a warning about them, as uVa
as they do about Oysters. t.
Lancaster County, Va, Sept 2, lac.