An essay on culinary poisons : containing cautions relative to the use of laurel-leaves, hemlock, mushrooms, copper-vessels, earthen jars, &c. with observations on the adulteration of bread and flour, and the nature and properties of water.

  • Robertson, J. (Joseph), 1726-1802.
Date:
1781
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An essay on culinary poisons : containing cautions relative to the use of laurel-leaves, hemlock, mushrooms, copper-vessels, earthen jars, &c. with observations on the adulteration of bread and flour, and the nature and properties of water. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    Dr. James fays: laurel-water is the mofl: de- leterious poifon perhaps known, killing almofl: inftantaneouQy J. The laurus of the ancients, or the l^ay, is, on the contrary, of a falutary nature, and of ufe in fe- veral diforders. It may be faid, that the laurel in ai(lards, and other articles of cookery, is ufed in very fmall quantities, and has never been attended with any pernicious efFed. But, I afk, who can pretend to affcrt, that it has not occafioned fome latent diforder, or fome complaints, which have been afcribed to other caufes ? What pcrfon of fenfe or prudence would truft to the difcretion of an ig- norant cook, in the ufe of a dangerous ingredient in his puddings or cuftards ? Or, who, but a madman, would choofe to feafon his victuals with poifon ? The remedy is from ten to forty drops of fal ammoniac, in a glafs of water, repeated as the fymptoms may require. J J.nmes's Difpenfatory, bookiii. c. i. p. 228,. 2. Small