Part 13

_Mutton Chops delicately Stewed, and good Mutton Broth._--(No. 490.)--Put a Pound of Chops into a stewpan with cold water enough to cover them, and half a pint over, and an Onion,--when it is coming to a boil, skim it, cover the pan close, and set it _over a very slow Fire_ till the Chops are tender,--if they have been kept a proper time, they will take about three quarters of an hour's _very gentle simmering_. Send up Turnips with them, (No. 130), they may be boiled with the chops, skim well, and then send all up in a deep dish, with the Broth they were stewed in.

N.B. _The Broth_ will make an Economist one,--and _the Meat_ another wholesome and comfortable meal.

[113] Men are but rarely "framed so in the prodigality of Nature," as to have all their Senses in perfection--very few have a single one, that approximates within many degrees of it--the Eye of Raphael, the Ear of Handel, the Palate of Apicius--or the sensitive touch of the blind Girl, who could _feel Colours_--are pancratic faculties which are seldom produced.

The following division of the Senses is so excellent, that I copy it from the scarce Book referred to below:--

"I distinguish the SIX SENSES by the character of noxious and innocent. The first three, _Thinking_--_Seeing_--and _Hearing_--are the innocent. The last three, _Feeling_--_Tasting_--and _Smelling_--the noxious.

"I pursue Happiness, or systematic pleasurable sensation, in the cultivation of the first class--and in the control of the latter."--See the LIFE OF JOHN STEWART THE TRAVELLER, p. 12.

[114] "I took two pieces of Mutton, each weighing 45 grains, and having _chewed_ one as much as I used to chew my food--enclosed them in two separate spheres--and swallowed them at the same time--these tubes were voided at the same time--of the masticated meat there remained only 4 grains--of the other there were 18 left."

"_The necessity of Mastication_ is sufficiently known--there is perhaps no person who has not, some time or other, suffered from Indigestion, for want of having chewed his food properly. The reason is obvious. Not to mention the saliva which moistens the food, and predisposes it to be dissolved, it cannot be doubted, that when it is reduced to pieces by the action of the Teeth, the gastric fluid penetrates, and attacking it at more points, dissolves it more speedily than when it was whole. This is true of menstrua in general, which always dissolve bodies sooner when they have been previously broken to pieces. This is also the reason why, in other experiments, masticated bread and _dressed_ flesh were more readily dissolved than unchewed bread and _raw_ flesh. The boiling had made it tenderer, and consequently disposed it to allow ingress to the gastric fluid."--SPALLANZANI _on Digestion_, vol. i. p. 277.

[115] In no branch of the practice of Physic, is there more _Dangerous Quackery_, than in this department--the only means we can furnish our friends with to avoid this--is to recommend them to apply to a scientific Dentist of acknowledged integrity and experience.--Our own Mouth is under considerable obligations to Mr. EDMONDS, of Conduit Street, Hanover Square.

[116] "Slave-dealers are well acquainted with the characteristic signs of perfect Health--any defect of which much diminishes the value of a Slave. The want of _a Tooth_ makes a Slave worth two Dollars less."--FINKE'S _Medical Geography_, vol. i. p. 449.