MEAT, To Choose. — Good meat is firm and elastic to the touch,
moist but not wet, and, except in the case of veal, pork, and lamb, bright
red in colour. It has also, if well fed, a somewhat marbled appearance from
small layers of fat in the muscles. It leaves a fresh smell upon a skewer
which is thrust into its centre and suddenly withdrawn. The meat juice
should slightly redden litmus-paper, showing that it is faintly acid. The
fat should contain no watery juice or jelly, and should be free from blood-
stains ; the suet-fat should be hard and white. In salt meat the brine
should not be sour.
MEAT, To Preserve. — Meat may be kept sweet for several days in
the height of summer by covering it lightly with bran, suspending some
pieces of charcoal around it, and hanging it in an airy place.
MEAT (TOUGH), To Render it Tender. — Fresh-killed meat and
those parts that are naturally hard and tough may be made tender by soak-
ing them for a few minutes in vinegar and water.
MEDALS, To Take Impressions of. — Melt a little isinglass glue
with brandy, and pour it thinly over the medal or coin, so as to wholly
cover its surface. Let it remain on for a day or two, and when thoroughly
dried and hardened, take it off. It will be as hard as a piece of glass and
present a perfect impression of the medal.
MEDICINE (OFFENSIVE), To Administer. — The most
nauseous physic may be given to children without trouble by previously
letting them suck a peppermint lozenge, a piece of alum, or a bit of orange
peel. Many people make the mistake of giving a sweet afterwards to take
away the disagreeable taste ; it is far better to destroy it in the first instance.
Medicine should always be given when the stomach is empty.
MELONS, The Cultivation of. — These plants are most tender
exotics, and their cultivation depends greatly on the regularity of heat in
the pits or houses in which they are grown, which should range to at least
seventy degrees. Sow the seed in January or February for earliest, and in
Mat*sli and April for general and successional late crops. The fruit of
those sown in January and February will ripen in May, J une, and July ; that
of the after sowings in J uly, August, and September.
127
MENSES, For Obstruction of the. — Steel filings, two ounces ;
powdered sugar, two ounces ; ginger, two drams. Pound together. One
teaspoonful to be taken twice a day in orange wine.
MENSTRUATION (EXCESSIVE).— Rest as much as pos-
sible in a recumbent position during the attack, taking every four hours a
powder consisting of five grains of ergot of rye. In the interval a table-
spoonful three times a day of Griffiths’ mixture will be beneficial.
MENSTRUATION (PAINFUL). — During the period of attack
avoid mental excitement and cold, and each alternate day take every four
hours a pill composed of two grains of camphor and half a grain of pow-
dered opium.
MENSTRUATION (SCANTY).— Take plenty of exercise in
the open air ; avoid hot rooms and too much sleep, and before the ex-
pected period put the feet in warm water and take a couple of cochiae pills.
Page 140
Presented as published in 1891. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
MEAT, To Choose. — Good meat is firm and elastic to the touch, moist but not wet, and, except in the case of veal, pork, and lamb, bright red in colour. It has also, if well fed, a somewhat marbled appearance from small layers of fat in the muscles. It leaves a fresh smell upon a skewer which is thrust into its centre and suddenly withdrawn. The meat juice should slightly redden litmus-paper, showing that it is faintly acid. The fat should contain no watery juice or jelly, and should be free from bloodstains ; the suet-fat should be hard and white. In salt meat the brine should not be sour.
MEAT, To Preserve. — Meat may be kept sweet for several days in the height of summer by covering it lightly with bran, suspending some pieces of charcoal around it, and hanging it in an airy place.
MEAT (TOUGH), To Render it Tender. — Fresh-killed meat and those parts that are naturally hard and tough may be made tender by soaking them for a few minutes in vinegar and water.
MEDALS, To Take Impressions of. — Melt a little isinglass glue with brandy, and pour it thinly over the medal or coin, so as to wholly cover its surface. Let it remain on for a day or two, and when thoroughly dried and hardened, take it off. It will be as hard as a piece of glass and present a perfect impression of the medal.
MEDICINE (OFFENSIVE), To Administer. — The most nauseous physic may be given to children without trouble by previously letting them suck a peppermint lozenge, a piece of alum, or a bit of orange peel. Many people make the mistake of giving a sweet afterwards to take away the disagreeable taste ; it is far better to destroy it in the first instance. Medicine should always be given when the stomach is empty.
MELONS, The Cultivation of. — These plants are most tender exotics, and their cultivation depends greatly on the regularity of heat in the pits or houses in which they are grown, which should range to at least seventy degrees. Sow the seed in January or February for earliest, and in March and April for general and successional late crops. The fruit of those sown in January and February will ripen in May, J une, and July ; that of the after sowings in J uly, August, and September.
MENSES, For Obstruction of the. — Steel filings, two ounces ; powdered sugar, two ounces ; ginger, two drams. Pound together. One teaspoonful to be taken twice a day in orange wine.
MENSTRUATION (EXCESSIVE).— Rest as much as possible in a recumbent position during the attack, taking every four hours a powder consisting of five grains of ergot of rye. In the interval a tablespoonful three times a day of Griffiths’ mixture will be beneficial.
MENSTRUATION (PAINFUL). — During the period of attack avoid mental excitement and cold, and each alternate day take every four hours a pill composed of two grains of camphor and half a grain of powdered opium.
MENSTRUATION (SCANTY).— Take plenty of exercise in the open air ; avoid hot rooms and too much sleep, and before the expected period put the feet in warm water and take a couple of cochiae pills.