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"APPLE SASS"
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which by the various preparations of the cook are
become a part of our table entertainment almost
throughout the year, and are esteem'd to be very
temperate and nourishing.
" They relax the belly, which is a very good
property in them ; but the sweet more than the
sharp. They help concoction, eaten after meat,
with a little bread: you may be confident that
an apple eaten after supper "—paste this in your
hats, ye revellers—" depresseth all offensive
vapours that otherwise would offend the head,
and hinder sleep. Apples rosted, scalded, or
otherwise prepared, according to the skill of the
operatour, are good in many hot diseases, against
Melancholy^ and the Pleurisie.
:;:^"But Cider is much to be preferr'd, it being
the more pure and active part separated from the
impure and feculent; and without all, peradven-
ture, is the most wholesome drink that is made
in Europe for our ordinary use, as before is
observed. For its specifick vertues, there is not
any drink more effectual against the Scurvy, It
is also prevalent against the Stone, and by its
mundifying qualities is good against the diseases
of the Spleen, and is esteem'd excellent against
Melancholy^
Possibly the course of time has made us
merrier than our forbears ; at all events " melan
choly" is a disease for which no remedy is
prescribed in the modern editions of the Pharma
copoeia. What with musical farces, and Arthur
Roberts, and the means to purchase a " livener "
next morning, no citizen of London is justified in
the possession of lowness of spirits.