Another World: Fragments from the Star City of MontalluyahLumley, Benjamin
Science
Another World: Fragments from the Star City of Montalluyah
Lumley, Benjamin
Utopias
A lamb takes the ball of grass from the hand, for it is thus our
shepherds sometimes feed them. Poultry are killed by very small
quantities of the preparation being mixed with their grain; the fowls
sometimes take up two or three grains not impregnated with the material,
but as soon as the smallest particle is swallowed they stagger and fall.
It is interesting to see this, the effect is so instantaneous. The
ingredient used does not in any way injure the meat and is indeed
considered beneficial, even to the human system, when administered in
small quantities, since the torpor it causes at the moment is succeeded
by increased vitality and strength.
THE BLOOD OF ANIMALS.
When the animal is killed we are very scrupulous in pouring out the
blood, which we avoid using for any purpose connected with food. On
_every_ occasion of the kind "field doctors" are present to see that all
due precautions are taken. They analyse the blood, and if it does not
contain the proper ingredients, the animal is looked upon as diseased,
and its flesh rejected as so far unwholesome; in our climate it would be
difficult of digestion, and produce heaviness, disinclination to study,
despondency and other inconveniences. Blood is said to contain the
electricity that, in connection with the electricity on the nerves,
gives action, feeling, pleasure, and pain. Blood, indeed, contains as it
were the material through which the life of the animal carries on its
operations.
PROTECTION OF THE MEAT FROM INSECTS.
The animal as soon as killed is cut up into different portions, each of
which is placed for a few minutes in a large vessel containing an
infusion of a certain herb, to which flies and winged insects of all
kinds have a great antipathy. The steeping of the meat into this
preparation effectually protects it against their approach. There are
immense numbers of winged insects in our climate, but none will approach
food which has been steeped in an infusion of this herb. By these and
other precautions they are kept within certain limits and driven to the
uses for which nature intended them. It is not necessary to keep the
meat in the vessel for more than a few minutes, nor does the liquid
deteriorate the quality or taste of the meat. Far from being noxious to
the human race, the herb, which is free from smell, contains a healthy
bitter, is cooling and refreshing, and cleanses and preserves the pores
of the skin.
Formerly numbers of persons were affected by the deposits, which, left
by flies on meats and provisions generally, caused irritation of the
bowels, diarrhoea, and vomit, and were otherwise very injurious to the
system.
I may here mention that a preparation of the herb to which I have
referred is used for fruits and provisions generally, which are
protected by a light gauze steeped in an infusion of the herb and thrown
loosely over them; though, indeed, it is only necessary to place the
gauze at the side of the provisions to prevent the approach of the
enemy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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