CORNISH-L Archives

Archiver > CORNISH > 1998-05 > 0895103330


From: "Cottingham, Andrew H" <>
Subject: FW: For the smart list
Date: Thu, 14 May 1998 09:18:50 +0930


Oh what joy sago and tapioca puddings !

> ----------
> From: John Coles[SMTP:]
> Sent: Thursday, 14 May 1998 3:37pm
> To:
> Subject: Re: For the smart list
>
> Hi Des,
>
> Even in my childhood, Arrowroot was commonly used as a food for
> invalids and in convalescence.
>
> It is almost pure starch, very low in proteins, vitamins, and natural
> salts, but it cooks at a low temperature (and can mixed with eggs
> easily as a result to make nourishing egg custards) but it's main
> attribute is that it is one of the easiest foods to digest.
>
> Because of that, it was often used where the patient was suffering
> from either sickness (nausea), or diarrhoea. Although it had little
> food value, it did at least keep the stomach and digestive system
> working.
>
> We must remember that in the nineteenth century childbirth could be a
> pretty horrendous experience, with often quite brutal invasive
> proceedures used by doctors, and none of the modern drugs used to
> prevent excessive bleeding.
>
> So, if she survived (and many didn't) the newly delivered mother could
> often be in a seriously weakened state, and required gentle nursing
> back to health. If she had delivered on board ship, I suspect that
> medical skills were pretty basic, and sea-sickness ever present as
> well.
>
> Our 'Herbal' (published in 1931but based on much older skills) says
> that arrowroot jelly was also suitable for weaning infants, so
> presumably if the mother (through sickness, or weakness) was unable to
> produce enough milk, then arrowroot was a substitute - this, of
> course, in the days before powdered formula feeds.
>
> I wish you hadn't reminded me of arrowroot (and sago is no better)
> because I can still taste that slippery slimy stuff even now, and I
> used to hate it at the time! And I regret to say that I use flour for
> thickening sauces when I cook, because I hate cornflour for the same
> reasons!
>
> Best wishes, John.
>
> John & Anna, Producers of
> 'KERNOW SOUND the SOUNDS OF CORNWALL'
> The magazine you can listen to,
> produced in Launceston, Cornwall.
> email:
>
> ----------
> >
> > For all the people on the smart list a Question for you
> >
> > WHAT WAS SAGO OR ARROWROOT USED FOR - IN CHILDBIRTH?
> >
> > I have an entry on a ship that states that sometimes the mother of a
> newly
> > born infant was given sago or arrowroot.
> >
> > I look forward to all types of responses to this one.
> >
> > Des
> >
> >
>
>

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