The breed of large white snails is to be found all along the escarpment of
the chalk range, and is {129} not confined to Surrey. It is said to have
been introduced into England by Sir Kenelm Digby, and was considered very
nutritious and wholesome for consumptive patients. About the end of the
last century I was in the habit of collecting a few of the common garden
snails from the fruit-trees, and taking them every morning to a lady who
was in a delicate state of health; she took them boiled or stewed, or
cooked in some manner with milk, making a mucilaginous drink.