It has been observed that children who eat snails are often remarkably plump.

The method of cooking is to place the snail in its shell on the bar of a grate, like a chestnut.

And well-educated people have been known, even in these days, to use the snail as an external medicine for weakly children: rubbed into the back or limb, the substance of the snail is believed to possess strengthening virtues.[4] [4] See Notes.
We found Uncle Bennet just taking his lunch in the stone-flagged sitting-room, which, however, had a square of cocoa-nut matting.

He was getting on in years, but very active.

He welcomed us warmly: still I thought I detected some uneasiness in his manner.