On 2/13/2014 10:12 AM, notbob wrote:
> On 2014-02-13, Nancy Young > wrote:
>
>> Fetid isn't a bad description of the overwhelming odor
>> coming from places that sell curried foods. Obviously not
>> everyone finds it objectionable.
>
> heh heh.....
>
> I've smelled it close up and personal. In a store in Berkeley, CA,
> they'd jes gotten a new shipment in. Whew!! Despite no food being
> cooked, the entire store reeked of it. The proprietor told as how he
> had jes unpacked it and hadn't gotten around to moving it out back
> (outside) where he usually kept it.
>
> In the Patrick O'Brian novels (Master and Commander), Dr Maturin often
> explains how seamen don't think they're getting a proper medication
> unless it stinks enough, so he often incorporates asatoefida in the
> make up of his "droughts" and "boluses" (meds) to assure the ignorant
> sailors they are receiving a proper physic.
>
> nb
>
In the days of yore some people wore small cloth bags of asafoetida
around their necks, believing it would ward of "diseases". I'm sure all
it warded off was the neighbors.

Jill