THE VARIED ROLES OF SNAILS - National Universities Commission

observed under a microscope thus making them a vital tool
to be explored in studies on learning and memory
processes.
To the Japanese the giant African snails are presumed to
have great medicinal properties. The possible curative
power of snails in getting rid of tuberculosis was
canvassed. It is also believed that slugs put in coconut milk
cures asthma. A curative substance that is extracted from
the snail known as “Ishinoto negligin” now known to be
orthocalcium phosphate is believed to be the medicinal
substance. This chemical is claimed to cure some kidney
diseases, anaemia, diabetes, uticaria, circulatory disorders
etc, to improve constipation, hemorrhoids and to prevent
influenza. It is claimed to improve virility and vitality; to
perpetuate beauty and clear the skin. In the past, those who
sing always are advised to eat snails.
In a keynote address by Tazwa in 1934 he said “buying
meat and fish for your table is unnecessary when you eat
snails, and there will be no sickly person in the house,
doctors and kept away and it brings smiles to the home”. In
addition he urged the cultivation of Achatines and he made
numerous recommendations for increasing production and
simplifying the task for raising the snails. A species known
as “Shirafuji” in Japan was being promoted in the early
thirties as a new industry with high profit making
potentials.
In the United States, it has been shown that some edible
snails also play an important role in American folk
medicine. In addition to the nutritional value of snail meat.
Baratou (1988) in California showed that the glandular
substances from edible snails cause agglutination of some
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