[Sca-cooks] Cornish Pasties Was Meat Mixtures

[Susan Fox]

Phil Troy / G. Tacitus Adamantius wrote:
> On Sep 27, 2006, at 1:27 AM, Arianwen ferch Arthur wrote:
>
>   
>> Gadzooks, if the tin is poisonous, then why galvanized
>> steel water troughs for stock and come to think of it
>> aren't we using tin cans for things? (and yes I do
>> know they are steel cans, but I thought they were tin
>> lined or something?)
>>     
The tin itself is not the problem.  The mineral cocktail of other 
compounds that usually collect along the same veins as the tin, that's a 
problem.  Like Arsenic.  In recent centuries, you see arsenic works 
alongside tin mines.  Google for ' "tin mine" arsenic' and you will see 
examples in Britain, China, Australia and elsewhere. Before this was 
understood, however, miners did manage to observe that greater exposure 
to ore and tailings led to illness and death.  Various survival-positive 
superstitions sprung up of course, as they do in any high-risk work 
environment.  You don't eat the pastry crimp, you throw that part to the 
local spirits, the "piskies" and the "knockers" as their share of your 
bounty.

I'm a patsy for pasties!  More info here:  
http://www.cornwalls.co.uk/food/pasty.htm

Selene