The Decline of Ice in Ancient Rome

This chapter discusses the disapproval of ice in ancient Rome by the philosopher Seneca, known for his plays with graphic violence. It explores the negative perception of ice that continued for several centuries, including a Spanish doctor in the 15th and 16th centuries writing about its harmful effects. The chapter ends with the mention of a mental hospital in upstate New York that used contaminated ice, marking the decline of natural ice as a commercial commodity.