"Everybody seized upon a bit of the beast. The Sultan claimed the liver, which, when dried and powdered, is worth twice its weight in gold as medicine"

This quote is from Isabella Bird's book, "The Golden Chersonese and the Way Thither". In this quote, Bird is describing a scene in which a group of individuals have encountered a dead monster. Everyone aspires to take a piece of the monster on their own, and the Sultan declares the liver. Bird is stressing the value of the liver, as it can be dried and powdered to develop a medicine that deserves two times its weight in gold. This quote highlights the value of the liver in traditional medicine, and the value that it holds. It also speaks to the greed of individuals in the scene, as they are all eager to take a piece of the beast for themselves. Bird's quote is a pointer of the power of conventional medication, and the lengths that people will go to in order to get their hands on something valuable.