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I40
DRINKS.
The
matters
employed
in
the
adulteration
are
very
many.
Corianders,
crushed
almond
cake,
angelica
root
powdered,
liquorice,
cardamoms,
cassia,
cinnamon,
grains
of
paradise,
and
cayenne
pepper,
and
many
more
substances
take
the
place
of
the
berries
of
the
juniper
tree.
As
these
substances
frequently
produce
a
cloudy
appearance,
the
liquid
is
subsequently
refined
by
other
adulterants,
such
as
alum,
sulphate
of
zinc,
and
acetate
of
lead.
The
variety
of
gin
dear
to
ancient
beldams,
which
is
known
as
Cordial,
is
more
highly
sweetened
and
aro-
matized
than
the
ordinary
quality.
The
alcoholic
strength
of
gin
as
commonly
sold
ranges
from
22
to
48
degrees.
The
amount
of
sugar
varies
between
2
and
9
per
cent.
Gin
is
a
beneficial
diuretic,
but
the
compounds
sold
under
that
name
are
too
often
detrimental
in
their
effects.
A
popular
drink
called
gin-sling
takes
its
name
from
John
Collins,
formerly
a
celebrated
waiter
in
LImmer's
old
house.
The
old
lines
on
this
drink
ran
as
follows
:
"
My
name
is
John
Collins,
head
waiter
at
Limmer's,
Corner
of
Conduit
Street,
Hanover
Square.
My
chief
occupation
is
filling
of
brimmers
For
all
the
young
gentlemen
frequenters
there."
The
poetry
Is
very
far
from
bad,
and
so
was
the
liquor.
It
was
a
composition
of
gin,
soda
water,
lemon,
and
sugar.
John
was
abbreviated
to
gin
and
Collins
to
sling.
Gin
has
had
many
popular
names,
but
why
gin