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OTHER SPIRITS
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it j while not far away is a hostelry which is
permitted to carry on the dual businesses of
liquor-dispensing or pawnbroking. Yet another
City public-house possesses a sort of annexe
where medicines are retailed. Handy, this, for
the unhappy sufferer from swelled head."
I suppose as the above has appeared in a news
paper, it is strictly true. But how sad ! Al
though my knowledge of London is "peculiar"
I cannot say I am acquainted with the licensed
house in which drawing drinks and taking in
pledges are combined ; but I have seen farthing's
worths of " Old Tom " dispensed in more than
one hostelry, to slatternly women, before my
own breakfast hour, and I have shuddered at the
sight. But why stop short at selling medicines
in the annexe of a dram shop ? I should have
thought an undertaker, in another compartment,
might do a fairish trade.
These are some of the ingredients put into
gin, to give it " body," and make it " bite "—gin
without teeth being notoriously inferior tipple
and altogether unfit for the consumption of the
good ladies who are, sad to say, by far the best
customers of the gin retailer :—roach-alum (this_
sounds fishy), salt of tartar, oil of juniper, cassi^
nutmeg, lemon, fennel, and carraway and cori
ander seeds, cardamoms, capsicums, and sulphuric
acid. All these, mind ye, besides the afore
mentioned oil of turpentine, and the afore
mentioned potato-spirit, which last would seem
to enter into most drinks of the day.
The word " Gin" is really an abbreviation of
" Geneva," under which name the spirit was at