1868 The complete Practical Distiller

TONIC AND ALTERATIVE CORDIAL.

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account of its having been freed from that matter which, being blended with it in the original vegetable; made it soluble in water. However, this is not universal, for the active parts of some vegetables, when extracted by rectified spirit, are not precipitated by water, being almost equally dissoluble in both menstrua. Rectified spirit may be tinged by vegetables of all colours, except blue. The leaves of plants in general, which give out but little of their natural colour to watery liquors, communi- cate to the spirit the whole of their green tincture, which, for the most part, proves elegant, though not very durable.

TONIC AND ALTERATIVE CORDIAL.

This extremely useful and tonic compound, which is very cheap, and at the same time easy to be made, is prepared as follows : — Take of gentian-root, sliced, 2 ounces: Curacoa oranges, 1 ounce; Virginia snake-root, half an ounce; cochineal, 10 grains; French brandy, 2 This must be let steep for three days, and then strain through a cloth. Of this a table-spoonful may be taken, three times a day, in a wine-glassful of cold water. It strengthens the digestive powers of the stomach, increases and invigorates the appetite, and arouses the secretions generally, but more particularly that of the liver. pints.