1872 Cooling Cups and Dainty Drinks (Mixellany)

Brewing. 91 That the popular beverage of bitter beer is not well adapted hygienieally for general consumption has been insisted upon by medical writers. It is the opinion of Dr. A. S. Taylor and Dr. G. 0. Rees, "that it may be greatly doubted whether any benefit can be derived from swallowing the strong bitter infusion (pale ale) now so largely consumed; and whether positive mischief may not be done by mixing an active therapeutical agent with the gas- tric juice, while the stomach is discharging its func- tions. The writers have had occasion to observe the evil which sometimes results from the practice, and sincerely hope that the present custom of ordering a powerful tonic with meals will soon fall into disuse." Brewing, to be successfully practised, can only be learnt by experience; no treatise on the art can give that judgment that the practised brewer has, which enables him to contend with very many unexpected difficulties, arising from sudden changes of weather, fluctuations of temperature, and other causes which render modifications of treat- ment necessary, and which no precise rule can provide against. Yet a good treatise on the subject (Black's is excellent) will be found a valuable guide for affording a knowledge of the properties of the materials employed, and the principles of fer-