1903 The Flowing Bowl by Edward Spencer

142 THE FLOWING BOWL cent less than in 1873, which was the "record" sherry year. And although many efforts have been made to stem the ebb, the last seven years have shewn a steady decrease in the exports. Yet, according to the best authorities, sherry is not only the purest, but the most wholesome of all wines. Of course, in making this statement the wine of Spain, the vino de Jerez is implied, and not the home-made productions for the male- fit of those who study economy without due regard to digestion. Strictly speaking, sherry meansJerez (pronounced " herreth ") wine. But Manzanilla, a wine which is made at St. Lucas, and Montilla which comes from a town south of Cordova, may come under the same category. And with a view of shewing the wholesomeness of sherry it is stated, by no less an authority than the Lancet^ that it is the only wine enjoined in the preparations of the wines of the British Pharmacopoeia, with two exceptions—viz. vinum ferri citratis, and vinum qumhiae^ which are made with orange wine. Therefore it is certain that the sufferer from gout, for whom vinum colchici is prescribed, may swallow a proportion of the juice of the grape, and, possibly, a hair of the dog which bit him. This naturally recalls the old story of the sherry which was sent to a former Lord Chesterfield as a panacea for his ailment, and the curt reply sent: " Sir, I have tried your sherry, and prefer the gout." There are several types of sherries, according to the different characters developed. These are known by several distinguishing terms compre-

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