1903 The Flowing Bowl by Edward Spencer

OTHER SPIRITS 87 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