Popular drugs : their use and abuse / by Sydney Hillier, M. D.

  • Hillier, S. (Sydney), 1866-
Date:
[1910?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Popular drugs : their use and abuse / by Sydney Hillier, M. D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    in the Middle Ages and has continued to be used therapeutically to the present time. The various “ ardent spirits ” are obtained by dis- tillation from fermented liquids, and their odour and flavour depend on the nature and source of the fluid from which they are distilled ; this difference in their taste and smell is due to the various volatile oils or ether which they contain, either purposely added or resulting during their manufacture. Brandy^ when of the best quality, is distilled from wine or fermented grapes. In France eau-de-vie is the name applied to brandy of an inferior quality, and it is made from wine, cider, perry, grape-skins left after wine-making,cherries, plums, or other fruit. The best brandy, wine spirit proper, eau-de-vie de vin, is made in every part of France in which wine is made ; but there is no doubt the best brandy comes from the Cognac region from wine grown therein.’ The toxic qualities of a spirit depend to a great extent on the amount of fusel oil it contains. Brandy distilled from wine contains only a very small quantity,but eau-de-vie contains a much larger quantity. Algerian brandies are said to be of high quality. Spanish brandies are stated to be similar ’ Cognac, as the description of a spirit, is not expressly defined in the French law, but the name “ eau de vie de Cognac ” can only be applied legally to spirits made in the Cognac region from wine grown therein.