Ginger Cordial.
Two quarts of Scotch whisky, three lemons sliced, one ounce of ground ginger, half an ounce of carraway seeds, three pounds of lump-sugar, one ounce of bitter almonds, three ounces of sweet almonds, one pound of raisins. Put all into a crock, and stir every day for three weeks. Then strain through three folds of blotting-paper, or one fold of filtering-paper, and bottle.
CHAPTER XVIII THE AFTERMATH OF REVELRY
Revelry means remorse — And “Katzenjammer” — And other things — Why will ye do it? — The devil in solution — Alcoholism a disease — An accountant on wires — A jumpy journalist — A lot of jolly dogs — What is “Langdebeefe”? — To cure spleen or vapours — Directly opposite effects of alcohol — The best pick-me-up in the world — An anchovy toast — Baltimore egg nogg — Orange quinine — About brandy and soda-water — A Scorcher — Brazil relish — St. Mark’s pick-me-up — A champion bitters — A devilled biscuit — Restorative sandwiches — Fresh air and exercise best of all — Stick to your nerve!
This is a world of compensations. Therefore it is of no use shutting our eyes to the fact that for every minute of injudicious, over-estimated revelry, of devotion to the rosy god, passed at night in the best of society, with boon companions, we are liable to an hour’s disturbance, worry, agony of mind, headache, remorse of conscience, “jim-jams,” “Katzenjammer” (the equivalent for “hot coppers”)—call it what you will, next day. Some suffer for over-indulgence more than others. There be so-called “seasoned casks” who claim that no amount of debauchery can affect them for the worse, as long as the {199} liquor be good, and not swallowed too quickly. But, although these may “come up smiling” next day, on making their first public appearance, the collapse, the downfall is only postponed. Without being able to explain these things medically, it is certain that Alcohol—which is, as previously explained, the Devil in Solution—will destroy in the end, if you abuse her, although her methods of destruction may differ, according to the capacity, or constitution, of her victims.
And let not the over-estimator expect any sympathy from the world, or any part of it, whilst he is experiencing the “remorse of conscience” stage. Katzenjammer patients are sternly and forcibly refused admission to any public hospitals, even if in extremis; for mercy, charity, and the medical faculty have refused hitherto to recognize the fact that alcoholism is a disease. And he who is “jumpy” and nervous of a morning has just as much chance of obtaining condolence from friends or relatives as has the casual sufferer from gout. Both disorders are, in fact, excellent provocatives of badinage and laughter.
I remember hearing of an accountant in Cape Town, a hardened and determined “night bird,” a frequenter of hostelries, a boon companion—in short, a sot. He was called as a witness in an intricate case in the High Court, one morning, whilst suffering terribly from nerves. It was heart-rending to watch his agony. His features twitched, his eyes rolled, and his hands shook as though afflicted with palsy on the higher scale. The ledgers which {200} were occasionally handed up to him by the usher, for reference, slipped from his grasp, and documentary testimony flew all over the counsels’ wigs. At length the notice of the judge was attracted to the state of things.
“What is the matter with that witness?” asked his lordship. “Is he trifling with the court?”
“M’lord,” said counsel for the plaintiff, “I am instructed that the witness is what may be called a free-liver, and that it is often necessary for him to swallow a dram in the morning, before proceeding to business. I am also instructed that the witness overslept himself this morning, and had no time to procure the necessary dose, before appearing as a witness before your lordship.”
“Tut, tut!” exclaimed the judge. “This is wasting the time of the court. Let him be removed at once to the waiting-room and dosed with old brandy.”