THE COMPLETE DISTILLER TEXT

Surface, when pressed between the Fingers. Cloves are carminative, and good against all Distempers of the Head arising from cold Causes. They strengthen the Sight, and are good against Faintings, Palpitations of the Heart, and Crudities in the Stomach. _Recipe for fifteen Gallons of Clove Water._ Take of Cloves bruised four Pounds, Pimento or All-spice half a Pound, clean Proof of Spirit sixteen Gallons; let it digest twelve Hours in a gentle Heat, and then draw off fifteen Gallons with a pretty brisk Fire. Or, Take _Winter_’s Bark, four Pounds, Pimento six Ounces, Cloves one Pound and a Quarter; clean Proof Spirits sixteen Gallons: Digest, and draw off as before. The _Winter_’s Bark, added in the second Recipe is the Bark of a large Tree, growing in several Parts of _America_, and has its name from its Discoverer Captain _Winter_. The outer Rind of it is of an uneven Surface, and of a loose Texture, very brittle, and easily powdered. The inner Part, in which the principal Virtue resides, is hard, and of a dusky reddish brown Colour. It is of an extremely fragrant and aromatic Smell, and of a sharp, pungent, and spicy Taste, much hotter than Cinnamon in the Mouth, and leaving in it a more lasting Flavour. It is to be chosen in Pieces not too large, having the inner or brown Part firm and sound, and of a very pungent Taste. It is apt to be worm-eaten; but in that Case it should be wholly rejected, as having lost the most essential Part of its Virtue. If you desire to have your Clove Water red, it may be coloured either by a strong Tincture of Cochineal, Alkanet-root, or Corn-poppy-flowers. The first gives the most elegant Colour, but it is not often used on Account of its Dearness. You may dulcify it to your Palate, by dissolving in it double refined Sugar. Some for Cheapness use a coarser Kind of Sugar; but this renders the Goods foul and unsightly. Some also, to save Expences, make what they call Clove Water, with Cloves and Caraway-seeds; the Proportion they generally use is half an Ounce of Cloves, and two Drams of Carraway-seeds to a Gallon of Spirit. CHAP. III. _Of Lemon Water._ The Peel of the Lemon, the Part used in making this Water, is a very grateful bitter Aromatic, and on that Account very serviceable in repairing and strengthening the Stomach. _Recipe for ten Gallons of Lemon Water._ Take of dried Lemon-peel four Pounds, clean Proof Spirit ten Gallons and a Half, and one Gallon of Water. Draw off ten Gallons by a gentle Fire. Some dulcify Lemon-water, but by that means its Virtues as a Stomachic, are greatly impaired. CHAP. IV. _Of Hungary Water._ Rosemary, the principal Ingredient in Hungary Water, has always been a favourite Shrub in Medicine; it is full of volatile Parts, as appears by its Taste and Smell. It is a very valuable Cephalic, and is good in all Disorders of the Nerves; in Hysteric and Hypocondriac Cases, in Palsies, Apoplexies, and Vertigoes. Some suppose that the Flowers possess the Virtues of the whole Plant in a more exalted Degree than any other Part; but the flowery Tops, Leaves, and Husks, together with the Flowers themselves, are much fitter for all Purposes, than the Flowers alone. _Recipe for ten Gallons of Hungary Water._ Take of the flowery Tops, with the Leaves and Flowers of Rosemary fourteen Pounds, rectified Spirit eleven Gallons and a Half, Water one Gallon, distil off ten Gallons with a moderate Fire. If you perform this Operation in Balneum Mariæ, your Hungary Water will be much finer, than if drawn by the common Alembic. This is called Hungary Water, from its being first made for a Princess of that Kingdom. Some add Lavender-flowers, and others Florentine-orice-root; but what is most esteemed is made with Rosemary only. CHAP. V. _Of Lavender Water._ There are two Sorts of Lavender Water, the Simple and Compound; the first is much used externally on Account of its Fragrancy, and cephalic Virtues; the latter internally in a great Number of Disorders. _Recipe for ten Gallons of simple Lavender Water._ Take fourteen Pounds of Lavender-flowers, ten Gallons and a Half of rectified Spirit of Wine, and one Gallon of Water; draw off ten Gallons with a gentle Fire; or, which is much better, in Balneum Mariæ. Both the Hungary and Lavender Water, may be made at any Time of the Year without Distillation, by mixing the Oil of the Plant with highly rectified Spirit of Wine. In order to this, when the Plant is in Perfection, you should distill a large Quantity of it in Water with a very brisk Fire; placing under the Nose of the Worm the Separating-glass (described Page 31. Part I. of this Treatise) by which means you will obtain the essential Oil of the Plant, in which both its Fragrancy and Virtues reside. Having procured the essential Oil of the Plant, the Water may readily be made in the following Manner. Put the rectified Spirit into the Receiver (described Page 32. Fig. xii.) and let an Assistant shake it with a quick Motion; whilst the Spirit is thus agitated, drop in leisurely the essential Oil, and it will mix without any Foulness or Milkiness. The Oils of Lavender and Rosemary are imported cheaper from abroad, than they can be made here; but these Oils will not mix with the Spirit, without rendering it foul and milky; and therefore if you propose making Hungary or Lavender Water in this Manner; it will be necessary to extract the Oil yourself. _Recipe for making three Gallons of compound Lavender Water._ Take of Lavender Water above described two Gallons, of Hungary Water one Gallon, Cinnamon and Nutmegs of each three Ounces, and of red Saunders one Ounce; digest the whole three Days in a gentle Heat, and then filter it for use. Some add Saffron, Musk, and Ambergrease of each half a Scruple; but these are now generally omitted. This compound Lavender Water has been long celebrated in all nervous Cases. In all Kinds of Palsies, and Loss of Memory it is of the greatest Service; and has been so much remarked for its Efficacy in these Complaints, as almost universally to obtain the Name of _Palsy Drops_. CHAP. VI. _Of Citron Water._ The Citron is an agreeable Fruit resembling a Lemon in Colour, Smell and Taste. The Inside is white, fleshy and thick, containing but a small Quantity of Pulp, in Proportion to the Bigness of the Fruit. _Recipe for making ten Gallons of Citron Water._ Take of dry yellow Rinds of Citron four Pounds, clean Proof Spirit ten Gallons and a Half, Water one Gallon, digest the whole twenty-four Hours with a gentle Heat; draw off ten Gallons, with a gentle Fire; or, which is much better, in Balneum Mariæ, and dulcify it with fine Sugar to your Palate. Or, Take of dry yellow Rinds of Citrons three Pounds, of Orange-peel two Pounds, Nutmegs bruised three Quarters of a Pound; digest, draw off, and dulcify as before. This is one of the most pleasant Cordials we have; and the Addition of the Nutmegs, in the second Receipt, increases its Virtue as a Cephalic and Stomachic. CHAP. VII. _Of Aniseed Water._ Aniseed is a small Seed of an oblong Shape, each way ending in an obtuse Point; its Surface is very deeply striated, and it is of a soft and lax Substance, very light and easily broken. Its colour is a Kind of pale olive, or greenish grey; it has a very strong and aromatic Smell, and a sweetish but acrid Taste, but in the whole not disagreeable. Aniseed should be chosen large, fair, new, and clean, of a good Smell, and acrid Taste. The Plant that produces it is cultivated in many Parts of _France_; but the finest Seed comes from the Island of _Malta_, where it is raised for Sale, and whence a great Part of _Europe_ is supplied. _Recipe for ten Gallons of Aniseed Water._ Take of Aniseed bruised two Pounds, Proof Spirits twelve Gallons and a Half, Water one Gallon; draw off ten Gallons with a moderate Fire. Or, Take of the Seeds of Anise and Angelica, each two Pounds, Proof Spirits twelve Gallons and a half; draw off as before. Aniseed Water should never be reduced below Proof, because of the large Quantity of Oil with which the Spirit is impregnated, and which will render the Goods milky and foul, when brought down below Proof; but if there be a necessity for doing this, the Goods must be filtrated either thro’ Paper or the filtrating Bag, which will restore their Transparency. Aniseed Water is a good Carminative, and therefore in great Request among the common People against the Cholic. CHAP. VIII. _Of Caraway Water._ Caraway-seed is of an oblong and slender Figure, pointed at both Ends, and thickest in the Middle. It is striated on the Surface, considerably heavy, of a deep brown Colour, and somewhat bright or glossy. It is of a very penetrating Smell, not disagreeable, and of a hot, acrid and bitterish Taste. Caraway-seed is to be chosen large, new and of a good Colour, not dusty, and of an agreeable Smell. The Plant which produces the Caraway-seed grows wild in the Meadows of _France_ and _Italy_, and in many other Places; but is sown in Fields for the sake of the Seeds in _Germany_, and many other Parts of _Europe_. _Recipe for making ten Gallons of Caraway Water._ Take of Caraway-seeds bruised three Pounds, Proof Spirit twelve Gallons, Water two Gallons; draw off ten Gallons, or till the Faints begin to rise; make the Goods up with clean Water, and dulcify with common Sugar to your Taste. Or, Take of Caraway-seed bruised two Pounds and a Half, Orange or Lemon-peel dried one Pound, Proof Spirit twelve Gallons, Water two Gallons; draw off and dulcify as before. Caraway Water, like that of Aniseed, is a good Carminative; but not so much used, tho’ much pleasanter. CHAP. IX. _Of Cardamom Seed Water._ The Seed from whence this Water takes its Name, is called by Botanists _Cardamomum Minus_, or the lesser Cardamom; to distinguish it from the _Cardamomum Majus_, or Grains of Paradise. The lesser Cardamom is a small short Fruit, or membranaceous Capsule, of a trigonal Form, about a third of an Inch long, and swelling out thick about the Middle; beginning small and narrow from the Stalk, and terminating in a small, but obtuse Point at the End. It is striated all over very deeply with longitudinal Furrows, and consists of a thin but very tough Membrane, of a fibrous Texture, and palebrown Colour, with a faint Cast of red. When the Fruit is thoroughly ripe, this Membrane opens at the three Edges all the way, and shews that it is internally divided by three thin Membranes into three Cells, in each of which is an Arrangement of Seeds, separately lodged in two Series. The Seeds are of an irregular angular Figure, rough, and of a dusky brown Colour on the Surface, with a Mixture of yellowish and reddish, and of white Colour within. They have not much Smell, unless first bruised, when they are much like Camphire under the Nose. They are of an acrid, aromatic and fiery hot Taste. They should be chosen sound, close shut on all Sides, and full of Seeds, of a good Smell, and of an acrid aromatic Taste. _Recipe for ten Gallons of Cardamom Seed Water._ Take of the lesser Cardamom Seeds husked two Pounds and a Half, of clean Proof Spirit ten Gallons and a Half, and of Water one Gallon; draw off ten Gallons by a gentle Heat. You may either dulcify it or not with fine Sugar at pleasure. This Water is Carminative, assists Digestion, and good to strengthen the Head and Stomach. CHAP. X. _Of Aqua Mirabilis; or, the Wonderful-Water._ Most of the Ingredients in this Composition have already been described, and an Account of the Nutmegs will be given in Chap. xxv. But the Cubebs and Ginger remain to be mentioned. Cubebs are small dried Fruit resembling a Pepper-corn, but often somewhat longer; of a dark brown Colour, composed of a wrinkled external Bark; of an aromatic, tho’ not very strong Smell, and of an acrid and pungent Taste, tho’ less so than Pepper; but its Acrimony continues long on the Tongue, and draws forth a large Quantity of Saliva. We have two Kinds of Cubebs, which differ only in their Periods of gathering, both are produced from the same Plant. The unripe Cubebs are small, very wrinkled on the Surface, and their Nucleus, when broken, is flacid: But the ripe ones not so. Cubebs are brought from the Island _Java_, where they grow in great Abundance. They should be chosen large, fresh, and sound, and the heaviest possible. They are warm and carminative, and esteemed good in Vertigoes, Palsies, and Disorders of the Stomach. Ginger is a Root too well known to need a long Description; it is sufficient to observe that it is of a pale yellowish Colour when broken, of a fibrous Structure, and easily beat into a Sort of woolly or long thready Matter. It is of very hot, acrid, and very pungent Taste; but Aromatic withal, and of a very agreeable Smell. We have it both from the _East_ and _West Indies_; but the oriental is much superior to the occidental in its Flavour, of a firmer Substance, and does not beat out so much into Threads. Ginger is an excellent Carminative and Stomachic; it assists Digestion, dispells Flatus’s, and takes off Cholic Pains almost instantaneously. There are several Receipts for making this celebrated Cordial; but the following are allowed to be the best. Take of Cinnamon one Pound and a Quarter, Rind of Lemon-peels ten Ounces, Cubebs one Ounce and a Quarter, Leaves of Baum one Pound; bruise all these Ingredients, and pour on them eleven Gallons of clean Proof Spirit, and one Gallon of Water; digest the whole twenty-four Hours, and distil off ten Gallons with a pretty brisk Fire; and dulcify it with fine Sugar. Or, Take of the lesser Cardamoms, Cloves, Cubebs, Galangal, Mace, Nutmeg, and Ginger, of each one Pound and three Quarters, of the yellow part of Citron-peel and Cinnamon of each three Pounds and a Half, of the Leaves of Balm one Pound; bruise these Ingredients, and pour on them eleven Gallons of Spirit and one Gallon of Water; digest, and draw off, _&c._ as before. This Cordial has been long celebrated as a noble Stomachic, and therefore greatly called for. Some instead of all the Ingredients enumerated in the above Receipts use only Pimento; and this is the sort of Aqua Mirabilis which some sell so very cheap. CHAP. XI. _Of Mint Water._ The Mint intended in this Recipe is the common Spear-mint, an Account of which has already been given, Page 137. _Recipe for ten Gallons of Mint Water._ Take of dry Spear-mint Leaves fourteen Pounds, Proof Spirit ten Gallons and a Half, Water two Gallons; draw off ten Gallons by a gentle Heat. You may dulcify it with Sugar if required. Mint Water is greatly recommended by the learned _Boerhaave_ and _Hoffman_, against Vomitting, Nauseas, and the Cholic. CHAP. XII. _Of Pepper Mint Water._ The Pepper-mint has been already described Page 136, to which the Reader is referred. _Recipe for ten Gallons of Pepper Mint Water._ Take of dry Pepper Mint Leaves fourteen Pounds, Proof Spirit ten Gallons and a Half, Water one Gallon; draw off ten Gallons by a gentle Fire, You may either dulcify it or not. Pepper Mint Water is a noble Stomachic, good against Vomiting, Nauseas, Cholic, and other griping Pains in the Bowels, in all which Intentions it greatly exceeds the common Spear Mint Water. CHAP. XIII. _Of Angelica Water._ There are two Sorts of Angelica Water, the Single and the Compound. I shall give Receipts for making both Kinds; and with regard to the Nature of Angelica, it is sufficient to observe, that it is an excellent Carminative. _Recipe for ten Gallons of single Angelica Water._ Take of the Roots and Seed of Angelica cut and bruised, of each one Pound and a Half, Proof Spirit eleven Gallons, Water two Gallons; draw off ten Gallons, or till the Faints begin to rise, with a gentle Fire; and dulcify it, if required, with lump Sugar. This Angelica Water is a good Carminative, and therefore good against all Kinds of flatulent Cholics, and Gripings of the Bowels. _Recipe for ten Gallons of Compound Angelica Water._ Take of the Roots and Seeds of Angelica, and of sweet Fennel-seeds of each one Pound and a Half, of the dried Leaves of Baum and Sage of each one Pound; slice the Roots and bruise the Seeds and Herbs, and add to them of Cinnamon one Ounce, of Cloves, Cubebs, Galangals, and Mace, of each three Quarters of an Ounce, of Nutmegs, the lesser Cardamom-seed, Pimento, and Saffron of each half an Ounce; infuse all these in twelve Gallons of clean Proof Spirit, and draw off ten Gallons, with a pretty brisk Fire. It may be dulcified or not at pleasure. This is an excellent Composition, and a powerful Carminative; and good in all flatulent Cholics, and other griping Pains in the Bowels. It is also good in Nauseas, and other Disorders of the Stomach. It may not be amiss to observe here, that in distilling this and several other Compositions, abounding with oily Seeds, the Operator should be careful not to let the Faints mix with the other Goods, as they would by that means be rendered nauseous and unsightly; he should therefore be careful towards the letter End of the Operation, to catch some of the Spirit as it runs from the Worm in a Glass; and as soon as ever he perceives it the least cloudy, to remove the Receiver, and draw the Faints by themselves. CHAP. XIV. _Of Orange Water._ This Water is made in the same Manner from the Peels of Oranges, as Citron Water; Chap. vi. is from the Peels of Citrons. _Recipe for ten Gallons of Orange Water._ Take of the yellow Part of fresh Orange-peels five Pounds, clean Proof Spirit ten Gallons and a Half, Water two Gallons; draw off ten Gallons with a gentle Fire. This is a good Stomachic, and may also be used for making bitter Tinctures as that called _Stoughton_’s Drops. CHAP. XV. _Of Plague Water._ There are several Receipts for making Plague Water; but the following are much the best. _Recipe for ten Gallons of Plague Water._ Take of the Roots of Masterwort and Butter-burr, of each one Pound and a Quarter, _Virginia_ Snake-root and Zedoary, of each ten Ounces, Angelica-seeds and Bay-seeds of each fourteen Ounces, and of the Leaves of Scordium one Pound and a Half. Cut or bruise these Ingredients and put them into the Still, with twelve Gallons of clean Proof Spirit, and two Gallons of Water; digest the whole for twenty-four Hours, and draw off ten Gallons. Or, Take of the Leaves of Celandine, Rosemary, Rue, Sage, Roman Wormwood, Dragons Agrimony, Baum, Scordium, the lesser Centory, Carduus Benedictus, Betony, and Mint, of each twenty Handfuls; of dried Angelica-root, Zedoary and Gentian, of each ten Ounces, and of _Virginia_ Snake-root five Ounces; digest these twenty-four Hours, in twelve Gallons of clean Proof Spirit, and two Gallons of Water; and then draw off ten Gallons as before. Or,