Acids

See Fruits (Apple, Grape, and Lemon); Vinegar (Malt).

Balm

(See Herbs).

Bilberry

(See Whortleberry).

Brandy

(See Cordials).

Capsicum

(Cayenne, See Pepper).

Cereals

(See Barley, Bread, Pulse, Rye).

Several of the esculent grains contain delicate particles of soda, in the chemical form of a sulphate. This salt when given as a drug is not readily assimilated in the body; but as obtained by Nature's method it is resolved into its integral elements, so that the sodium base serves to oxidize sugar in the body, and thus to make it available for cell building, and for rendering the bile soluble.

Champagne

(See Wines).

Dry Champagne contains no appreciable sugar, but when exported it usually has some melted sugar-candy, mixed with brandy, put into it. As the grapes from which it is made are not fully ripe, a second fermentation progresses in the bottled wine during the first year and a half. Carbonic acid gas is thus largely retained, which gives the exhilarating effects of the wine more than from its alcohol, this being in only a small percentage. A spurious Champagne is much manufactured, sometimes from gooseberries or rhubarb, and charged with carbonic acid gas.

Crab

(See Lobster).

Endiye

(See Salads).

Glaret

(See Wines).

Gospel Oaks

Gospel Oaks were formerly resting stations for short religious services when beating the parish bounds.

"Dearest, bury me Under that holy Oke, or Gospel tree, Where, though thou see'st not, thou may'st think upon Me, when thou yearly goest procession."- Berrick.

For a useful astringent drink, as advised by Dr. Yeo, add to a pint of boiling milk a quarter of an ounce of powdered alum, previously mixed with three or four tablespoonfuls of hot water; then strain. Again, for croup, combine a teaspoonful of powdered alum (sulphate of alumina and potash) with two teaspoonfuls of sugar, and give this promptly; when almost immediate relief will follow.

Hare

(See Game).

A proverb of our sagacious sires has taught that "He who would have a Hare for breakfast must hunt overnight".

Herring

(See Fish).

Dryden (in his Duke of Guise) has immortalized the Herring by a couplet descriptive of neutral persons or trimmers, belonging to no party, or sect, in particular, and without decision of character:

"Damned neuters in their middle way of steering, As neither fish, nor flesh, nor good red herring".

Pepys [Diary, April 2nd, 1669) tells how "his friend, Mr. Fowkes, did make him eat a pickled Herring, the largest I ever saw, and drink variety of wines till I was almost merry".

Hops

(See Herbs).

Horse-Radish

(See Herbs).

Pepys records in his diary, on September 16th, 1664, "met Mr. Pargiter, and he would needs have me drink a cup of Horse-radish ale, which he and a friend of his, troubled with the stone, have been drinking of, which we did." Pepys himself had been successfully cut for the stone six years before, on March 26th, 1658.