430 MBPALS MEDICINAL. 
oils combined with more saccharine and spirituous matters, as 
anisette, and curacoa (just mentioned). The third are the 
creams, or superfine liqueurs, as rosa solis, maraschino, Dantzic 
water, and others. Rosa solis was at one time much esteemed 
as a cordial, being made with spirits, and various essences, to 
wit, orangeflower, and cinnamon, etc. In the Fortunes of Nigel, 
chapter xxi, Sir Walter Scott has told of Dame Ursula “repeating, 
as the rich cordial trickled forth in a smooth oily stream, ‘ Right 
rosa solis as ever washed mulligrubs out of a moody brain.’ ”’ 
Originally the Grande Chartreuse was prepared from a secret 
recipe which has been preserved for more than six hundred years, 
and was associated with medieval religion. This elixir has become 
developed by the Carthusians into three varieties, the green, 
familiar to diners out, the yellow to doctors, and the white to 
valetudinarian dyspeptics. Chartreuse possesses the fragrance 
of garden herbs, the aromas of several spices, flowers, and nuts, 
together with the balsamic savour of young green tassels from 
pine trees. When made directly from bitter almonds, or with 
pounded kernels of apricots, or peaches, or with cherry laurel 
leaves, the liqueur is called Noyau. Danzig gold and silver 
wasser was first produced at Danzig, its peculiarity consisting 
in small particles of gold leaf, or silver leaf, swimming therein, 
but without imparting any particular flavour thereto. Bene- 
dictine is distilled at Fécamp, in Normandy, originally by the 
Benedictine monks, but now by a secular company. It resembles 
Chartreuse in flavour, as derived from the oils of angelica, hyssop, 
nutmeg and peppermint, whilst containing a large proportion of 
sugar. Vodka is a Russian liqueur, transparent, and colourless 
as water, but a fiery beverage for all that, prepared from rye, 
or potatoes. It has been defined as “ distilled damnation,” 
and must be taken at a draught, since to sip it is considered a 
proof of a future sojourn in the place of eternal torment. 
Maraschino is made by macerating a small sour Italian, oF 
Dalmatian cherry, with the crushed stones thereof, and with ten 
per cent of honey added, the whole being fermented ; it takes 
months to mature. Kimmel, or Kummel, is brandy flavoured 
with cumin, caraway, and coriander. : 
The particular medicinal properties (available for curative 
uses) of these several liqueurs reside in their flavouring herbs, 
and essences, with which they are respectively impregnated, 
and which are told about here under their different headings. 
