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rity; whilst the introduction of ardent spirits is prohibit- 

 ed, and sobriety enforced, by the strict discipline of the 

 house. On the other hand, we find that, previous to their- 

 admission, they were either addicted to intemperance, or 

 in the habit, at least, of muddling in public houses; where, 

 after a libation with porter, they indulged in the free use 

 of acidulated punch, (the constant nocturnal practice of 

 our middling tradesmen and shop-keepers, who furnish the 

 greatest proportion of our patients). The keeper of a por- 

 ter-house, of considerable resort, informs me, that, to please 

 the generality of his customers, he finds it necessary to add 

 the juice of an entire lemon to about two quarts of punch; 

 and that, from this circumstance, he would have expe- 

 rienced a considerable diminution of his profits, if he did 

 not occasionally substitute cream of tartar, or the dilute 

 sulphuric acid: an innocent and safe practice, in his opi- 

 nion. Now, so satisfied are our patients, of the pernicious 

 effects of acids of all kinds, that we find many of them 

 refuse to make use of our table beer, during the summer 

 months; through the apprehension of its acescent quality, 

 (as was before observed;) and which continued to be the 

 practice of Hewson, Khensk, Clapham, and others, for 

 years back: nor do our present two greatest sufferers, Sing 

 and Cox, venture on it, at any season, but with the greatest 

 caution. - ' ^"'' ^"'"• 



• To a removal, then, from the former occasional causes, 

 we may attribute no small share of the alleviation of 



those 



