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Drinks

(See ALE, BEER, COFFEE, MINERAL WATERS, TEA, WATER, and WINES). A Spring beverage which in former days went by the name of May-drink in England, and several parts of Europe, was flavoured with the garden herb Sweet Woodruff (Asperula odorata); this, by reason of the coumarin it contains, is scented like the Sweet Vernal Grass of our meadows, and the Sweet Clover, each being most fragrant when freshly dried; such coumarin powerfully stimulates the brain. Withering tells that "the strongly aromatic flowers of Sweet Woodruff will make an infusion exceeding in spicy flavour even the choice teas of China." The powdered leaves are also mixed with fancy snuffs because of their enduring fragrance. Another species of the same herb is the Quinsy Woodruff (Asperula cynanchica), so called because a most useful gargle can be made from this plant by infusion in boiling water, against quinsy (cynanche), or other such sore throat. "Ahem!" as Dick Smith said when he swallowed the sponge, teaching to bear troubles bravely, and not to make a fuss about trifles. This herb is to be found growing in dry pastures, especially on a chalky soil; it has tufts of lilac flowers, and very narrow leaves. The Sweet Woodruff has small white blossoms set on a slender stalk, with narrow leaves growing around it in successive whorls, like the common well-known Goose-grass, or Cleavers.

The lassitude felt in hot weather on its first access in early 66