Punch was first made by the English at Nemle, near Goa, where they have
the _Nepa die Goa_, commonly called arrack. This fascinating liquor got
the name of _punch_, from its being composed of _five_ articles--that
word, in the Hindostanee language, signifying five. The legitimate
punch-makers, however, consider it a compound of _four_ articles only;
and some learned physicians have, therefore, named it _Diapente_ (from
Diatesseron,) and have given it according to the following
prescription--
Rum, miscetur aqua--dulci miscetur acetum,
fiet et ex tali foedere--nobile Punch.
and our worthy grand-fathers used to take a dose of it every night in
their lives, before going to bed, till doctor Cheyne alarmed them by the
information, that they were pouring liquid fire down their throats.
"Punch," said he, "is like opium, both in its nature and manner of
operation, and nearest arsenic in its deleterious and poisonous
qualities; and, so," added he, "I leave it to them, who, knowing this,
will yet drink on and die."
Who, that has drunk this agreeable accompaniment to calapash, at the
City of London Tavern, ever found themselves the worse for it? They may
have felt their genius inspired, or their nobler passions animated--but
_fire_ and _inflammation_ there was none. The old song says--
It is the very best of physic.
and there have been very excellent physicians, who have confirmed the
opinion by their practice. What did the learned Dr. Sherard, the grave
Mr. Petiver, and the apothecary Mr. Tydall, drink in their herborizing
tour through Kent? Why--punch! and so much were they delighted with it,
at Winchelsea, that they made a special note in their journal, in honour
of the _Mayoress_, who made it, that the punch was not only excellent,
but that "each succeeding bowl was better than the former!"--_Brande's
Journal_.
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