From the original preface: The Americans, to whom we are indebted for a great number of ingenious inventions that have added greatly to the comfort of the human race, were the first to introduce these wholesome and invigorating Refreshers. For many years they only flourished in the United States, but have at last become acclimatized in every quarter of the globe, and are now the acknowledged drink at all Bacchanalian revels. Every great city now boasts of its "Alabama Fog-cutters," its "Connecticut Eye-openers," its "Thunderbolt Cocktails," its "Lightning Smashers," its "Boston Nose-warmers," its "Magnetic Crushers," its galvanic "Lip-pouters," its "Josey Ticklers," and its "Leo Coaxers." It occurred to the author of this work that it was only right that the public should be made acquainted with the precise manner in which these drinks are manipulated, there being a vast difference in both their flavour and effect if made from a proper recipe. Leo, during his lengthened soujourn in America, collected an unlimited number of original and other recipes for Drinks and has become a great benefactor to the British nation... It is our intention to select from his gigantic catalogue of recipes upwards of two hundred various compounds, each of which has been extensively patronized by bon vivants of every country...