The Book of Knowledge and Guide to Rapid Wealth

This issue of The Book of Knowledge and Guide to Rapid Wealth (No. 35, January 15, 1892) comprises practical formulas and recipes organized by trade and domestic use. The contents include detailed instructions for producing counterfeit alcoholic beverages—synthetic cider, champagne, port and sherry wines, brandy, gin, rum, and other spirits—using neutral spirits, sugar, acid, and flavorings. A substantial druggists' section covers pharmaceutical preparations including liniments, pills, cordials, and remedies for ailments from headaches to cholera. Additional departments address manufacturing techniques for inks, paints, varnishes, and metals; perfumery including hair restorers and cosmetics; hunters' and trappers' methods; confectionery recipes; and extensive household advice on food preservation, cleaning, pest control, stain removal, and domestic repairs. The volume serves as a compendium of commercial and domestic chemistry rather than narrative fiction.