It is obvious that vinegars differently perfumed may be made in a similar manner to the above, by using other ottos in place of the otto of roses.  All these concentrated vinegars are used in the same way as perfumed ammonia, that is, by pouring three or four drachms into an ornamental “smelling” bottle, previously filled with crystals of sulphate of potash, which forms the “sel de vinaigre” of the shops; or upon sponge into little silver boxes, called vinaigrettes, from their French origin.  The use of these vinegars had their origin in the presumption of keeping those who carried them from the effects of infectious disease, doubtless springing out of the story of the “four thieves’ vinegar,” which is thus rendered in Lewis’s Dispensatory: 

“It is said that during the plague at Marseilles, four persons, by the use of this preservative, attended, unhurt, multitudes of those that were affected; that under the color of these services, they robbed both the sick and the dead; and that being afterwards apprehended, one of them saved himself from the gallows by disclosing the composition of the prophylactic (a very likely story!!), which was as follows:—­

VINAIGRE DES QUATRE VOLEURS, OR FOUR THIEVES’ VINEGAR.

Take fresh tops of common wormwood, Roman wormwood, rosemary, sage, mint, and rue, of each, 3/4 oz. 
Lavender flowers, 1 oz. 
Garlic, calamus aromaticus, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, each, 1 drachm. 
Camphor, 1/2 oz. 
Alcohol or brandy, 1 oz. 
Strong vinegar, 4 pints.

Digest all the materials, except the camphor and spirit, in a closely covered vessel for a fortnight, at a summer heat; then express and filter the vinaigre produced, and add the camphor previously dissolved in the brandy or spirit.”

A very similar and quite as effective a preparation may be made by dissolving the odorous principle of the plants indicated in a mixture of alcohol and acetic acid.  Such preparations, however, are more within the province of the druggist than perfumer.  There are, however, several preparations of vinegar which are sold to some extent for mixing with the water for lavatory purposes and the bath, their vendors endeavoring to place them in competition with Eau de Cologne, but with little avail.  Among them may be enumerated—­

HYGIENIC OR PREVENTIVE VINEGAR.

Brandy, 1 pint. 
Otto of cloves, 1 drachm. " lavender, 1 " " marjoram, 1/2 drachm. 
Gum benzoin, 1 oz.

Macerate these together for a few hours, then add—­

Brown vinegar, 2 pints.

and strain or filter, if requisite, to be bright.

TOILET VINEGAR (a la Violette).