'It was indeed a compound of villanous smells, in which the most violent stinks and the most powerful perfumes contended for the mastery. Imagine to yourself a high exalted essence of mingled odours arising from putrid gums, imposthumated lungs, sour flatulencies, rank arm-pits, sweating feet, running sores and issues; plasters, ointments, and embrocations, Hungary water, spirit of lavender, assafoetida drops, musk, hartshorn, and sal volatile; besides a thousand frowzy steams which I could not analyse. Such, O Dick!, is the fragrant ether we breathe in the polite assemblies of Bath...'
from Matt Bramble's letter to Dr Lewis, dated May 8, in The Expedition of Humphry Clinker by Tobias Smollett
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