A NEW DRINK FOR TIPPLERS.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 560, 26 October 1871, Page 2

A NEW DRINK FOR TIPPLERS.

We will believe at this hue hour o' the clock, when it is about time to say " good night forever" to all intoxicating beverages, that a ne'.v "drink" has been invented, which, although Car from being "delightful to the eye" or " tickle to the palate," is nevertheless of such a fascinating aud drunken nature that it threatens to supersede gin, whiskey and "Jersey lightring" as a popular source of intoxication Such, however, is the fact, and chemistry has been put to her fiercest agonies to compel her, like the ancient Pythoness of Deiphos, when some inipetuons Alexander is in the extremities of his fate, to blab the profound secret—and here it is.

Methylated spirit is alcohol which has a certain quantity of wood spirit and naptha added to it to "render it nauseous_ and nonpalatable. This process exempts' it entirely from the excise duty iv England. It is prepared there for manufacturing purposes, and a large portion of' the tinctures and other medicinal preparations are made with it. From methylated-spirit a sulphuric ether is made, which retains the peculiar flavour imparted to the alcohol. On good authority, it is said that this ether is extensively and habitually used as an intoxicating beverage, and has supplanted and supplies the place of gin and whiskey in certain counties in Ireland. It is very startling to learn that even pure ether which has long been administered medicinally in small quantities as an an_esthetio, or a powerful diffusible stimulant, should be drank as a- common beverage; but it is almost incredible that this nauseous kind of ether should be partaken of morning, noon and night, h aiths drank in it, and bargains made over it. The practice began five years since ; one of the causes which led to its use being the laudable efforts of the Catholic priests to induce their flocks to abstain from whiskey; another cause being the cheapness of the new drink. Its use is almost, altogether confined to the counties of Londonderry, Antrim, and Tyrone, aud prevails chiefly in the towns of Draperstown, Maghera Cookstown, and Armagh. The ether manufacturers of Dublin, Edinburgh and Glasgow supply the demand, and the consumers are mostly small farmers, and to some extent the mill hands and other operatives. The probable consum r iion is about ten thousand gallons yearly, one manufacturer sending to Belfast four thousand gallons yearly. Tho price of niethj iated ether is one shilling and sixpence por pound, while that made from the pure spirit is five shillings per pound. There are seven and a half pounds ,to the gallon ; one gallon of ether will go aa 'ar.as three and a half gallons of whiskey.!,^, yte amount taken is not small, as .a medici^ >f '? is one drachm or uuder, and "tipplei fHake three or four drachms, unmixed* with in which it is only slightly soluble. Ike practice is, first to take a mouthful of water, then to drink the ether, and then to take a second drink of water. Intoxication is more rapid but more evanescent than that produced by alcoholic drinks, and probably differs widely in its character, resembling more the effect produced by the intiaiation^of nitrous oxide gas. Taken into the system it appears to be all eliminated through the lungs and pores, as no trace is found elsewhere. Ike drinker is readily discovered by his breath, which, however, is uot offensive, like the breath of the alcoholic drinker. Thero is no reason to suppose that the habitual ether drinker inours more ill effects from its use

fllflll from drinking alcoholic liquors ; indeed, i his respect it is certainly less noxious than V' ' Mrited spirituous liquor.. The small e°! Titv of naptho in methylated ether, Cwn it gives it a nauseous flavor, does not more injurious. rfler has ihe same constituents as alcohol, T'V.rb'n, hydrogen and oxygen, and rl,'.' .from it iv having one atom of water i ''. its exposition. It is called sulphuric ]c=s " , .d /,re ether contains neither sulphur e' lier \(ivio acid. Taken habitually and ? 01" *!!.'! A its effects on the system would be freq S-reut from that of alcohol. A, has Te!J_i___uitY for water; while alcohol, after beK° ' freely imbibed, causes thirst, by its 1"S Wnc»"llie moisture of tho mucous mem l 0 pereira states that tlie ohemi.. T.' !I'?^t drank a pint of ether to allay the BlTof inteßtina Pl inflammation. But the a".,il of cases iv wh.cli ether has been rCS inaoily ued ore few. Should it be by experience that the free and 1 £?■ A .« of ether is less injurious than 11 ol the use of ether as a slimulating aZC would he greatly extended. The price ,' ether here is about, the same per gallon as the highest clues brandy. It mixes Sh alcohol in any proportion. lofmann SUe is a mixture of three parts alcohol S one of ether. Almost any flavor may E imparled to it to make it palatable. TIJ time may nob be fay disUnt when it r m he called for at the drinking bars of New •_*_* as a Tegular beverage. _It is very volatile and its vapor when mixed with air ieeo-vw a very explosive gas. The alarming contin'ney is'suggested that a man lull of t ■ yon! be charged with an explosive co ~und. and, coming near a flame, might E0 off like a, fired gas tank, with a vehemence fo which spontaneous combustion is no ,_, r „i! e i —New York livening Tost.