The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-27
a NEW KIND os DaUNKzNNRs }
Alarming Prevalence Of Ginger Tip
ping in the Quaker City.
From the PHILADELPHIA Times.

AAdIMA4lG ET6NA4OnCS OF finger Ilp'
ping in the Quaker City.
From tie PHILADELPHIA Tines
The ginger habit has supplemented the
liquor habit. 1t has become a kind Of fac in
some classes Of society, and its dangerous
inroads upon health are forcing it upon the
attention of physicians, while, as an out
growth Of high license legislation, it is at
the same time recommending itself to the
attention of lawmakers. The ginger habit
is worse than the ordinary liquor habit,
because it is more rapid in its effects and
means earlier ruin to the health of the indi-
vidual. IL has only recently come Co the
attention of physicians and druggists that
in thousands of families the peppery dose
that has borne the popular appearance of
innocence and responsibility has become an
agent of debauchery.
The tincture of ginger, or Jamaica ginger,
as it is popularity known, is the strongest
and most irritating alcoholic solution
known, ranking next TO alcohol absolute,
which is undrinkable, and standing equal to
commercial alcohol, which is never used as
beverage. The Jamaica ginger is sold by
druggists and grocers In four-ouncs walls,
aud the unbottled tincture is retailed e one
ounce and upward. During the past few
months the demands for the article, which
has been steadily growing for a number Of
years. has become unprecedented. and some
druggists are already beginning to flag"
habitual inquirers.
The greatest demand is in those sections
that are distance from the principal BUSH
ness csnters of the city, although the Chest
nut and Market street druggists themselves
have experienced and motel the rapid
growth of the traffic. The most alarming
phase of the habit is its prevalence amolg
women.
DIR. w. G. MacConnell said yesterday /:
I" The tincture of ginger can be bought for
about cents an ounce. 1t contains fully
95 per cent. of alcohol, SO that in an ounce
or ginger there is more than two ounces of
whisky. The way it is now being used is
amazing. know physician, man very
prominent in his profession. who died only a
short time ago from tue effects of ginger
drinking You would think a physician
would know better, and he did, bur in spite
of the warnings and protestations of his
friends in the profession he would use it
daily as a beverage, diluting it ope-third.
81 was in a drug store only few days
ago when a young girl came In twice, buy
ing each time two ounces OF ginger. The
druggist said that she'd been in twelve
times that day. He knew that her mother
and her sisters drank it. but it had never
occurred TO him that he should refuse to
sell them the article. was called not long
ago to attend woman who admitted that
she was in the habit of drinking sixteen
ounces a day. Think what dose that is
1t would have the strength of more than
twice that amount of whisky. 1t would
surprise you to know how many patients
afflicted with the ginger habit the phys,-
claus Of this city are, now struggling
with.
1.-THE majority Of them are women, W no
until few years past, were accustomed tc
sending to the neighboring saloon for beer
or whisky whenever they wanted it, night
or morning or Sunday. Que woman told
me she began to drink it when she couldn't
run into handy saloon with her pitcher
but found that she could buy all the ginger
she wanted at the druggists or at the
grocery store, and that it went further anC
had more effect than anything else. Ole
drinkers at the bar are familiar with the
effects of ginger, aud suppose the growtt
Of the present habit has its origin witt
them. 1t is encroaching upon the very bes
society, and many an exclusive morning apC
afternoon gathering of ladies about the
| table of some elegant hostess indulge'
| in thesd ginger tipple. 1t is passeC
around diluted in water, and it seems harm
less enough. But the habit once acquired
Ia almost hopeless. 1t is worse than the
| liquor habit. The ginger, through which
the alcohol percolates in its manufacture
| is an irritant of the worse kind when takel
| in excess, and the alcohol is in almost it
absolute state. Its effects too, are distinct
tive. The ginger drinker invariably be
| comes simple. These are not the varietie
| OF ordinary intoxicauion. You will find al
the smaller drug stores outside of the vetJ
csnter Of the city doing an enormous busiS
ness in ginger, and the same with tn
grocery stores. There ought to be legisla
| ton against its indiscriminate sale, the
same as there is against the indiscriminat'
sale of other alcoholic drinks"
| ga prominent druggist, whose business in
cludes wholesale and retail, said the grow
ing demand for ginger had been noticed
| and commented upon in his establishment
| and in others which he had visited. "Ir
our store,n he said, "we have adopted the
rule of refusing to sell ginger to any person
who appears to have been drinking, but we
| haven't gone so far yet as to refuse to fill
the orders that are sent in to US from
| families or that are brought in by children
| There ought to be come restriction, mus
admit, but what and howe Most of tn,
ginger drinking Is done down town,
should judge, by the quantities ordered by
druggists. We sell a good deal of ii, too
and to people who would be horr fled if &C
cuSed of tippling."
According to the Pharmacopoeia, tn,
formula for the tincture Of ginger is: "Gin
ger, twenty parts; alcohol, q sufficien
| quantity to make 100 parts. Molsten tn,
ginger with five parts Of alcohol, and mace
| rate for twenty-four hours; then pack il
firmly in cylindrical percolator, anC
gradually pour alcohol upon it until 10
parts OF tincture are obtained"