The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-05-06
clNcER.pRINkINc HABIT,
Startling Growth of the Use of Danger.
Gus Beverage.

The ginger habit has supplemented
the liquor habit, says the Philadelphia
Times. 1t has become a kind of fad in
some classes of society, and its danger
Gus inroads upon health are forcing it
upon the attention of physicians, while,
as an outgrowth of high license legis-
lation, it is at the same time recon-
mending itself to the attention of law
makers.
The ginger habit is worse than the
ordinary liquor habit, because it is
more rapid in it's effects and means
earlier ruin to the health of the indi-
vidual. 1t has only recently come to
the attention of physicians and drug
gists that in thousands of families the
peppery dose that has borne the pop
ular appearance of innocence and re-
spectability has become an agent of
debauchery.
The tincture of ginger, or Jamaica
ginger, as it is popularity known, is
the strongest and most irritating alco-
holic solution known. ranking next to
alcohol absolute, which is undrink-
able, and standing equal to CONNER
cial alcohol, which is never used as
beverage. The Jamaica ginger is sold
by druggists and grocers in four-ounce
vials, and the unbottled tincture is
retailed at one ounce and upward.
During the past few months the de-
mand 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.
DIR. w. G. MacConnell of 250 South
Tenth street said yesterday: The
tincture of ginger can be bought for
about cents an ounce. 1t contains
fully 50 per cent of alcohol, so that in
an ounce of 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 the effects of ginger
drinking. You would think a physi-
clan would know better, and he did,
but in spite of the warnings and pro-
testations of his friends in the profess
sion he would use it daily as bever-
age, diluting it one-third.
Il was in drug store only few
days ago when a young girl came in
twice, buying each time two ounces of
ginger. The druggist said 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. I was called not long ago to
attend woman who admitted to me
that she was in the habit of drinking
sixteen ounces a day. Think what a
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 af-
flicted with the ginger habit the physi-
clans of this city are now struggling
with.
The majority of them are women
who until few years past were accus-
toned to sending to the neighboring
saloon for beer or whisky whenever
they wanted it, night, or morning, or
Sunday. One woman told me she be-
gan 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 and had more effect than any
thing else. Old drinkers at the bar
are familiar with the effects of ginger,
and l suppose the growth of the pres
ent habit has its origin with them. 1t
is encroaching upon the very best So
ciety, and many an exclusive morning
and afternoon gathering of ladies
about the table of some elegant hostess
INDUCES in the ginger tipple. 1t is
passed around in diluted water and it
seems harmless enough. But the habit
once acquired is almost hopeless. 1t
is worse than the liquor habit. The
ginger through which the alcohol per-
colates in its manufacture is an irritant
of the worse kind when taken in eX-
cess, and the alcohol is in almost its
absolute state. Its effects. too, are dis
tinctive. The ginger drinker invaria
bly, becomes simple. These are not
the varieties of ordinary intoxication.
You will find all the smaller drug
stores outside of the very center of the
city doing an enormous business in
ginger. and the same with the grocery
stores. There ought to be legislation
against its indiscriminate sale. the
same as there is against the indiscrim-
mate sale of other alcOholic drinks -