The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-03-27
GINGER DRINKING.

Alarming Prevalence of Ginger Tipping
in the Good Old Quaker City.
The ginger habit has supplemented
the liquor habit 1t has become kind
of fad in some classes of society, and
its dangerous inroads upon health are
forcing it upon the attention of physi-
clans, while as an outgrowth of high
license legislation it is at the same
time recommending itself to the atten-
ton 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 individual. 1t has only recently
come to 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 alco-
hol absolute, which is undrinkable,
and standing equal to commercial alco-
hol, which is never used as a beverage.
The Jamaica ginger is sold by drug
gists and grocers in four-ounce walls,
and the unbottled tincture is retailed
at one ounce and upward. During the
last few months the demand for the
article, which has been steadily grow
ing for number of years, has become
unprecedented, and some druggists are
already beginning to flag" habitual
inquirers.
The greatest demand is in those sec
tions that are at a distance from the
principal business centers of the city,
although the Chestnut and Market
street druggists themselves have expe-
rienced and noted the rapid growth OF
the traffic The most alarming phase
of the habit is its prevalence among
women.
DIR. w. G. MacConnell said recently;
''The tincture of ginger can be bought
for about five cents an ounce. 1t con-
tains fully 95 per cent. of alcohol, sc
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 prominent in
his profession, who died only 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 warning and protest
ations of his friends in the profession he
would use it daily as a beverage, dilut
ing it one-third.
~ was in drug store only a few days
ago when young girl came in twice
buying each time two onunces of gin
ger. The druggist said she'd been IL
twelve times that day. He knew that
her mother and her sisters drank it
but it had never occurred to him tina
he should refuse to sell them the arti
Gle. l was called not long ago to at
tend a woman who admitted to me thai
she was in the habit of drinking six
teen ounces a day. Think what dos'
that is. 1t would have the strength o.
more than twice that amount of whisky
1t would surprise you to know how man,
patients afflicted with the ginger habit
the physicians of this city are now strug
Cling with.
1.-THE majority of them are women
who until few years past were accus
toned to sending to the neighborint
saloon for beer or whisky wheneve
they wanted it, night or morning o
Sunday. One woman told me she begal
to drink it when she couldn't run into
handy saloon with her pitcher but foun'
that she could buy all the ginger sh
wanted at the druggists or at the gro
Gerry store, and that it went further AM
had more effect than anything else
Old drinkers at the bar are familia
with the effects of ginger. and L sup
pose the growth of the present habi
has its origin with them. 1t is en-
croaching upon the very best society
and many an exclusive morning an
afternoon gathering of ladies about tn
tables of some elegant hostess indulge
in the ginger tipple. 1t is passed aroun
diluted in water, and it seems harmless
enough. But the habit once acquire
is almost hopeless. 1t is worse tha1
the liquor habit The ginger, throug
which tn alcohol Percolates inits mar