The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-24
DRINKING is HIS PROFESSION.
An Old Doctor Who PASSES His Life
Absorbing Alcohol.
From the New York World.

From the New York World.
There is a former physician living in
this city, whose present occupation is that
of scientific dipsomaniae. He is a Scotch
man, about GO years old, and lives in a
quiet uptown fiat on the West side.
He came to this country thirty years
ago. and practiced medicine successfully
for fifteen years in San Francisco.
1t was there that ne developed his ex-
traordinary appetite for new sensations
In the form of liquid stimulants. The doc
tor has never been married, and when he
had accumulated what he thought suiil-
cient wealth to enable him To live wei,
and indulge his peculiar appetite, ne mi
grated east and has resided IN TINS city
at intervals since then
Every pursuit has had to give way to
his hobby; he does not pracuce MS pro-
fession any more. except at rare intervals,
when he will attend to one OF mis- few
old and favored friends.
DIR. Watson is a short, stout man, with
a round, red face and short, curly hair,
which has once been yellow II Is now
mostly gray. His little blue eyes have a
shrewd twinkle, in spite OF his years OF
inebriation. HIS hands are short and
pudgy, with fingers like bunches-ot BAN
~anas. He has queer habit Of closing and
enclosing them while talking.
Like all eccentric beings, ne hates noto-
riety, and it was with difficulty that he
was induced to talk about himself a few
Probably some one else viii give you
a fantastic account of me If don't talk
myself" he said, $50 ! will tell you any
thing you want to know, provided you
don't ask me for reasons. That annoys
me.
Travelling was the cause Of my making
a study of inebriation,, continued the
doctor, land that Is the only why, or
wherefore you'll get" Here he clutched
convulsively at nothing.
When a young man was ships sur
geon, and have visited many countries
Il have drunk arrack with Malays ana
Hindoos, koumyss with Tartars, eaten
hasheesh with Persians and smoked opium
with Chinese, from mardarns to coolies.
mo matter how backward in the march
of civilization any race may De, they have
been able to evolve some method OF max
ing fluids of more cheering nature than
water. The aborigines of Australia, the
Pacific Islanders and even the little frog
lodytes of Central Africa have all got their
special firewater have tried them all
and believe 1 have experienced more varied
sensations in the use of intoXicants than
any living man."
This was said in a quietly triumphant
manner such as modest man would use
in announcing that he had annexed the
North Pole or some equally useful article.
When asked If he felt no i'll effects
from ms proIonsed course OF e aS,Pgine Z
drunks, he replied:
moi Science teachesans that the use
of any alcoholic liquor m large quanti-
ties and for long periods is injurious.
Experience shows this to be true in thou
sands OF instances, but the accepted
theories are all wrong IN my case ..
of beastlyr drunken insensibtity while
pursuing my studies continued the lit
tie doctor. rapidly making clutches ..tiil az
is to take things easy and to get az
possible pleasure out Of every mouthful
of whatever / drink.
This strange man INDUCES in solitary
orgies, which generally last six or seven
days. During that time he locks MINI
self in his bedroom and Will not see or
even speak to any one.
Wont you look at my den2'' asked
the scientific drunkard, working his rat
fingers rapidly. He led the way into an
1T It was fitted as a bedroom, with adj
ditions. narrow table stood by the
side of the bed.
Wines in great quantities and of all
dissertations were there. Rare old port
and ciaret. Hungarian wines in strange
looking flagons. aged Chianti and Lach-
ryma Christi. could all be seen. Ihere
were also spirits aOf every kind from va
rious brands Of whisky, "a brandy amy d rum
products of mans ingenuity IN deVising
means to get drunk Other bottles held
bittere, tonics ana ed mater daIs Ior 'ie
Every bottle, except those used Tor
mixing drinks, had a long tube and
mouthpiece attached to us neck"
This is where ] conduct nay expert
ments." he said as he chuckled and
made frantic grabs at the atmosphere,
seemingly delighted at the thoughts OF
past and future revels
He then went on TO explain that he new
err rises from his couch while engaged in
his researches The various tubes enable
him to absorb his beloved nectars just as
comfortably as a child draws its refresh
ment from a nursing bottle.
1.-THE most interesting OF all branches OF
drink" said the doctor, Is ether intox-
icatfon, as practiced in the north Of Ire
land Ether is one of the products of the
large distilleries there, and, being easily
procured by the workmen, is largely used
instead of spirits.
at is preferred to whisky because a
man can get comfortably drunk and sober
again on ether in two hours. This en-
ables one to have six good times in twelve
hours, a thing not attainable by other
means"
Replying to a question as to the man
ner in which either is used. he said:
They drink it, inhalation would pro-
duce anesthesia. The effect when sWal-
lowed is quite different; it is a strong
stimulant; its nauseous taste is the prin-
ciple objection to its use, and L don't
drink much of it.
still, If II were possible to- have its
effects combined with the delicious fla
vors of some rare old wines, the result
would be perfect. l am preparing for a
series of experiments with that end in
view"
This eccentric man imagines he Is do
ing a great work and makes copious
notes after each luxurious drinking bout
His intellect does not appear to be af-
fected in other ways, and his CONVERSE
ton is most refined and brilliant