The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-23
DRINKS ETHER ny THE GLASS.
Remarkable Case of Cincinnati
Man Who Takes Qunrtn Day.

wan VINO Takes Quart Day.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
The habit acquired by John Beckman,
a shoe laster, living on New street, near
Sycamore. who was until recently employ
ed at the factory of BlacBer, Gerstle Sc
Co, presents one of the most peculiar
cases known to the medical profession.
In fact, medical history does not cite an
instance where person addicted to a
similar habit has gone to the extremes
reached by the subject of this sketch
Mr. Beckman is an habitual user of
ether. He not only uses It in the custom
airy way of administering It, by inhala-
ton, but he also drinks it in large guam
titles.
Ether is n powerful anaesthetic, having
a similar influence to that Of chloroform,
When a small quantity is inhaled into
the lungs 1t produces a stupor which
causes Authorizations. When taken in
large quantities IT brings on sleep, which
is Invariably accompanied by pleasant
dreams. 1t Is classed as one OF the deadly
polsons, and the druggist selling II is re-
quired by law to place upon the bottle
the customary red poison label with skull
and cross bones. 1t Is rarely administer
ed internally owing to its deadly infiu-
ence, but when it is found necessary Il
is generally In the form of Hoffman
drops" a solution composed of seven
parts alcohol to one of ether. A dose In
this form is fifteen drops.
Ether is also highly infammable and
when a person acquires the habit Of
drinking 1t the breath, and even the ex-
halation from the pores of the skin, will
easily become ignited by fire and cause
serious consequences.
Hoffman drops" would no longer have
any effect upon Mr.. Beckman for ne now
l.
almost one quart q day to satisfy his de-
sires. He purchases It in six-ounce bottles,
paying for the same 40 cents, and he makes
five and six trips day to the drug store
where he is accustomed to buy the drug.
He takes II to his room and goes on an
ether lag" sleeping for hours, until the
effects wear off, when he again replenish-
es his BOTTLE Sometimes when his money
is plentiful, he buys 1t in pound paclxagess
then he remains In his room and sleeps
the hours away, and dreams a dream that
would do justice to an opium fiend. He
was demonstrated with by the druggist
the other day and he replied: "Oh, have
such sweet dreams" 1t Is not only in his
room that Beckman takes the drug, for
he carries his bottle with him on the street,
to his barber shop and elsewhere, and he
can be frequently seen by his acquaintan-
ces taking a smell or a drink from his bot
tie. The lack of money sometimes puts
a stop to his protracted "sprees." AS soon
as he straightens UP sufficiently he goes
back to work at the factory and labors in
dustriously to accumulate money to re-
sumo his habit. During his sprees he can
eat nothing. He just sleeps his existence
away. Recently he has become so inebri-
ated by the use of the drug that he could
not do his work at the factory to the salts
faction of his employers, and he lost his
job AS he has no family or friends in the
city his condition is a precarious one. AL
ready his credit at the drug store is be-
yond the limit, and when further time Is
denied him where he will then get the drug
which has now become essential to his
existence Is not known.
Mr.. Beckman's story is a pathetic one.
He was born of honest, but poor parents
in small town in West Virginia. His
father was a shoemaker. and the son at
an early age was pressed into service to
help about the shop. The young lad was
quick to learn and soon became proficient
as a shoemaker, but he was ambitious to
hold a higher position In life than that OF
an artisan. He saved his money, and
when he was q years old he began study
ing medicine. All the books treating on
the subject which he could secure In his
town he practically devoured, porting over
them night and day until he was Is years
old. He then went to medical college
in Maryland Four years afterwards he
graduated, but while at the college he
began inhaling ether and the habit grew
upon him. He returned TO his former
home and threw his shingle to the wind,
but what practice he got he neglected
through his habits. He moved from town
10 town. but could not shake the ungov-
ernable desire which had sprung up with
In him. At last he came here. and being
out Of money he made no effort to practice
He secured work In the shoe
factory, and but few Of his most in
innate acquaintance learned anything OF
his past history. He has one acquaintance
In this city. doctor, In whom he conhdes
and TO whom he frequently talks over the
effects of his habit. He has no desire to
stop the use Of ether, for the temporary
delight 1t brings him is now dearer than
life