The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-27
PETRoLEuM pRINkING.
Curious Vice which Is Receiving
Attention i'm France.
Gable Letter in New York Sun.

Gable Letter in New York Sun.
With the Picquart and Dreyfus problems
sun, Tor them, unsolyed, il were vain per-
tention TO the liquor question. Yet if they
did so they might find some interesting de-
Velopments. In 1874 the number of drinking
establishments in France was 342, $50 with
out counting Paris. which was responsible
for about 10000. Since then. although the
population has remained about stationary,
the liquor shops have increased in number
greatly. In 1886 the total number was 1872 .0I7,
which represents an increase of % per cent
WITH respect 70 the quantity of wine con-
sumed by individuals. Boulogne-sur-Se Seine is
III the proud position of top of the list. with
the respectable allowance of 5SIs gallons a
mead Next in order come Nice, Saint
Etenne, Grenoble, Troyes, Toulouse and
finally Paris, where the annual amount con-
stunned is 44.6 gallons head. With regard
to Paris 1t should be borne in mind that
there more than anywhere else in France
perhaps the beer habit has been introduced,
and the steadily increasing consumption OF
beer in Paris win doubtless account for her
being behind the other six towns mentioned
as regards the consumption of wine.
fight Of wine drinkers, but but is absolutely N
Ilrst In the consumption of alcohol in the
form of brandy and other spirituous COM
head. But these orthodox beverages, wine,
beer and spirits, do not satisfy the more adj
yanced brand of French thirst The
than the Irish drinker of methylated spirits
and seeks delight in petroleum. The habit
mas ! made considerable progress in Paris al
'petrolism" and it's victims .,petroliques
The neighborhood of the Bastilleis the chief
urban center of the new vice, and there are
many of its votaries on the outskirts of the
capital.
The medical men have not yet had time
thoroughly to study the effects of petroleum
drinking, but their experience has been
wide enough to allow good many features
being determined. As usual with all such
vices, the taste grows upon the victim until
ii develops into an irresistible passion The
intoxication produced by petroleum is of a
melancholy nature The drinker is sad, dis
cOntented and despairing. rarely quarrel
some or pugnacious. His sleep at night
would not seem to be very injuriously af-
fected by it, and. according to some opin-
ions, the general health is not so rapidly
undermined as by alcoholic drinks usually
taken to excess. On this point however,
opinions differ. Some doctors hold that the
gravest organic changes are caused by the
use of petroleum, and that the germs or
mortal diseases are called into being The
Telegraphs Paris correspondent writes:
1.-THE manner in which the latest batch or
petroliques was discovered is curious. firm
retail shops. The head of one of the latter
complained of short measure. The whole
sale merchant denied the charge and proved
that he was right. Then the retail dealer
set himself TO discover the clew to the mys-
terry, but for long time in vain. None of
the liquid was removed from the premises
nor spilled, and yet 1t continued to disap-
pear. At last 1t was discovered that their
workmen drank ii to raise their laboring
power 10 the proper leVei.
Another 5onfraternity of tipplers was
convicted Of the offense in different way.
A usually sober and Woodworking man who
was happy though married, began suddenly
to stagger home in state of half seas over.
His spouse, Mortified at the prospective be-
fore her, searched his pockets. and, to her
surprise, found that his funds were not
lower than before Neither was he ever late,
strange to say Unable to solve the riddle,
she confided 1t to one of her married friends.
The latter had a husband of her own who
was in the same boat. They put their heads
together and after some days of shadewing
and inquiring the two sorrowing matrons
learned that their lords and masters were
, slaves to petroleum. This curious and repre-
hensible vice is, am told. receiving careful
authorities will hardly take it up until they
are ready to tax il. !"