Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1898-12-28
Petroleum as a Beverage.

with the PicQuart and Dreyfus prob
lens still. for them, unsolved, 1t were
vain perhaps TO ask Frenchmen to
turn their attention to the liquor ques-
ton. Yet II they did so they might
find some interesting developments.
In 1874 the number Of drinking estab-
llshments in France was 342, 1880, with
out counting Paris, which was respon-
sible for about 10000. Since then, al
though the population has remained
about stationary,the liquor shops have
increased in number greatly,so In, 1895
the total number was 432,047., which
represents an increase of 20 per cent
With respect to the quality of wine
consumed by individuals, Boulogne-
sur-seine is In the proud position at
the top Of the list, with the respect
able allowance Of 521s gallons a head.
Next in order comes Nice, st. Etienne,
Grenoble, Troyes. Toulouse and finally
Paris, where The annual amount con-
sumed Is 44.6 gallons "a 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 will doubtless account for her
being behind the other six towns men
toned as regards the consumption Of
wine.
Rouen does not gain a place in the
first night OF wine drinkers, but is alb
solutely first in the consumption of al
cohol In the form of brandy and other
spirituous compounds, the average be-
ing four gallons head. But these or
thodox beverages, wine, beer and spir-
IT'S, do not satisfy the more advanced
brand of French thirst. The French
man has gone one better, or worse,
than the Irish drinker of methylated
spirits and seeks delight in petroluem.
The habit has made considerable pro-
gress in Paris already; doctors have
already christened it "Petrolism" and
its victims "petroliqes" The neigh
borhood of the bastile Is the chief ur-
ban center OF the new vice, and there
are many of its votaries on the out
skirts of the capital.
The medical men have not yet had
time thoroughly to study the effects OF
| tho pntrnlaun drinEinu huf fhair nv
perience has been wide enough to al
low of a good many features being de-
termined. AS usual with all such
vices, the taste grows upon the victim
until it developes into an irresistible
passion. The intoxication produced by
petroluem is OF a melancholy nature
The drinker is sad, discontented and
despairing, rarely quarrelsome or pug
nacious. His sleep at night would not
seem to be very injuriously affected by
bit, and, according to some opinions
1 the general health is not rapidly un-
ldermined as by alcoholic drinks usually
taken to excess, On this point, how
ever, opinions differ. Some doctors
hold that the gravest organic changes
are caused by the use !of petroluem
and that the germs of mortal diseases
are called into being. The Telegraph's
Paris correspondent writes:
| The manner in which the latest
batch OF petroliques was discovered
is curious. A firm in the city fur
Enished petroleum to certain retail
shops. The head of the latter COM
plained of short measure, The whole
|sale merchant denied the charge, and
Eproyed that he was. right Then the
Iretail dealer set himself to discover
the clew to the mystery, but for a lone
time in vain. None of the liquid was
Temoved from the premises nor spilled
and yet continued to disappear. Al
last it was discovered that their work.
men drank it to raise the iaborine
power to the proper level.
| Another confraternity of tipplers
was convicted of the offense in a diff
ferent way. A usually sober and hare
working man, who happy, though mar
ried, began suddenly to stagger home
in state of half seas over. Hi.
spouse, mortified at the prospective be
fore her, searched his pockets, and, tt
her surprise. found that his funds wer,
not lower than before. Neither was HI
ever late, Strange to say Unable t.
solve the riddle, she confided it to on,
of her married friends. The later hat
a husband of her own who was in tn,
same boat. They put their heads to
eether, and, after some days of shad
owing and inquiring, the two sorrow
ing matrons learned that their lord,
and masters were slaves to petroleum
This curious and reprehensible vice is
4 am told, receiving careful attention
in medical circles in Paris. The au
thorities will hardly take it up unit
they are ready to tax it."-London Ca
BILE 10 New York Sun.
| Nil ho4on