Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-09-25
ETHER HABIT SPREADING
A New Contasion That 10 Causing
Terrible Ravagcs in Paris.

According to the fashionable doc
tors of Paris, a new contagion is at
present causing terrible ravages in the
capital. Attempts have from time to
time been made to prescribe opium,
morphia, hashish and other pOisons.
Some have even suggested the prohi-
bition of absinthe, but at the moment
1t is none of these that is causing anxi-
ety-it is ether. The ether passion has
spread with such rapiditv in Paris that
the number of "etheromanes" is almost
incredible, and every day new recruits
are added to the ranks of those who
have been cnslaved by the insidious
fluid. Opium and hashish only appeal
ed to certain categories of people, but
ether find the victims among all class
es. AS a means of iEtoxication 1t is
within reach of all purses. and al
thaugh it's effects are less deadly than
chose of certain other drugs, it's con-
sequences cannot be regarded with
complaccnt eve. To take only one eX-
ample at Rochefort sur Mer there is
maritime hospital rfrequented by stu
dents who later will qualify for naval
surgeons or colonial doctors. and
among these young men, when the
grind becomes too irksome or the
discipline too severe, ether has been a
frequent remedy. The consequence is
hat it's ravages have been considera
bic, ard last year several suicides were
traced to OverinGulgence in the fatal
passion. An attempt was made by the
authorities, to keep the fact from leak
ing out. but it gradually became
known. 1t is not in the provinces alone
however, that TIE habit has manifest
ed itself "Etheromanes' are frequent
ly mot with in Paris, and when reprov-
ed for their addiction to the drug they
defend their weakness by exaggerated
descriptions of the joy and delightful
intoxication they find in the absorption
OF the fluid.
Some of them are accustomed to
drink ether in the form of a syrup
much as they would take any othe'
alcohol; others let a few drops of
volotile ether fall on banuage
which they place before their mouths
and violently inhale; and one of the
most refined methods of enjoying
either is to mix it with wildstrawber-
ries, when, according to it's devotees, it
makes dish fit for the gods But the
SlHtI uetlu Is IlOl d SOOu SiSnt the next
day. He has had a bad night, his will
and his strength are gone and his pale
face is drawn and haggard, while his
eyes are dilated beyond measure. On,
night, when a number of habitual
'etheromanes' were about to adjourn
to an apartment where they would be
free TO indulge their favorite passion, a
friend who knew the risks they were
running attempted yainly to dissuadt
them from their plans. But they
would not listen to him-they seemed
to be fatally drawn toward the other
chamber by mysterious and invinci
BILE force, and his arguments were liz |
vain. Next day he learned that the |
ether seance had almost had a tragic |
termination. One of the etheromanes
under the influence of the exciting
element had tried to kill one of his
comrades, and the others, suddenly
sohered, had had all they could do t.
restrain his hand. Montmartre is the
quarter of Paris most addicted to the
ether habit, and the majority of the
victims are women. hole Hires OF
the subtle fluid are drunk with reckless
abandon and until complete intoxica
ton has overtaken the ether maniac
there is no thought of putting away
the diaboliCal eXcitant.