ETHER INEBRIETY.Read in the Section of Medical Jurisprudence and Neurology, at the Forty-second Annual Meeting of the American Medical Association, held at Washington, D. C., May, 1891.

Abstract

Ireland has in nineteenth century presented to world two interesting and remarkable series of inebrio-psychological phenomena. In 1838, a simple-minded Roman Catholic priest, Father Mathew, adopted and began to advocate practice of abstinence from all intoxicating drinks. So amazing was impression made by him that, in three years, roll of teetotal pledges which he had administered exceeded 5,000,000, in Ireland, in addition to large numbers in England, Scotland and America. The reality of this epidemic of temperance was attested by statement of Chief Secretary, in 1840, that the duties of military and police in Ireland are now almost entirely confined to keeping ground clear for operation of Father Mathew. Though this great wave of sobriety has gradually receded, till now extent of drinking in Erin is simply terrible, I am every now and again meeting professionally with sons