Originally published in Pearson's Weekly (C. Arthur Pearson Ltd.) vol.1 #16 (08 Nov 1890).
An ex-military man who, when in the army, used to drink moderately, butwho had been an abstainer for some years, while attending a dinner with his old comrades, where most of them got intoxicated, suddenly became hilarious, made a foolish speech, settled back in his chair in a drunken state, and was finally taken home quite stupid.
He had not drunk any spirits, only coffee and water, and yet he had all the symptoms of the others, only his was intoxication from contagion, the favouring soil had been prepared long ago in the army.
Another case was that of a man who had been an inebriate years ago, but had reformed. He recently gave a dinner to some friends. Among them was a physician who had been greatly interested in cases of the sort. He sent me a long report, the substance of which was this:—
On the occasion referred to many of the company became partially intoxicated, and the host, who drank nothing but water, became hilarious and finally stupid with them. He was put to bed with every sign of intoxication.
A third case occurred four years ago. A reformed man of twelve years' sobriety went on an excursion with some drinking men, and although he drank nothing but lemonade became quite as intoxicated as they did.
This event was the subject of much comment and loss to him, socially and otherwise, although he protested and others confirmed his statements that he did tale any spirits at the time.