Pastyme With Good Companye

Archives for: March 2007, 05

03/05/07

09:14:23 am, by

, 156 words

Categories: Americana

Demon Drinks - Prohibition In The USA

Prohibition in the United States appeared to have had the opposite affect on people than that which it was intended. More people than ever started drinking alcohol, and highly resented the heavy-handed legislation. As a result there were quite a few home-made concoctions being sold, some of these actually quite frightening!

In 1928 a total of 34 people in New York died over a four-day period as a result of drinking alcohol that had been distilled from anti-freeze, and paint.

Some distillers resorted to using alcohol from cosmetics, hair tonics, and in one reported case "Parisienne solution for perspiring feet, 90 percent alcohol!"

These home-made products had some interesting names as well. Rot Gut, Kentucky Tavern, Pebble Ford, and the lovely Coffin Varnish, to name a few.

According to "Let Them Eat Cake," by Geoffrey Regan, one cautious consumer had his bootlegged liquor tested by a chemist, only to learn the alarming news that, "Your horse, must have diabetes!"

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Welcome to the blog of amateur historians Matthew James Didier and Sue Darroch. Partners in life and in crime, we endeavor to entertain you with snippets from our combined historical research. Past time with good company indeed, as we shall introduce you to Kings and Knaves, Queens and Mistresses, Cons and Heroes, from our collective past......from events well known to those perhaps all but forgotten, we will do our best to bring you interesting historical factoids from around the globe. It is our belief that through understanding our past we will all gain a better perspective on our future.