Kokain, MDMA, öl, eter, svamp och det svartaste gruppsexet någonsin. Läsare varnas

During the 19th century there was widespread concern about the drinking of ether in Northern Ireland in place of alcohol. Known as "sweet vitriol" and discovered in 1275, ether was originally used for medicinal purposes as a common anaesthetic but quickly became a favourite substitute for whisky. After drinking a glass of water, people would take one drop of ether whilst holding their noses and slamming down another glass of water. This was considered the best way of consuming ether at the time – it's so volatile that it needs to be washed down to prevent it evaporating.
Not only was the ether cheaper than whisky (at one penny per draught from most dealers), but it also got you both drunk and sober much more quickly, allowing 19th Century boozers to feel tipsy several times a day.
Another advantage was that ether did not result in a hangover, although it was thought to cause depression. Other symptoms included extreme hysteria and blindness. Chronic abuse of ether could lead someone to believe that they were hearing heavenly music or seeing angels. Yet despite the "violent excitement" that the ether caused, the main danger was people setting fire to themselves when lighting their pipes.