84 INTOXICATION. 



the mandrill gets gin in order to induce it to use tobacco 

 (Cassell). 



In all these cases the liking for alcohols of different kinds 

 differs in its degree. There may be mere gusto or relish for 

 intoxicants, obvious pleasure or enjoyment in tippling, grog 

 or beer drinking, just as in man. But, though in exceptional 

 cases animals have the force of will, or the good sense, to 

 stop in time, while others may, fortunately for themselves, 

 acquire at the very first a disgust at, instead of a relish for, 

 all sorts of spirits, or for some particular form of alcohol, 

 there is a danger in all cases of the liking becoming a 

 craving, and the craving becoming insatiable, irresistible, 

 morbid, amounting then exactly to what in man is called 

 dipsomania ; in short, the drink-craving is apt to become a 

 veritable disease. The habit of tippling, habitual intemper- 

 ance, is as apt to be engendered in other animals as in man, 

 and it is in them equally dangerous, equally liable to pass 

 beyond all limits of control. 



The horse is represented as enjoying its ale. Fowls show 

 obvious satisfaction when their corn is steeped in spirits. 

 The tipsy ape is said to enjoy its tipsiness (Houzeau) ; 

 and there are many other animals that take a visible de- 

 light in other forms of dram-drinking. 



A certain Parisian dog, we are told, < drew his half-pint 

 of kirsch every day, and not content with that, would go 

 from table to table (of a restaurant) to try for more.' A 

 Borneo orang drank a bottle of Malaga wine ' to the last 

 drop,' having himself uncorked the bottle (Buffon). Not a 

 few animals, then, readily become, when the temptation is 

 thrown in their WSLJ, habitual topers, tipplers, or drunkards. 



Frequently the love of alcoholic fluids becomes inordinate 

 and uncontrollable. Thus we are told of a cat for which 

 'porter had a fascination that she could not withstand.' 

 Wary rats ' drink themselves dead drunk from spirit casks 

 whenever they get an opportunity ' (Wynter). The ape is 

 undeterred from a carouse by punishment or prohibition. Of 

 very few animals that once betake themselves to the use of 

 alcoholic stimulants can it be said, as was said of a certain 

 pet starling, that ' he knew when he had had enough ' 



