INEBRIANTS, are defined to be such things as affect the nerves in a particular and agreeable manner, and through them alter and disturb the functions of the mind. They are properly divided into native and artificial; the former chiefly in use among the oriental and other nations, the latter principally throughout Europe.
Natural Inebriants are, 1. Opium; in use all over the east, and of which the Turks, through custom, swallow a drachm. 2. Peganum harmala, Syrian rue. The seeds are sold in Turkey for this purpose; and with these, as Bellonius relates, the Turkish emperor Solyman kept himself intoxicated. 3. Massac of the Turks, or bangué of the Persians; prepared from the dult of the male-flower of hemp, or from the leaves. 4. Bangué of the Indians, from the leaves of the hibiscus sabdariffa. 5. Seeds of various species of the datura, or thorny apple. 6. Pinang, or betel of the Indians. 7. Roots of black henbane. 8. The hyoscyamus phytaloides. 9. Berries of the deadly nightshade. 10. Leaves of millfoil, are used by the Dalekarians to render their beer intoxicating. 11. Tobacco, and several others less material are mentioned; such as clary, saffron, and dandel.
Artificial Inebriants, are fermented liquors from farinaceous seeds; wines, and spirits drawn by distillation. With these is ranked the nectar of the gods, and the anodyne medicine of Homer, commonly called nepenthes; and the spells by which Medea and Circe produced their enchantments.