Hunter S. Thompson's writing leads to questions about the horrifying nature of ether and its historical users.

• Thompson's description of drugs includes ether, which is particularly concerning to him.
• The narrative poses two questions: why is ether horrifying and who historically used it.

Ether became a widespread substitute for alcohol in Ireland, gripping the nation with high addiction rates.

• Ether was consumed excessively in Ireland due to alcohol taxation and the Temperance Movement.
• Addiction rates in some villages exceeded 90%, and ether became more popular than alcohol.

Ether's origin is mysterious, but it is cheap and easy to produce, leading to its use for various purposes.

• Ether is made by heating alcohol with sulfuric acid, and its origins are not well-documented.
• It became popular as an anesthetic but was highly flammable, leading to its decline in medical use.

Ether was initially seen as a miracle drug with various positive effects and became a recreational substance.

• Historically, ether was considered to alleviate pain and reduce fever, and was used recreationally by medical students.
• Its effects are similar to alcohol, with a euphoric high and altered thinking.

Driven by high alcohol taxes and the Temperance Movement, ether drinking became prevalent in Ireland.

• Dr. Kelly in County Dairy promoted ether as an alternative to alcohol, which did not violate the Temperance pledge.
• Ether was sold in stores and given to children, becoming part of the culture despite its unpleasant side effects.

The British government's classification of ether as poison eventually led to the end of the ether drinking epidemic in Ireland.

• Attempts to control ether by adulterating it failed, but government regulations in 1891 led to its decline.
• Ether drinking in Ireland disappeared as quickly as it had emerged.

Ether became a favorite among the poor in Baltic countries, with high addiction rates similar to Ireland.

• Ether spread to Estonia, Finland, Poland, and Norway, with little written history due to the illiteracy of the poor.
• In Poland, ether was as popular as vodka, causing villages and cities to reek of its odor.

Despite government efforts to curb ether drinking, it remained a socially accepted and pervasive problem in Poland.

• Ether was consumed by all social groups, including children, and was seen as a sign of sociability.
• Government attempts to curtail consumption were met with resistance, as ether was affordable for the poor.

Stalin's control over borders and factories led to the decline of ether production and consumption in Eastern Europe.

• Ether smuggling and consumption decreased due to tighter border controls and the end of private chemical factories under Stalin's regime.
• As government factories ceased ether production, the habit faded away.

Ether is now a largely forgotten drug, with minimal consumption and some advocacy for its medical use in certain regions.

• Today, ether is rarely consumed recreationally, with some exceptions in the Baltic region.
• There is some advocacy for its use as an anesthetic in developing countries, despite the risk of explosion.