tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5236768659799465809.post4110689924332575079..comments2009-03-07T10:01:14.838-07:00Comments on Ferrous Lands: St. Patrick of Ireland, by Philip FreemanAndrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08759810100407996847noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5236768659799465809.post-51251543943037995802009-03-07T10:01:00.000-07:002009-03-07T10:01:00.000-07:00True! I've read about that. Nasty microbes were al...True! I've read about that. Nasty microbes were all too common in drinking water, whereas alcohol was sterile. I remember a professor saying that all those old European folk tales were so crazy because everyone was drunk all the time—an exaggeration I'm sure, but I'll bet all that meade, cider, and ale had some affect on behavior.Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08759810100407996847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5236768659799465809.post-74294349963297921932009-03-07T07:34:00.000-07:002009-03-07T07:34:00.000-07:00Sounds interesting. I think I'll add it to my wish...Sounds interesting. I think I'll add it to my wish list.<BR/><BR/>There were a couple of good reasons for drinking all that alcohol: up until the 20th century there were no other readily available pain killers and before the development of sanitation in the late 19th century alcoholic drinks were much safer to drink than water.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05523010158146508364noreply@blogger.com