Financial considerations

[KatBradshaw]

You also have to remember that in those days people didn't sell Gin in 35ml measures like they do now. Plus if they weren't eating so much or were lacking sleep that would exaggerate the effects of the Gin.

[Pontius2000]

today, you see crack addicts who are completely broke and own virtually nothing in the world. and yet, they still manage to get their hands on crack. alcohol was the 19th century version of crack. in fact, in my profession, I see women who could be exactly like those "unfortunates", living in small cinder-block rooms and run down motels, addicted to drugs.

[lynn cates]

doss vs drink

Hello Maggy. A glass or 2 could get one tipsy which may have been the aim.

You recall that Polly stated she had her doss money (about 6d) 3 times on the day of her murder but drank it up in each case. That figures out to about 1s 6d. Possibly 5 or 6 tricks? So it looks like 5 or 6 glasses of gin.

Have mercy on her liver!

The best.
LC

[Maggyann]

So to get 'drunk' they would have to have turned a quite few tricks every day/evening? How many gins would get a woman drunk? (I don't imbibe and have no idea)

[lynn cates]

price of

Hello Maggy. The price of a trick was roughly the same as a large glass of gin--3 or 4d.

The best.
LC

[Maggyann]

We are told about MJk being drunk, Polly being drunk etc and I was just wondering how did they manage it?

Does anyone have any idea how much they could earn turning a trick? How much did alcohol cost?

Surely to have enough to be almost permanently intoxicated they must have been 'working' all the time and if so when did they get the time to drink?