Alcoholism
Lautrec was mocked for his short stature and physical appearance which led him to drown his sorrows in alcohol. At first this was beer and wine, but his tastes expanded. He was one of the notable Parisians who enjoyed American-style cocktails, France being a nation of wine purists. He had parties at his house on Friday nights and forced his guests to try them. The invention of the cocktail "Earthquake" or Tremblement de Terre is attributed to Toulouse-Lautrec: a potent mixture containing half absinthe and half cognac (in a wine goblet, 3 parts Absinthe and 3 parts Cognac, sometimes served with ice cubes or shaken in a cocktail shaker filled with ice).
In 1893, Lautrec's alcoholism began to take its toll, and as those around him realized the seriousness of his condition there were rumours of a syphilis infection. In 1899, his mother and some concerned friends had him briefly institutionalised. He even had a cane that he could hide alcohol in so he could have a drink on him at all times.
Read more about this topic: Henri De Toulouse-Lautrec