Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US) a drinking bout.

a.1897		N.Y. Times n.p.: Are you in the book business? [...] Ma and pa were talking last night about your having your little periodicals [DA].
1902		H.L. Wilson Spenders x 107: They telegraphed the Butte National to wire his description, and the answer was ‘tall and drunk.’ Well, son, his periodicials wa’n’t all [DA].
1940		E. O’Neill Iceman Cometh Act I: How do I know yuh’re off periodicals for life?