Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-05-19

ABsENTHE DRINKING IN FRANCE
TIE Paris correspondent of the New York
World says The frighlfuI effects caused by ab-
sinths drinking are Just now exciting good
deal Of interest among the physicians Of
France. It is taken largely BY all classes as
an appetizer before dinner, and is much mors
seductive and injurious than the majority Of
alcoholic beverages. It's use has already been
( prohibited in the French army and navy;
Abslnthe, which is a French word, mean
! Ing In English wormwood, is a liquor made
/ by the distlllatioH Of a number OF plants with
1 alcohol. These are the tops Of the woFmwooo,
flag root, annlseed, angelica root, leaves OF DIT
! tany, COriganum dicfamnEs,} and sweet malo-
ram. All these are placed in alcohol OF very
| high proof, where they are allowed to remain
/ eight DAYS, when the mixture is distilled, and
Y half an ounce Of the essentlaitoil Of anise IS
I then added to each three gallons OF the iiquer'
The first care after the dlstillation is to see
! whether the liquor has a good color, and
whether II viii "whiten" well, aud II II IS
Lacking in these esseniials, It Is brought up to
the proper point with indigo, tinetere OF cur
! euma, hyssep, Dettlss and suipbate OF copper,
| (the ordinsry "blus vitrol") Absinthe, how
ever, requires no adulteration 10 make It pos
/ tive poison. Composed Of plants OF highly
exciting qualities, mixed with highly concen-
trgted alcohol, it acts directly upon the nery-
Gus system, having a much more positive sf-
feet than other alcoholic liquors.
In the process Of distiilation the plants
furnish several volatile oils, which arc among
tue most violent polsons, and beside these It
must be remembered that large quantity Of
the essential oil OF anise is added. Probably
few persons, In mixing taeir absinthe, have
ever stopped to consider the cause OF the
"whiteuing," OF ever thought that the better
the LIQUOR "mixes" the more powerfully poison
Gus it is. The white deposit, which in pre-
cpitating renders the liquor tur6id, cones
from the essential oils Of aniss, wormwood,
angelica, ETC., which sre held in solution OF
alcohol, but which are not soluble in water, or
alcohol weakened with it.
Toe following are given as the primary ef-
fects Of the hsbitual nse;of absinthe; The
muscular system is brought into a state Of Tn
certainty and indeeiEioD, which is easy to re-
cognize BY eontrsctions and trembinEs Of the
forearm, Of the band and inferior members.
Strange sensations are observed bV the unfor-
tunste vietin-such as tingling and prieking Of
the skin, heaviness Of the limbs, and numbness
the hand soizing and as suddenly letting 90
anything within its reach.
In standing the patients require something
to lean against, not being soiid upon their legs;
the knees tremble and bend, a general air Of
hsbetude marks the features the lips, the
tongue and the muscles Of the face trenble;
the eve is sad and sorrowful; the skin becomes
ysllowish dyspepsia and wasting away ensue;
the mucous membranes assume a violent hue
the hair falls of, and the whole frame work Of
the man falls into premature old age and di-
lspidatiOn.
Such are the bodily signs Of absnthe poison
and the mental troubles progress cohcurrently
with the disorders Of toe muscular system.
By reason Of the progress Of the disease Of
the brain, the sleep Of the patient is disturbed;
he has terble dreams, and Nightmares, and
sudden wskinss. He has hallucinations, illu-
sions, binding of the eyes, vertigos, hypO- (
chondria, a very marked embarrassment and /
dwelling upon words in speaking, and con- /
stantly decreasing strength Of intellect
Such is the, sad cortege Of symptoms pre-
ssnted by the unfortunate victims of the terri |
bic absinthe poison.
Nothing, ssys DR.. Motet, can stop the pro- /
gress Of the disease Of the brain. Sometimes |
the symptoms will be more favorable, for a 4
greater OF less time, but the respite must not I
be taken as a sign Of approaching cure, and a /
little sooner, or little later, death steps in the
midst Of epileptie attacks, at a time when /
there is scarcely any human intelligence re- /
the animal alone exist s, and in |
a state Of degradation OF which no description |
can give an accurate idea.