Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1873-03-21
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The Pittsburgh Dispatcn pupiisnes ah
elaborate and highly interesting article
on absinthe," which is a drink more
deadly than the sharpest flask of Jer-
sey lightning" or the worst kind Of
4" forty rod whiskey," as follows:
Ortermisia absinthi,m is the botani-
cal name of modest looking flower,
which is grown extensively throughout
Europe, known to the common people as
rm-wood, and grown mainly, the book
tells us, on account of its medicinal
properties. Such, indeed was the case
until within a comparatively recent pc
riod of time. But of that, unfortunate
ly, it has assumed new position, and
undermines and uproots, instead OF re-
pairing the constitution. 1t is not
handsome flower or plant, says a New
York paper; but yet of late years it
has become in immense demand. Al
though indigenous in Europe, and very
prolific, the supply is even still greater.
1t is intensely bitter, and is therefore
good to4c. As such it was known to
the ancients, and the old Romans were
accustomed to indulge in their veaan'a
absintlti,tm, or wormwood btters, just as
the American descendants do to get up
an appetite for their epicurean revels.
Sometimes il is used to ward off an at
tack of chills and fever, like quinine; /;
sometimes it is used for favoring vine
gar; sometimes it is used for inhamma-
BILE purposes in surgical operations.
What is called the tincture of absin-
the derived directly from the wormwood
plant, is harmless enough; in fact it is
beneficial, and highly priced as a medi-
cal preparation; consequently nobody
but sick people ever think of taking it,
and even they don't take it if they can
help it, it is so bitter. But when the
juice is obtained by distillation, and be-
comes by the process oily-when it is
colored and favored with preparations,
and is mixed in certain proportions with
alcoholic stimulants, then it has pun
gent taste then it has deadly proper
ties, and people 60 crazy over it, and
must have it and drink it with a relish
and get drunk on it; then it becomes
the absinthe which is sold at every pub
lie resort in Paris, and which has become
regular thing behind the bars of this
country.
There is one great mercantile advan-
tage about absinthe; wormwood is cheap
and therefore easily made, and above all
things, it can be made in this country
just as well as in anv other, and conse-
quently they can sell what is made in
New York at just as high price to the
consumer, and to as much satisfaction as
if it were made in either Scotland or
Paris.
There are about fifteen places in New
York where absinthe is manufactured
directly. Some people, in fact, prefer
the American to the genuine or import
ed absinthe on the same principle, per-
haps, that many Americans prefer adul-
terated wines to the pure juice of the
grape. Dealers like the American ab-
sinthe better of course; it is cheaper for
them, and just as costly for their custom
ers. A case of imported absinthe costs
S21, whereas the domestic article can be
obtained for from s12 to sl5.
The French are the heaviest absinthe
consumers in the world. Originally in
troduced into France as medical drink,
prophylatic for soldiers and other ex-
posed persons against ague, taste was
formed for it, which soon exceeded all
medicinal limits, an1absinthe at once be-
came the special beverage and the spe-
cial curse of the nation. As yet, the
Americans take their absinthe eight"
diluted in water, in moderate quantities.
In New Orleans, which is largely French
more absinthe is taken than in any 9TH
er city of the Union-in proportion to
to the population. In the West it is
comparatively unknown, and it is not
popular in New England.
When drank irregularly and to ex-
cess there is no poison more sure in its
deadly work than absinthe. The con-
frmed and inveterate and intemperate
absinthe drinker is confirmed and de-
liberate suicide. He might as well swal-
low so much Paris green and be done
with it, only the latter would work more
rapidly, though no less dreadfully. Alb
sinthe kills, but does not kill at once
it murders by degrees, and ruins the
mind as we'll as body. All medical men
and experienced observerers agree that
absinthe, used to excess, acts directly
upon the nerve centres and especially
upon the brain. 1t produces stupor, pal
sy, epilepsy, madness. 1t will make the
strongest man lunatic in two gears and
has been known to make lunatic in
far less time. 1t first stimulates and
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