The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-10-09
THE EE'E'ECTS or LfBSISTJy r.
a Most Deadly Poison-Tho Den,flicst of
All Drinks.


I From the Scientific American.
DIR. B. w. Richardson, in an arti-
on "Chlorai and other Narcotics" in
the current number of the Contcmpo
2WiW RecieW, touches on the subject
of absintlc, and points out the dole
tcriouS effects following the habit of
using ii rs an cXhilarunt-, habit which.
originally confined to the French, has
become more or less prevalent among
other European nations, and to Il ccr-
tain extent among Americans. He
says: AbSinthc, as it is made in
France, whence ii is exported, is a
mixture Of essence Of wormW0od (Ib-
%iAthiHM), swcct-hag, aniSn seed, .ln-
@clica root, and alcohol. 1t is colorcd
green with the leaves or the juicc of
the sDlallagc, spinach, or mcttlcs. It
is commonly adultrratcd. NJ. Der
helms found it adultcratrd with sui
platc Of copper Cor blue vilrioD. which
substance is added to give it the re-
qulrcd grccniSh color or tint, as well
rs to afford IL slight cnusticily, which,
to drpravru tastes, is considered the
RIGHT thing to taste and swallow.
Nj. SIanSlas Martin stated that he
found chloridc ofmtimony, commonly
called butter of nnlimony, as another
adultcra.ion used also to give the col
or. thcvaicr doubts This latter atlul-
tcratioh, but that with sulphatc and
copper is not disputed. The proper
ton OF essence OF wormwood to the
alcohol iSj drachms of the essence to
100 quarts Of alcohol. The action of
fabSin!hc on those who become llabitu-
ntCd to its Use is most ticlctcriOus.
The bitterness increases the craving or
desire, and the confirmed I0LiiNe is
soon unable to take food until he is
duly primrd for il by The deadly pro-
vocativc. On the nervous system the
influence OF the abSinthium essence is
different from the action Of the alcohol.
! The HDSinihilln acts rather after the
manner Of nicotine; but it is slower
in taking effect than the alcohol which
accompanies il into the organism,
There is therefore felt by the drinkcr,
first, the exciting relaxing influence OF
the alcohol, and allcrwaru the con-
strin@ing supprcssing influence orthc
secondary and more slowly acting
poison. The sufferer, for he must be
$" ca He'd, is left cold, trcmulous. un-
steady OF movement, and muScutcd.
lthiS hoSc be large, these phenomena
are exaggerated, and the voluntary
muscles. bcrril of the control Of the
will arc thrown Into cpilrptilnrm con-
HulSiOnS. attended with uncOnscio,lS-
hess and with an oblivion to all sur
rounding objects, wllich have known
to last for six or seven hours.
In the worst examples OF poisoning
from abSinihc the person becomes Il
confined cpilcptic. In addition to
these general indications Of evil there
arc certain local indications not less
severe, not less dangerous. The effect
which the alSinlhc cXrrtS in Il direct
way ON the stomach would alone be
sufficiently pcrniciouS. 1t controls
for mischief tlIc natural power of the
stomach TO scclrtc healthy digestive
fluid. II inicrirrcs with thc solvent
power OF that fluid itself. SO that. taken
in what is considered to be moderate
quantity, one or two winc-glaSstuIs in
the course OF the day, II soon establish
cs in the victim subjected TO il II per-
manrnt dyspepsia. The appetite is so
perverted that all desire for food is
Qurnchrl uuti the desire is ircblv
whipped up by another draught Of the
destroyer. In Il word, more consllnl-
mate devil or destruction could not be
concoctrd by the finest skill of science
devoted to he worst OF purposes than
is concoctcd in this destructive agent, ,
abSin'hc. 1t is doubly lcthal, and
ought I" be put down pcramtorilv in
all places where il is sold. DIR. Rich
ardsnn believes that the sale Of tic
article should be under legal control,
and that no person ought to be able to
get it in any form at all without sign
ing book and going through all the
necessary formality for the purchase
OLA poison.