The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1888-03-03
NARCOTICS AND THEIR USE.
ABsINTHE, CHAP. I.

ABs1NTHE, CHAP. !.
Absinthe is an aromatized spirit
or liquor prepared by pounding the
leaves, and tops of the Towering
stems of the white flowers of the Ar
temisia (ArtemisiG Absinthum) with
Angelica root, dittany of Crete, and
sweet hag-root. All of the worm
wood species together with other
aromatics, and macerating the whole
with given quantity of Alcohol.
This compound after soaking for
about eight days, is distilled, and
the product of the distillation is an
emerald green liqnor /; to this a speci-
fed quantity of a designated oil,
Casually anise) is added. The pro-
duct thus obtained is the veritable
French "Ertrait d. Absinthe.' Now
this, in an unadulterated state is
very hard to obtain, for much
cheaper and inferior quality is made
by other herbs and aromatics which
is adulterated with poisonous dyes
such as turmeric or indigo or cupric
sulphate,-blue vitriol represented by
the formula Gu SO4.-These poisons
are used to produce a color.
In commerce we have two varie-
ties of Absinthe, i. e., Common and
Swiss Absinthe. The latter of which
is prepared by highly concentrated
spirit. If Absinthe be really of
Swiss manufacture, it is a safe dec
laration to make to say that its in.
gradients are pure for this has
been proven by repeated and severe
analyses. The principal point OF
manufacture is at Neufchatel in
Switzerland, but numerous distiller-
les are found in various districts of
both France and Switzerland. There
seems to be an enormous demand
for this poisonous narcotic in France
for besides its 125 distilleries, there
are annually imported from Switzer-
land the enormous amount of over
100000 of gallons.
There is n curious tale as to the
introduction of Absinthe into France.
During the Algerian war of IS44-47,
the French soldiers were ordered to
put Absinthe into their beverages,
to serve as a febrifuge. This immedi-
ately "tool1" among the Frenchmen,
and Absinthe intoxication followed
with startling rapidity. When the
soldiers returned home they brought
the accursed drink into France with
them. There the people took to it
with such avidity that in a very few
months, it was denounced as a great
national evil.
After quoting few remarks from
an eminent French physician, I will
cease for the time. NJ. Legrand
says "There are at present, two ways
by which a person begins his terri
BILE period of servitude to Absinthe
The first is by beginning with vio-
lent drinking the second by steady
tippling. In the case of excessive
drinking the victim feels an exhilar-
ating sensation like the first stage of
an old fashioned american Ben
der AS the dose must be enlarged
in order to produce this exhilaration
the alimentary and digestive organs
are deranged and the appetite is de-
strOyed. An unappeasable thirst
takes possession of the victim with
giddiness, tingling of the ears, hallu-
cinaiions of the sight and hearing
followed by constant mental oppres-
sion and anxiety, of the brain power,
and eventually idiocy. The symp-
toms d the tippler are begun with
violent and frequent muscular con-
fractions and twitching, loss ofappe-
tite. and weariness of the cerebral
regions. The face assumes a melan-
choly expression and the hair begins
to fall off. lie becomes emaciated
and sallow. Lesion of the brain
soon follows, and in n short time
horrible delusioas haunt the victim.
Paralysis gradually follows and at
last he is landed n the grave. If
such are the sufferilgs of a maniac
from Absinthe, wha, must be the
sufferings of an alcoholic maniac, :"
The French Republi, has forbid
den the use of Absinthe in either
the army Or navy. NoN.GINTA.