The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-06-22
A POISONOUS DRINK.

uerlhB r1uiu Is WNrlnWOOOs
On my return from Switzerland was
detained few hours at the little frontier
town of Pontarlier, in the northwest
part of the Jura, writes a correspondent.
was told that the people of the de-
partment (Dous) for a radius of thirty
miles of Pontarlier, including neces-
sarily portion of Switzerland, depend
almost entirely for their support on the
making of cheese and the cultivation
and sale of NORWOOD. The raising of
NORWOOD, bitter weed of American
fields and gardens used by old women
as febrifuge and vermifuge, seems
curious industry, but all that can be
produced finds ready sale to the dis.
tillers of absinthe at Pontarler, which
is the center of this extensive industry.
Absinthe, it should be remembered, is
the French for NORWOOD.
Absinthe is made of NORWOOD, with
the addition of other aromatic herbs
that give the green color and renders
the taste more agreeable. When it is
distilled with care (says a special plea
by the distillers) and consumed in rea-
sonable quantities it is a beverage
tonic and refreshing. But too much of
It should not be taken, even when it IL
good, for it contains high percentage
Of alcohol. Many distillers simply
macerate the NORWOOD and other
herbs, and steep them cold in alcohol
made of beets or of grain, by which
means the poisonous oils are extracted
from the herbs.
These poisonous qualities and the bad
alcohol necessarily have bad effect
and produce that rapid and dangerous
state of intoxication that drinkers of
abisinthe have often noticed in regard
to themselves. A beverage that oper-
ates on the nerves in such manner as
to produce instantaneous intoxication
must necessarily be dangerous, first to
the health and ultimately to the reason
This effect itself shows that the liquor is
of bad quality and should be condemned.
A French physician says of NORWOOD:
ats bitterness is its principal merit. II
is tonic, stimulating, febrifuge and
vermifuge. 1t is par excellence the
herb Of pale and feeble women. 1t is
the quinine of the poor, A slight pinch
is sufficient in liter of boiling water
etc. 1t is evident to the most ordinary
apprehension that liquor made with a
good alcohol from an herb that has been
in use the world over as a common do
nestle remedy, and has formed a part
| of the pharmacop4ia from time i'm
memorial cannot be harmful if used in
| moderation.
Ywe kinds of absinthe, or worm
wood, are used in'making the liquor N
Pontarlier-the great and the small, the
first for its bitter qualities, and the
last, which is gathered immature
chiefly to act in giving the delicate
green color. The other plants employed
in distillation are balm, caraway, anis.
and hyssop. Balm is classed incidentally
rs anti nervous, an important antidot,
in a liquor considered as acting too
forcibly on the nervous system. Tit
qualities of caraway and anise ar,
familiar to everyone. The last is great
ly used in medicine and in many othe
ways for it's flavor and perfume.
The caraway used at Pontarlier come
Fl ON the south of France; Ire best anis,
from southwestern France and Andalu
,ia, in Spain. The flowers of hyssop ar,
regarded as stimulating and expec
torant All the plants used in the max
Ing of absinthe, it will be seen, hav
recognized medical qualities, and all
probably, as tea or coffee, have apoison
ous essence that should not be extracte,
In the process of distillation. and so be
come part of the liquor.
As to its history, absinthe, though
has not been fashionable till within
hundred and fifty years ago at Couve'
little city of Switzerland a few mile
below Pontarlier. The inventor coul
have never anticipated the fame
would achieve. After having passe
through various hands it was purchase
by the ancestor of the principal disti
lely of Pontallier, to which place tn
industry was transferred near the clos
of the last century, since which epoc
the use of che liquor has been gradual
extended.
The principal distillery of Pontar1iel
which has its patent, from the inventor
Is an immense establishment, coverin
several acres, admirably appointed i
every respect kept with extraordinary
neatness, and, for the convenience c
transportation, connected with the raj