Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1901-02-08
ABSINTHE DRINKING.
Orleans, where There Are
Many Uscrs of 1t.

II see that the French government
Is making an effort to suppress the
manufacture of absinthe," remarked
New Orleans physician, according to
the Times Democrat, "and that the
medical corps of the army has made
some very alarming reports as to the
effect of the stuff on the rank and file
of the troops. A similar movement
and, if / remember rightly, an order
was issued forbidding the sale of the
cordial to any soldier. The subject
was discussed at length in the papers
at the time, but the dealers brought
their influence to bear and the cru.
sade was ultimately abandoned.
"Absinthe is n strange tipple," he
continued, "and the evidence as to it's
effects is singularly contradictory.
Some people drink it all their lives
and apparently suffer no bad results,
while others are reduced to horrible
mental and physical wrecks by not
nun GO MOIt uD-
sinthe is consumed in New Orleans
than any other city of the United
States, and in years past l have made
the habit something of study, hop
ing to discover the exact toxic proper
ties of the preparation and some fixed
facts as to its effect on the system. |
can't say, however, that l was par
ticularly successful. The liqueur is
simply distilation of wormwood,
known botanically as 'Artemisia Alb
sinthium'-hence the name. absinthe
| Wormwood itself is used to some ex-
tent as medicine, and fluid extract
made from the leaves and tops is re-
| garded as good tonic in cases OF
dyspepsia. The extract has some very
slight narcotic properties, but the dis.
tillation seems to develop a new and
powerful agent which, in certain
cases, acts directly on the brain and
great nerve centers and stimulates
them to an extraordinary degree. The
ultimate effect is breaking down OF
the system loss Of memory. inability
to articulate, hallucinations and some,
thing resembling palsy.
"One absinthe wreck whom treat.
ed for several months had strange
lapses in which he would forget his
own identity and be unable to find his
way home. Another patient was con
tinually using the wrong words, like
a man with aphasia. One day ht
walked into the office and said: Doc
tor, | have run out of referential.
He meant to say he had run out ot
medicine, but was absolutely unable
to do it, and to this day | never heal
the word 'referentaP without think
ing of him. But, as | said before
it all depends on the individual. Som,
are naturally immune to the poisor
and others are abnormally sensitiv,
to it. Then. again, the symptoms diff
fer widely, so widely that it would b,
impossible to diagnose a case withou
knowing something of its history. Al
together, the active principle of tn,
ituff is great mystery.
Here in New Orleans absinthe Il
generally drank in combination will
anisette, diluted in about six parts o
water. | think the French way o
taking it is less injurious. In Pari
the confirmed absinthe drinker pour
about half a gill in the bottom of
large tumbler and fills It up will
water Then, as he sips, he adds NOR,
water from the carafe until the mix
ture is almost transparent. One glas
will occupy him at least an hour, an,
he rarely takes second"