ABSINTHE' (ante), or Wonmwoon, spirits prepared from the leaves and flowering tops of arternittia alminthium; united with angelica root (arrhangelica ofticinaliA), sweet flag root (acants ealanvis), dittany leaves (origanirm dirtannx), fruit (sell darn anisatum), and other aromatics, macerated in alcohol eight days and distilled. The product is an enieraid colored liquor, to which anise•oil is added. This is the genuine green color is usually produced by turmeric and indigo; but blue vitriol has often been detected. In commerce are two kinds of A., common and Swiss, the latter prepared from highly concentrated spirits, and when genuine is most trustworthy as to herbs used. The chief place of manufacture is Neufchatel. It is mostly consumed in France, but large quantities are exported to the U. S. Absinthe was first used by the French soldiers in the Algerine war (1811 17), mixed in their liquor, as a febrifuge, and they brought the habit to France, where it has become so great an evil that its use is prohib ited in both army and navy. Excessive use of A. gives at first a feeling of exhilarated
intoxication; the digestive organs are immediately deranged; the appetite destroyed, then raging thirst, giddiness, ringing in the cam hallucinations of sight and heavy mental oppression, anxiety, loss of brain power, and idiocy succeed each other rapidly. The moderate drinker soon feels muscular twitchings and loss of strength, his hair ?ails out, his countenance is mournful, and he becomes emaciated, wrinkled, and sallow; lesion of the brain, horrid dreams, gradual paralysis, and death follow in successive, order. It is more deleterious and dangerous than brandy or any other strong spirits.