88-2 
land powder,” once noted for its efficacy in gout, had this drug as its principal 
ingredient. A decoction has ever been found a most excellent application for 
wounds, bruises, and sprains, relieving the pain nicely in most cases; every reader 
will recall “wormwood and vinegar” in this connection. Latterly it has been 
found diuretic, discutient, and antispasmodic in epilepsy. 
The bitterness of the herb is communicated to the milk of cows who may 
browse upon it, and also to mothers’ milk if the drug be taken. 
Brewers are said to add the fruits to their hops to make the beer more heady ; 
and rectifiers also to their spirits. Absinthe forms one of the favorite drinks for 
those who love stimulating beverages; it is compounded of various aromatics as 
follows: Green anise (Pimpinella anisi), Star anise (Illicum anisatum), Large 
absinth (Artemisia absinthium), Small absinth (Artemisia pontica), Coriander 
(Coriandum sativum), and Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis); these are distilled to- 
gether until the distillate comes over reddish, then the following herbs and products 
are steeped in the distillate to color and flavor it: Peppermint (Mentha piperita), 
Balm (Melissa officinalis), Citron peel (Citrus medicus), and Liquorice root (Gly- 
cyrrhiza glabra), | 
The leaves and tops of the plant are recognized in the U. S. Ph., and the 
officinal preparation is Vinum Aromaticum.* It is officinal in the Eclectic Materia 
Medica as Adsinthine and [nfusum Absynthit. 
PART USED AND PREPARATION.—The fresh young leaves and the blos- 
soms are treated as in the preceding species. The resulting tincture is opaque ; 
in thin layers it has a beautiful crimson color; its odor is terebinthic and pleasant ; 
its taste extremely and penetratingly bitter; and its reaction acid. 
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS.— Volatile Oil of Wormwood. This oil, isomeric 
with camphor, consists principally of ads¢nthol, C,,H,,O. It is dark green, acrid, 
and bitter, retains the odor of the plant, boils at 205° (401° F.), has a sp. gr. of 
0.973, and is soluble to almost any extent in alcohol. 
Absinthin, C,,H,,.0O,—This bitter principle when first extracted forms in yel- 
low globules, which soon crystallize and become a bitter, neutral, inodorous, friable 
powder, fusing at 120° (248° F.) to 125° (257° F.). It is soluble in alcohol, slightly 
also in water, and forms no sugar on decomposing with a mineral acid. 
Succinic Acid,+ C,H,O,—This acid, together with citric and malic acids, exists 
in the leaves and fruit of the plant, from which it may be isolated in inodorous, 
moderately acid, klinorhombic prisms, that fuse at 180° (356° F.), boil at 235° 
(455° F.), and are soluble in alcohol and twenty-five parts water. 
Potassium Chloride, KC].—This salt has been determined in the plant,t from 
which it may be isolated in yellowish cubes and octahedrons. 
* One part each of Lavender, Origanum, Peppermint, Rosemary, Sage, and Wormwood. 
+ Absynthic Acid of Braconnot. 
} Kunsmuller, dnn, de Chim., vi, 35, from the ash; Claassen, 4m: Your. Sci., 1882, 323, from the extract. 
