ARTEMISIA ABSINTHIUM. ORD. III. Composite. 55 
** The leaves give out nearly the whole of their smell and taste 
both to aqueous and spirituous menstrua. Rectified spirit elevates 
little from this plant in distillation: water brings over almost the. 
whole of its smell and flavour. Along with the aqueous fluid there 
arises an essential oil, which smells strongly and tastes nauseously 
of the Wormwood, though not bitter. The quantity of oil varies 
greatly, according to the soil and season in which the herb is 
produced. * 
«* The watery extract loses the distinguishing smell and ill flavour 
of the plant, but retains its bitterness almost entire. An extract, 
made with rectified spirit, contains, along with the bitter, nearly 
the whole of the nauseous part ;” water carrying off, in the evapo- 
ration, all the oil in which the offensive flavour resides, while pure 
spirit elevates very little of it.”’* 
This species of Wormwood, which is thought by Professor Murray 
to be the Absinthium ponticum of Dioscorides and Pliny,* may be 
considered the principal of the herbaceous bitters. Its Virtus, in the 
words of Bergius, is antiputredinosa, antacida, anthelminthica, re- 
solvens, tonica, stomachica.” And although it is now chiefly em- 
ployed with a view to the two last mentioned qualities, yet we are 
told of its good effects in a great variety of diseases, as intermittent 
fevers,’ hypochondriasis,*? obstructions" of the liver and spleen, 
* Baumé from twenty-five pounds of the berb obtained six to ten drams of the oil. 
» The extract, triturated with salt of tartar, emits a volatile odour; and hence 
appears to contain sal ammoniacum. Sulzer. Diss. An in plantis sal essentiale 
ammoniacum? Gott. 1769. 
* Lewis, M. M. p. 6. 
4“ Absinthium bathypicron herba est yulgo cognita. Prestantius in Ponto 
& Cappadocia in monte Tauro appellato nascitur.” Dioscor. L. 3. c. 26. p. 183. 
© Mat. Med. p. 670. f Boerhaave, Elem. Chem. Processus. 39. Comm. Nor. 
1734, p. 225. 
* Haller, Z. ¢. » Lange, Brunov. p. 111. 
