156 ARTEMISIA ABSINTHIUM 



excessive use of the liqueur now so largely taken in France and 

 some other parts of the Continent, under the name of Absinthe, 

 and which consists essentially of alcohol mixed with the volatile 

 oil of wormwood, and to which some .other vegetable ingredients, as 

 angelica, anise, fennel, &c., are added. It is said that the effects 

 produced by absinthe are essentially different from those caused 

 by pure alcoholic drinks. These effects have been designated by 

 the name of absinthism, and are characterised, amongst other 

 symptoms, by great restlessness and disturbing dreams at night, 

 trembling of the hands and tongue, giddiness, tendency to epilep- 

 tiform convulsions, &c. These effects resemble those produced 

 by the volatile oil of wormwood, and hence, although entirely 

 discrediting the absurd and extravagant statements that have 

 been made on the highly injurious action of absinthe, it seems 

 at least probable that the abuse of absinthe is even more 

 dangerous than that of the purer alcoholic drinks. 



Per. Mat. Med., vol. ii, pt. 2, p. 23 ; Christison's Disp., p. 2 ; U. S. 

 Disp., p. 4; Waring's Man. of Pract. Therap., p. 136; Amer. 

 Journ. Pharm., vol. xxiii, p. 358 ; Luck, Ann. Chim. Pharm., 

 vol. Ixxviii, p. 87 ; Lancet, Dec. 6, 1862, p. 619 ; Boston Med. 

 and Surg. Journ., March 5 and 12, 1868, pp. 69 and 83; 

 Pharm. Journ., vol. x, 2nd ser., p. 30; Tear Book of Pharm. 

 for 1873, p. 348. 



DESCEIPTION OF PLATE. 



Drawn from a plant in the Roypl Gardens, Kew, flowering in August. 



1. Top of flowering stem. 



2. A flower-head. 



3. Section of the same. 



4. A male flower. 



5. A female flower. 



6. An anther. 



7. Upper part of style. 



8. A root-leaf. 



(2-7 enlarged.) 



