Chap. 28.] 
ABSINTHIUM. 
233 
instance, so called from a city in Gaul, and the Pontic,^*^ which 
comes from Pontus, where the cattle are fattened upon it — a 
diet which causes them to be destitute of gall.^^ The Pontic 
wormwood, we may remark, is of the finest quality, superior to 
that of Italy, and much more bitter ; the pith, however, of the 
Pontic wormwood is sweet. As to its general utility, a plant 
so commonly found and applied to such numerous uses, people 
are universally agreed ; but with the Eomans more particularly 
it has been always held in the highest esteem, from the fact of 
its being employed in their religious ceremonials. Thus, for 
instance, upon the Latin^^ Festival, it is the custom to have a 
race of four-horsed chariots in the Capital, and for the conq ueror 
to be presented with a draught of wormwood ; from the circum- 
stance, no doubt, that our forefathers were of opinion that good 
health was the most valuable reward they could bestow upon 
his skill. 
This plant is very strengthening to the stomach, and hence 
it is that wines are flavoured with it, as already^^ stated. A 
decoction of it in water is also taken, the following being 
the method employed in preparing it. Six drachmae of the 
leaves are boiled, with the branches, in three sextarii of rain 
water, and the preparation is then left to cool in the open air a 
day and a night. Salt, too, should be add^d to it. When old, it 
is utterly useless. A dilution of wormwood steeped in water 
is also used, such being the name^^ given to this method of 
preparing it. This dilution is made by leaving the vessel 
covered up for three days, any kind of water being used. 
Pounded wormwood is but rarely employed, and the same 
with the extracted juice of the seed.^^ In cases, however, 
where it is extracted, the seed is subjected to pressure as soon 
as it begins to swell, after which it is soaked for three days 
in water, if used fresh, and seven, if dry. It is then boiled 
in a copper vessel, in the proportion of ten heminse to forty- 
five sextarii of water, after which it is strained off and boiled 
8^ The Artemisia Pontica of Linnaeus, Little wormwood, or Roman 
wormwood. See B. xi. c. 75. 
The Artemisia absinthium of Linnaeus, Common wormwood. 
^ Upon which occasion a sacrifice was offered on the Alban Mount. 
See further as to this Festival, in B. iii. c. 2. 
91 In B. xiv. c. 19. Wine of wormwood is still used medicinally. 
92 "Dilutum/' An infusion. 
^ It contains a small quantity of essential oil. 
