The Encyclopedia Americana: Absinthe
November 12, 2008 by admin
Absinthe, or wormwood, has long been known as a medicinal plant of value in cases of fever but it was only at the end of the 18th century that it was first used at Couvet in Switzerland for the preparation of a spirituous jiqueur As usually sold it is a spirit containing as much as 72 per cent of alcohol though some varieties contain only 57 per cent On account of the deadly ravages it caused among those addicted to it absinthe is prohibited in Switzerland and France.
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