The habitual use of absinth determines a series of disorders in addition to those already described, of which some are like those of ordinary alcoholism, while others differ therefrom either in degree or nature.

All the symptoms of absinthism are correlated directly or indirectly with the nervous system. The character of suffering from absinth poisoning is distinguished by its impressionability and by a succession or mixture of irritability and sadness. The dreams of those suffering from absinthism are similar to those afflicted with alcoholism, but more terrible, if that is possible. The hallucinations of vision and of hearing are much more frequent in absinthism than in alcoholism. Absinth delerium does not differ greatly from alcohol delerium, since it is produced from a similar cause. The most characteristic symptoms of absinthism, in addition to the epileptiform convulsions, are the phenomena of depression and sadness, either spontaneous or provoked.

More often than in alcoholism, absinthism produces a feebleness of the members of the body, approaching almost veritable paralysis. General convulsions are symptomatic of acute absinthism. They are not, however, observed so generally in chronic absinthism, unless there should be developed some lesion of the brain.

The digestive troubles in absinthism are analogous to those of alcoholism, but less pronounced.

Those who are afflicted with absinth poisoning are peculiarly susceptible to the ravages of tuberculosis, and invariably die if the disease is contracted. It is very unusual that any one addicted to the use of absinthe lives to be 60 years of age. There seems to be in absinthism, as in alcoholism, a premature condition of old age established; that is, the precipitation of the albuminous contents of the original cells. In other words, a hardening and segregation of the protoplasm.

This array of symptoms is certainly one that is large enough to deter any one from becoming a victim of chronic absinthism.

Fortunately, the absinth habit has not gained any great vogue in the United States, and it is hoped that before such an unfortunate state of affairs as existed in France arrives, there may be such a rigid control of traffic in absinth as to amount to prohibition.