| Absinthe Books III - Science and Pseudoscience |
| Both the serious and the populist medical literature of the day demonized absinthe, in many cases laying the ground for the campaigns of the anti-absinthe temperance movement. |
A signed presentation copy of "Recherches sur Les Centres Nerveux" by Dr Valentin Magnan,
the chief physician at the asylum of Sainte-Anne in Paris. Vol I was published in 1876, and Vol II
almost two decades later in 1893.
The leading French psychiatrist of his generation, Magnan was responsible for the clinical
definition of absinthism as a particular syndrome apart from alcoholism. His views were
enormously influential in France, and were constantly cited by the prohibitionist movement. He
believed chronic abuse of absinthe resulted not only in epilepsy and insanity, but in
degenerative birth defects that could be passed down three or four generations.
the chief physician at the asylum of Sainte-Anne in Paris. Vol I was published in 1876, and Vol II
almost two decades later in 1893.
The leading French psychiatrist of his generation, Magnan was responsible for the clinical
definition of absinthism as a particular syndrome apart from alcoholism. His views were
enormously influential in France, and were constantly cited by the prohibitionist movement. He
believed chronic abuse of absinthe resulted not only in epilepsy and insanity, but in
degenerative birth defects that could be passed down three or four generations.
Click on the images to see
enlarged versions.
enlarged versions.
Bronze medal to commemorate
Magnan's work with alcoholics.
Magnan's work with alcoholics.
A previously unrecorded 1871 paper
by Magnan "Étude Expérimentale et
Clinique sur l’Alcoolisme – Alcool et
Absinthe, Épilepsie Absinthique"
46 pages. Originally published in the
Recueil de Médecine Vétérinaire.
by Magnan "Étude Expérimentale et
Clinique sur l’Alcoolisme – Alcool et
Absinthe, Épilepsie Absinthique"
46 pages. Originally published in the
Recueil de Médecine Vétérinaire.
De L'Alcoolisme
Des diverses formes du délire
alcoolique et de leur traitment
Magnan's 1874 book had extensive
chapters on the effects of absinthe on
laboratory animals, and the effects of
absinthe on habitual drinkers.
Des diverses formes du délire
alcoolique et de leur traitment
Magnan's 1874 book had extensive
chapters on the effects of absinthe on
laboratory animals, and the effects of
absinthe on habitual drinkers.
Alcoholism and Degeneracy.
By MM Magnan and A Fillassier
An important English language paper
presented by Magnan at the 1912
London Eugenics Conference. It
includes a detailed description of the
symptoms of absinthism.
By MM Magnan and A Fillassier
An important English language paper
presented by Magnan at the 1912
London Eugenics Conference. It
includes a detailed description of the
symptoms of absinthism.
| Click on the images to see enlarged versions. |
Thèse pour le Doctorat en Médecine,
Presentée et Soutenue le 9 Décembre 1859,
Par A.-Auguste Motet
Considerations Générales sur l’Alcoolisme,
et plus particulièrement des Effects
Toxiques Produits sur l’Homme par la
Liqueur d’Absinthe.
An extremely early work on the medical
effects of absinthe, predating most of
Magnan's researches.
Presentée et Soutenue le 9 Décembre 1859,
Par A.-Auguste Motet
Considerations Générales sur l’Alcoolisme,
et plus particulièrement des Effects
Toxiques Produits sur l’Homme par la
Liqueur d’Absinthe.
An extremely early work on the medical
effects of absinthe, predating most of
Magnan's researches.
"A Contribution to the Study of
Descending Degenerations in the
Brain and Spinal Cord, and of the Seat
of Origin and Paths of Conduction of
the Fits in Absinthe Epilepsy",
by Rubert Boyce, Professor of
Pathology, University College,
Liverpool. Royal Society, 1895.
The author, drawing on Magnan's work
in France, conducted a series of
gruesome experiments on cats,
investigating the effects on their brain
function of exposure to absinthe.
Descending Degenerations in the
Brain and Spinal Cord, and of the Seat
of Origin and Paths of Conduction of
the Fits in Absinthe Epilepsy",
by Rubert Boyce, Professor of
Pathology, University College,
Liverpool. Royal Society, 1895.
The author, drawing on Magnan's work
in France, conducted a series of
gruesome experiments on cats,
investigating the effects on their brain
function of exposure to absinthe.
Considérations sur l’absinthisme
Thèse présentée et publiquement
soutenue à la Faculté de Médecine de
Montpellier, le 10 Juillet 1880
Par Marius Maunier
Numerous experiments with
salamanders, birds, guinea pigs, dogs
and monkeys are described, in an
attempt to clearly differentiate between
ordinary alcoholism, and absinthism.
Thèse présentée et publiquement
soutenue à la Faculté de Médecine de
Montpellier, le 10 Juillet 1880
Par Marius Maunier
Numerous experiments with
salamanders, birds, guinea pigs, dogs
and monkeys are described, in an
attempt to clearly differentiate between
ordinary alcoholism, and absinthism.
| Click on the images to see enlarged versions. |
La Medecine Universelle 1891
"Absinthe produces drunken
rages, normal alcohol produces
calm drunkenness"
"Absinthe produces drunken
rages, normal alcohol produces
calm drunkenness"
"Aliénés et Anormaux" by Jacques Roubinovitch, published in
Paris in 1910.
Much of the populist literature focused on the alleged
hereditary effects of absinthism, which were held to be far
more severe than those resulting from ordinary alcoholism.
Click on the images for enlarged pictures.
Paris in 1910.
Much of the populist literature focused on the alleged
hereditary effects of absinthism, which were held to be far
more severe than those resulting from ordinary alcoholism.
Click on the images for enlarged pictures.
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