26 | XX | THE HOUSE OF PERNOD AND SONS | XX | XX |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
Why these manufacturers aim especially at cheap markets, one |
can easily see from these mixtures! The least danger that they |
present is the unequal saturation of alcohol by the essences; |
those, being more volatile, separate from the alcohol and rise |
to the surface which is thus saturated to excess. |
xxxx
When absinthe is prepared from spirits distilled from |
wine and maceration of plants in the alcohol followed by a |
methodical distillation, the product obtained is healthy and |
tonic. |
xxxx
|
xxxx
This chapter was written when we were informed of the discussion |
which taken up in the House of Commons in May and June 1895 |
concerning the project presented by the Government on the reform of the
|
taxation of drinks. |
xxxx
It was about reducing the taxes on drinks qualified as healthy - wine, |
beer, cider, perry, etc, to defer all the load of taxation upon the alcohol |
which one can justifiably call the beast of burden of the tax department. To |
justify this measure, they painted a very dark picture of
the ravages of |
alcoholism. Perhaps, in order to produce a sharper
impression on our |
legislators and to more easily obtain from them the
enormous surtax |
applied to alcohol, they had to let fly some
exaggerations. |
xxxx
As it is, we know from the information provided on that occasion by
|
the most qualified men, that alcoholism was, so to speak, unknown in |
France for as long as we consumed only naturally produced brandies, |
made by distillation of wine and fruit juices. Such was noted, among |
others, by Dr. Lannelongue, who dealt ex professo in the chamber with the |
question of alcoholism, and who produced for the tribunal the results of |
his own observations joined with those of the highest scientific authorities, |
before 1850 we knew no alcoholism in France, or rather we knew an |
alcoholism different from what it is today; |
(Translated by "Artemis" for your pleasure.) |