Physicians should be careful to avoid prescribing absinth and its allied essences in cases of persons whose nervous excitability is already near the breaking point, and who possess decided irritability. These are the kinds of drinkers who too often serve as subjects of observation, and upon whom the epileptic attack has been noticed after the drinking of the absinth liqueur. To such fragile beings it is necessary for the physician to forbid absolutely not only the use of absinth, but of all the substances which belong to the epileptogenic group, which are more widely distributed and more important than has generally been supposed.

Among this group may be mentioned Hyssop, Rosemary, Fennel, and a variety of Sage. The essence of sage is often more toxic than essence of absinth, according to some authors.

The following table shows the quantity of the different substances which are required to produce convulsions in animals, the quantity being for each kilogram of weight: