Supposing that view to be correct, there would be no more theoretical difficulty about turning water into alcohol, ethereal and colouring matters, than there is, at this present moment, any practical difficulty in working other such miracles; as when we turn sugar into alcohol, carbonic acid, glycerine, and succinic acid; or transmute gas-refuse into perfumes rarer than musk and dyes richer than Tyrian purple."
"Thomas Henry Huxley; A Sketch Of His Life And Work"
P. Chalmers Mitchell
The bitter taste of the true Wormwood is also due to "absinthin," and each kind contains nitrate of potash, tannin, and resin, with succinic, malic, and acetic acids.
"Herbal Simples Approved for Modern Uses of Cure"
William Thomas Fernie
The plant also contains tannin, resin, starch, succinic, malic, and acetic acids, with nitrate of potash, and other salts.
"Herbal Simples Approved for Modern Uses of Cure"
William Thomas Fernie