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diff --git a/old/68148-0.txt b/old/68148-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 8a1a348..0000000 --- a/old/68148-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1576 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Tea and the effects of tea drinking, -by W. Scott Tebb - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Tea and the effects of tea drinking - -Author: W. Scott Tebb - -Release Date: May 22, 2022 [eBook #68148] - -Language: English - -Produced by: The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at - https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images - generously made available by The Internet Archive) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TEA AND THE EFFECTS OF TEA -DRINKING *** - - - - - - TEA - - AND THE - - EFFECTS OF TEA DRINKING. - - - BY - - W. SCOTT TEBB, M.A., M.D., CANTAB., D.P.H. - - FELLOW OF THE INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY, PUBLIC ANALYST TO THE - - METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK. - - - London: - T. CORNELL & SONS, Commercial, Law and General Printers, - 63, Borough Road, S.E. - - -In March, 1904, the Southwark Borough Council at the request of Sir -William Collins gave permission for an inquiry to be made into the -constituents of tea in order to ascertain what injurious ingredients -were present, and if it were possible to obtain the characteristic -effects without subjecting tea-drinkers to any of the deleterious -symptoms. The subject will be seen to be of importance and I propose -to include a brief history of the use of the Tea plant, together with -a general review of the experience gained by those best competent to -judge of the effects since its introduction of what has now come to be -considered a necessity of life. In addition there are set forth the -results of examination of different samples of tea and the general -conclusions to which I have arrived. - -What we call tea, is called by the Chinese tcha, tha, or te, and by the -Russians tchai. The original English word was tee, at least this is the -name used by Samuel Pepys one of the earliest to allude to the herb in -this country. Tee was afterwards altered to tay, as will be seen from -Pope’s lines in the “Rape of the Lock.” - - Soft yielding minds to water glide away - And sip, with nymphs, their elemental tay. - -Or again, - - Hear thou, great Anna! whom three realms obey - Dost sometimes counsel take, and sometimes tay. - -Some of the modern editions of Pope have altered the spelling at the -expense of the rhyme. - -The tea-plant, Thea Sinensis, botanically speaking a close ally of -the Camellia is in its natural state a tree which attains to 20 or 30 -feet in height. Under cultivation it remains a shrub from three to -six feet high. It grows in all tropical and sub-tropical countries, -and roughly it takes the labour of one man a day to produce a pound -of tea. The leaves--the only part of the plant used in commerce--vary -from two to six inches long, are evergreen, lanceolate and serrated -throughout nearly the whole margin; the leaves are stalked and arranged -alternately on axis, the flowers somewhat resemble apple blossoms but -are smaller. - -The shrubs are planted in rows three or four feet apart and look like -a field of currant or gooseberry bushes; at the end of the third year -the bushes become large enough to allow of the first picking and in the -eighth year the plant is cut down, when new shoots spring up from the -old roots. In Ceylon and parts of India the first picking is in March -and there may be as many as 25 pickings in the season until October; -in China the first picking is in April, and in Japan late in April or -early May. The early pickings make the finest quality of tea, and the -very late leaves are not usually exported at all, but are used by the -peasants locally. In preparation for commerce the leaves are subjected -to various processes of drying, rolling and roasting, into which it -would not be necessary at any length to enter; the essential point to -remember is that black tea differs from green in that after a short -preliminary rolling and roasting, the leaves are exposed to the air in -a soft moist state, when they undergo fermentation with the result it -is said that a portion of the tannic acid is converted to sugar. Robert -Fortune,[1] an authority on the cultivation of the tea plant thought -that the differences of manufacture “fully account for the difference -in colour, as well as for the effect produced on some constitutions by -green tea, such as nervous irritability, sleeplessness, &c.” - -When we come to look into the early origin of the practice of -tea-drinking we find that the subject is shrouded in the mists of -antiquity. There are many legendary stories of the discovery and use of -tea by the Chinese, but the only authentic and well-attested accounts -were given by two Mahommedans who travelled in India and China in the -ninth century. The original manuscript was found in the Comte de -Seignelay’s library by Eusebius Renaudot and published in 1733. There -is plain internal evidence that the manuscript was written about 1173, -for there are observations upon the extent and circumference of the -walls and towers of Damascus and other cities in subjection to the -Sultan Nuroddin, who is spoken of as living at that time. This prince -died in 1173 which fixes the date of the narrative before that time. -The account speaks of the Arab merchants having been present in China -in the years 851 and 867 respectively. On page 25 occurs the following -important passage “The Emperor also reserves to himself the revenues -which arise from the salt mines and from a certain Herb which they -drink with hot water, and of which great quantities are sold in all -the cities, to the amount of great sums. They call it _sah_ and it -is a shrub more bushy than the pomegranate tree and of a more taking -smell, but it has a kind of bitterness with it. Their way is to boil -water, which they pour upon this leaf, and this drink cures all sorts -of diseases; whatever sums are lodged in the treasury arise from the -Poll-tax, and the duties upon salt, and upon this leaf.”[2] - -Tea was therefore much in vogue in China in the 9th century. From China -the knowledge was carried to Japan, and there the cultivation was -established at the beginning of the 13th century; from that time until -the 19th century China and Japan have been the only two tea producing -countries. As with all innovations Europe and particularly England was -very slow to take to the practice, for tea is hardly mentioned by any -of the writers prior to the 16th century. - -One of the earliest to allude to the subject was Giovanni Botero[3] in -1596, in his treatise on the causes of the magnificence and greatness -of cities; he remarks that “they (the Chinese) have also an herb, out -of which they press a delicate juice, which serves them for drink -instead of wine, it also preserves their health and frees them from all -those ills that the immoderate use of wine doth breed unto us.” - -It will be observed that in these early accounts much stress is laid on -the beneficial action of tea in preserving health and curing disease, -and this was in all probability the first use to which the shrub was -applied. Thus one of the Sloane Manuscripts, dated 1686, gives a long -list of “qualities and operations,” attributed by the Chinese to the -tea plant. It was said to purify the blood and kidneys, cure giddiness -and pains in the head, vanquish superfluous sleep and heavy dreams, -open obstructions, clear the sight, strengthen the memory, sharpen the -wits and quicken the understanding. - -About the year 1657, Thomas Garway of the Exchange Alley issued a sheet -proclaiming the virtues of tea; the alleged qualities being almost -identical with those given in the Sloane Manuscript just mentioned. -This was a sort of advertisement of his place of business and he -tells us that “many noblemen, physitians, merchants, and gentlemen of -quality” sent to town for the “said leaf,” and “daily resort” to his -house in Exchange Alley to drink tea. He informs us that prior to 1657 -it was only used as a “regalia in high treatments and entertainments,” -and for presents for princes and grandees. - -Another early reference is from an advertisement in the “Mercurius -Politicus” for 1658. “That excellent, and by all physitians approved -_China_ drink, called by the _Chineans_, Tcha, by other nations _Tay -alias Tee_ is sold at the _Sultaness-head_, a _Cophee-house_ in -_Sweetings_ Rents, by the Royal Exchange, London.”[4] - -A further early reference is by Thomas Rugge[5] which may be seen in a -manuscript at the British Museum. “About this time the parliment that -was forced out the 13th day of October, 59; it was called by all sorts -of persons the Rump, because they war soe few in number; and there war -also att this time a Turkish drink to be sould, almost in every street -called Coffee, and another kind of drink called Tee, and also a drink -called Chocolate which was a very harty drink.” - -It is rather difficult to reconcile this account of the prevalence of -the use of tea as a drink with that of other writers of the period. -Thus Pepys writing a year afterwards under date September 25, 1660, -says: “I did send for a cup of tee (a China drink) of which I never had -drank before.” This clearly points to the novelty of the practice in -1660 for Samuel Pepys was Secretary of the Admiralty, and a public man -of keen observation, and it is almost impossible if tea was commonly -sold as a drink at this time that he should have been unaware of the -fact. Macaulay[6] also mentions that about this time tea “had been -handed round to be stared at.” It seems therefore clear that the -herb was quite recently introduced in 1660, and it is possible that -Rugge under the name of “tee” is referring to hot infusions of other -leaves for it is well known that herbs were commonly used for making -different sorts of teas as sage tea, &c.[7] - -The first official notice of tea is in the Act of Parliament (12 -Carolus II., c 23), by which a duty of eightpence was charged on every -gallon of coffee, chocolate, sherbet, and tea made for sale. In 1662 -Charles II. married Princess Catherine of Portugal, and the Poet Waller -has immortalised tea-drinking by a birthday ode in her honour. - - The muse’s friend, tea, does our fancy aid, - Repress those vapours which the head invade, - And keeps that palace of the soul serene - Fit, on her birthday, to salute the Queen. - -Two years later the King was a recipient of the then valuable gift of -2lb. 2oz. of tea from the East India Company. - -In Pepys Diary under the date of June 28, 1667, we read “Home and there -find my wife making of tea; a drink which Mr. Pelling, the Potticary, -tells her is good for her cold and defluxions.” Tea, therefore, was -just coming into vogue. In 1669 the East India Company received two -canisters containing 143¹⁄₂ pounds; the price at this time was sixty -shillings a pound. The Company imported 4713 pounds in 1678, but this -amount probably glutted the market, for in the six subsequent years -the imports were quite inconsiderable. In 1697-99 the imports averaged -20,000, in 1700-08 they reached 80,000 pounds, in 1728 over a million -pounds, in 1754 four and a half million, in 1763 six million, and in -1779 nearly ten million pounds.[8] It is not necessary to follow the -imports during the whole of the 18th century, speaking generally it was -found that excessive duties led to smaller imports, and at the same -time to a large increase of smuggling and other irregularities. - -Since 1800 there has been an enormous increase of consumption in the -United Kingdom, as will be seen from the following figures:-- - - -TABLE A. - - Average number of Average Average number of - Year-Periods. pounds of Tea annual pounds of Tea consumed - consumed per annum. Population. per head per annum. - 1801-10 23,717,882 16,794,000 1·41 - 1811-20 24,753,808 19,316,700 1·28 - 1821-30 28,612,702 22,433,900 1·27 - 1831-40 34,441,766 25,257,200 1·36 - 1841-50 44,286,600 27,566,300 1·61 - 1851-60 65,160,456 28,172,400 2·31 - 1861-70 97,775,548 30,027,600 3·26 - 1871-80 144,462,622 33,055,020 4·37 - 1881-90 178,130,836 36,178,144 4·92 - 1891-1900 224,076,800 39,440,316 5·70 - 1901-03 255,270,472 41,550,773 6·10 - -Since the beginning of the last century therefore the average -consumption per head has increased from 1·4 to 6·1 pounds. In our -Australian and New Zealand Colonies the quantity consumed is even -much larger than in the United Kingdom as will be seen from the table -below:-- - - -TABLE B. - - Average number of pounds - of Tea consumed per - head per annum. - New South Wales 8·01 - Victoria 7·38 - South Australia (except N. Territory) 8·87 - South Australia (North Territory) 6·44 - Western Australia 10·07 - Queensland 7·09 - Tasmania 6·62 - All Australia 7·81 - New Zealand 6·78 - -The enormous quantity of tea consumed in Great Britain and our -Colonies will be better appreciated if comparisons are made with other -Countries:-- - - -TABLE C. - - Average number of pounds - of Tea consumed per - head per annum. - Russia 0·93 - Germany 0·12 - Holland 1·48 - France 0·06 - United States 1·09 - Canada 4·64 - -I should like to say a few words concerning the sources of tea supply -to the United Kingdom. Of course until fairly recent times practically -all the tea came from China. Early in the last century it was found -that the tea plant was indigenous to India. In 1825 the Society of Arts -offered their gold medal “to the person who shall grow and prepare the -greatest quantity of China tea, of good quality, not being less than 20 -pounds weight”[9] in the East Indies and British Colonies. In 1832 Dr. -Wallick made a report on the cultivation of tea in India and said “that -under a well-directed management the tea plant may at no distant period -be made an object of extensive cultivation in the Honourable East India -Company’s Dominions.” Several years afterwards in 1839 the Society -of Arts Medal was awarded to Mr. C. A. Bruce “for discovering the -indigenous tea tracts and successfully cultivating and preparing tea in -the British possessions in India.” In 1840 the first Indian Tea Company -was formed, in 1853 tea was growing in Cachar, in 1856 in Sylhet, and -in 1864 in Darjeeling and other places. Much more recently Ceylon has -become prominent in supplying this country with tea. It came about in -this way; the coffee plantations were destroyed by disease in 1868 -and the planters succeeded in growing cinchona and tea as alternative -crops. This experimental growth of tea in Ceylon has now become a -flourishing industry. - -The following table shows in five year periods since 1866, the -proportion of each 100 pounds of tea imported into the United Kingdom -from India, Ceylon, China and other countries respectively: - - -TABLE D. - - Five Year Other - Periods. India. Ceylon. China. Countries. - 1866-70 6·62 0·00 91·44 1·94 - 1871-75 10·50 0·08 85·62 3·80 - 1876-80 18·26 0·06 80·18 1·50 - 1881-85 26·73 0·86 70·71 1·71 - 1886-90 39·66 10·96 47·07 2·32 - 1891-95 47·10 29·30 21·04 2·56 - 1896-1900 50·25 36·30 10·52 2·93 - 1901-03 58·45 33·28 4·74 3·53 - -It appears that China which formerly supplied 90 per cent. in 1866, now -contributes less than 5 per cent. of our tea. During the same period -the Indian supply has gone up from 6 to 58 per cent., and Ceylon which -only commenced to send tea in 1875 now sends the substantial proportion -of 33 per cent. of the total importation. - -From the above tables it will be seen that of the yearly average of -six pounds consumed in the United Kingdom, one third of a pound comes -from China, three and a half pounds from India, and two pounds from -Ceylon. The Dutch the next largest tea-drinkers to the British consume -a pound and a half each person per annum, half of this comes from Java -and the remaining half from the United Kingdom (principally of Chinese -origin). Most of the tea drunk in Russia comes from China. In Australia -two-thirds of the tea is imported from India and Ceylon, and the rest -comes from China. In the United States more than half the tea comes -from China and the bulk of the remainder from Japan. - -I now proceed to deal briefly with the constituents of tea which are -generally believed to impart to the tea infusion its special characters. - -_Alkaloid._ The alkaloid which is present in tea to the extent of 3 -or 4 per cent. is thought to be identical with that found in Coffee, -viz: caffeine. It has the well-known stimulant and invigorating -qualities with which the taking of tea is associated. Thus the brain is -stimulated, the intellect becomes clear; there is removal of languor -and fatigue with increased wakefulness and alertness. The following is -by a Chinese writer, who lived over 1,000 years ago and he writes so -well, and so much to the point, that we must not quarrel with him if he -has omitted to give us the reverse aspect of the question. - - It tempers the spirits, and harmonises the mind, - Dispels lassitude, and relieves fatigue, - Awakens thought, and prevents drowsiness, - Lightens or refreshes the body, and clears the perceptive faculties. - -We shall also forgive Cowper’s strong prepossession in favour of tea -when we call to mind the cosy, comfortable picture which he describes: - - And while the bubbling and loud hissing urn, - Throws up a steamy column, and the cups - That cheer but not inebriate, wait on each - So let us welcome peaceful evening in. - -I suppose that this verse has been as much quoted as anything in our -language, and the homely picture of the evening meal has done much to -wean the English people from stronger drinks. - -The following article from the _Lancet_ of 1863 presents all the -arguments, and very important arguments they are and very well stated -which can be placed to the credit of tea-drinking:-- - - “It has a strange influence over mood--a strange power of changing - the look of things, and changing it for the better: so that we can - believe and hope, and do under the influence of tea, what we should - otherwise give up in discouragement and despair,--feelings under the - influence of which tissues wear rapidly. In the language of the poor, - who in London we are told spend one-eight of their income in buying - tea, it produces a feeling of comfort. Neither the philosopher nor - the philanthropist will despise this property of tea, this power of - conferring comfort, or removing _ennui_, of promoting those happier - feelings of our nature under which we can do most and bear most. There - is no denying the considerable dependence of our moods and frames upon - substances; and as moods are as important as muscles, as they affect - as largely a man’s ability for the great ends of life, we cannot - regard the cheapening of such substances, when devoid of noxious - qualities, as other than a most important benefit to the poor.” - -This feeling of comfort, this power of changing the aspect of affairs, -of appealing to the happier side of our nature, in other words of -putting us at our best, is undoubtedly due to the alkaloid of tea. -Since I have been interested in the subject I have conversed with a -number of friends, and many have told me that the best time of day -to do any writing or intellectual work is after a cup of tea in the -afternoon, and I must confess to feeling more myself at this time than -at any other; but, on the other hand if no afternoon tea is taken, -this period of the day is when most people feel fagged and tired and -incapable of mental exertion. This shews the great influence exercised -by tea over our moods and feelings; and if tea is taken in moderation -this property may be of great help and a mental stimulus to us in our -daily vocation. - -_Tannin._--The other important constituent of tea, viz.: tannin is -present to the extent of 10 or 20 per cent. and it is this substance -to which most of the injurious effects of tea have been attributed. -In excess tannin tends to depress the action of the digestive fluids -and ferments. It interferes with the normal activity of secretion by -constricting the blood vessels and diminishing the circulation, and -lastly it tends to combine with the nitrogenous principles of the food -rendering them insoluble and incapable of digestion. The tendency -therefore of this substance is greatly to impair digestion and it -gives rise to palpitation of the heart, headache, flatulence, loss -of appetite, constipation and other symptoms so well-known at the -out-patient departments of our general hospitals; on inquiry it is -often found that the patient is accustomed to drink large quantities -of tea, which has stood for long periods and consequently extracted -excessive amounts of tannin. - -In addition to the alkaloid and tannin the older writers asserted that -tea contained a volatile oil to the extent of 0·6 to 1 per cent., -and many of the qualities and deleterious effects of tea have been -traced to the presence of this substance. The latest experiments, -however throw some doubts on these early results. Thus in the report -of Schimmel & Co. for April, 1897, it is stated (p. 39) that “in -former years we endeavoured on several occasions to distil various -kinds of tea in order to introduce tea oil ... we have, however, in no -case succeeded in obtaining more than mere traces of oil,” and they -conclude that in the hands of the early experimenters the oil found -on distillation was due to the artificial flavouring of tea which was -common at that time. Schimmel & Co. in their Report for April, 1898 -(p. 50) refer to a report of the Botanical Gardens in Buitenzorg for -1896. It appears that experiments were made on a large scale, thus -2500 kilograms of freshly fermented tea leaves were submitted to steam -distillation and 130 cubic centimetres or 0·0052 per cent. of oil was -obtained.[10] It must be remembered that this oil was only found in -freshly fermented leaves and from the minute quantity I think we may -conclude that tea oil if present has little or no connection with the -qualities and attributes of tea, or the deleterious effects to which it -may give rise. - -A word or two with reference to the adulteration of tea. In former -times a good many samples and especially of green tea were faced; -this consisted in the addition of some colouring matter as Prussian -blue, turmeric, or indigo; and sometimes black tea was faced with -graphite. Another practice formerly prevalent was the addition of -various leaves having a resemblance to tea leaves; and then there was -the use of exhausted or spent leaves. All these forms of adulteration -are now happily very seldom practiced. To shew the extreme rarity of -tea adulteration in this country, in the 17 years from 1887 to 1903, -7595 samples were purchased under the Food and Drugs Acts and of these -only 23 were found to be adulterated. These figures include 15 cases -in 1898, and according to the report of the Local Government Board for -this year many were of the description known as caper tea. This is one -of the China varieties and consists of small granular masses made up -by the aid of gum and starch, and this lends itself to the addition of -sand and stones as actually happened in the cases in question. I think -that with this exception of mineral matter, tea adulteration in this -country may now be said to be practically non-existant. - -We have glanced through the general effects of the important -constituents of tea. I now propose to consider the amount of harm which -can be justly attributed to this popular article of daily consumption. - -The opposition to tea on the ground of injury to health is almost as -old as the introduction of tea itself. One of the earliest objectors -was Dr. Simon Pauli,[11] the Physician to the King of Denmark, in -a commentary he wrote on the abuse of tobacco and tea. He objected -on the ground that “tea is moderately heating, bitter, drying and -astringent.” He felt it incumbent on him to warn Europeans against the -abuse of tea, especially as the herb he said by no means answered the -encomiums bestowed upon it by the Chinese and Japanese. “I wish all -persons especially such as are old would obstinately reject _tea_, -which so dries the bodies of the _Chinese_ that they can hardly spit.” -Pauli was also a strong opponent of Coffee and alleged that it produced -“sterility.” - -Another powerful writer on the subject was Dr. Cohausen a learned and -ingenious German physician. The works of this author were numerous and -bore evidence of the vigour of his intellect and of his application -to letters. His work entitled “Neothea,” and published in 1716, was -written to shew the folly of sending to China for tea, when we had so -many herbs to hand, just as pleasant and far more healthy. His wit for -which he was justly celebrated was not sufficiently powerful to render -the use of tea unfashionable. - -Boerhaave, the great Dutch physician, and follower of Hippocrates and -Sydenham had an objection to tea, but not so much to the herb itself -as to the practice of drinking of hot liquids. He refers to those -persons who “weaken their bodies with perpetual drinking of aqueous -liquors; such is the very bad custom which prevails amongst the Dutch, -who indulge themselves in a sedentary life, and all day long use those -Asiatic drinks made of the berries of coffee or leaves of tea.”[12] -He also attributed to these drinks certain nervous disorders. “I have -seen a great many, so enervated by drinking too freely of those liquors -(tea, coffee and the like) that they could hardly move their limbs, and -likewise several who were seized with the apoplexy and palsy from that -cause.”[13] - -An early lay opponent of tea-drinking was John Wesley. He tells us that -when he first went to Oxford with an exceedingly good constitution “he -was somewhat surprised at certain symptoms of a paralytic disorder.” -His hand shook especially after breakfast, and he observed that if -he gave up tea-drinking for two or three days, the shaking ceased. -On inquiry he found that tea had the same effect on others, and -particularly on persons whose nerves were weak. This led him to lessen -the quantity and to drink weaker tea, but still for about 26 years he -was more or less subject to the same disorder. In 1746 he began to -observe that a number of people in London were similarly affected, -some suffering from the nerves with decay of bodily strength, and he -asked them if they were hard drinkers, and learnt in reply that they -drank nothing but a little tea, morning and evening. He came to the -conclusion that they suffered from the effects of tea like he had -himself. Wesley thought he should set an example and broke himself -of a practice which had lasted for 27 years. The first three days he -suffered from headache more or less all day long, and was half asleep -from morning to night; on the third day his memory failed but the -symptoms abated in the following day and his memory returned. He felt -great benefit from the abstinence, and found that his hand was as -steady at 45 as it had been at fifteen. - -One of the most determined opponents of tea-drinking in the 18th -century was Jonas Hanway, the eminent philanthropist and “father” -of Sunday schools. His views may be gathered from the title of his -work.[14] Owing to the results of this beverage he said “men seem to -have lost their stature and comeliness; and women their beauty ... what -Shakespeare ascribes to the concealment of love, is _in this age_, -more frequently occasioned by the use of _tea_.... I am persuaded the -inhabitants of this island will never increase in number nor enjoy a -blooming health whilst they continue such an extravagant use of tea.” -Hanway’s exaggerations succeeded in drawing Dr. Johnson into the -controversy. The great man in a review of Hanway’s work said “he is to -expect little justice from the author of this extract, a hardened and -shameless tea-drinker who has for twenty years diluted his meals with -only the infusion of this facinating plant, whose kettle has scarcely -time to cool, who with tea amuses the evening, with tea solaces the -midnights, and with tea welcomes the morning.”[15] - -We learn from Boswell that “no person ever enjoyed with more relish -the infusion of that fragrant leaf than Johnson. The quantities which -he drank of it at all hours were so great, that his nerves must have -been uncommonly strong, not to have been extremely relaxed by such an -intemperate use of it.” Boswell says that Johnson assured him he never -felt the least inconvenience from it. In a footnote to page 105 of -Boswell’s “Life” we are informed that a Mr. Parker of Henley was in -possession of a tea-pot which belonged to Dr. Johnson and held “above -two quarts.” - -At the end of the eighteenth century Dr. Lettsom, a well-known -authority on the subject, published a work on the “Natural History -of the Tea Tree.” He found that amongst the less hardy and robust -complaints were ascribed to the drinking of tea “there are many who -cannot bear to drink a single dish of tea without being immediately -sick and disordered at the stomach, ... and that in irritable -constitutions it speedily excited the nerves to such a degree as to -give rise to uneasy sensations and bring on spasmodic affections.” -He also says “I know people of both sexes, who are constantly seized -with great uneasiness, anxiety, and oppression as often as they take -a single cup of tea.” For children he thought it decidedly harmful; -“children and very young persons in general, should as much as possible -be deterred from the use of this infusion. It weakens their stomach, -impairs the digestive powers and favours the generation of many -diseases.” On the whole however, he was not altogether opposed to the -practice in strong healthy vigorous adults, “to such it is undoubtedly -wholesome and equal at least if not preferable to any other kind of -regale now in use.” On another page we read that “if not drunk too -hot, nor in too great quantities it is perhaps preferable to any other -vegetable infusion we know.” - -Quite at the end of the eighteenth century, Dr. Buchan, who was -something of a medical reformer, and had naturally observed the results -of tea-drinking thought that the ill-effects proceeded rather from the -imprudent use of it than from any bad qualities in the tea itself. In -his “Domestic Medicine” (p. 74) he says, “good tea, taken in moderate -quantity, not too strong, nor too hot, nor drank upon an empty stomach, -will seldom do harm, but if it be bad, which is often the case or -substituted in the room of solid food, it must have many ill effects.” -He observed that “females who live much on tea and other watery diet, -generally become weak, and unable to digest solid food; hence proceed -hysterics, and all their dreadful consequences.” - -In the early part of the nineteenth century we have the opinion of -William Cobbett, a vigorous writer and acute observer of the habits -of the time in which he lived. In his “Advice to young men” Cobbett -remarks “Let me beseech you to resolve to free yourselves from the -slavery of the _tea_ and _coffee_ and other _slop kettle_, if unhappily -you have been bred up in such slavery. Experience has taught me that -those slops are _injurious to health_. Until I left them off (having -taken to them at the age of 26) even my habits of sobriety, moderate -eating, early rising, even these were not, until I left off the slops, -sufficient to give me that complete health which I have since had.” - -The most complete but painful description I have come across of the -distressing symptoms occasionally associated with tea-drinking is -given by Dr. James Henry[16] who writes in 1830. He refers to the -case of a gentleman who commenced the use of tea of ordinary strength -at the age of 14. Shortly afterwards sleep became less sound, and he -became nervous and easily agitated about matters of small consequence. -Afterwards he suffered from uneasiness even while sleeping, also -from nightmare and palpitation of the heart. His sleep was disturbed -during the whole period of ten years; during this time he took three -cups of tea in the morning and three cups in the evening. At the age -of 24 or 25 he used tea more freely and his sleep became more and -more disturbed. He sometimes took tea twice in the same evening. The -suffering was very great; he did not fall asleep at night until two -o’clock and the agitation of mind and body was indescribable. The -pulsations of the heart were sometimes quick and faint, and sometimes -so violent that he could not lie on his left side. Sometimes the -pulsations became scarcely perceptible for several moments, at such -times the patient felt as if he were dying and if he fell asleep he -awoke with a violent start. He wished to sleep that he might avoid -the distressing sensations which he felt while awake, but feared to -do so lest his awakening should be accompanied by frightful agony. -After a time the distressing sensations were so marked especially just -before going to bed that “in the society of my family I felt myself -so agitated without any apparent cause that I was unable either to -speak or think deliberately, or even to remain in one position and -have been obliged that I might not be thought insane to rise abruptly, -hurry out of the house and take violent exercise in the open air.” -At 30 years of age he renounced tea and never suffered afterwards, -“the very first night I slept soundly and I have never had any return -either of sleeplessness or of starting or of the sensation of imminent -death, unless on the rare occasions when I have returned to the use -of tea.” Dr. Henry argued from the above case that “tea and coffee -act as a poison upon some persons” and on turning his attention to -the subject he found that such cases were far from uncommon, and -concluded that like alcohol tea may be indulged in for a series of -years without apparent ill consequences, but that sooner or later it -undermines the health, and renders life miserable. As with alcohol he -recognises two stages. The first stage was characterised by agreeable -sensations in the stomach, moderate perspiration, quickened pulse and -increased vivacity of mind and body. In the second stage there was -irregular pulse, sometimes rapid, sometimes slow and intermitting, -with palpitation and pains in the region of the heart--a vivacity -of thought and action which is quite uncontrollable by the will, a -painful insensibility to impressions of all kinds, twitchings of -the muscles, disturbed sleep, frightful startings especially in the -evening, irregular and sometimes cold perspiration, impaired appetite -and defective circulation in the extremities. He concluded “that the -immoderate use of tea and coffee produce a disease which bears a close -resemblance to the _delirium tremens_ of whisky drinkers, and which -is almost identical with the diseased state induced by the excessive -indulgence of opium.” - -We now come to the opinion of the more recent authorities and a few -remarks are necessary concerning the symptoms liable to result from -excessive tea-drinking. In the _Boston Medical and Surgical Journal_ -for September 10th, 1868, a writer Dr. Pratt explains the effects on -himself of 12 grains of the alkaloid of tea. After two hours there -was great physical restlessness, a very uneasy state of mind which -has been described by Lehmann as “mental anguish.” Soon after there -was marked tremulousness of the hands and arms; the hand trembled so -violently that it was impossible to write with any regularity. The -mind was excessively uncomfortable and anxious which admitted not of -the slightest rest; it was in a state of most active and persistent -thinking in spite of all attempts at forgetfulness. The severe symptoms -lasted about two hours. Dr. Pratt spoke to one of the most prominent -New England lady writers. She had tried green tea when pressed to do a -large amount of writing in a short time. Some time after taking a large -quantity of tea she felt as “if there was nothing left but her head -which furnished rapidly language or ideas of the best quality, and in -goodly quantity all night long.” The next day there was headache and -more or less prostration. - -An important article on the “toxic effects of tea” was contributed by -Dr. Morton[17] in 1879. He said that the bad effects of tea tasting -were known and recognised by the tea tasters themselves and that few -could carry on the business for many years without breaking down. The -immediate effects of moderate doses were increased rapidity of pulse, -increased respiration, agreeable exhilaration of mind and body, a -feeling of contentment and placidity, and an increase of intellectual -and physical vigour with no noticeable reaction. The immediate effects -of an excessive dose, were a rapid elevation of the pulse and marked -increase of respiration; there was no period of exhilaration, but -immediate and severe headache, dimness of vision, ringing in the ears, -and dulness and confusion of ideas. Following this a severe reaction -with exhaustion of mind and body, tremulousness, nervousness and dread -of impending harm. The effects of continued doses were--continuance -of tremulousness, extreme susceptibility to outside impressions, -constipation and diminution of urine. - -Dr. Morton concluded that tea--like other potent drugs--had its proper -and improper uses, in moderation it was a mild and pleasant stimulant -followed by no harmful reaction but that continued and immoderate use -led to serious symptoms including headache, giddiness, ringing in -the ears, tremulousness, nervousness, exhaustion of mind and body, -disinclination to mental and physical exertion, increased and irregular -action of the heart and also dyspepsia. - -Dr. Bullard[18] of Boston made inquiry into the subject of poisoning -from excessive tea drinking and found that the prominent symptoms -were loss of appetite, dyspepsia, palpitation of the heart, headache, -nervousness and various forms of functional nervous symptoms of an -hysterical or neuralgic character; he found that usually speaking five -cups of tea a day on an average were required to produce symptoms of -tea poisoning. - -A more recent investigator Dr. Wood[19] found in his practice at the -Brooklyn Central Dispensary that of 1000 consecutive cases applying -for general treatment, 100 or 10 per cent. were found to be “liberal -indulgers in tea,” and suffering from its deleterious effects; of those -100 patients:-- - - 45 complained of headache. - 20 ” persistent giddiness. - 20 ” despondency. - 19 ” indigestion. - 19 ” palpitation of the heart. - 15 ” sleeplessness. - -Dr. Wood found that when tea had been used for a considerable period -in excess, the symptoms were giddiness, mental confusion, palpitation -of the heart, restlessness, sleeplessness, hallucinations, nightmare, -nausea, neuralgia, with prostration and anxiety. In three of Dr. Wood’s -cases there was a tendency to suicide. - -Mr. Jonathan Hutchinson, a great authority thinks that it is only the -abuse of tea which is attended with serious consequences. “For my own -part I have not the least hesitation in recording the conviction that -the development of the tea trade has been in the past and will be in -the future a most important aid to the progress of civilisation. Nor -do I believe that it will be attended by any serious drawbracks.”[20] -But he sounds a note of caution when he says “there can be no doubt -whatever that the injudicious use of tea may produce not only alarming -attacks of disturbance of the heart, but seriously impair the -digestion, and enfeeble the nervous system.” - -Sir Andrew Clark, who gave much consideration to the subject, in -a lecture delivered at the London Hospital said, “I may remark -incidentally that it has always been a matter of surprise to me how -it is that we English people do not suffer more than we do from our -indulgence in tea, especially tea prepared as it usually is, and taken -after a prolonged fast early in the morning. It is a great and powerful -disturber of the nervous system, and no one who has any regard for -his or her nervous system would take it in that way. Its immediate -effect may be all that can be desired. It relieves the _malaise_ which -is in itself a sign of warning, and it thus enables the consumer to -disregard it. Beware gentlemen, of thus sitting on a safety-valve. -Nature provides a warning in most cases of impending disaster, and if -you wilfully disregard or stifle them, you do so at your peril. This -pernicious habit of taking strong tea after a night’s fast, repeated -day after day, week after week, year after year, leaves its stamp on -the nervous organism of the individual, and this stamp is handed down, -in part at any rate, to the generation that follows.”[21] - -Sir Lauder Brunton[22] who has also given much study to the question -made some remarks in his Lettsomian Lectures on the “Disorders of -Digestion.” He said that tea was very apt to cause a feeling of -acidity and flatulence. Sometimes the acidity comes on so soon after -the tea taken that it is difficult to assign any other cause for -it than an alteration in sensibility of the mucous membrane of the -stomach or œsophagus. The effect of tannin he said was to interfere -very considerably with the digestion of fresh meat, and there were -many people in whom tea taken along with fresh meat will upset the -digestion. It did not interfere with the digestion of dried meat such -as ham or tongue, the fibres of these have already become shrunk or -toughened in the process of curing. He thought that tea at breakfast -was not so apt to cause indigestion, but that tea in the afternoon two -or three hours after lunch would sometimes bring on acidity almost -immediately. A part of the mischief wrought by tea in the lower classes -was due to allowing it to infuse for a long time so that a large -quantity of tannin was extracted. Another reason was that the poor -were accustomed to drink tea very hot. Heat was a powerful stimulant -of the heart, and a cup of hot tea was therefore much more stimulating -and refreshing than a cold one. The practice, however, of sipping the -tea almost boiling was apt to bring on a condition of gastric catarrh. -Sir B. W. Richardson was probably more opposed to the practice of -tea-drinking than any of our leading modern physicians and as one of -the most distinguished medical reformers of recent times his opinion is -entitled to carry much weight. - -“The common beverage tea,” he says, “is often a cause of serious -derangement of health, if not of actual disease. The symptoms of -disturbance occur when even the best kind of tea is taken in excess, -and almost inevitably from the mixture called ‘green tea’ when that -is taken even in moderate quantity.... Tea first quickens, and then -reduces the circulation which is the action of a stimulant. But tea -does more than this; it contains tannin, and is therefore styptic or -astringent in its action from which circumstance it is apt in many -persons to produce constipation, and interfere with the function of the -liver. In some persons this astringent effect of tea is very bad. It -gives rise to a continued indigestion, and what is called biliousness. -The most important agent in tea, however, is the organic alkaloid, -theine. The alkaloid exercises a special influence on the nervous -system, which, when carried to a considerable extent, is temporarily -at least if not permanently injurious. At first the alkaloid seems to -excite the nervous system, to produce a pleasant sensation and to keep -the mind agreeably enlivened and active. The effect is followed by -depression, sinking sensation at the stomach, flatulency, unsteadiness -with feebleness of muscular power, and not infrequently a lowness of -spirits, amounting almost to hypochondriacal despondency. Poor people -meet the craving for natural food by taking large quantities of tea. -A strong craving for it is engendered which leads to the taking of -tea at almost every meal, greatly to the injury of health. Poor women -in the factory and cotton districts become actual sufferers from this -cause. They are rendered anæmic, nervous, hysterical, and physically -feeble. In the better classes of society similar if not such severe -injury is effected by tea in those who indulge in it many times a -day, and especially in those who indulge in what is called afternoon -tea.... The afternoon tea or drum causes dyspepsia, flatulency, nervous -depression and low spirits, for relieving which not a few persons have -recourse to alcoholic stimulation.... Tea taken late in the evening, -except immediately after a moderate meal, interferes with the sleep -of most persons by causing indigestion, with flatulency, and sense of -oppression. Some are kept awake entirely by the action of the tea on -the nervous system; others get off to sleep, but are troubled with -dreams, restlessness, and muscular startings. In a few incubus or -nightmare is a painful symptom induced by tea.” In old people however, -Sir Benjamin Richardson had not noticed such serious results “as -persons advance in life the bad effects of tea sometimes pass away or -are greatly modified.” But for the generality of people Sir Benjamin -certainly felt very strongly about the matter for elsewhere he says “it -causes in a large number of persons a long and severe and even painful -sadness, there are many who never know a day of felicity owing to this -one destroying cause.”[23] - -Having generally reviewed the question of injury to health I now come -to our own experiments. I first made inquiry into the strength of tea, -as commonly consumed, and found that the usual quantity of black tea -added was about eight grammes to the 600 cubic centimetres of boiling -water. I next approached two well-known firms who kindly supplied me -with samples of pure unmixed Indian, Ceylon and China teas. - -Eight grammes of each sample were weighed out and were then infused -in a tea-pot for five minutes with 600 cubic centimetres of boiling -distilled water. At the end of five minutes the infusion was poured off -and analysed for the percentage of extract, alkaloid, and tannin, and -the following tables show figures for the Indian, Ceylon and China teas -respectively. - - -TABLE E. - -ANALYSIS OF INDIAN TEAS. - -(Infusion of 8 grammes with 600 cc of boiling distilled water for 5 -minutes.) - - Wholesale Proportion - Price Per Per Per of tannin - No. Description and without cent. cent. cent. corresponding - District. duty Extract. Alkaloid. Tannin. to 2·8 - per lb. per cent. - Alkaloid. - 1 Orange Pekoe, 1/10 24·75 3·11 6·87 6·18 - Deamoolie, Assam - 2 Broken Orange Pekoe, 1/10 28·87 3·07 9·45 8·61 - Powai, Assam - 3 Orange Pekoe, Tara, 2/6 26·62 3·32 7·55 6·36 - Assam - 4 Pekoe, SS/U 1/4 21·75 1·86 5·42 8·16 - Darjeeling - 5 Fannings Badulipar, 9d. 30·37 3·30 10·46 8·87 - Assam - 6 Pekoe, Singlo, Assam 9d. 27·37 2·79 9·87 9·90 - 7 Pekoe, Rungamuttee, 7d. 23·25 2·70 5·35 5·55 - Sylhet - 8 Pekoe, Assam 6³⁄₄d. 27·90 2·86 7·26 7·11 - 9 Broken Orange 1/- 30·60 3·60 7·90 6·14 - Pekoe, Assam - 10 Broken Orange 1/9¹⁄₂ 25·90 2·62 8·92 9·53 - Pekoe, Assam - 11 Broken Orange 7³⁄₄d. 29·10 3·20 7·34 6·42 - Pekoe, Sylhet - 12 Orange Pekoe, 7¹⁄₂d. 27·90 2·61 8·72 9·35 - Assam - 13 Pekoe, Sylhet 5¹⁄₄d. 24·18 2·70 6·40 6·64 - 14 Broken Pekoe, 10d. 23·20 2·41 7·15 8·31 - Darjeeling - 15 Pekoe, Darjeeling 6¹⁄₂d. 21·92 2·21 5·72 7·25 - 16 Pekoe, Dooars 6d. 25·08 2·92 7·20 6·90 - 17 Broken Pekoe, 7d. 25·65 3·14 6·52 5·81 - Dooars - 18 Orange Pekoe, 6¹⁄₂d. 25·53 2·62 5·70 6·09 - Cachar - - -TABLE F. - -ANALYSIS OF CEYLON TEAS. - -(Infusion of 8 grammes with 600 cc of boiling distilled water for 5 -minutes.) - - Wholesale Proportion - Price Per Per Per of tannin - No. Description and without cent. cent. cent. corresponding - District. duty Extract. Alkaloid. Tannin. to 2·8 - per lb. per cent. - Alkaloid. - - 1 Orange Pekoe, Great 9d. 25·50 2·53 6·98 7·72 - Western, Unware - Eliya District. - 2 Broken Orange 1/3 28·61 2·64 10·10 10·71 - Pekoe, Concordia, - Unware Eliya - District. - 3 Broken Pekoe, 1/0 27·90 2·49 7·92 8·90 - Pedro Unware - Eliya District. - 4 Pekoe 7³⁄₄d. 26·92 2·58 8·65 9·39 - 5 Pekoe 5d. 22·68 2·86 5·82 5·69 - 6 Pekoe 6³⁄₄d. 24·70 2·48 7·09 8·00 - 7 Broken Orange 7¹⁄₂d. 25·68 2·63 7·39 7·86 - Pekoe - 8 Broken Pekoe 9d. 26·50 2·77 7·91 7·99 - 9 Broken Pekoe 6d. 24·41 2·98 6·46 6·07 - 10 Broken Pekoe 6³⁄₄d. 25·01 2·67 8·39 8·80 - 11 Broken Orange 11³⁄₄d. 28·80 2·94 10·66 10·15 - Pekoe - 12 Orange Pekoe 7³⁄₄d. 25·83 2·55 6·86 7·53 - - -TABLE G. - -ANALYSIS OF CHINA TEAS. - -(Infusion of 8 grammes with 600 cc of boiling distilled water for 5 -minutes.) - - Wholesale Proportion - Price Per Per Per of tannin - No. Description and without cent. cent. cent. corresponding - District. duty Extract. Alkaloid. Tannin. to 2·8 - per lb. per cent. - Alkaloid. - 1 Fine Moning, 1/5 18·80 2·59 3·48 3·76 - Hankow - 2 Oolong, Formosa 1/1 24·00 2·46 8·76 9·97 - 3 Souchong -- 18·30 2·60 2·44 2·63 - 4 Moning 1/1 20·43 2·23 2·96 3·71 - 5 Scented Orange 1/2 23·81 2·68 7·70 8·04 - Pekoe Canton - 6 Gunpowder, Green 1/4 29·47 2·55 9·54 10·47 - Tea - 7 Caper, Green Tea 10³⁄₄d. 21·45 1·87 9·08 13·59 - 8 Oolong 10d. 23·62 2·47 8·80 9·97 - 9 Hyson, Green Tea 1/4 26·81 2·32 9·62 11·61 - 10 Pakling 5¹⁄₄d. 18·77 1·81 3·19 4·93 - 11 Pekoe Souchong, 1/5 19·31 2·36 2·33 2·76 - Lapsang - 12 Panyang 4¹⁄₂d. 21·00 1·93 4·71 6·83 - 13 New make 8¹⁄₂d. 21·78 3·40 6·42 5·28 - -The last column in the above tables or the proportional amount of -tannin is arrived at in the following manner. I first calculate the -average amount of alkaloid in tea as consumed on a basis of the above -figures. Thus the average amount of alkaloid in Indian teas as seen -in Table H calculates out to 2·84 per cent. This is multiplied by the -proportion of Indian teas on the market, viz. about 60 per cent. in the -same way the average Ceylon alkaloid 2·68 is multiplied by 30, and the -China average 2·40 multiplied by 6. If we add these products together -and divide by 60 + 30 + 6 = 96 this will give us the average percentage -of alkaloid in tea as consumed and this amounts to about 2·8 per cent. -The last column in Tables E, F and G, gives the proportion of tannin -corresponding to 2·8 per cent. alkaloid; that is to say the tannin in -each case is multiplied by 2·8 and divided by the amount of alkaloid -actually present. This figure which represents the proportional amount -of tannin present renders the comparison of the different teas possible -so far as the astringent action is concerned. - -The following table summarises the results of analyses of the three -classes of teas:-- - - -TABLE H. - - Proportion - of Tannin - Class of Number of Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. corresponding - Teas. Analyses. Extract. Alkaloid. Tannin. to 2·8 - per cent. - Alkaloid. - Indian Teas 18 26·11 2·84 7·43 7·32 - Ceylon Teas 12 26·04 2·68 7·85 8·20 - China Teas 13 22·12 2·40 6·08 7·09 - -Thus the Ceylon teas under the conditions of experiment part with -slightly more tannin than the India or China teas. It will be noticed -that the proportional tannin figures for the India and China teas are -not very different, although some of the individual China teas give out -less tannin than any of the India or Ceylon samples. It is possible -that the China average is rendered rather high by an undue proportion -of green tea which of course shows excess of tannin. The question will -naturally be asked whether as a nation we do not drink too much tea, -and there is a very simple means of solving the problem. As shown -in table A the average consumption per head per annum in the United -Kingdom is 6·1 pounds, or 117 grains of tea per diem. The average -percentage of alkaloid in tea, as consumed, I calculate to be 2·8 per -cent., and of tannin 7·5 per cent. This will mean that each person -will take a daily dose of 3·28 grains of alkaloid and 8·8 grains of -tannin. According to the last Census 3,716,708 out of 32,527,843, or -10 per cent. of the population of England and Wales, are under five -years of age; these might almost be neglected as far as tea-drinking -is concerned, so that we must add one-tenth to the average daily dose -of the alkaloid and tannin, which will come to 3·6 grains of alkaloid, -and 9·7 grains of tannin. The dose of caffeine according to the British -Pharmacopœia is from one to five grains and of tannin from two to five -grains. And hence on an average each person in the United Kingdom is -constantly day by day consuming half as much alkaloid, and nearly as -much tannin as would be permissible to be taken occasionally as a drug. -Therefore I have no hesitation whatever in saying that we drink far -too much tea, and the question has been raised in Ireland whether the -excessive drinking of strongly infused tea has not had something to do -with the increasing prevalence of insanity in that country. Thus in -the Forty-third Annual Report of the Inspectors of Lunatics, Ireland -(1894), the Inspectors dwell on the ill effects of decocted or over -infused tea on persons who make it a staple article of dietary, thus -leading to the production of dyspepsia, which in its turn tends to -states of mental depression highly favourable to the production of the -various forms of neurotic disturbance. - -Thus Dr. William Graham of the Armagh District Asylum refers to the -recent changes of dietary having an unquestioned influence on the -increasing prevalence of insanity. He refers to the use of Indian -tea as a beverage between meals. “The tea,” he says, “is stewed, not -infused, as a consequence the use of increased amount of nervine food -leads to a peculiar form of dyspepsia, which in its turn leads to -a general debility of the nervous system. This change is therefore -to be considered as a factor in the increase of insanity.” Dr. G. -W. Hatchell, the Resident Medical Superintendent of the Castlebar -District Asylum, stated that “amongst the female inmates, I believe -many cases of insanity may be attributable to the frequent consumption -of decoction of tea, taken generally without food and for lengthened -periods.” - -Again Dr. Thomas Drapes of the Enniscorthy Asylum, said “there is -not much evidence of the excessive use of this beverage (tea) being -directly provocative of insanity, but I think there is very little -doubt that its too liberal use excites or aggravates a predisposition -to neurotic disorders, including insanity, making the nervous -system more vulnerable in regard to such maladies, by the increased -excitability of the nervous system which tea undoubtedly produces. -A neurotic organisation may also be transmitted to their progeny by -parents who drink tea to excess.” - -Lastly, Dr. E. E. Moore of the Letterkenny Asylum, said “As to the -consumption of tea, it seems to be enormous and increasing rapidly -all over the country. I am informed that it is taken by young and -old alike, and even by babes in the cradle. It is drunk as often as -it can be got, at every meal and between meals, often six times a -day, and especially by females and usually without milk, and often -without food. I may safely say that it is never taken as an infusion, -but is generally stewed for hours, the old leaves being left in the -teapot and fresh added as required. In some places I am told the way -the tea is made is by putting the leaves down in a saucepan of cold -water, and then boiling it until the decoction is black enough to be -palateable.... I can speak from practical experience of the terrible -effects of this system of tea drinking both among the sane and insane. -It gives rise to a severe form of chronic dyspepsia, and if persisted -in to dyspepsia of an incurable and painful form. The result of all -this is that the health of the people all through the county is -deteriorating more than most people imagine. In fact the people are -starving themselves on tea, and the weaker they become the more they -rush to the teapot for the fillip the draught therefrom may give -them for the moment. This tea-drinking is becoming a curse, and the -people are developing a craving for tea, just as great as that which a -drunkard has for alcohol, or a drug-taker for his own particular drug. -There is no manner of doubt but that the condition of bodily health -affects the mental health of every man, woman and child, and if the -starved stomach becomes a prey to chronic dyspepsia the chances are -very great that the mind will, before long, be materially affected -especially where there is a predisposition to insanity of an hereditary -type.” With these important testimonies from responsible officials, it -is difficult to resist the conclusion that the abuse of tea drinking -has acted as a factor in the increased prevalence of insanity. - -As a general conclusion from my investigations I have no doubt that -in the first place we drink too much tea; this is shewn by a simple -calculation from the average annual amount imported for consumption. -Of course children of tender years should obviously be given no strong -stimulants (such as tea or coffee) and adults would be acting wisely -to very much limit the amount taken. With regard to the best method -of preparation it should be infused, (neither stewed or decocted) and -certainly for no longer period than five minutes, and a good plan is to -pour the tea off at the end of this time into another vessel so as to -save further exhaustion from the leaves. In reference to the variety of -tea best to use, although it is not certain that the average of China -teas contains less tannin than Indian teas, there is no doubt that -individual samples of China tea can be procured comparatively free from -this deleterious substance. - -With a view of discovering the constituent parts of the tea popularly -consumed, I procured samples from each of the four leading Companies, -which probably amongst them, supply nine-tenths of the tea drunk in -London Restaurants. The infusion was made in exactly the same way as -described above and the analyses came out as follows:-- - - -TABLE I. - -RESTAURANT TEAS. - -(Infusion of 8 grammes with 600 cc. of boiling distilled water for 5 -min.) - - Proportion - of Tannin - No. Description Retail Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. corresponding - and District. Price Extract. Alkaloid. Tannin. to 2·8 - per lb. per cent. - Alkaloid. - 1 “China” Tea 2/2 20·20 2·51 4·85 5·41 - 2 Ordinary Black 2/2 25·60 2·04 9·03 12·39 - Tea - 3 “China” Tea 2/0 20·06 2·15 3·02 3·93 - 4 Ordinary Black 2/0 27·90 2·69 9·74 10·13 - Tea - 5 “Russian” Tea 2/6 23·50 2·30 5·36 6·52 - 6 Ordinary Black 2/8 24·60 3·02 6·03 5·59 - Tea - 7 “China” Tea 2/4 24·50 2·22 5·85 7·37 - 8 Ordinary Black 2/2 28·31 2·72 8·44 8·69 - Tea - -It will be observed that the China teas exhibited a fairly low -proportion of tannin. The numbers for ordinary black tea in two of -the Companies’ samples were, however, considerable. This points to -the advisability of teas being analysed before being placed upon -the market, and this is a reform much needed in the interest of the -public. The tea should be examined for the amount of the alkaloid, -and also the tannin extracted by infusion, and the price based on the -proportion of the essential ingredient, viz: the alkaloid and if it -is desired to place the matter on any sort of scientific basis, the -public should in each case be informed of the weight of tea required -to be used with boiling water (this being regulated by the quantity -of the alkaloid), and at the same time an indication should be given -of the proportion of tannin liable to be extracted in a standard -infusion. My general recommendations from the foregoing experiments, -and also from the experience of the various authorities are that if tea -is to be no longer a source of injury to health we should drink much -less, and infuse for a briefer period. The dealers also should more -frequently submit samples for analysis as in the case of other foods -and drinks; thus when we _do_ drink tea we should be in a position to -avoid those varieties which are especially harmful; and there is no -doubt that if these recommendations are carried out we shall be saved -from a number of distressing complaints which, although very rarely -fatal, have in the past occasioned much ill health, and have been a -source of discomfort and misery both of mind and body to thousands who -might otherwise have enjoyed the comfort to be derived from a carefully -regulated use of the infusion of the leaves of the tea plant. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[1] A journey to the Tea Countries of China, p. 281, London 1852. - -[2] Ancient Accounts of India and China, by Eusebius Renaudot, London -1733. - -[3] Delle cause della grandezza delle citta. Giovanni Botero Milan -1596, p. 61. - -[4] MERCURIUS POLITICUS, comprising the sum of Foreign intelligence -with the affairs now on foot in the three nations of England, Scotland -and Ireland. For information of the people. From Thursday, September -23rd to Thursday, September 30th, 1658. Number 435. - -[5] MERCURIUS POLITICUS REDIVIVUS. A collection of most materiáll -occurances and transactions in publick affaires, A.D. 1659 to 1672. -Add. M.S.S. 10116, p. 14. - -[6] History of England, iv. 132. - -[7] Dried sage leaves were used for making infusions even up to the -year 1750. - -[8] See Report from Select Committee on Commercial Relations with -China, 12th July, 1847, p. 501. - -[9] See Article by Bannister in the Journal of the Society of Arts, -October 31, 1890 p. 1030. - -[10] The oil was found to contain small quantities of methyl salicylate -or oil of wintergreen. - -[11] Commentarius de abusu tabaci americanorum veteri et Herbae Thee -Asiaticorum in Europa novo 1665. - -[12] Van Swieten’s Commentaries, xvii., 450. - -[13] Ibid., x., 274, 275. - -[14] “An Essay on Tea, considered as pernicious to health, obstructing -industry, and impoverishing the nation,” London 1757. - -[15] THE LITERARY MAGAZINE, 1757, ii., 161. - -[16] “A letter to the Members of the Temperance Society” James Henry, -M.D., Dublin, 1830. - -[17] “Medical Record,” New York, 1879, xvi., 43. - -[18] “The Boston Medical and Surgical Journal,” 1886, cxiv., 314. - -[19] “Medical News,” 1894, lxv., 486. - -[20] Archives of Surgery, 1892, iii., 366. - -[21] “Medical Press and Circular,” 1894, i., 188. - -[22] “British Medical Journal,” 1885, i., 270. - -[23] Sanitary Record 1883, v., 199. - - - - -Transcriber’s Notes - -Minor errors and inconsistencies in punctuation have been fixed. - -Page 3: “nervous irritibility” changed to “nervous irritability” - -Page 10: “impare digestion” changed to “impair digestion” - -Page 18: “that an alteration” changed to “than an alteration” - -The column headers for Table F were added. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TEA AND THE EFFECTS OF TEA -DRINKING *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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