ae 
The late Dr. Fothergill has obferved, that “ it is a queftion often 
propofed to phyficians, which is beft Tea or Coffee?” The folution 
of this point would perhaps be a difficult one. We neither find the 
Chinefe or Turks fubjeéted to any fuch difcriminating effedts as to 
enable the faculty to fay, with precifion, that one is more injurious 
than the other; for my own part I leave it to the experience of in- 
dividuals. Dr. F. recommends the Coffee to be made ftrong, and as 
much boiled milk to he added to it before it is taken from the fire as 
there is water; it is then fuffered to fettle, and drunk either with or 
-without cream. This the Dr. fubftituted for tea, which was not quite 
favourable to his health. | 
The French cuftom of drinking Coffee immediately after dinner, 
is certainly much better than that which prevails with us of taking it 
at a late hour in the evening. For, from the obfervations of Dr. 
Percival, and indeed from the experience of mankind in general, this 
beverage very commonly fufpends the inclination to fleep, and there- 
fore may protra& the time of watchfulnefs beyond the ufual hour of 
reft, By habit, however, thefe and other unfavourable effects both 
of Coffee and tea, are often fubdued, though certain conftitutions 
may fuffer much in the ftruggle, and a morbid irritability of the ner- 
vous fyftem has not unfrequently been the confequence. : 
The complaints faid to have been produced by the frequent or 
_ exceffive ufe of Coffee are head-achs, vertigo, tremors, imbecility, 
pimples of the face, weakened vifion,® and according to Profeffor 
Murray, apoplexy. It has been faid that it produces or ageravates 
hytterical and hypochondriacal affe€tions; and therefore Tiffot * cau- 
tions literary and fedentary people. againit its ufe. It is alfo accufed 
of favouring an hemorrhagic difpofition, efpecially in feverith, chole+ 
ric, plethoric, and emaciated conftitutions. : 
How far thefe diforders were teally caufed by the ufe of Coffee, 
appears to admit of much doubt; and therefore until its ill effets 
are experienced, this catalogue of diforders ought not to alarm thofe 
© See Lin. Amen. Acad. vol. 6. p. 176. F. Hoffinan. Med. Syft. T. 4. P. i. 209. 
Fe Diff: de potus coffé abufu, Fc. Zimmerman. E rfabr. P, 2. p. 347. Willis. Pharm. 
| Ration, p. 203. : : a 
* Santé des gens de lettres. p. 200. 
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