682 MEALS MEDICINAL. 
contains potash, peroxide of iron, soda, and some other salts 
which are of essential importance to the human economy. ‘“ We 
have, therefore,” says Liebig, “in Tea a beverage which comprises 
the active constituents of the most powerful mineral springs.” 
(Theodore Hook playfully styled his effervescing Mineral Waters 
‘* fizzick.”) When milk, and sugar are added to the infusion, it 
becomes a useful, and nutritious food ; whilst an important phys- 
ical effect is brought about on the skin, and mucous membranes. 
The production of active perspiration by drinking hot Tea is 
a familiar fact; and the relief to the oppressive sense of heat 
in summer weather by doing the same thing is well known ; 
an increase is caused in the sensible, and insensible perspiration, 
rendering much of the heat near the skin surface latent by free 
evaporation, and thus powerfully cooling the skin. Tea depends 
for its main quality on the alkaloid theine which it furnishes, and 
for its fragrance, on the volatile oils in the leaves. There were 
two original varieties of the plant,—Thea Chinensis, and Thea 
Assamica ; the latter is found to retard conversion of the food- 
starches into dextrin and sugar by the saliva, more powertully 
than a good China Tea. The extended use in this country of 
Tea, Coffee, and Cocoa within the last two centuries has led to 
results (says Sir Wm. Roberts) which evidence manifestly proves 
are not injurious. A continued national progress, together 
with an increasing ascendency, serve to show that the addition 
of so important and peculiar a nutriment to our dietary, has 
improved our type of intellect by bettering the pabulum of the 
brain, and nervous system; indeed, it seems quite feasible to 
trace therefrom an upward, and onward change in the mental 
calibre, especially of the working classes, within the last three 
generations. There is to be observed an increased precision in 
mental operations, which has led to an improved criticism ; also 
a rise, and progress of the exact sciences, and of the dependent 
industrial arts, more so perhaps within this brief epoch than in 
all the preceding ages of the world; whereas during the same 
epoch art and literature, which depend more upon the imagina- 
tion, have practically stood still; the coincidence is at least 
suggestive !’’ Southey tells the story of his friend’s great 
grandmother who made one of the party sitting down to the 
first portion of Tea that ever came to Penrith. “ They boiled 
it in a kettle, and ate the leaves, with butter, and salt, wondering 
_ Wherein the attraction lay.? = : 
