THE CHEMISTRY OF COOKERY. 219 



and simply that of a stimulating or irritant drug, acting directly and 

 abnormally on the nervous system. 



The five-o'clock lassitude and craving are neither more nor less than 

 the reaction induced by the habitual abnormal stimulation ; or other- 

 wise, and quite fairly, stated, it is the outward symptom of a diseased 

 condition of brain produced by the action of a drug ; it may be but a 

 mild form of disease, but it is truly a disease nevertheless. 



The active principle which produces this result is the crystalline 

 alkaloid, the theine, a compound belonging to the same class as strych- 

 nine and a number of similar vegetable poisons. These, when diluted, 

 act medicinally, that is, produce disturbance of normal functions as the 

 tea does, and, like theine, most of them act specially on the nervous 

 system ; when concentrated they are dreadful poisons, very small doses 

 producing death. 



The non-tea-drinker does not suffer any of these five-o'clock symp- 

 toms, and, if otherwise in sound health, remains in steady working 

 condition until his day's work is ended and the time for rest and sleep 

 arrives. But the habitual victim of any kind of drug or disturber of 

 normal functions acquires a diseased condition, displayed by the loss of 

 vitality or other deviation from normal condition, which is tempora- 

 rily relieved by the usual dose of the drug, but only in such wise as 

 to generate a renewed craving. I include in this general statement all 

 the vice-drugs (to coin a general name), such as alcohol, opium, tobacco 

 (whether smoked, chewed, or snuffed), arsenic, hasheesh, betel-nut, 

 coca-leaf, thorn-apple, Siberian fungus, mate, etc., all of which are ex- 

 cessively " refreshing " to their victims, and of which the use may be, 

 and has been, defended by the same arguments as those used by the 

 advocates of habitual tea-drinking. 



Speaking generally, the reaction or residual effect of these on the 

 system is nearly the opposite of that of their immediate effect, and 

 thus larger and larger doses are demanded to bring the system to its 

 normal condition. The non-tea-drinker or moderate drinker is kept 

 awake by a cup of tea or coffee taken late at night, while the hard 

 drinker of these beverages scarcely feels any effect, especially if ac- 

 customed to take it at that time. 



The practice of taking tea or coffee by students, in order to work 

 at night, is downright madness, especially when preparing for an ex- 

 amination. More than half of the cases of break-down, loss of mem- 

 ory, fainting, etc., which occur during severe examinations, and far 

 more frequently than is commonly known, are due to this. 



I f x-equently hear of promising students who have thus failed ; and, 

 on inquiry, have learned — in almost every instance — that the victim 

 has previously drugged himself with tea or coffee. Sleep is the rest 

 of the brain ; to rob the hard-worked brain of its necessary rest is 

 cerebral suicide. 



My old friend, the late Thomas "Wright, was a victim of this ter- 



