646 ORD. XXXIX. Tricocce, THEA. 
“ That the recent plant contains such an odorous narcotic 
“ power, we might presume from the necessity which the Chinese 
« find of drying it with much heat before it can be brought into 
“ use; and that, even after such preparation, they must abstain 
“ from the use of it for a year or more, that is, till its volatile 
* parts are still farther dissipated: and it is said, that unless they 
“use this precaution, the Tea in a more recent state manifestly 
«© shows strong narcotic powers. Even in this country, the more 
* odorous Teas often show their sedative powers in weakening the 
“* nerves of the stomach, and indeed of the whole system. 
«* From these considerations we conclude very firmly, that Tea 
** is to be considered as a narcotic and sedative substance; and that. 
* it is especially such in its most odorous state, and therefore less 
«* in the bohea than in the green Tea, and the most so in the more 
** odorous, or what are called the finer kinds of the latter. 
“Its effects, however, seem to be very different in different 
< persons ; and hence the different, and even contradictory ac- 
* ‘counts that are reported of these effects. But if we consider 
* the difference of constitution, which occasions some difference 
*« of the operation of the same medicine in different persons, and 
‘* of which we have a remarkable proof in the operation of opium, 
*« we shall not be surprised at the different operations of Tea. 
*« If to this we add the fallacy arising from the condition of the 
* Tea employed, which is often so inert as to have no effects at 
«all; and if we still add to this the power of habit, which can 
** destroy the powers of the most powerful substances, we shall 
«not allow the various and even contradictory reporis of its 
‘« effects to alter our judgment, with respect to its ordinary and 
** more general qualities in affecting the human body. 
** These, from the experiments above mentioned, and from the 
“ observations which I have made in the course of fifty years, in 
‘« all sorts of persons, I am convinced that the qualities of Tea are 
* narcotic and sedative. 
