116 ALIMENTATION. 



diminishes the absolute quantity of urea discharged by the 

 kidneys. 1 In this respect, as far as has been ascertained, the 

 action of coffee is like that of alcohol, and may reasonably 

 be supposed to retard destructive assimilation ; with the im- 

 portant difference that it is followed by no unfavorable after- 

 effects, and can be used in moderation for an indefinite time 

 with advantage. 



Dr. Hayes, the Arctic explorer, in comparing the proper- 

 ties of alcohol and tea and coffee in enabling men to resist 

 cold and endure hardships in the Arctic regions, gives the 

 highest praise to the latter articles. In comparing tea and 

 coffee he says that " Dr. Kane's parties, after repeated trial, 

 took most kindly to coffee in the morning and tea in the 

 evening. The coffee seemed to last throughout the day, and 

 the men seemed to grow hungry less rapidly after taking it 

 than after drinking tea, while tea soothed them after a day's 

 hard labor, and the better enabled them to sleep. They both 

 operated upon fatigued and over-taxed men like a charm, 

 and their superiority over alcoholic stimulants was very 

 marked." 2 These facts are highly interesting, for there could 

 be no better opportunity of testing the real value of such 



and muscular power were well developed. The following was the ordinary diet, 

 reduced to ounces av. and grains. There was an abundance of good white bread, 

 but the quantity of meat was evidently insufficient : 



Coffee 1 oz. 34 grains. 



Ohiccory. 1 oz. 34 " 



Milk a little less than half a pint. 



Bread 35 oz. 121 grains. 



Butter 2" 51 " 



Green vegetables 26 " 200 " 



Meat 2 " 251 " 



DE GASPARIN, Note sur le Regime des Mineurs Beiges. Comptes Rendus, 

 Paris, 1850, tome xxx., p. 400. 



1 HAMMOND, Urological Contributions. American Journal of the Medical 

 Sciences, January, 1855 ; and JOHNSTON, Chemistry of Common Life, New York, 

 1859, vol. i., p. 168, note. 



2 HAYESJ op. cit. American Journal of the Medical Sciences, July, 1859, p. 

 118. 



