CHEMICAL, MEDICAL AND DIETICAL PROPERTIES. 227 



enlivens the mind. While tea, according to Dr. Sigmond, 

 "has in most instances been substituted for spirituous 

 liquors, and the consequence has been a general im- 

 provement in the health and morals of the people, the 

 time, strength, and vigor of the human body being 

 increased by its use. It imparts greater capability of 

 enduring fatigue, and renders the mind more suscep- 

 tible of the innocent and intellectual pleasures of life, 

 as well as of acquiring useful knowledge more readily, 

 being not only a stimulant to the mental faculties but 

 also the most beneficial drink to those engaged in any 

 laborious or fatiguing work. Dr. Jackson testifying 

 " that a breakfast of tea and bread alone is much more 

 strengthening than one of beefsteak and porter." 



In his admirable work on hygiene Dr. Parker remarks 

 that " tea possesses a decidedly stimulating and restora- 

 tive action on the human system, no depression whatever 

 following its use, the pulse being a little quickened, and 

 the amount of pulmonary carbonic acid accordingly in- 

 creased." From this experiment he regards "tea as a 

 most useful article of diet for soldiers, the hot infusion 

 being potent against heat and cold, and more useful still 

 in great fatigue in tropical countries by its great purifying 

 effect on brackish and stagnant water." Adding that 

 " tea is so light, easily carried and so readily prepared, 

 that it should form the drink, par excellence ', of the soldier 

 in service or on the march, above all its power of lessening 

 the susceptibility to malarial and other influences." And 

 Admiral Inglefield is quoted as strongly recommending 

 the use of tea to Arctic travelers and explorers, as seamen 

 who surveyed with him in the polar regions after an ex- 

 perience of one day's rum drinking came to the conclu- 

 sion that tea was more beneficial to them while under- 

 going the severe work and intense cold. Under the 



