MEDICINAL EFFECTS. 257 



power tending much to bring it into popular favor in 

 these cities as a medicine as well as a beverage. At this 

 early period it was claimed that '^ this liquor purified the 

 blood by gentle agitation, dissipated the ill-condition of 

 the stomach and aroused the spirits." In the treatment 

 of spasmodic asthma its utility is well established as well 

 as in the cure of whooping cough, cholera infantum and 

 similar complaints, being also an excellent preventative 

 against all infectious and epidemical diseases. While in 

 hysterical attacks, for which, in many instances, the 

 physician can find no diagnosis, coffee has proven to be 

 one of the greatest helps. 



Fresh-roasted coffee has proven to be an effective dis- 

 peller of foul gases as well as a valuable disinfectant in the 

 sick-room, or any enclosed space where the fumes can 

 penetrate. As an instantaneous deodorizer, particularly 

 in the sick-room, where it has no equal, possessing 

 wonderful, almost magical power, all foul and noxious 

 exhalations being immediately neutralized or dispelled 

 by simply passing a chafing-dish of fresh-roasted coffee 

 through the room. As a disinfectant fresh-roasted coffee 

 has been invaluable as an absorbing agent in purifying the 

 atmosphere of all foul-smelling and offensive odors, 

 especially when roasted in the vicinity of the room or 

 place to be fumigated. When roasted, and while still hot, 

 if placed on a tray or other open vessel in the centre of 

 the apartment, by the time it has cooled the surrounding 

 atmosphere will be rendered thoroughly pure and sweet. 

 Or, better and more advantageous still, by heating an iron 

 fire-shovel red hot and placing a handful of ground coffee 

 on it and carrying it around the room or house to be 

 disinfected in this condition until it cools. The vapor 

 arising from the coffee so heated will meantime have 

 destroyed all disagreeable and noxious odors. 



