FOOD AND WATER, STIMULANTS, ETC. 89 



TEA AND COFFEE. 



3, Tea and coffee are used by all civilized nations. Their 

 immediate effect is cheering. They often aid digestion. 

 They satisfy the cravings of the stomach, and enable men 

 to endure hardship better. But many persons are injured 

 by them, some, because they drink too much; others, be- 

 cause they are too susceptible to their action. The morning 

 cup of coffee is often paid for by a daily headache. There 

 are intemperate tea-drinkers. Tea contains a good deal 

 of tannin, which has a tendency to check the action of 

 the stomach and bowels. Tea made as the Chinese make 

 it, by simply pouring boiling water on the leaves, and 

 not steeping long, contains more of the delicate flavors, 

 and less of the tannin, than that which is boiled for some 

 time. The fact that some healthy people can not go to 

 sleep at the usual time if they take a cup of tea in the 

 evening, shows that it has a decided effect on the nerves. 

 Fretfulness and irritability, and palpitation of the heart, 

 are results of its immoderate use. 



4, Coffee, as ordinarily made, contains more solid mat- 

 ter than tea, and is, therefore, more nourishing. It has 

 less of the astringent principle, and is more soothing. 

 Both tea and coffee will sometimes relieve headache. 



It is necessary that the stomach should be very warm 

 in order to digest well. If food is taken cold, or if the 

 whole body is in a chilly state, the cup of tea or coffee 

 awakens the stomach to activity by conveying heat in an 

 agreeable form. 



5, Growing cJnldren should drink neither tea nor cof- 

 fee. Their fresh and vigorous bodies need no other 

 stimulants than air, exercise, and simple food. They are, 



