J44 PLEASANT WA YS IN SCIENCE. 



from the too free use of strong tea or coffee. However, the 

 instances of bad effects resulting from the use of " the cup 

 which cheers but not inebriates " are few and far between, 

 while the benefits derived from it are recognized by all. 

 It has, indeed, been stated that no nation which has begun 

 to make use of tea, coffee, or cocoa, has ever given up the 

 practice ; and no stronger evidence can be required of the 

 value of those articles of food. 



Of alcoholic liquors it is impossible to speak so favour- 

 ably. They are made use of, indeed, almost as extensively 

 as tea or coffee; they have been made the theme of the 

 poet, and hailed as the emblems of all that is genial and 

 convivial Yet there can be little doubt that, when a 

 balance is struck between the good and evil which have 

 resulted to man from their use, the latter is found largely to 

 preponderate. The consideration of these evils belongs, 

 however, rather to the moralist than to the physiologist. I 

 have here simply to consider alcoholic liquors as articles oi 

 food. There can be little doubt that, when used with 

 caution and judgment, they afford in certain cases an im- 

 portant adjunct to those articles which are directly applied 

 to the reparation of bodily waste. Without absolutely 

 nourishing the frame, they ultimately lead to this end by 

 encouraging the digestive processes which result in the 

 assimilation of nutritive articles of food. But the quantity 

 of alcohol necessary to effect this is far less than is usually 

 taken even by persons who are termed temperate. It is 

 also certain that hundreds make use of alcoholic liquors 

 who have no necessity for them, and who would be better 

 without them. Those who require them most are men who 

 lead a studious sedentary life ; and it is such men, also, 

 who suffer most from excess in the use of alcoholic liquors. 



It remains that I should make a few remarks on mis- 

 takes respecting the quantity of food. 



Some persons fall into the habit of taking an excessive 

 quantity of food, not from greediness, but from the idea 

 that a large amount of food is necessary for the maintenance 



