No. 216.] 291 



ihe experience of mankind, the history of the plant, and the science 

 of the materia medica, to produce a single instance of its deleterious 

 effects upon the constitution of man. On the contrary, all combine 

 to prove that nothing used as a beverage, has yet been discovered so 

 salutary to the constitution, so agreeable to the taste, so refreshing 

 to the spirits, so innocent in its essential properties, and so tranquil- 

 Jzing to the nervous system as the free use of Teas. Allow me to 

 enlarge a little upon this point, and to adduce some powerful author- 

 ities to fortify and confirm these remarks. In China, where the 

 plant is most cultivated, and has been from time immemorial, and 

 most universally and most profusely used, we naturally look for the 

 strongest and most unequivocal testimony of its practical consequences 

 upon the human constitution. No other nation uses it at all times, 

 and so generally, as almost entirely to exclude all other kinds of 

 beverage. It is not an unusual thing for a laboring Chinaman to 

 drink a hundred cups a day. It is always ready prepared in a vessel 

 provided for that purpose, and all this, which we should be apt to 

 consider an excessive consumption, without the slightest injury to 

 the general hsalth and physical system. But it ought to be borne 

 in mind that the Chinese use it pure, unadulterated with noxious 

 dyes, and unmixed with exciting drugs The celebrated Dr. Letsom, 

 of London, raises his potential voice against the villainous habit of 

 Tea dealers in vending Teas deteriorated by spurious mixtures of 

 irash, worse he says " than dirt The effects of bad Teas upon the 

 system are always deleterious and distressing, if not positively dan- 

 gerous. Constriction of the chest, depression, craving emptiness., 

 sinking of the stomach, etc., etc., are the inseparable consequences. 

 Whilst pure, good Tea exercises the most invigorating and renovat- 

 ing effects on the general system." The caution of the purchaser is 

 one remedy, but he is not always a good judge, and often purchases 

 Tea because it is Tea, without sufficient ability and experience to 

 discriminate between genuine pure Tea and its worthless imitation. 

 Therefore, the only certain protection against imposition, is to grow 

 jt one's self, and preserve it as pure as he would any other herb of 

 domestic use. One more case I beg to mention which involves 

 matter for serious reflection, especially for the southern portion of 

 our population. I find the article in an anonymous publication on 

 the subject of Tea and its medicinal effects. The author quotes a 

 letter written by an East India Captain in the East India Company's 

 service, addressed to the Medico-Botanical Society, London.; 



He remarks, " There are two circumstances connected with the 

 <£xemption of the Ciiinese from epidemics, that have spread such 



