862 (AsstMBLV 



Tea, when chemically' analyzed, is found to contain woody fi- 

 bre, mucilage, tannin, a narcotic priurjple and Tlieine, supposed 

 to be identical with Calfcinej one of the constituents of colYee — 

 on this account Liebig has conjectured the reason why tea often 

 satisfies the poor as a substitute for animal food, and wliy persons 

 who talfc but little exercise are so partial to it as a beverage. 



Tea is «)ficn adulterated with the leaves of black currantSj 

 syriiijga. sweet briar, and cherry tree. During the time of George 

 the II. in England, it was I'ound necessary to pass acts in parlia- 

 ment,' specifying severe penalties against those guilty of this of- 

 fence. The Chinese frequently adulterate their teas, before ex- 

 porting them, and are said to cultivate hn-ge quantitcs of various 

 trees ibr this purpose. 



Tea has been used as a beverage by the Chinese time out of 

 mind. In the reign of Emperor Fit:^ong, in the 724th year of the 

 Christian era, over eleven centuries ago, tea was taxed much to the 

 dissatisfactiiju of the people, as they considered it a necessary of 

 life. They drink tea without milk cr sugar ; they usually place 

 some tea in a cup, and pour belling water on it, and then cover 

 it up for a few minutes that it may draw, after which they drink 

 it as hot as possible. Sometimes they beat up the yolk of fresh 

 eggs with sugar, and mix it witli their tea. 



The Tonquinese, Cochin-Chinese, grow and import tea. In 

 Camboja and Siara it is much used, likewise with tlie Eurmese. 



The natives of Hindostan, Persia, Arabia and Turkey Ube it, 

 but only for i-ts supposed medicinal virtues. 



The Tartars in order to make tea portable are accustomed to 

 moisten it with a glutinous fluid, and then press it into moulds 

 similar to bricks ; when prepared for use, the brick is scraped and 

 boiled with butter, flour, milk, and salt, which compound is said 

 to be palatable even to Europeans. 



Many have been heard to exclaim agiiinst the use of tea as a 

 constant beverage, urging as a reason, that it is poisonous to a 

 certain extent, and exceedingly injurious to the nervous system, 

 debilitating the constitution, and acting as a slow poison. Not- 



