270 DIETETICAL PROPERTIES. 



In addition to its many other virtues, coffee has been 

 found to be an excellent barometer, from the fact of its 

 being such a great absorbent. On the eve of a rain- 

 storm grinding coffee will be found difficult, the bean 

 becoming damp and tough, while when dry weather is 

 indicated the process is quite easy. Another method of 

 predicting the weather by it is to drop a lump of sugar 

 into a cup of coffee without stirring. In a very short 

 time the air contained in the sugar will rise to the surface 

 in the shape of bubbles. If the bubbles collect in the 

 middle of the cup a fair day will be sure to follow, but if 

 they should adhere to the side of the cup, forming a 

 ring of bubbles with a clear space in the centre, rain is 

 certain to be near at hand, while if the bubbles be neither 

 of these, but scatter irregularly over the surface of 

 the liquid, variable weather is indicated by the move- 

 ment. What the scientific explanation of the action of 

 the atmosphere on the bubbles so found is not known, 

 but that their indications curiously and correctly 

 agree with those of a barometer has been tested and 

 proved. 



The human family have, from time immemorial, been 

 addicted to the use of warm food and liquids in some 

 form, infusions or decoctions of sage and the leaves of 

 other plants being used extensively in Europe for the 

 purpose prior to the introduction of tea and coffee. 

 The human body demands food or liquid when in an 

 exhausted state, and if they be not warm they make an 

 immediate drain on the system for heat before it can sup- 

 ply material for combustion, so that the body is taxed for 

 heat at a time when it is least fitted for the purpose. It 



