146 HEPORT — 1860. 



Large doses cause nausea and narcotism. 



The addition of acids and fat, as cream, lessens its action on the skin and increases 

 pulsation. 



The addition of an alkali, as soda, increases the action upon the skin and renders 

 it more soothing, but a caustic alkali destroys it. 



Hence the author considers that it is inapplicable in the following conditions of 

 the system, viz. : — 



In the absence of food (except when a large meal has been recently taken), and 

 therefore at breakfast, unless the system be replete with food, as from a late and 

 large supper. In the ill-fed, and in those of spare habit. 



In prison or other dietaries, in which it is a duty not to allow the supply to ex- 

 ceed the real wants of the system, except in the cases in which the powers of 

 assimilation are defective, and then as tea, like other nitrogenous matters, has been 

 shown by the author to promote the assimilation of starchy food, it may prevent 

 the waste of undigested food. 



When unusual muscular exertion is made, unless there be also an abundance of 

 food and the skin acting insufficiently. 



In those who perspire too easily and profusely. 



In low temperatures, except in connexion with abundance of fat, since then the 

 action of the skin should be reduced to a minimum. 



In very early life, when all the vital actions are rapidly performed. 



He considers also that it is more suited to the following states : — 



In the after part of the day, when the powers of assimilation have been shown by 

 him to be enfeebled, and when food has accumulated in the body. 



In old persons. 



In hot climates, with lessened powers of assimilation ; with excess of heat and 

 excess of food. 



In those who usually transform food imperfectly. 



In those who take too little exercise, and eat too much. 



In conditions in which gout is likely to occur. 



In those who have the skin inactive. 



In all states in which there is excess of food, not, perhaps, in relation to the 

 wants of the system always, but in relation to the power to transform it, and 

 especially where there is excess of heat, as to soldiers on march exposed to the 

 eastern sun. 



The author then compared these deductions from science with the actual instinct- 

 ive habits of mankind in different climates — the test to which all such inquiries 

 must be ultimately subjected — and showed that there is a most striking correspond- 

 ence, as, for example, the frequent use of tea alone by the sedentary, corpulent, fat 

 and starch-eating Chinese, and, with the addition of an acid, by the industrious poor 

 and exposed classes in that country, and by all classes in the cold of Eussia ; the 

 addition of milk or cream in our climate ; our habit of taking food with tea when 

 we regard it as a meal, and of drinking it after dinner in hot weather when we 

 would perspire more freely ; the enjoyment of it by the poor, who live chiefly on 

 bread, which is imperfectly digested ; and the large appetites of teatotallers. 



Hence he was of opinion that tea had a more powerful action upon the body, both 

 for good and evil, than has hitherto been understood, and believed it to demand 

 the regulation which attends the administration of a medicine ; and especially 

 urged it to be supplied to soldiers in hot climates, to be drunk cold or hot in small 

 doses diuing exposure to heat. 



In reference to alcohols, the author showed that ales, wines, and spirits differ 

 in their action, not only because thej T contain varying amounts of alcohol, but have 

 other ingredients, as volatile oils and ethers, salts, gluteu and sugar, and thence 

 each must always be discussed separately. He showed that neither the public nor 

 the medical profession substitute a given amount of alcohol and water for these 

 various substances, but admit that each substance has a special action, and that 

 even impurity and newness are held to be deteriorations in any member of the 

 same class. 



He showed that all alcohols lessen the action of the skin and increase the force 

 and frequency of the action of the heart, and that these are their true dietetic and 

 medicinal actions. 



