62 COCOA AND CHOCOLATE. 



and 6 of albumen. It is a useful addition 

 to the ration formed of beef slightly salted 

 and dried in the air, of rice, of corn bis- 

 cuit, or of cassava muffins. 



" The infusion of tea, mate (Paraguay 

 tea) , and coffee are not, of course, to be con- 

 sidered as food. The amount of solid 

 matter in them is very slight, and their 

 effects are due only to their alkaloids. 



" This is not true of chocolate, which is 

 at the same time complete food and an 

 active excitant, since it approaches in com- 

 position that model food, milk. In fact 

 we have seen that in cocoa there is legu- 

 mine and albumen, associated with fat, 

 sugar to sustain respiratory combustion, 

 phosphates, which are the basis of the 

 bones, and what milk does not have 

 theobromine and a delicate aroma. 

 Roasted, ground and mixed with sugar, 

 cocoa becomes chocolate, the nutritive 

 properties of which astonished the Spanish 

 soldiers that invaded Mexico." 



