(3 
of thefe, too defirous of vying with their fuperiors, and imi- 
tating their luxuries, throw away their little earnings upon this 
foreign herb, and are thereby inconfiderately deprived of 
the means to purchafe proper wholefome food for themfelves 
and their families. In the words of Perfius we may here juftly 
exclaim, | 
O curas hominum achilles eft in rebus iriane ! 
I thave known {feveral miferable families thus infatuated, 
their emaciated children labouring under various ailments de-- 
pending upon indigeftion, debility, and relaxation. Some at 
length have been fo enfeebled, that their limbs have become 
diftorted, their countenance pale, and a marafmus has clofed 
the tragedy '. : 
Thefe effe&s are not to be attributed fo much to the 
peculiar properties of this coftly vegetable, as to the want 
of proper food, which the expence of the former deprived 
thefe poor people from procuring. I knew a family, con- 
fifting of a mother and feveral children, whofe fondnefs for 
Tea was fo great, that three times a day, as often as their 
meals, which generally confifted of the fame articles, they 
regularly fent for Tea and fugar, with a morfel of bread to 
fupport nature; by which practice, and the want of a due 
quantity of nutritious food, they grew more enfeebled; thin, 
emaciated habits and weak cpndtitutions characterifed. this: _ 
= See Dr. Walker's s excellent Recete in. Memairs. of the Medical Society, 
Vari. p. 43- ; 
oO et, diftrefled — 
