220 Tea produces Scurvy , weak Nerves, and bad Teeth . 
this time ? If fuch were not fo prevalent when tea was not in 
ufe ; and if thefe prevail moft among people who conftantly 
drink tea, may we not reafonably impute the misfortune, in a 
great meafure, to this drug ? We fee, that in fome conftitu- 
tions, tea occafions almoft inftantaneous tremblings of the hands ; 
and how muft it affetft the finer parts of the frame, when there 
is fuch a visible effect ? 
I believe no body difputes that hot water relaxes, but they 
are not aware that fuch relaxation confirms a fcorbutic habit, 
and creates many other diforders. If the powers of nature, by 
which our food is digefted, are weakened, will it not occafion 
an obftrudtion of the main fprings on which the regular motion 
of the whole machine depends? and how many sweet crea- 
tures, of your fex, languish with weak digeftion, low fpirits, 
lafiitudes, melancholy, and twenty diforders, which in fpite of 
the faculty have yet no names, except the general one of 
nervous complaints ? Tell them to change their diet, and 
among other articles to leave off drinking tea, it is more than 
probable the greateft part of them will be reftored to health. 
Liquids drank hot, or warm, efpecially in the evening, or 
near the time of reft, will alfo, in fome conftitutions, put the 
animal fpirits into fuch an agitation as to prevent sleep. There 
is likewife a quality in the tea which prevents reft, at leaft to 
fuch as are not habituated to it; and it is accordingly recom- 
mended to perfons who are under a necefiity of watching. 
Hot water is alfo very hurtful to the teeth. The Chinese 
do not drink their tea fo hot as we do ; and yet they have bad 
teeth. 
