Bad EffeSis of Tea , a?id Opinions of Doctors. 225 
bohea tea, and recommended the ufe of its infufion, mixed 
with, milk and fugar as a cure, not of the scurvy only, but alfo 
of consumptions. This notion is no longer adopted ; but 
granting that he thought what he wrote, at that time ; and that 
his book was not calculated for any pecuniary ends, as books 
often are, we mud not regard opinions, but argue from facts 
and experience. And with regard to the prefent argument, 
we are to confider in general the pernicious effe&s of tea ; 
tea as it is ufed by the bulk of tea-drinkers, as well as thofe 
who are injured by the condant ufe of the best tea. And did 
he inform the world of the difference between a pound of bohea 
tea bought at Amsterdam, or, as it has lately been fold, at 
embden for fifteen -pence, and another fold in London for up- 
wards of twenty {hillings ? Between fuch prime forts, and in- 
ferior teas, there is as great difference, as between raw cabbage 
and a pine -apple, or the bed meat the butchers (hop affords 
and carrion. 
What foundation there is for the opinion that the Chinese 
give us tea already ufed, I cannot fay, but they are no honeder 
than other nations ; and it feems to be a less abuse to give 
us the leaf at fecond hand, than to impofe upon us a leaf of 
a different fhrub, which perhaps may have a quite different 
effect on the human body. Indeed, as we are for present 
gratifications, no matter whether we are poifon’d or not, it 
is no wonder they fhould give themfelves no trouble on this 
head. 
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