Bad Effects of T'ea> and Opinions of Doctors. 227 
it after a full meal. Dr. pault, one of the phyiicians of the 
king of Denmark, wrote a treatife on this fubjeft-. He fays, 
that tea is desiccative ; or, in plain English, that it is of a 
drying quality, and therefore ought not to be ufed after the 
fortieth year of life. But let us hear the general and dihnte- 
refled voice of our own phyiicians. As far as I can difeover, 
they very ferioully declare, that they are more obliged to tea 
for the gains ariling from their pradtice, than to all otheir 
debaucheries : and indeed, if we exclude the very vicious 
part of mankind, I believe it is literally true. Phyiicians, like 
other people, generally fpeak in favor of things they are fond 
of themfelves ; some of them are fond of tea, and therefore 
hold their tongues, or commend it : but the major part of 
them confefs that tea, in general, but particularly in the man- 
ner we take it, is injurious to health : and if they were to fay 
otherwife, I am afraid I fhould not believe them. Indeed, with 
regard to myfelf, I have no notion of believing any thing in 
contradiction to the tellimony of my fenfes : nor do I know 
of any religion, but that of rome, which requires fuch belief. 
Every one ought to confult his own feeling ; and if experience 
will fupport my argument, you may as well take my word as the 
dodtors. If my opinion Hands good till phyficians are entirely 
agreed about the good or bad qualities of tea ; and alfo con- 
cerning the diftindtion of true or false, choice and common 
tea ; and the nature of fuch conftitutions as may ufe it with- 
out much danger, and fuch to whom it is poifonous, I fhall 
be entitled to a deploma. 
G g 2 
If 
