OF VARIOUS KINDS OF TEA. 
3 
the expense of the materials of the body, and the consequence 
of continued exertion is the accumulation of waste products in 
the working muscles or organs, which are, in turn, brought into 
a state of relaxation. But as the blood circulates through the 
system it carries away these waste products from the tissues, 
which consequently again acquire activity for further exertion. 
J. Ranke found that coffee accelerates the circulation of the 
blood, and this may hold good also in the case of tea. E. Smith 
observed that tea increases the exhalation of carbon dioxide 
from the lungs. On the influence of tea on the decomposition 
of albuminoids in the body there has been much controversy. 
Thus, Rabuteau found a diminution in the excretion of urea, 
while E. Roux observed the contrary, as the consequence of tea 
drinking. Very elaborate investigations by C. von Voit have 
shown that there is no alteration of the decomposition of 
albuminoids as a consequence of the consumption of coffee. 
Hence we may fairly conclude that the influence of tea or coffee 
on the decomposition of albuminoids in the body is so trifling 
that it is of no great consequence in the animal economy. 
Here we must not forget that the circulation of the blood as 
well as muscular exertion does not keep pace with the excretion 
of urea, as has been proved by numerous authors, but that they 
are rather measured by the quantity of carbon dioxide exhaled 
from the lungs. 
There arises, naturally, the question whether there is any 
thing or things contained in tea, which can explain its actions 
upon the system and the influence it has gained over the appetite 
of human beings ? Analysis tells us that tea contains, besides 
the common plant constituents, theine, volatite oil and tannin, 
which three components are the bases of its actions and influ¬ 
ences upon the animal system. Without entering into minute 
enquiries into the physiological functions of each of these 
components we may briefly state their actions upon the system. 
Of theine there is evidence of its poisonous nature, as well for 
cold, as for warm-blooded animals, and for both herbivora and 
carnivora. The symptom of theine-poisoning in the case of 
