A 
DISSERTATION 
UPON 
TEA, 
EXPLAINING ITS 
Nature and Properties 
many New Experiments; 
And demonftrating 
From Philofbphical Principles, the various EFFECTS 
it has on different Constitutions. 
To which is added the 
Natural History of TEA,- 
AND A 
Dete&ion of the feveral Frauds ufed in preparing it* 
ALSO A 
DISCOURSE 
oNT H E 
Virtues of SAGE and WATER. 
A N D A N 
ENQUIRY into the Reasons Why the fame Food is not equally 
agreeable to all Confutations. 
n r'} vr&f 
I N A • '/ v / 
LETTER to the Right Honourable MART Lady MALTON, 
THOMAS SHORT, M. D. 
Venus her Myrtle, Phoebus has his Bays, 
Tea Both excells which we vouchfafe to praife 
Waller. 
LONDON: 
Printed by W. Bowy e R, for Fletcher Gyles oyer-agai Gray’s-Inn i» 
Holborn. MDCCXXX, TO THE 
RIGHT HONOURABLE 
THOM A S Lord MA L TO N„ 
Knight of the BATH, Sc. 
My Lord, 
S" F an Endeavour to prevent or alleviate fome of the 
various Fains and Difeafes of Life fiands m 
need of any Protection, Pis not pofiible to find a 
more proper Patron than your Lordjhip: fince 
you never fail to■ countenance and encourage j'uch 
Attempts as are directed to publick Benefit, and- 
appear in any Degree conducive thereto. That' 
Humanity and Zeal for the Good of Mankind, 
which Jb remarkably pojfefs your Lordjhip* s Breaft, will be jure to engage* 
your favourable Approbation of every fuch Defign. However trivial 
therefore, or inconfiderable the Subject oj thefe Papers may j'eem to others, 
lam confident your Lorafhip will view it in another Light; if I can■ 
hut convince you of its Tendency to Health, and the good Effects, which, 
a due Attention to it may produce in different Confutations. 
Should any of my Readers think me unhappy in the Choice of my Sub— 
feci, L am certain they will all conclude me happy in the Choice of a 
Patron: For however the Publick may difi'er, or dijfute, concerning DEDICATION 
the Virtues of a certain Herb ; there is no Difpute, no Controverfy, My 
Lord, concerning Yours. And Jhould I particularly expatiate upon, 
them, I jhould be perfectly fecure from every Cenfure, but that of your 
Jjordfhip’s: Or if any Objection Jhould be farted, it would be only this, 
Ho at Pis nee diefs to publijh thofe Praifes, in a Dedication, which are 
univerj'ally proclaimed. And what Wonder, My Lord, if that gene- 
rous benevolent Temper, fo confpicuous in your Lordjhip upon all Occa- 
Jlons, floould render you the Delight of every Eye, and the Darling of 
your Countrey f 
Permit me further to obferve, that whoever has the Honour to attend 
your Lordfoip as a Phyfician, has this peculiar Felicity, that whatever 
Pain or SickneJ's may befal you, Jhould his Medicines, at any Time, 
prove ineffectual for your Relief they would never fail to be feconded 
and afffed by the united Prayers and good Wifhes of all that know Tou, 
So that I may juflly apply to your Lordjhip that beautiful Expreffon of 
Horace, with the Alteration of one Wird. 
Hominumque prodis 
Publica Cura. 
It is no eafy Matter, My Lord, to check ones Thoughts, or refrain 
their Pen on Jo agreeable a Subjectj but lam obliged rather to confder 
with what Patience your Lordffip will read’ than with what Pleafure 
I could write upon it. 
Let me intreat your Lordffip, not to place what I have [aid intirely 
to the Account of Gratitude \ J'or though I am infinitely indebted to your 
Lordffip, and gladly take this firfl Opportunity to acknowledge if in 
Publick, yet my Obligations have been Jb far from making me Jay more, 
that they have guarded me from faying fo much as I Jhould otherwife 
have done, to avoid the Sufpicion of the faffionable Flattery, Jo dif- 
pleafing to your Lordffip's Ear, which had I not been very tender of 
inflead of a ffort Dedication, you had been diflurbed with a long Pa- 
.negyrick from, 
M y Lord, 
Your Lordfliips 
Moft obJiged, 
and obedient Servant, 
Thomas Short. A N 
INTRODUCTORY PREFACE, 
CONTAINING THE 
Natural History of TEA 
S thofe who pafs through a Crowd in Hurry and Confix- 
fion, are ufually dazzled with the Multitude, and their 
“X Sight, fuller of Employment than Inftrudion, is led away 
Sf« as fflj and loft upon the Incongruities which duller about it j 
fo many pafs through this World, fhifting themfclves fu- 
k============di perficially through every Tumult of Objects and Ideas, 
till the Variety deftroys the Faculty of Difcrimination, and the Mind, 
cover’d over with the faint and broken Impreftions of many Things, af- 
fords no faithful or diftinct Remonftrance of any. 
But for thofe Degrees of Knowledge, whereimto Mankind has already 
attained in the Works of the Creation, it has been providentially allotted 
that fome of our Species in all Ages could withftand and fequefter them- 
felves from that Multiplicity, wherewith the great Creator has enriched 
it, fuitable to his own Infinity; and which otherwife, fo continually fol- 
liciting our Senfes, would confound our Apprehenfions of them. 
Thus in the loweft, but largeft Sphere of Life, the vegetable JVorld, 
many learned Men, of this more patient and perfevering Genius, finding 
the Principles and Properties even of individual Objeds too copious for INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. 
them fully to comprehend, have with good Reafon dc(pair'd of foacced- 
ing better upon a Diverfity of them; cfpccially feeing that the meaneft 
of Simples have as cffedually preferved the Fame and Memory of the 
Dead, as ever the mold Sovereign Compounds have the Health of the 
Living. Princes themfelves, fuch as Lyfmachus, Gentius, Clymenos, Ar~ 
temifa, and many others, might have perifhed in Oblivion long ago, 
had not their Difcovery of feme Plant, or its Virtues, entitled them to a 
fignal Tran (mi (11 on of their Names, in a mod vifible and verdant Man- 
ner, I may fay, to all Countries, and to all Ages. 
Nay we read, that a certain People of Spain were upon no other Ac- 
count famous or memorable, than for having found out the Nature and 
Qualities of the Herb Betony : And Antoninus Mufa, Phyfician to the 
Emperor Auguftus, wrote a particular Book of the Virtues thereof 
Themifon alfo, a Phyfician among the Ancients, wrote a whole Volume 
on the Herb Plantain, And with the Moderns, Examples of this kind 
are numerous: Among whom I may take Notice, that Dr. Martin 
Biockwich has wrote an entire Book, rand drawn a whole Difpenfatory 
out of the Elder Tree; Dr. Mich. Feher has given us a Treatife upon 
IVormwood Dr. Ferdinand Hertodt one upon Saffron} Ben. Scharjius 
one upon the "Juniper j Geo. Chriftoph. Petrus another on Car dims Be- 
nedidlus. And later yet, Joan. Franci two Pieces, one on Trefoil, and 
another on Woodforrel. In our own Nation, we have a Book written 
on Pepper by Dr. Walter Baley, Phyfician to Queen Elizabeth■ An- 
other by Mackaile upon Mace j Dr* Gideon Harvey wrote a particular 
Difcourfe on the Jefuits Bark; and Dr. Sherley has translated Mollen- 
broccius's Book upon Scurvy Grafs. But to defeend yet nearer to 
our Purpofe, Dr. Stubbs has publifh’d a Book upon Chocolate; Mr. 
Bradley, the Botanick Profeffor at Cambridge, upon Coffee; and Dr. 
Ovingtm upon Tea, &c. 
But this, and feveral other European Authors, who have publifh’d fe- 
parace Tracts upon this Indian Plant, have implicitly taken their Mate- 
rials upon Truft, either from fuch Travellers as have obferved only the 
Defcription, Culture or Ufe of it, more peculiar to the Eafern Coun- 
tries, or from the Merchants, and fuch as have endow’d it with Virtues 
at Random, to enhance their own Importations. And even fuch as 
have pretended to give us its medicinal Qualities, have afforded us very 
little fatisfadory Light into its Principles, and yet a left rational Account 
why or how we are to exped fuch agreeable and furprizing Effeds from 
its Ufej not having adapted it to different Conftitutions, Ages, Climates, 
Sex, and different Exercifes of Life: So that we know of nothing to 
this Day, either in Food or Phyfick, which anfwers this Variety to thq INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. 
3 
Advantage of all; for docs not Tea throw feme Perfons into Vapours,, 
affed their Complexion, Spirits, Nerves, fo as to apprehend thcmfelvcs 
cither dying, or dangeroufly ill ? In others, it druggies againd Reten- 
tion, gives them the Cholick, or Gripes; and affeds not a few with 
Tremors, &c. Nor, as far as I can remember, have chefe Authors pro- 
portion’d its Strength, Quantities and Ufe, to any didind or deAgned 
Purpofes; wherefore, I fee no Reafon to retract the following Difcouric 
as an unneceffary Repetition; but rather enough to wonder, that out of 
fo much as has been writ upon Lea, we fliould find fo little to the Pur- 
pofe. 
For I hope to prove that the various Confiderations which have been 
offer’d, are not diffident in Refped to the Plant it felf much led to the 
People, the different Nations and Conditutions that have accudom’d 
themfelves to it; and fince the Infufion hereof is become a Liquor lb 
univerfal, ’cis reafonable the Knowledge of its Nature and Virtues fliould 
be fo too. It has fo Angularly prevail’d in England, for thefe forty or 
fifty Years pad, among all Perfons, (except of the very lowed Rank) and 
has been fo taking with the fair Sex, that ’twere a Shame our Examina- 
tion and Underdanding fliould pot bear fome Proportion to the Ufe 
and Preference we have made of it. 
Whoever well confiders, what a fuperior Figure this humble Shrub 
makes in Commerce, whac an important Article ’tis in the Traffick of 
the Eaji-India Companies, what a great Revenue the Duty upon this 
little crumbled Leaf returns to the Crown of England, whereby the ge- 
neral Taxes are fo much leflen’d to the Poor-, whoever further obferves, 
after all this, the Trade it varioufly advances, the Equipage, and all its 
Concomitants; and laftly, the Societies it aflcmbles, there being more than 
three thoufand Houfes of Reception for them in London, as a certain 
Author computes % where this Liquor is daily drunk; whoever would 
remark the Bufmefs, Conversion and Intelligence it there promotes, as 
alfo the Expence and Debauchery it prevents, will readily conclude with 
me, that this, as well as other Things, demands our Obfervance and 
Regard, not according to the Ample Appearance it makes, but the Con- 
fcquenccs which flow from it. 
What we call Lea, the Japanefe call Lcha, Lchia, Lfjaa, and the 
Chinefe, Lhee or Lhea. Its Leaf is neither like that of our wild Dai/y b 
nor that of the Myrtlec, which Miftake made the Jefuit Lrigantius 
a Difiicnaire univerf de VAble Fure- 
tiere, Fol, 1725- lorn. 3. en /’Article de 
cfitte Plante, 
b Bontlus, de Med. Indlor. Dialog. 6tQ, 
cAs Sim. Paul de Thee, p. 19, 20. 
would have us believe. INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. 
4 
think, that feveral of our European Woods and Fore (Is abound with a 
true Tea cl; but when young and tender, it comes neared, except in 
Colour, the Leaf of the common Spindle-tree with red Berries; and, 
when full grown, the Leaves of the Morelia Cherry-treee. Neither 
the Chinefe, nor fapanefe, in their learned Languages, have any hicro- 
glyphick Character for Tea, which at once might give fome Idea of the 
Thing exprefs’d, though they have fome Characters, which either merely 
exprefs the Sound of the Word, or allude to the Virtues and Defcription 
of the Plant. Of the fir ft Sort is Tcha, which fome learned Men think 
comes from the ancient Tartarian Word Cha: And upon this Ac- 
count, and alfo becaufe feveral Merchants yearly export large Quantities 
of Tea out of Tartary into Berfia, they will have the Tea-tree to be 
originally a Native of Tartary > and that the Chinefe, at, or fmee their 
Conqueft of China, have learned the Ufe and Virtues of this Leaf from 
the Tartars, in whofe Countrey they fay it grows plentifullyf. But the 
too great Vivacity of thefe Mens Genius, deftroys their own Allegation: 
For, i. Does great Plenty of Tea grow in Tart ary, and is it as little 
valued ? How is it probable then that the Tartars ftiould recommend 
that to the Chinefes, feeing they were Strangers to its Virtues and Ufes 
themfelves ? 2. The Tartar King of Ninchi began not his firft Incur- 
ftons into China before the Year 1616, and then he only made himfelf 
Mafter of a Province or two, and fo fent a Letter to the Emperor of 
China, petitioning for an Abatement of the grievous and infupportable 
Taxes impos’d by the Chinefe upon Tart ary, (which was then under 
their Government) for Prevention of the Barbarities committed by the 
Emperor’s Army kept in Tartary, and Satisfaction for his Father’s Mur- 
der: But the Emperor, being above fonrfeore Years old, ncgleCted his 
Letter, and return’d no favourable Anfwer to his Requefts; after which 
there was a long War betwixt them, till the Year 1650, when the 
Tartars made themfelves entire Mafters of that vaft Empire. But Bon- 
tins, and feveral others who traveled and wrote before the End of the 
fixteenth Century, mention the general and great Life of Tea at that 
Time, which was above twenty Years before the Tartars came into that 
Countrey. 
As to thefe Characters, which allude to the Virtues and Defcriptions 
of Tea, fuch is that of the Eye-brows of .Darma i, ufed by the ffa~ 
panefe. 
d Trjgant. de Reg. Chin. lib. 3. 
e Kempfer\ Travels, Appendix to VoL 
11. p. K 
f Sim. Paul de Thee, p. 25. Cleariuds 
Ambafladors Travels in Per da, p. 2.4.1. 
_s This Dan?’.a was an eminent Pagan INTRODUCTORY PREFACE 
5 
The fore-cited Authorh having given us the heft and fulled: Account of the 
Culture, Growth, Preparation and Differences of Tea, I fhall here acknow- 
ledge my Obligation to him for feveral Things in the following Difcourfe. 
The ‘Tea-free is a Shrub that grows but (lowly; it rifes to a Fathom 
high, and higher, and has a black woody irregular branched Root: Its 
Bark is dry, thin, weak, Cheffut colour’d, grey iff on the Stem, and 
(omewhat inclined to Green on the Extremities of the Twigs; ’tis firm, 
and adheres clofely to the Wood, and is covered with a very thin Skin, 
which fometimes loofens of itfelf as the Bark grows drythis being re- 
moved, the Bark appears of a greeniff Colour, and fmells (bmewhat like 
the Hazle-tree Leaves, but more difagreeable and offenfive, and of a bit- 
ter, naufeous and aftringent Taftc. 
The Wood is hard and fibrous, of a greeniff Colour inclining to white, 
of a very offenfive Smell when green, the Pith, which is very (mall, flicks 
clofe to the Wood. 
The Branches and Twigs are many in Number, growing without any 
Order, (lender, of different Sizes, though ff ort in the main, wanting thofe 
Rings which in Trees and Shrubs are the Mark of their annual Increafej 
very thick befet with Leaves, without any Order, on ffort, fat, green 
Foot-Stalks, roundiff and fmooth on the Back, but hollow, and fome- 
what comprefs’d. On the oppofite Side Band the Leaves: Thefe are 
of a middle Subftancc between membranaceous and flcfiiy; in Subftance, 
Shape, Colour, and Size, when full grown, like thole of the Morelia 
Saint, who lived about the 519th Year of 
Chrift: He was the third Son of Kafinwo, 
an Indian King, and a kind of Pope, be- 
ing the 28th Succeilbr of the Holy See of 
Siaka, the Founder of their Paganifm, who 
was a Negroe born, 1023 Years before 
Chriji. Darma was a moll auftere Man, 
who, from an Aim at perfect Holinefs, 
refolved to deny himfelf all Reft, Sleep, 
and Relaxation of his Body, and confe- 
crate his Mind Day and Night, with- 
out Intermiffion, to God : After he had 
watched many Years, one Day being 
weary and over-fafted, he unluckily dropt 
afleep; awaking the next Morning, full of 
Sorrow for breaking his folemn Vow, he 
cut off both his Eye-brows, thofe Inftru- 
ment 'of his Crime, and with Indignation 
threw them to the Ground ; Returning 
the next Day to the fame Place, behold, 
cut of his Eye-brows were grown two 
beautiful Tea Shrubs. Darma eating feme 
of the Leaves, was prefently fill’d with 
new Joy, and Strength to purfue his di- 
vine Meditations : He prefently commu- 
nicated to his Difciples the great Benefit 
he found from Tea; which they publifh’d 
to Mankind. Thus were the Virtues of 
Tea difcover’d to the World, fay the Ja- 
panefe. This Fable might arife either 
from its Serviceablenefs in fome Difeafes 
of the Eyes, or from its Force in pre- 
venting too much Drowfinefs in fuch an 
auftere Man : And its Ufe at firft (as of 
all other Things) was no doubt acciden- 
tal. Hence it’s brought in as produc’d by 
a Miracle, wrought above 1200 Years 
ago. However this fufficiently {hews, 
that it is no new Difcovery to the Indians, 
nor are they obliged to the Tartars for it. 
h, Kempfer, in the Appendix to the 2d 
Vol. of his Hift. of Japan.. 6 
INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. 
Cherry-tree, but when young and tender they referable (except in Colour, 
as before remark’d) the Spindle-tree with red Berries, called Euonymns. 
The larger Leaves are two Inches long, and one broad, or but little lefs; 
from a fmall Beginning they become roundifli and broader, and then 
taper into a fliarp Point; fome are of an oval Shape fomewhat bent, 
and irregularly undulated lengthways, deprefs’d in the Middle, with the 
Extremities roll’d backwards; they are fmooth on both Sides, of a dirty 
green Colour, fomewhat lighter on the Back, where the Nerves being 
miked pretty much leave fo many Hollows or Furrows on the oppofite 
Side; they are ferrated or indented, the Teeth being a little bent, 
hard, obtufe and fet clofe together, but of different Sizes; they have one 
very confpicuous Nerve in the Middle, to which anfwers a deep Furrow 
on the other Side; ’tis branched on each Side into five, fix, or feven thin 
tranfverfe Ribs of different Lengths, and bent backward near the Edges 
of the Leaves; fome fmaller Veins run between the tranfverfe Ribs. 
The Leaves, whenfrefh, are deftitute of Smell, and are not fo ungrateful 
to the Taffe as the Bark, being aftringent indeed and bitterifh, but not 
naufeous. They differ in Subftance, Size, and Shape, according to the 
different Age, Situation, and Nature of the Soil wherein they grow: 
Were they infus’d and drank when they are frefh or green, they would 
much afled the Body, efpecially the Hands; for being Narcotick, they 
wou’d oceafion a trembling and convulfive Motion in the Nerves, but 
this Quality they lofe in the drying and rolling, which expreffes that 
clammy, yellowifh, corrofive Juice that caufes thefe Tremors; yea, fo cor- 
rofive fometimes is this Juice, that it excoriates the Hands of the Roaffers- 
and Rollers. 
The Branches are thick befet with Flowers, one or two together, much 
like our wild Roles, an Inch or fomewhat more in Diameter, having 
* ' cy 
little Smell, compos’d of fix round, hollow Pet ala or Leaves, (landing 
on Foot-Stalks of an Inch long, which from a {lender beginning infcnfibly 
grow larger, and end in an uncertain Number, commonly five or fix, of 
{mail, round aSquama, or Leaves, which ferve inftead of the Lalix. Thefc 
Flowers continue growing till late in the Winter, one or two whereof 
are generally fick, fhrunk, and fall far fiiort of the Largenefs and Beauty 
of the reft; they have a very difagreeable bitterifh Tafte, which chiefly 
affeds the Bafis of the Tongue. 
Within the Flower are many white Stamina, exceeding fmall, as in 
Rofes, with yellow Heads (hap’d like a Heart.; in one Flower there arc 
fometimes one Hundred and thirty of thefe Stamina, The Flowers are 
fuccceded by great Plenty of Fruit which is unicapfular, bicapfular, but 
more commonly tricapfular, like the Seed-Yefiels of the Ricinus, or Palma INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. 
7 
Chrifliy compos'd of three round Capful# of the bignefs of wild Plums, 
grown together to one common Foot-Stalk as to a Center, but diftin- 
guifli’dby three pretty deep Partitions; each Capful# contains a Husk, Nut, 
and Seed: The Nut is almoft round on one fide only, where the three 
Capful# grow together, fomewhatcomprefs’d, cover’d with a thin, hardifh, 
fliining, Chefnut-colour’d Shell, which being crack’d, difcovers a reddifh 
Kernel of a firm Subfiance like Filberds, at firft of a fweetifb, but not 
very agreeable Tafte, which Toon grows rougher and bitter, like that of 
the Cherry-Seeds, making People (pit very plentifully, and very naufcous 
when they fall down into the Throat, but this ill Tafte quickly goes off. 
Thefe Kernels contain a great Quantity of Oil, and often turn rancid, 
which is the Reafon why fcarce two of a Dozen will germinate when 
Town, and this probably has occafion’d the Fruftration of our European 
Attempts to raife this Shrub. 
The Natives do not allow this Shrub any particular Gardens or Fields, 
but plant it round the Hedges and Borders of their other Fields, with 
Regard to the Soil; nor do they lay their Seeds in Rows, which would 
make it grow up into Hedges, but at feme Diftance from each other, 
that when the Shrub comes to fpread, the growing too clofe together 
may not hinder their plucking off the Leaves. They put at leaft fix, 
and moftly twelve Seeds, as they are contained in their Seed Vefiels, into 
one Hole made about five Inches deep, becaufe few are found to ger- 
minate. 
As the 'Tea-Bullies rife in Japan, the more induftrious People fatten 
the Soil where they grow, once a Year, with humane Dung mix’d with 
Earth. The Shrub mu ft at leaft be three Years old before the Leaves 
are pluck’d, and then it bears Plenty of very good ones; in feven Years 
Time, or thereabout, the Shrub rifes to a Man’s height; but then it grows 
but flowly, and bears few Leaves; but if cut down to the Stem, new 
Sets of Branches and Twigs (hoot out thicker, and much more nume- 
rous than before, and all nourifh’d by the fame Root. The young 
Shoots, as they come up the firft Year from the Stem, are always fewer 
in Number, but fatter and larger than thole which fucceed them; in 
Procefs of Time they become branched. When fcveral Seeds are put 
together into one Hole, fometimes two or three Shrubs come up toge- 
ther fo clofely joyn’d, that the ignorant or lefs attentive would readily 
take them for one Stem. 
When the Leaves are ready, the Labourers, hired far that Purpofe, da 
not pluck them by handfuls, but fmgly, one by one, lead they fhpuld 
tear them: Neither do they gather them all at one Seafon. They begin 
their hr ft gathering at the middle of the fir ft Moon,, preceding the 8 
INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. 
vernal Equinox, which is the firft Month of the yapanefe Year ; the 
Leaves then are very few, but very tender and young, being only of two 
or three Days growth, and fcarce fully open’d ; thefe are accounted the 
bed, and fold deareft of all, being bought by their Princes and great 
Men at a high Rate, and are therefore call’d the Flower of ’Tea, which 
probably occasion’d that Miftake, that the Indians ufed the Flowers of 
Tea, which they do not. This firft Sort is called Vmi, Bui, or Bohea 
Tea of the Chinefe. The next or fecond Gathering is often fold for the 
fir ft, and therefore the (mailer are carefully pick’d and feparated from 
the larger and coarfer Leaves. Their third and laft Gathering is in the 
third fapanefe Month, or our yune; this is moft plentiful, the Leaves 
being now come to their full Growth, both as to their Number and 
Largenefs; many pafs the two former, and depend wholly on this Ga- 
thering, the Leaves whereof are all forted into their different Clafles of 
Size and Goodnefs, which the yapanefe call Itziban, Nib an, and San~ 
han, that is, the firft, fecond, and third; the laft is the coarfeft of 
all, being full two Months grown, and is the Tipple of the Vulgar. 
Thefe Day-Labourers, which are hired to gather the Tea, will each of 
them gather nine or ten Catti apiece in a Day, that is twelve Pound 
and a half of Dutch Weight, for one Catti is a Dutch Pound and a 
Quarter; whereas their own Domefticks, wrho are not accuftomed to 
it, would not pluck above two or three Catti apiece in a Day. 
The yapanefe call the firft gather’d Tea, Field Tfjaa, or Ground Tm, 
becaufe they grind it to Powder, and Tip it in hot Water. The fame 
Sort is alfo called Udji Tfjaa, and Tacke Sacki Tfjaa, from the parti- 
cular Places where it grows, the Soil of thole Places being very good, 
and bccaufe it is gather’d off Shrubs of three Years old, which are then 
at their greateft Perfection; for the Soil and Age of the Shrub contri- 
bute much to the Goodnefs of the Leaf, as well as the Growth and 
Largenefs thereof, though the laft is not always a Proof of their Good- 
nefs, except they be tender alfo. 
Udf is a finall Town, fituated in a Diftrid of the fame Name, near 
the Sea-Coaft on one Side, and Miaco (the capital City and Refidence 
of the ecclefiaftical hereditary Emperor of fapan) on the other Side: 
This Climate is exceeding favourable for the Culture of Tea, which is 
reckon’d the beft of the Countrey, and is drunk at the Emperor’s Court, 
and in the Imperial Family. The Shrubs are planted as it were in 
pleafant Walks on a Mountain, inclofed with Hedges for their Security, 
and frequently cleans’d, that no Dirt may be found on their Leaver. 
Two or three Weeks before the Labourers begin to gather them, they 
muft abflain from eating Fifb, or any unclean Food, left the Impurity of INTRODUCTORT PREFACE. 
9 
their Breath ftain the Leaves, or injure their Goodnefs ; and when they 
are gathering, they mull bath themfelves twice or thrice a Day, either 
in a hot Bath or River, and gather with Gloves on, not being allowed 
to touch the Leaves with their naked Hands: Which being thus ga- 
ther’d, and prepared, are put into Paper Bags, and thele into larger 
Earthen or Porcellane Pots, fill’d up with common ‘Tea, for the better 
Prefervation of the other; which being thus pack’d, the Emperor’s chief 
Surveyor of the Works of this Mountain, fends them to Court under a 
good Guard, with a numerous Attendance, for the Emperor’s, greater 
Grandeur. This raifes the Price of this Imperial cfea, from forty two 
to fifty fix Crowns a Pound; nay, the chief Surveyor fometimes charges 
it at a hundred or a hundred and forty Crowns, three or four Catti of 
it being fent to Court under a Guard of two hundred Men to attend 
it: A fingle Difh of it is fometimes valued at twelve Shillings. 
The Leaves of the fecond ‘Tea are called I’octsjaa, or Chinefe fea, 
being prepared after the Chinefe Manner. The T^-Merchants and Shop- 
keepers of Japan, divide this into four others, which differ in Goodnefs 
and Price; the firffc gather’d when the Leaves juft appear; then every 
young Branch bears not above two or three, and thefe yet un-opened; 
one Dutch Pound and a Quarter of this is fold from to thirty Dutch 
Stivers r The Leaves of the fecond Sort are older and more grown, 
though gather’d not long after the firft, the fame Quantity of this is 
fold at forty or forty five Stivers. The Leaves of the third Sort are 
ftill older and larger, and worth from about twenty three to thirty five 
Stivers, or Silver Maas, per Catti. The greateft Quantity of the Tea 
imported into Europe, is of this Sort, and fold by the Dutch at fix or 
or feven Gilders per Pound: Thofe who cry it about the Streets in 
Japan, fell it for three Maas, or twenty four Stivers per Catti, for ’tis 
of this that the Generality of the Natives drink. 
The third fort of Tea is Ban Tsjaa, thefe Leaves being of the laft 
Gathering, are moftly too grofs and coarfe to be dry’d in Pans over the 
Fire, after the Chinefe Manner; but being for the Vulgar, Labourers, and 
Countrey-People, are prepared any how. The longer this fort is kept, 
the better it is; its Virtues being fix’d in the grofs Leaves, are not fo 
readily loft, either by being expofed to the Air, or by boiling; but the 
Leaves of the other two having extreme volatile Parts, fuft'er great Pre- 
judice by being expos’d to the Air, infus’d or boiled. 
When the Leaves are gather’d, they are brought to the Work-houfc 
to be roafted, the fame Day, over a Fire in an Iron-Pan; for if they lie 
long, or be laid on large Heaps, or kept over Night, they would heat, 
turn black, and lofe much of their Virtue; and if they do heat at any IO 
INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. 
Time, they ptefently fan them, and fpread them thin on the Ground 
to cool them. The Roafters put feveral Pounds of the Leaves into the 
Pan at once, which is fo heated, that the Leaves, though turgid and 
juicy when put in, yet foon crack at the Edges of the Pan : And that 
they may be thoroughly and equally dryed, the Roafter conftantly ftirs 
them with his Hands, till they are as hot as he can poflibly bear them, 
and then he takes them out with a Shovel like a Fan, and pours them 
on a Mat, when the Rollers roh them with the Palms of their Hands, 
in {mail Parcels, till they are equally curld; and fuch a (harp, yellow, 
and greenifli Juice fweats out of the Leaves upon this rolling, as burns 
their Hands almoft to an intolerable Degree: But Bill they mull con- 
tinue their Work, for if the Leaves are quite cold before they are rolled, 
they will cither not curl, or not keep it long; but the fooner they cool 
after they are rolled the better, for then they keep their Curl the lon- 
ger ; and therefore they have one to fan while another is rolling them. 
When they are cold, the Roafter (who is the chief Mafter of the Work- 
houfe) puts them a fecond Time into the Pans, and roafts them again, 
till they have loft all their Juice; and now he ftirs them more ftowly 
than before, leaft he put them out of their Curls, though fome Leaves 
will fpread in Spite of all his Care. After this roafting they arc care- 
fully roll’d again the fame Way. If after this they are fully dry, they 
have done; if not, they are deliver’d a third Time to the Roafter, and 
then his utmoft Care and Skill is neceflary, left he burn or blacken the 
Leaves. Some curious Pcrfons roaft and roll them fix or (even Times, 
but ufe a flower Fire, that they may keep their fine Greennefs; and bc- 
caufe of the exceeding fliarp Juice which fweats out of them, the Pan 
is waftied clean after every roafting. The Chinefe, before they roaft their 
Leaves of the ffrft gathering, put them into hot Water about half a 
Minute, that they may fooner and more fully exfude their narcotick 
Juice. 
When they have done roafting and rolling them, they pour them 
out upon a Mat, and fort them a fecond Time into different Claffes 
according to their Goodnefs, and feparate thofe which are left curl’d, or 
too much burnt, from the reft. Countrey-People roaft their Leaves in 
earthen Kettles, and as they are at left Expence this Way, fo they can 
afford them cheaper, though they are not much worft. The Tea muff 
be all roafted in the Night, being gathered in the Day, which makes 
the Preparers of it complain heartily of their hard Fate. When the 
Leaves have been kept fome Months after the firft roafting, they are 
roafted again, to deprive them of any remaining Moifture, or what they 
may have ftnee imbibed from the Air. INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. 
As (bon as the T’ea is cold after this fecond reading and curling, the 
Chi'nefe put it up into Boxes of coarfc Tin, which are inclofed in wooden 
Chells, or Cafes of Fir, all the Clefts whereof are carefully ftopt with 
Paper, that the Air of thofe Climates may not difllpate its extreme fub- 
tile and volatile Parts, and in this Manner we have it imported hither. 
Thofe Tubs, or Cherts, one with another, contain about a hundred and 
twelve Pounds of ‘l’ea apiece, and fometimes fix or (even thoufand of 
thofe Cherts are retain’d from the firft, and put up in a fecond or after- 
Sale of the Englifb Fj af-India Goods ‘; one of their Ships fometimes 
imports four hundred thoufand Pounds for one Article of her Cargo k. 
The common People of "Japan keep their own Fea in large earthen 
Pots with narrow Mouths; but the Emperor has his in Maatfubo's !, 
which they think not only preferve but improve its Goodnefs: How- 
ever they will keep powder’d T’ea many Months without the leaft Hurt 
or Damage. 
T’ea has been known in Europe above a hundred and twenty Years, 
for the Dutch Eaft-India Company, (who firft imported, and rais’d its 
* In September the laft Year 1728, 6867 
Chefts were put up at a fecond or after- 
Sale, which amount to 7691041ib. o{Tea, 
the Duty whereof is about 153820 /. 
Sterling. 
k The Bill of Cargo of the Ccefar, of 
May 17. 1726, has 3581001ib. of Tea, 
for one Article, the Duty of which is 
71620 /. Sterling. 
1 Maatfubo, is a kind of Porcellane Pots 
or Veflels, fought for by divers, and found 
among the Rocks of the Sea, near the 
Ifland Form fa) where the once rich and 
fiourithing Ifland Manvi flood, (which had 
the beft Earth, and the moft ingenious 
noted People for making the richefl and 
fineft Porcellane in the World) but’tis 
long ago funk, and only fome fmall Tops 
of the Rocks are to be feen at low Water. 
The King of this Ifland, being a pious 
Man, was warned in a Dream by the 
Gods, that when the Faces of the two fa- 
mous Images, which the People worfhip- 
ped, were red, the Ifland fhould fuddenly 
be deftroyed for the great Wickednefs of 
its Inhabitants. Two notorious Villains, 
hearing of the King’s Dream, went in the 
Night and colour’d both the Faces of the 
Images red ; the King hearing of it, took 
Shipping, immediately went off, and ar- 
rived in the South of China, where the 
Day of his Arrival is annually obferv’d. 
As foon as he was gone, the whole Hand 
funk, and all its fine Porcellane with it; 
and thefe Vefiels, taken up by Divers, are 
fold at an extravagant Rate, viz. from 
twenty to a hundred or two hundred Thails 
apiece; thefe are fmall, have feveral 
Cracks and Fiffures, and many Shells ftick 
to them; but fuch as are large and found 
are the Emperor’s Property only, and are 
purchafed at three, four, or five thoufand 
Thaih : A Thail is ten Silver Maas, and 
ten Maas are feventy Dutch Stivers, twelve 
of which are equal to thirteen Pence o£ 
our Money. 
Thefe muft be the Thz-Pots, which 
Maudelflo fays (in his Travels to the In- 
dies, p. 15 6.) are worth between fix and 
feven thoufand Pound Sterling apiece; 
they are fhap’d like fmall Barrels, or Wine 
Vefiels, of a whitifh Colour inclining to 
green# with a fhort narrow Neck. Kemp 
Append, to Hiftory of Japan, 12 
INTRO DUCT 0 RT PREFACE. 
Reputation in Europe) was founded A.D. 1602. upon a Contribution at 
their firft Settlement of 6459840 Florins. The Englifh Edfi-Tndia Com- 
pany was form’d near the latter End of Queen Elizabeth’s Reign, their 
Charter being dated A. D. 1599, and their firft Fleet fer out in lifoo. But 
they made no Figure before King James I. beftow’d his Favours upon 
them. The French Eaji-India Company was eftabliflied in 1664. 
The Dutch, in their fecond Voyage to Chinas, carry’d thither good’ 
Store of dried Sage, and exchanged it with the Chinefe for Tea- they 
had three or four Pound of the laft for one Pound of the firft, calling 
it a wonderful European Herb, poflefs’d of as many Virtues as the In- 
dians could poflibly afcribe to their Sbrub-Lcaf: But bccaufe they ex- 
ported not fiich large Quantities of Sage as they imported of Tea, they 
bought a great deal* and gave eight Pence or ten Pence a Pound for it 
in Chinam. And when they firft brought it to Paris,, they fold it there 
for thirty Livres a Pound11, though ’twas not of the beft fort, for that 
comes from Japan, and has often been fold at a hundred Livres a 
Pound0: But about thirty Years ago, the Chinefe fold it at threePence, 
and never above nine Pence a Pound, but frequently mix’d with other 
Herbs to increafe its Quantityp. 
Though it Teems to have been brought into England in the Reign of 
King fames I. yet ’twas little taken Notice of before the Ufiirpation, 
when it was imported in fuch large Quantities, that it came under the 
,Cognizance of the Government; for in 1660,. a Duty of eight Pence 
per Gallon, was laid on the Liquor made and fold in all Coffee-houfos % 
which was no finall Prejudice to the Liquor, and Inconvenience to the 
Drinker, for the Excife Officer was to Turvey it before any fhould be 
fold, and was not obi g’d to attend above once or twice a Day. And 
ever fince that Time the Duty upon Tea has been one of the hereditary 
Cuiloms to the Crown, though the Parliament has at fiindry Times, by 
different Ads,, fix’d divers Duties upon it, but the laft is the moft com- 
modious of all, being only four Shillings per Pound, payable by the Sel- 
lers of the. Leaf, no Duty nor Infpedion to be made of the Liquor or 
its Makers. 
* Japan, China, and Siam, are the only Places which afford us Tea, 
and that from the firft is moft valu’d, being ufiially of a finer clear Green, 
bavins a finaller Leaf, and more delicious Smell and Tafte than the other; 
m Father Alex. Rhtries. . 
* i. e. about fifty Shillings-. % 
0 About 8/. 6s. Bd. 
f Kernp/er's Hiftory of Japan. 
* But whether this was the nrII Imperil*, 
or whether it tvas only renewed, as the 
Duty on Malt-Liquor was, upon the Par- 
liaments annulling all CromvjeU’s Ads and, 
Laws, I .cannot fay., INTRODUCTORY PRE FA C E. 
which railed its Price in France to 200 Livres per Pound, till Codec 
and Chocolate were more generally us’d, which reduc’d both the Price 
and Efteem of the former r. 
Favernier fays, the King and Nobility of Funquin prefer the Flower 
of Fea as mod wholefome and pleafant, which makes it dearer and more 
valuable; for, fays he, as much of this Liquor as will fill one of our 
ordinary Beer-Glades is there worth a French Crown. But Concriusy 
who liv’d feveral Years in Japan, adures us, that the Flowers are of no 
Efteem, the main Virtue being lodged in the Leaf: And what led Faver- 
nier, and feveral others into this Miftake, was, that the fmall Leaves which 
are firft pluck’d, when they are not above forty eight or fifty Flours old, 
are called the Flower or Prince of Fea, being molt valu’d and fold at an 
extravagant Rate, viz. from 45 to 140 Crowns per Pound. 
We have only two Sorts imported to us, viz. Green and Bohea; the 
Europeans contracted their fir ft Acquaintance with, and moftly ufed the 
Green *: Then Bohea took place of it, probably becaufe the Chineje, if 
they are weak, chiefly confine themfelves to this Kind, and aforibe to it 
a lingular Virtue of Healing and preventing Difeafes, and applaud it as 
the Balfam of Life to the human Machine; but we find,, generally fpeak- 
ing, that Green Fea anfwers our Purpofcs better, and is therefore chiefly 
ufed by the Quality, which has reduced the Price of Bohea, and raifed 
this. 
Of Bohea, called by the Chinefe Voui, or Bui, we have the following: 
Sorts imported, viz. 1. Pekoe, which has the moil pleafant and delicate 
Flavour of all this firft Clafs; its Leaf is very fmall and black, and has; 
many fmall white Flowers mix’d with it; its Liquor is not of fo deep* 
a Tincture as the reft, and creams brifkly when pour’d out; the Water 
muft ftand on it a conflderable Time to draw out its Virtues, and ’twill 
bear four or five fimdry Waters. The clofer Connedion, or Cohefion of 
its Principles, renders it more Balfamic, and alfo hereby it grows better 
by keeping, which is the Reverie of Green Fea. The Price of this at 
prefent is iq s. per Pound with us. 2. Congo, which has a larger Leaf9 
and is of a deeper brown Colour than the former; this will bear five 
Waters, but then they muft not ftand long upon it, for unlefs the Water 
is prefently pour’d off, the whole Strength of the Fea will be drawn- 
out at once. Hence, if you mix Pekoe and Congo, you fliall have am 
admirable fine Fea-, you have all the Goodnels of the laft in the firft: 
two Waters, and of the firft in the laft two or three, but even then the 
1 See Pomef 's Kiftory of Drugs, p. 84. 
8 See Append, to Schroder’s Pharm. p. 8. 
1 This is all bought at Nankin,;As Cham- 
hers fays in his Cyclopaedia, Tom. 2. the' 
Dutch have but lately introiuced itintgr 
Europe. . 14 
IN TRODUCTOR Y PREFACE. 
Water fliould not (land long. This is fold at a Pound. 3. Common 
Bohea is blacker and larger leav’d than either of the former, and fmells 
and taftes more faint, not unlike dry’d Hay; it gives the Water the deepeft 
Tindure of all, and two or three Waters draw out its Strength and Vir- 
tue. Price Im. per Pound. 
The different Sorts of Green Tea are thefe, r. Hyffon, fo called from 
the Name of a rich Eajl-India Merchant, who was the firft Importer of 
it; it has a fmaller, harder, and more curled Leaf than the common Green ; 
’tis of a more blue Colour, taftes crifp in the Mouth when chew’d, and 
afterwards looks green upon the Hand: It fcarce tindures the Water 
(with a pale greennefs) when ftrongeft, and yet is of a moff delicious Tafte. 
All, or moff, of the Leaves fliould be of a clear bluifh Green; for if they 
feem decay’d, or look brown or blackifli, the Tea is old, and has loft 
Part of its Virtue: Or if you pour out a Cupfull of its Liquor, and 
let it ffand all Night, if its Colour continues, then ’tis good; but if that 
fades, its Virtues are gone, efpecially if its delicate Smell and bitterifh- 
fweet Tafte be impair’d. This Tea will bear four or five Waters, and 
requires not fo much Tea to the fame Quantity of Water, as the other. 
’Tis feldom us’d alone, but mixt with common Green, one Part to three 
of the laft. The Price is 36 s, per Pound. 2,. Imperial Green Tea; this 
is of a lighter green Colour, has a more flat, large, loofe Leaf than either 
the laft or thofe which follow: ’Tis green to the Eye, crifp in the Mouth, 
and pretty pleafant to the Smell, but has the fainteft Tafte of any Green 
Tea. Its fpecifick Gravity is the leaft of all, its Principles fit loofeft, and 
therefore two Waters will draw oft its Strength. Price 1% s. per Pound. 
3. Common Green Tea of the better Sort, has not fo large a Leaf as the 
laft, is of a darker green Colour, rougher, and more aftringent to the Tafte; 
’twill bear three or four Waters. Price 15 s. per Pound. 4. Ordinary Green 
Tea is yet of a darker (or if very coarfe, of a light whitifh Green) Colour, 
neither fo pleafant to the Tafte nor Smell, and is fooner drawn off. Price 
13 s. per Pound. 5. Dutch Bloom is a very fine Green Tea, and bears a 
proportionable Rate; ’tis, probably, one of the Japaii Teas, but having 
feen none of it, I will not pretend to deferibe or judge. 6. There grows 
alfo a very rough, coarfc, tin pleafant Green Tea in the Northern Province 
of Xenjiy which the hardy Canibal Tartars, the prefent Mafters of China, 
life, whofe delicate Difli is raw Horfe-flefh, and when their Dinner fits un- 
eafy upon their Stomach, they drink of this, and it rarely fails to reftore 
their Appetite and Digefhon. 
The fubtle Chinefe have feveral Ways to falfify Teay both in preparing 
and putting of it up, a Detedion whereof will be no left advantagious 
to the Merchant, than facisfadory to the Drinker. 1. They formerly IN TRODUCTORY PREFACE. 
us’d to mix a good many Leaves of other Shrubs with it, though one 
would think the Profit would fcarce anfwer their Labour. The Fraud, if 
not vifible at fird to the Eye, is thus difcover’d: Make a Pot of genuine 
‘Tea, and another of the fuppofed adulterated Leaves, pour out a Didi of 
each,, and put a Grain and a half of Blue Vitriol or Coperas into each 
Cup; this turns the Green Tea, if genuine, and in a good Light, of a 
fine light blue, and Bohea of a deep blue next to black; (but if this be 
done by Candle-light, both will appear black;) if they be adulterated they 
will have a Mixture of other Colours in them, as green, yellow, black, 
greyidi, &c. 2. They us’d to put a coarfe Tea in the Bottom and Middle 
of their Totenage, and a fine Tea at Top, or put a fine Tea both at Top 
and Bottom, and a coarfer in the Middle, ’till the Buyer detedcd that alfo. 
3. They then fell to dying Tea with Japan Earth, which gives the Leaf 
the Colour, and the Infufion the Tindure of Bohea. One would wonder 
where they fhould find their Profit in this, if the Green Tea was good, 
efpedally now when this lad is fb much dearer than Bohea. Either the 
lad muR be of more Account in other Countries, or that which they 
dye mud be fpoil’d in the Preparation, or damag’d by keeping : How- 
ever this profufe Ufe of Japan Earth, Teems to be the Reafon of its pre- 
fers great Advancement from 4 to iBr. a Pound. But the following 
Marks will plainly difcover this Fraud, 1. A leffer Quantity of this fore 
of Tea tinges the fame Proportion of Water of a deeper Colour than it 
fhould be. 2. It tinges it, not of a dark, but more reddidi Brown. 
3. After the Leaves have been fbmetime infus’d in the Water, and the 
Tin&ure is wafh’d off, they look greener than they fhould do, rf the Tea 
was good: Or, if they are damag’d for open Sale, as ’tis fometimes the 
Cafe, they are black or brown, or if they were laid on a Heap and 
heated before reading, or if they have been burnt in reading, or got Wet 
after they were roaded. 4. They are alfo much larger, being too old 
before they were pluck’d for Bohea Tea; therefore fiich as would avoid 
this Cheat fhould buy the lead Leaf. y. The Liquor itfelf which diou’d 
have a delicate Flavour, and a ffnooth, Balfamick Tade, is rougher and 
hardier to the Palate. 6. When Milk is pour’d into it, it rifes reddidi, 
and not of a dark or blackidi. brown. 7. A little Coperas put into this 
Tea turns it into a light blue, but diou’d make it, if good, of a deep blue 
inclining to black. 8. Spirit of Salt or Sulphur put to the lad Mixture, 
clears it not, whereas it diou’d take oft' even the Tindure of the Tea itfelf 
and make it clear. 9. Spirit of Hartjhorn makes the Tea of a deep 
brownifh yellow after it has dood a little, like new drawn Tincture of 
Saffron, but here it does not. INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. 
After all, I don’t fee what harm this Cheat can do, except to fuch 
as have too elaflic Solids, and then the daily Ufe muft tend to ftiften 
the Fibres, or contrail the Vcffels more, or to them whole Lungs are 
obflruded, or loaded with too much Matter *, wherein the Perfon’s Life 
depends upon Expedoration, and in thefe Cafes it may do much Harm, 
firfl, by crifping up the obflruded YefTels, which fliould be relaxed; 
and fecondly, by flopping the fpitting, and loading the bronchial Yeflels: 
And indeed the chief Ufe of Bohea Yea Teems to be for fuch People, 
becaufe Greeji is too aflringent for them. 
But as the Natives have a Dexterity in making artificial Bohea) fa 
they can fend us a counterfeit Green, by dying the firfl with green Vi- 
triol, which cheating Trick is eafily difcovered, i. By putting a little 
Bit of Gall into your Liquor, for if there’s any Vitriol in the Yea; it 
prefently turns it of a deep blackifh Colour, which it fliould not do; 
for Galls tindure not this Liquor, except there be Copperas firfl in it. 
2,. The Liquor it felf looks of a pale green, inclining to a bluifh Dye. 
3. Spirit of Hartfhorn dropt into this Yea makes it fomewhat of a flight 
Purple Colour, and caufes a fmall Precipitation; whereas this Spirit 
Thou Id make it of a deep greenifh yellow, when it has flood fix Minutes. 
This dying with Vitriol is a much more mif'chievous Trick than the 
former. 
The mod likely Time for dying of Tea is, when they put the frcfli 
gather’d Leaves into Water, before they are roafled; for then they need 
only mix their Powder of "Japan Earth, or green Vitriol, with that Wa- 
ter, and wadi their Tea in ir, for the reading of it after, fixes on thole 
Colours when the Moidure of the Plant is exhaled. 
The Chinefe, Japanefe and Tartars, prepare their Tea after different 
Manners; the laft boil it in Milk, but this is very improper, becaufe, 
i. Milk either blunts or (heaths up the adive, minute, faline Particles 
of the Tea; and therefore corpulent, cachedick, or hypocondriac Per- 
fons fhould neither boil it in Milk, nor put Cream to it; for thereby 
the Stimulation of the Liquor is deftroyed, and indead thereof, it loftens 
and lubricates ftill more, and generates new and greater Obdrudions 
and Relaxations of the VdTels. 2. The boiling of the Milk exhales and 
lofes its aqueous and minute Particles, which are fitted for Dilution, and 
Attenuation; hence the groder, earthy, and cafcous Parts are increafed, 
ail which have a dired Tendency to duff and load obftruded Veflels dill 
more. 3. The thinner Parts of the Milk being lod, the Vehicle is un- 
fit to infmuate it feif into the Leaves, and diffoive their delicate Salt, Oil 
and Earth; hence much of thefe continue wrapt up with the more 
mixed fix’d Parts, and are lod. INTRODUCTORT PREFACE. 
17 
The Japanefe powder their Leaves, and pour boiling Water on 
them, and fo dp up both together: But by this Means, we are not only 
deprived of a clear Liquor, but the Subltance of the Leaf, being an 
aftringent, may ad more forcibly on our Bodies than is confident with 
an equal Balance between Relaxation and Contraction. This alfo makes 
the Tea of a more rough, earthy, difagrecable Tafte; and if Aftringents 
thicken the Blood, as well as draw up the Fibres, this kind of Tea mud 
either be exceeding weak, or its Ufe will foon deftroy the necefiary 
/Equilibrium of Nature. 
After the Chtnefe, who infufc their Tea in boiling Water as we do, 
have pour’d the Water from the Leaves, they prepare them for an Even- 
ing Salad with Sugar, Oyl and Vinegar. 
I hope the various Proceffcs, and fun dry Methods here ufed, will at- 
tone for the Length of this Difcourfe, being not only new, but fiich as 
will alfo be ferviceable to let us into a better Acquaintance with the 
Properties and Sortments of other Vegetables, and that to better Pur- 
pole, and more Satisfaction than the pompous, forced and tedious Expe- 
riments of the Furnace: For the Truth of which, we mull depend on 
the Judgment and Veracity of the Chymift, befides Allowances to be 
made for a great many Coincidencies. And the celebrated Boyle, in his 
Obfervations circa Noßulucam, has juftly obferv’d, Ignem non efje gc- 
nuinam Analyjiin Concretorum, nec Chymicorum Principia ej]e talia: 
fed ex aliis co?icreta, & ex iifdem, alias Subjla?2tias diverfas pojje pro- 
&rc. But thcle Experiments are eafy, and practicable by every cu- 
rious Peifon on any Plant, without Expence, much Apparatus, Lofs of 
Time, Danger to any Animal, or Acquaintance with the chymical Jar- 
gon of Words, more like Conjuration than Inftruction. 
I have preferr’d the Method of treating either Tea, or other Vegeta- 
bles, by Infufion, rather than by Fire, i. Becaufe the laft has been done 
fo often already, that a Repetition would be only A Bum agere. 2. Be- 
caufe Tea is always us’d in Infufion, and therefore to find out whether 
we have any domellick Vegetables of the like Nature, we muff treat 
them in the fame Manner. 3. Becaufe the Fire, 1. Changes the effen- 
tial Saks of Vegetables into a lixivious. 2. It either changes the Texture, 
or affords a moll corrofive Acid, from Things that were entirely neutral 
before, as to either Acid or Alcali, as Spirits of Salt, Sulphur, Nitre, &c. 
which corrode and dilfolve Metals, and inftancly coagulate our Juices 
into a hard in feparate Mafs, and like an actual Cautery, corrode the So- 
lids, and deffroy them. 3. Very often the Fire, by feparating the vege- 
table Principles, (trips them of their Virtues; thus when Senna has pals’d i8 
INTRODUC TO . 
a chymical Analyfis, it moves not the Belly, nor will the Bark cure In- 
termittents, &c. Therefore fuch Experiments as feparate the grofler 
earthy Parts, from the other finer Principles, without difuniting the laft 
from one another at the fame Time, feem moft natural, and promife us 
the furcft Account of their Effects. This is evident from the Experi- 
ments on the Infufion of Cocculi Indici, &c. 
But if any Perfons after all this, think them too tedious and extra- 
neous to the Purpofe, they may read the Difcourfe alone, without trou- 
bling themfelves with the Notes, which contain thefe Experiments. 
What firffc induc’d me to attempt and purfue them, (and indeed gave 
Birth to this Differtation) was the Repetition of fome Tryals, made by 
Pechlin, Le Compte, and fome others, which I found wholly falfe, and 
confequently their Rcafoning and from them fo too. A 
DISSERTATION 
UPON T II E 
Nature and Properties 
O F 
T E A, bV 
YEA has met with very different Treatment, according to 
the fundry Humours of thole who have ventur’d pub- 
lickly to offer their Sentiments upon it. Some aferibe 
fuch fovereign Virtues to this Exotick, as if ’twas able to 
eradicate or prevent the Spring of all Difeafes; and ex- 
tol it to a Degree that renders their Panegynck too near 
a-kin to Satyr u . Others, on the contrary, are equally fevere in their 
The oppo- 
iite Opinions 
concerning 
Tea, 
u Dr. JFaldfmick, Profeflbr of Phyfick 
at Marpurg, in Difp'ut. var. Argum. BVO,8V0, 
calls it the Defence againft the Enemies of 
Health ; the imiverfal Panacea, which has 
long been fearch’d for. It leaves no 
chronical Diftcmper unpluck’d up hv the 20 
The Nature and 
Cenfures, and impute the mod: pernicious Confequences to it; account- 
ing it no better than a flow, but efficacious Poyfon, and a Seminary of 
Difeafesx. And tho’ its good Effeds, in Tome Cafes, arc fo glaringly evi- 
dent, that they cannot deny it to be fervicable in the Gout, Arthritic 
Pains, Rheumatifm, Stoppage of Urine, &c. yet they roundly affirm the 
Benefit to be owing chiefly and properly to the warm Water; or how- 
ever, if ’tis of any Service in thefe Inftances, we run the Hazard, they 
fay, of an Infedion with foreign and worfe Difeafes, which lie fecretly 
lurking in the imported Leaf; and not fatisfy’d with venting their own 
Prejudices, they are forward to lift all in their Service, and make ’em vote 
on their Side, who give us but neceffiary Cautions again!! the exceffive 
and indifereet Ufe of Tea y. But then to fhew their good Nature, while 
they inveigh again!!, and would deprive us of this commonly pleafing, 
but dangerous Exotick, they kindly provide us with domeftick Plants of 
greater Service, and more general Ufe, viz, Betony, Marjoram, Male- 
Speedwell, Eyehright, ''juniper-berries; and in Fevers, Scordium, China- 
root, Carduus benediffius, Scorzonera, &c. Having thus vented their 
Spleen again!! the Plant itfelf, they turn their virulent Pens againf! the 
Merchants and Importers of it, and treat ’em in a Language (hocking to 
a model! Ear z. 
Others again feem to queftion the Virtues aferib’d to Tea, and imagine 
them induftrioufly magnify’d to promote and encourage the Importation 
thereof, and increafe the Merchants Gain3. But, 1. What Profit or 
felf-intereflcd Views can any private Gentleman propofe, by attempting 
Several Pre- 
judices an- ] 
fwer’d. 
Roots. ■ "—lt is impoffible for the Obllru- 
dions of the Hypochondria, and the Di- 
llempers which proceed therefrom , to 
withftand the Virtues of this healthful 
Herb ; Oh admirable Virtue of Tea ! Oh 
precious Treafure of Life .! &c. 
x fob. Ludov. Harms mane, de Potu ca- 
lido, in Mifcellan. curiof. Mihi mult is de 
caufts Potus ilk adeo frequent Jufpedius eft. 
i. Propter nimiam copiarn Aqua. Ca~ 
chexiam, vel etlam Hydropem caufetur. 5. Vi- 
iium Diabetis omnino metuendum eft in iftis 
Bibacculis These. 6.Eft Fetus magis Politicus 
quam Medians. & p. 162. 3. Exotica 
noftree Natures funt adverfa. 5. lifque Morbi 
peregrini in Ter ram noftram traducunturfac. 
The two laft Arguments equally hold good 
as to all imported Meats, Drinks and Me- 
dicines, to condemn which by Wholefale 
would be ridiculoujdy malicious. 
y As Daniel, , Cruger, Antony de Heide, 
D. D. Chriftian. Henric. Lufa, Thomas 
Bartholine, Simon Pauli, jac. Wolfius, 
Bern. Swalvius, Henric. Maud, he. 
z Charging them with inexpreffible 
Frauds, calling them greedy as Hell, the 
vileft of Ufurers, who lie in wait for 
Mens Purfes and Lives, moft wicked Ho- 
micides, Idc. Hannaman, p. 264. But, as 
’tis common with others in the like Cafe, 
when this Author gives Liberty to his 
Prejudice and Paffion, he falls into Con- 
tradictions in Argument, fa Me Latin, and 
puerility of Style.. . 
a Thus Duncan on hot Liquors. And 
a certain late Author, who from a Spite 
he bore to one of the Eaft-India Com- 
pany, wrote a very filly, but virulent Pam- 
phlet againll the Ufe of Tea, Properties of T EA. 
to put fucli a Cheat upon the World in (pinning out a long Panegyrick 
on a Plant, whole life will not anfwcr his Encomiums? All the Reward 
he is like to get for his Labour, is the juft Confute and RcHedion of 
the judicious Part of Mankind, who are not eafily fooled by luch falfe 
Cries., 2. What can induce the Phyfician or Botanift to commend fome 
common Herb, and afcribe more Virtues to it, (though but what his oven 
Experience juftifies) than all preceding Authors put together have before 
appropriated either to it or Tea F Can we fuppofe he ridiculoufly gives 
himfelf this Trouble from a fond and groundlefs Admiration of what 
others flight and defpife, or from a Principle of Philanthropy, to com- 
municate its Virtues and Ufefulnefs to the more indigent Part of his Spe- 
cies ? For fure this generous Principle muft refide in the Breaft of every 
reafonable Being, who is a worthy Member of that Society in which 
Providence hath placed him. But, 3. Though all the Virtues attributed 
to Tea belong to it, and be allowed juft, yet we may eafily be difap- 
pointed of its expected Efficacy: 1. When we are not proper Judges of 
it, and Co have that which is damaged and adulterated put upon us, in- 
ftead of that which is good and genuine. Or, 2. By chafing that 
which is unfuitable to our Cafe and Conftitution, as drinking Green <Tea3 , 
which is diuretick and detergent, when we (hou’d chufe Lubricators and 
Balfamicks, Gr vice verfa. 3. By uling a wrong Vehicle to extrad its 
Virtues, as vinous or fpiritous Liquors inftead of Water b. . Or, 4. By 
b Some infufe Tea in Brandy or Wine, 
the fir ft for a Stomachick, the fecond for 
a Diuretick in a Cachexy or Dropfy : I 
put therefore a Scruple of Bohea Tea into 
a Phial-Glafs, and pour’d two Ounces of 
redified Spirit of Wine upon it, cork’d it 
up, and fet it two Nights and a Day before 
a very warm Fire, within a broad Fender, 
which reflected the Heat upon it: I then 
pour’d oft the Liquor upon a Saucer, and 
exhaled it; it left five Grains of a greenifh- 
brown • tranfparent Gum, not very Salt, 
but exceeding aftringent and bitter; this 
put into warm Water, a Part of it dif- 
lblved, the Remainder put into Oil, and 
fet before the Fire, another Part diflblved, 
and made the Liquor of a greenifh yellow. 
I alfo put a Scruple of Bohea Tea into a 
Phial-Glafs with two Ounces of Water, 
and let it ftand before the Fire as long as 
the other, then ftrained off the Liquor, 
and exhaled it. I had five Grains and a 
half of a dark brownifh tranfparent Gum, 
exceeding Salt, but lefs aftringent, and of 
no delicate Tafte ; it diflblved in Water, 
and gave it the Tinbture of ftrong Bohea 
Tea ; Copperas made it of a deep blue, 
almoft black i Oyl could not difcolour, , 
foften or diffolve it, though fet before the 
Fire, nor would it flame on Iron heated 
red, ©r in the Fire, but crackled much. 
I put alfo a Scruple of Bohea Tea into 
two Ounces of Spirit of Wine, with four , 
Grains of Salt of Tartar, and fet it three 
Nights and two Days before the Fire ; 
then I poured off and exhaled the Li- 
quor, which.was of a dirty dark Colour °s ; 
there remained four. Grains. and a half of 
a dark brown Mucus, brackifh, fait and 
nitrous, but neither aftringent nor bitter, 
being only the Salt of Tartar difcolour’d 
by a little Earth, for the dried Leaves 
weighed nineteen Grains and a half. 
Corollary 1. Plence we fee, that when The Nature and 
chufing an unfuitable Vehicle of the fame Kind; cas flagnanc Water, or 
that which is impregnated with metallick Particles, or loaded with earthy, 
which cannot penetrate, nor diffolve and draw out the feparable Princi- 
ples of the Plant, y. By drinking it to Excels, at unfeafonable Times, 
or of an unfuitable Strength, as too weak when we fhould aftringe, or 
too ftrong when we fhou’d relax. 6. When by a too frequent and un- 
neceflary Ufe we have made it too familiar to us, fo as Twill not anfwer, 
to that Degree, thofe Intentions we defire. 7. When due Care is not 
taken in keeping the cTea. Or, 8. When the Water is boiled over a 
fmoaky fulphurous Fire, or boiled too much, and in an open Veflel, or 
foch as gives it a metallick or other Taint. And laftly, ’Tis not to be 
expeded that any Medicine or Diet fhould always have the fame Efted on 
different Ages, Sexes, Conftitutions, &c It mull be of a powerful Nature 
indeed to give fudden Relief in the Heighth of a Diftemper, or eradicate 
that which is become habitual by long Continuance. The oVer-frequent 
and immoderate Ufe of T*ea, as the drinking it three or four Times a 
Day, and ten or twelve Difhes at a Sitting, as Tis the common Pradice 
of fome, muft be fo far from preventing or curing Difeafos, that Tis no 
Wonder to fee fuch look pale, and complain of being low-fpirited, the 
we would extract the faline Part of Tea 
chiefly, and lei's of its Oyl, Water is the 
proper Menftruum or Vehicle ; or if we 
would extract more of its fulphureous, 
and lefs of its faline Parts, redtify’d Spi- 
rits are our Liquor ; for much of the 
Gum, extradled by Spirits of Wine, dif- 
folved in Oil, and tindlur’d it, but that 
drawn by Water did neither. 2. A Ve- 
hicle loaded with Salts crifps up and con- 
tracts the Leaves to fuch a Degree, that 
they fcarce emit any of their Principles. 
The Spirit of Wine with Salt of Tartar 
got but half a Grain from the Leaf. 
3. We fee that Tea contains no Spirit, 
fince its Tincture neither ftrikes the ol- 
factory Nerves, nor Tongue, with any 
volatile Parts, and that whatever Vehicle 
we ufe to extract its Tincture, we have 
the full Weight again in the Gum and 
dried Leaves. 4. That Tea contains a 
Refin, or exceeding fix’d Oyl, notlepa- 
rable from the Leaf by fimple Element, 
(as will be more fully prov’d below.,) 5. 
That Tea contains much light mucous 
Earth, feparable either by an aqueous or 
fpintuous Menftruum. 6. That upon the 
Union of this Earth and Oyl depends its 
Aftringency and Bitternefs; for the Gum, 
extracted by the Spirits, was exceedingly 
more aftringent and bitter, than that 
drawn out by the Water, which had more 
Salt, but little Oyl. 
c I infufed a Dram of Bohea Tea in 
three fundry, boiling, ftrong, chalybeat 
Waters; when the laft was poured off, and 
the Tea dried, it had loft only one Scru- 
ple.— The fame Quantity, infufed the 
fame Time, in as many boiling (Pipe) 
Waters, loft twenty five Grains. A 
Dram of Green Tea, infufed as long in as 
many boiling (Pipe) Waters, loft only 
twenty three Grains and a half. A 
Dram of Bohea infus’d in three boiling 
Waters, taken from a Pump, loft twenty 
three Grains. -The fame Quantity, 
infufed as above, in clear River Water 
(taken up ten Days after any Floods, or 
great Rains had fallen) loft twenty fix 
Grains ; 'Green Tea loft only twenty four 
and a half. —— A Dram of Bohea thus 
infufed in Rain Water (gather’d in a Pew- 
tef Difh in a Garden) loft twenty fix 
Grains and a half. Properties of TEA. 
23 
true Effeds of a lax Fibre, and ferons Blood, occafioned by Twilling down 
fo much warm Water, and they are certainly obliged to the Tea that they 
are no worfo. But ’tis needleis to fpend more Time or Pains in vindi- 
cating this Liquor from the grofs Abides and Miftakes of its Enemies, 
in which it only {hares a common Fate with many other Things that are 
excellent and valuable in their own Nature. 
One great Reafon of the different Sentiments we meet with concern- 
ing this foreign Leaf, I apprehend to be this, that tho’ feveral Authors 
, & & . 1 r 1 . \ „ , . . 
have wrote upon it, yet they have not made a due Enquiry into its Virtues 
and Properties, but rather taken them upon Truff than examin’d the Truth 
of what they affirm or deny, by a fufficient Number of Experiments and 
Obfervations; which would give them Tome fiitisfadory Light into its Prin- 
ciples, and enable them to account rationally for its various Turprifing Ef- 
feds. 
The Reafon 
thefe dit- 
ferent Opi- 
nions. 
William Pen-Rhyne (formerly Botanift and Chymifi: to the Emperor of 
Japan, and afterwards ProfefTor of Botany and Anatomy at Batavia in 
the Eaji-Indies) in his Japanick Obfervations, fays, Pea purifies the 
Blood, drives away frightful Dreams, difpels malignant Vapours from the 
Brain, mitigates Dizzinefs, Pain of the Head, is good in Dropfies, dries 
up Rheums in the Eyes, corrects the Acrimony of the Humours, opens Ob- 
(tractions of the Bowels, reftores the Sight, temperates dry Humours, 
cures a hot Liver, mollifies a hardened Spleen, reftrains Sleep, makes the 
Body lively, and expels DrowfineE, cheers the Heart and drives away 
Fear, appeafes the Gripings and Wind in the Guts and Womb, corrobo- 
rates the Vifcera, (Lengthens the Memory, (harpens the Wit, temperates 
the Bile, is excellent in the Stone and Gravel, and laftly, promotes kind 
Correfpondence between both Sexes: But he attempts not to give any ra- 
tional Account why we may expect finch extraordinary Benefits from it, or 
what Conftitutions and Countries ’tis mod agreeable to; and ’cis (Lange he 
(hould reckon it fuch a Catholick Medicine in Dropfies, malignant Vapours, 
Gripes, Flatulency and relaxed Vifcera, fince Experience Teems To plainly 
to contradict him. 
Ten-Rhyne’s 
ill Account 
of Tea. 
Pechlin fays, we may receive as much Benefit from feveral of our 
own. Vegetables, as from Pea; and is very lavifli in his Praifes of Vero- 
nica and Pauls Betony. However, he gives it a great Character, but af- 
ter all Teems at a Lofs whether to aferibe the good Effects to the Water 
or the Pea, and is rather inclined to the former, becaufe ’cis fo great a 
Diluter and Expeller of the Animal Saks ; wherefore he concludes, that 
many of our own Vegetables are polTefs’d of equal Virtues with Peay 
that is in plain Englijh, none of them have any, or more Virtues than 
what they receive from the Water, 
PecWm's irr?- 
properSublU- 
tutes. 2 4 
The Nature ayid 
Rejected by 
K empher 
without an7 
Reafon. 
Kempher denies that either Veronica, or any other fubftimte dome- 
flick Vegetable, dcierves to come in Competition with this excellent Exo- 
tick ; nor, fays he, is there any Plant yet known in the World, whole 
Infufion or Decoction taken fo plentifully as that of ‘Tea, firs fo eafie 
jipon the Stomach, or paffes quicker through the Body, or fo gently 
refreihes the drooping animal Spirits, and recreates the Mind. But as 
true again we know no Vegetable in the World, whofe Infufion is drunk 
fo plentifully, and therefore cannot certainly fay what their Effects would 
or would not be. And though an exceffive Quantity of Tea may pals 
off with more Eafe, in a Ids given Time, in warm Countries, whofe In- 
habitants are under a Neceffity to drink proportionable to their great 
Perfpiration, yet this is no Precedent for the Inhabitants of a cold Cli- 
mate to follow, whofe infenfible Evacuation is Ids, and their fallible 
greater and more confiderable: Nor are they under the like Necdlityto 
fwill down fuch immoderate Quantities, except their Perfpiration is di- 
minifii’d by a Load of yifeid Juices, thrown upon the cuticular Strainers; 
in this Cafe, after bleeding, I don’t fee what they can do better, than 
confine themfelves to a warm Room, life a fpare Diet, and drink freely 
of fmall Green, or Sage-Tea to dilute the Blood, that it may pafs the 
fecretory Duds of the Skin. 
Andrew Cley eras was pofitive that we had die Tea-Shrub in Europe, till 
he went to Japan, when he gave up his Pretenfions, and tells us quite 
another Story d. 
Though all Vegetables contain, or confift of the fame Principles of 
Aire, Phlegmf, Salts, OilI’,1’, and Earth q yet the Modification and 
ICleyerus is 
miftaken. 
The Princi- 
ples of \ ege- 
tables. 
d Ea quondam Opinions fat, ut ImpoJJibik 
judicaverim, Vegitabile hoc in Europa non 
inveniri; nunc tamen diverfam plane foveo 
Sententiam, & quod qiieevis Tellus fua pro- 
ferat; vidi enini in Japania Rojas centifo- 
lias colore elegantijjimas, ruhras, purpureas, 
■ Candidas, in altis Arborihus, Menfe Janua- 
rio. Acre adhuc frigido, enatas, Odore ta- 
men carentes ; Ut iff variorum Generum 
Lilia fruticibus lignofis enata, nee non P<zo- 
■nias fore egregle plenas, Arborefcent.es, quales 
in Europa nunquam confpexi. Arbores 
infuper, uhi Cerafos confpexi, Flores Solis, 
foliorum loco etiarn in Februario,frigore ad- 
huc feeviente, nullum vero Frucium ferentes. 
Mifcel. curiof. Dec. 2. An. 4th p. 7. 
e Every Plant is provided with a double 
Series of Veffels, one Juice containing 
Tubes, and the other trachaeal Canals, 
which contain, receive, and let out Air, 
which Air, when rarified, expands its con- 
taining Veffels, whereby the other are 
comprefs’d : And as the Atmofphere is 
rarified or comprefs’d, fo thefe Aerial 
Veffels are expanded and contracted, 
whereby the Circulation of the vegetable 
Juices are accelerated or retarded; fo that 
the Dilatation or Contraction of thofe 
Veffels in Vegetables, is the fame Thing, 
or ait the fame Part in them, as the Sy- 
Jlole and Diaftole of the Heart in Animals. 
Now as Herbs are never fo fully dried, 
but a great Heat or aCtual Fire will dif- 
cover fome Phlegm in them; fo Air, 
being a more elaftick Fluid than Wa- 
ter, it will expand it felf more, and ex- pROPERTI ihs TEA.’ 
Proportion thereof, (upon which their Effe&s on animal Bodies depend) 
is not only different in the various vegetable Cla/les, but each different 
tend the Veffels, as the Juices exhale, till 
the Leaf is crifped up and dried, and then 
it keeps its Compafs, and bears fome Pro* 
portion flill in the Bulk of the Plant, tho’ 
little in its Weight. 
{ Phlegm, or Water, is the common 
JDiluter of all folid Bodies; and the more 
any Plant contains of this, the more lan- 
guid are its other Principles. The Leaves 
of Plants abound molt with this when they 
firft put out and begin to fpread ; then 
they exude a clear Water, mixed with a 
idiflblvable acid Salt, and as Leaves near- 
eft the Ground are largeft, they are filled 
with more Phlegm and acid Salt, becaufe 
they contain#fo much more earthy Parts 
in them. The higheft Leaves of any 
aromatick Plant are the fmalleft, and fmell 
ftrongeft, and the Scent is weaker all the 
Way to the Bottom, as the Leaf increafes 
and grows larger. So when a Tree, 
Shrub or Plant is fet either too deep in 
the Earth, or in a wet marfhy Ground, 
too near Water, or in a Grove where ’tis 
fhaded by other Trees, which diminifh its 
Perforation by the Leaves, it muft have 
greater Plenty of crude Juices or Water, 
which will expand and ftretch out the 
Veflels of the Leaves to an extraordinary 
Degree, caufe a greater Dilatation of the 
other Principles, and the flower Infpiffa- 
tion of the glutinous Juices, which are 
the Materials of Production ; and where 
this happens, the Fruit will be little or 
none at all. On the contrary, where 
Trees have lefs Moifture, the other Prin- 
ciples are lefs diluted, lie nearer together, 
and are fooner infpiflated into a conve- 
nient Subftance, and their Fruit will be 
better and fooner ripe. Hence dry, fan- 
dy, gravelly Ground bears the moft, belt, 
and earlieft Fruit; for the fame Reafon 
the Fruit on the Tops of Trees is fooner 
ripe than that on the lower Branches. The 
Reafon why Phlegm and acid Salts abound 
more in Vegetables in the Spring, than 
in the Summer Seafon, is becaufe of the 
Weaknefs of the Sun’s Heat at that Time, 
which, in the Summer, acts like a con- 
ftant but flow burning Glafs upon the 
Earth, whereby its Surface is rarified, its 
Salts, Oyl, and Spirits dilfolved, and a- 
fcend the vegetable Vefl’els in much greater 
Store. 
g Salt has certainly the belt Title to a 
Principle of all others ; ’tis that which 
Hrikes the Tongue with a peculiar Pun- 
gency, that gives Solidity to Bodies, and 
yet is diflblvable in Water. There are 
three Sorts of Salts, viz. lixivious, vola- 
tile and eflential; the firft is extracted 
from Plants by Calcination, and is not to 
be found in Animals, being there changed 
into a Volatile from the Attrition and 
Adtion of their Veffels and Mufcles. Vo- 
latile Salts are thofe in ardent Spirits, 
drawn from Vegetables after Fermentation. 
The Eflential are procur’d from the ex- 
prefs’d Juices of Plants, putrify’d, and fet 
in a Cellar to cryftallize. 
h Oil, or Sulphur, is very foft and 
undtuous, its Parts being entangled with 
one another, cement and keep together 
the other Principles; and of this there 
are feveral Sortraents, according to its 
more or lefs Fluidity, Tenacity and Quan- 
tity ; and yet ’tis but a Compound, or 
particular Modification of the other Prin- 
ciples ; for all Oils, whether fine or 
coarfe, volatile or fixed, are reducible to 
a light fpongy Earth, Salt and Phlegm. 
1 Earth can neither be deftroyed by 
Fire, nor dilfolved in Water. There are 
■who make Spirits a fifth Principle, and in- 
deed fome Vegetables have Spirits; thefc 
are the moll fubtile and minute Parts of 
Bodies, which rife firfl in Diftillation, or 
exhale in the open Air, when eafily fepa- 
rable from the other Principles which em- 
barrafs and fhut them in. Spirits are ac- 
counted active Particles only in Refpedt 
of the Propenfity and Facility of their 
Motion, in Comparifon of the more grots 
and bulky Parts being equally deflitute The Nature and 
Plant of the fame Clafs, has fomewhat peculiar to it felfk, distinguishing 
it from others of the fame kind; and that not only as to its Growth and 
outward Appearance, but as to the Phenomena producible by feveral 
Experiments. This Variety depends on the different Rangement of thole 
Principles in different Plants. And our little Acquaintance with this par- 
ticular Modification of each Herb, has made us more obliged to Chance 
and Empiricifm, than to Philofophy, for what heft deferve the Name of 
fpecifick Medicines. But when Reafbning is added to the fortuitous Ef- 
fects of new Simples, it direds us in the Ufe and Application of them 
with Safety and Advantage to the Sick; and enables us to difcover the 
Time and Manner of adminiString them in each proper Cafe, Conftitu- 
tion, Age, Seafon and Climate. It was doubtlefs Chance, and not Rea- 
fon, that Rrft let Paracelfus into the pacifick Effeds of the internal Ufe 
of Opium: And the millionary Jefuit into the Knowledge of the A strin- 
gency and febrifuge Virtue of the Peruvian Bark. But then ’twas Rea- 
fon, and not Chance, which taught their Succeffors, why Opiates are 
dangerous, and often mortal, in an over-rarified State of the Blood, in 
a chronickLaxnefs of the Solids, or in Gangrenes and Mortifications, 
of a felf-moving Power with other Bo- 
dies. Spirits drawn from Vegetables, are 
only a fine Oil, mix’d with a fmall Por- 
tion of Phlegm. Thofe extracted from 
Animals are very minute Salts fwimming 
in Phlegm. And thofe which Foffils af- 
ford are acid Salts fufed by Fire, and 
floating in Phlegm. 
k The Principles of all the Parts of the 
fame Plant are not always alike, for Cop- 
peras turned Tea made of Horfe-radifh 
Leaves to a deep green Colour, Sal Mar- 
tis to a yellowifh green, Spirit of Sal 
Armoniac to a yellowifh Colour, like de- 
cayed Tindure of Saffron, Galls alter’d 
it not from dear; but Tea made of the 
Roots, was turned to a light Purple by 
Galls, when neither Copperas, Sal Mar- 
tis, nor Spirit of Sal Armoniac could alter 
its Colour, or tinge it in the leaft ; but 
this Tea with Galls, turned the firft to a 
beautiful Purple. Hence we fee, that this 
Plant contains moft of its volatile Salt in 
the Root, and the leaft Oil there, and 
moft of its Sulphur in the Leaf, where 
there is leaft Salt. And ’tis common for 
all Roots, Trunks and Stalks to contain* 
more Acid, and Leaves, Flowers and 
Seeds, on the contrary, lefs of this, and 
more Oil, which they emit fooner, more 
freely, and with lefs Labour than the 
other Parts, i. Becaufe they are more 
expo fed to the Rarefadion and Volatili- 
zation of the Heat of the Sun, than the 
Root. 2. Becaufe the watry Parts fent 
up into the Leaves and Flowers, are lefs, 
finer, and better difpofed for Nutrition 
and Circulation. 3. The Acid in the 
Root fixes the other Principles, fo as to 
make them of more difficult Extraction. 
But neither is the Root ftored with fo 
much Acid as to caufe a vilible Fermen- 
tation with Aleali’s ; nor is any Herb, 
Leaf or Flower poffefs’d of fo much Al- 
cali, as may caufe a manifeft Fermenta- 
tion with Acids. I have made many Ex- 
periments in order to be fatisfy’d of the 
Truth of this ; and find that Vegetables 
contain an effential Salt, neither fenfibly 
Acid1 nor Alcalde by any inteftine Mo- 
tion difcerriibJe upon their Mixture; tho* 
the Tafte difeovers an Acidity in the Buds 
of Plants in the Spring, Properties 0/ T E A. 
and the Cortex improper, when Interrnittents are attended with great 
Dropfies, abdominal Schirrus’s, or inward Impofthumacions, &c. But 
having confin’d my felf to fome Tryals on the Leaf of an Oriental Shrub, 
I (hall not expatiate upon thefc, but fee what Difcoverics I can gain on 
this Subjed, and lay them down as a Specimen of what may be done on 
others, for the Benefit of Mankind. 
Bountiful Nature has provided us very liberally with domeffick Vege- 
tables, ferviccable in a great Variety of Calcs, and left us to make a ju- 
dicious Choice and Application of them to their proper and particular 
Intentions. Wherefore fome eminent Authors have ftrenuoufly argu’d, 
that we may reap as much Advantage from feveral Plants of our own 
Growth, as from this exotick Leaf. But the Queflion lies not here. 
Whether we have not as good, nay better Spccificks, (if I may be allow’d 
the Term for once) in many Cafes, than Tea; for all mull own, that 
Camomile Flowers are a better Febrifuge and Carminative; the Fibres 
of black Hellebore Root a better Attenuator of the Blood in plethorick 
Conftitutions, Penny-Royal and Hore-hound more efficacious inciding 
Pedorals, &c. But the Queflion is, either 1. Whether we have any one 
domeffick Plant, whofe general and diatetick Life is equally beneficial 
with that of jT<?a. Or 2. Whether we have any domeffick, or even 
'European Plant, whofe Principles are in the like Proportion, or combin’d 
and modify’d after the fame Manner \ and confequently capable of pro- 
ducing the fame Effects, which will be difficult for thole to prove, who 
leem forward to allert it m: And even Vironic ait felf will not be found 
No European 
Plant of the 
fame Nature 
1 To fatisfy my felf herein, I made 
Tryal of fome out of all the chief medi- 
cinal Claffes of Vegetables; as out of the 
Gardiacks and Cephalicks, I took Betony, 
Sage, Thyme, Lavender Flowers and Mar- 
joram : Of the Diaphoretick’s; Baum, 
Scordium and Saffron : Of the Vulnera- 
ries; Agrimony, St. John’s Wort, Hore- 
hound, Ground-Ivy, and Roots of Solo- 
mon’ s Seal: Of Carminatives; Camomile 
Flowers, and Angelica Roots: Of Em- 
menagogucs and Hyftericks; Savine and 
Mother-wort: Of Aftringents; Galls, red 
Rofes, Tormentil Roots, Oak Leaves, and 
Pomgranate Peel; Of Stomachick’s, Car- 
dans leffer Centaury, and Gen- 
tian : Of Balfamick’s ; Mallow, Roots 
of Althea and Aaron : Of Reftoratives or 
Pectorals; Colts-foot, Maiden-hair, and 
Hinds-tongue ; Of Detergents; Veronica, 
Savory, Vervain and Pimpernel : Of Dili- 
reticks, Horfe-radifh and Salary Roots : 
Of Coolers, Dandelion and Buglofs ; Of 
Abforbients, Saflafras: Of Narcoticks, 
Cocculi Indiel: (becaufe being Winter Sea- 
fon, I could have no Hemlock, Solanum, 
or Poppy Leaves.) But after Experiments 
made on all thefe, I found none of them 
bear any near Refemblance to Tea, either 
inTafte or Colour; thofe of the vulnerary 
and aftringent Tribes feem’d to offer fair- 
eft for it, yet they all widely differ’d in 
their Phenomena from it. 
m Though Copperas turns the Infufion 
of Agrimony into a pale Blue, and that of 
Oak-Leaves into a very light Sky Blue, as 
far exceeding that of Tea as the other falls 
fhort of it; yet the one is much lefs 28 
The Nature and 
upon Tryal juftly entitled to the high Encomiums wherein they give ic 
the Preference to T’ea n. 
Aftringent, and both vaftly inferior to Tea 
for a fine delicate Flavour and Tafte. The 
Infufion of Bramble Leaves feem’d to pro- 
mife fomething more than either of thefe; 
but inftead of a bitter aftringent Tafte, 
had fomething like that of Liquorice and 
Ground-Ivy. 
n Pechlin is very profufe in his Com- 
mendations of Veronica: He fays, “ It gives 
t£ a good tolerable Tindture; and though 
“ the Tafte be not bitter, yet it’s ex- 
“ treamly Aftringent; and not only fo, 
‘£ but it turns black like Tea when mix’d 
“ with a Solution of Vitriol, or Coppe- 
<£ ras; neither does it come far fhort of 
t£ it in its Effedts, fince it cleanfes the 
<£ Reins, and very much ftrengthens the 
“ Head and Stomach. It abounds with 
<£ a brifk volatile Salt, which is very a- 
cc greeable to our Northern Conftitutions, 
“ whofe Blood is naturally lluggifh and 
<£ heavy; and it alfo carries with it a fine 
<£ thin Oil, fo admirably well tempered, 
<£ that as this hinders the Spirits from 
<£ evaporating, fo thefe corredt the In- 
<£ flammability of this, from whence re- 
<c fults a very agreeable bitter Aftringent.” 
He has here forgot bimfelf, having told 
us but a little before, ’twas aftringent, 
but not bitter. ££ All thefe together, as 
<£ he goes on, as they redlify the Fer- 
<£ ment of the Blood, and at the fame 
<£ Time ftrengthen and confirm the Tone 
<£ of the Parts, contribute fo much to 
<£ the Affiftance of Nature in its Opera- 
‘6 tions, as to prevent, if not cure, moft 
<s chronical Diftempers.” I tried 
feveral Times the Infufions of Tea and Ve- 
ronica with Copperas, but could never find 
his Experiments hold good, except they 
Were made by Candle-light, and then in- 
deed they appeared pretty near the fame. 
I took Bohea, Green Tea, and dried Vero- 
nica Leaves, of each a Scruple, put them 
feparately into three Tea Pots, and pour’d 
a Cup-full of boiling Water upon each of 
them; When they had ftood feven or 
eight Minutes, I pour’d oft the Liquor 
into three different Tea Cups, upon a 
Grain of Copperas, or green Vitriol ; 
The Bohea Tea was firft of a deep blue, 
but prefently follow’d a Precipitation of 
much black Mucus, above which ftood a 
clear Liquor : The Green Tea was of a 
much lighter blue, its Precipitation was 
neither fo hidden, nor great, being of 
a bluiili black Colour, the Liquor above 
was ftill of a blue Tindture. The Vero- 
nica Tea was of a difagreeable dark Green» 
And trying them again in three other 
Cups, Spirit of Hartfhorn turned Bohea 
Tea to a deep reddifh brown, like frefh 
drawn Tindture of Saffron; Green Tea to 
a deep greenifh yellow, and changed Ve- 
ronica Tea to a yellowifh brown, like de- 
cayed Tindture of Saffron : The Clouds, 
raifed in the Green and Bohea Tea by this 
Spirit, were furprizingly beautiful; After 
they had ftood four or five Hours, Galls 
turned the Bohea of a reddifh green, and 
made the Green Tea clear, having a Pow- 
der of a whitifh Colour at the Bottom ; 
and the Veronica Tea was changed to a 
clear brownifh Colour. When the Bohea 
Tea, with Spirit of Hartfhorn and Cop- 
peras were mix’d together, it precipitated 
much grey Powder, with a clear Liquor 
at Top, fomewhat of the fame Die, ha- 
ving a beautiful variegated thin Pellicle on 
its Surface : The Green Tea, with Cop- 
peras and Spirit of Hartfhorn, was of a 
purple Colour precipitated, much cover’d 
with a ftronger and more beautiful Pelli- 
cle than the former; Veronica Tea thus 
mix’d, let fall a greenifh Powder, the Li- 
quor was fomewhat of a dark brown, and 
had a very fmall Pellicle. Spirit of Sal 
Armoniac put to thefe Teas, wherein was 
the powder’d Gall, made Bohea of a deep 
yellowifh brown, Green Tea of a light 
yellowifh brown, and Veronica of a green- 
ifh yellow. Bohea Tea, with Galls 
and Copperas, was of .a whitifh blue. 
Green Tea very much the fame, and Ve- Properties of TEA. 
ronlta Tea of a blackifh green. Bohea, 
with Galls, Copperas, and Spirit of Sal 
Armonlac, was of a reddifh black Co- 
lour ; Green Tea the fame, and Veronica 
of a greenifh black, and all very thick ; 
but any of the acid Spirits clear’d them 
all again. 
N. B. A Grain of Copperas, half a 
Grain of Galls, twelve Drops of the al- 
kaline Spirits were fufficient for each of 
thefe Experiments, which were made in 
very clear Weather in November; I ufed 
only Pipe Water, and the Tea Cups were 
clean wafh’d after every Experiment. 2. 
The Clouds in the Green and Bohea Tea, 
after they had flood fome Hours with 
Spirit of Hartfhorn, were Semicircular, 
with their Convex Sides towards the Cir- 
cumference of the Cup, and their Concave 
facing the Centre, one inclofed within an- 
other. I once obferv’d that inflead of 
Semicircles, in Green Tea, there were 
ftraight Lines from the Sides of the Cup, 
as from the Circumference of a Circle to 
its Centre. 3. When Betony Tea had 
Hood about two Hours, after the Spirits 
were dropt into it, and flirred about with 
a Fork (which had been us’d before in 
ftirring Tea with Copperas in itj the Stalks 
of Betony, at its full Growth, without 
Leaves or Flowers, flood out from one 
Side of the Cup, as from the Root, and 
reached to the other ; Baum and Winter 
Savory Tea did the fame, when the Spi- 
rits were dropp’d into them, and flirr’d 
with a Fork taken immediately out of the 
Solution of Copperas in the fame Infu- 
fions; But I tried thefe feveral Times af- 
ter, and could never meet with this Phe- 
nomenon again. 4. When Green Tea with 
Spirit of Hartfhorn and Copperas, had 
flood over Night, I found a fine Pellicle 
of red, blue, and yellow Colours at Top-, 
which I feum’d off, but could neither 
make it incorporate with Water, nor its 
own Liquor again, being chiefly Oil, 
flripp’d of its Salts, and difentangled from 
its earthy Particles, by the Water. Fine 
Salt of Tea, (procur’d by Calcination, Fil- 
tration, or Exhalation by a gentle Heat) 
when view’d through a Microfcope, in a 
ftraight Line from the Eye to the Sun, 
appeared of the fame beautiful variegated 
Colours, as the Pellicle on the Surface of 
the Liquor : But view’d in any other 
Light, was clear and tranfparent as Cry- 
Ital, confifting of Very fmall Particles, 
and thefe not much pointed. But find- 
ing, that in all my Experiments on about 
feventy Vegetables, the Colours produced 
by Copperas, Galls, Spirit of Hartfhorn, 
Sal Volatile, Spirit of Sal Armoniack, Sal 
Martis, Spirit of Vitriol, fSV. were Hill 
different; and upon a Repetition of them 
on the fame Vegetables, they were the 
fame again, I thought it neceffary in the 
next Place, to enquire into the Reafon 
of it. And fhall now Prefent my Rea- 
ders with a few fuch Tryals as are proper 
to illuftrate our prefent Subjedl Tea. 
I took four Tea Cups, and pour’d two 
fpoonfuls of warm Water into each of 
them ; in the firft I put three Grains of 
Copperas, upon which it feem’d to fend 
out feveral greenifh Rays, but when the 
Vitriol was quite diflblved, the Liquor 
was the fame in all Refpeds as before : 
Into the fecond Cup I put a Grain of 
powder’d Gall, which fell to the Bottom, 
and alter’d not the Colour of the Water 
in the leaf:; Into the third, I put 
twenty Drops of Spirit of Hartfhorn, but 
neither did this difcolour the Water ; In- 
to the fourth, four Grains of Salt of 
Tartar, which made the Water fomewhat 
whitifh, but it continued clear, Thefe 
Waters, with Copperas and Gall, being 
mix’d, they immediately became black, 
and precipitated much Sediment. Sal Vo- 
latile dropp’d into the Water vrith Cop- 
peras, caufed inftantly a curled Sediment 
to fubfide; the Mixture was of a deep 
green Colour, and had a delicate Pellicle 
on its Surface. Spirit of Hartfhorn, or 
Salt of Tartar, quickly made it Green 
again, and caufed a fermenting Heat. 
Corollary i. Seeing neither Acids nor 
Alkali’s, fix’d or volatile, affected or 
changed the Water, therefore fimple Ele- 
ment partakes fo little of either fort of 
Salts or Foffils, that they are infenfible 
and invifible, and confequently ’tis an ad- 
mirable Diluter of any Acrimony which, 
may abound in the animal Body, finct; The Nature 
it defies to afibciate with thefe. Cor. z. 
From Copperas and Galls turning the 
Water black, we learn that Copperas con- 
tains much acid Salt, wrapp’d up in a 
ferruginous Earth, for Galls do the fame 
with chalybeat Waters: And that Galls 
contain much alkaline Matter, feeing their 
Mixture with Copperas occafions a Preci- 
pitation in the Liquor. Cor. 3. From 
acid Spirits taking up the Precipitation, 
we fee, 1. The attractive Force of A- 
cids, whereby they inclofe the Particles of 
Bodies on all fides ; efpecially of Metals, 
raife and feparate them from one another, 
till they diffolve them into fuch minute 
Particles as are invifible, i. e. they ren- 
der the Liquor tranfparent, and free from 
Precipitation. 2. From this we fee, that 
Acids confift of fmall folid Particles, lefs 
than thofe of Earth, but very fharp and 
piercing. 3. That Alkalines are Cor- 
pufcles larger than the former, globular 
and very porous, and are chiefly confti- 
tuted of Earth, united with fome acid 
Particles. 4. Since thefe Salts confift of 
a very different Figure and Size, and we 
have yet no other Terms of exprefling 
this Difference, then to condemn thefe, 
when their meaning is fix’d, and univer- 
fally known (tho* they convey no definite 
Idea of the thing exprefs’d) is to quarrel 
merely for the fake of Words. 
All Salts, whether Vegetable, Animal 
or Foflll, differ in no other RefpeCts but 
thefe, of their Bulk, Figure, Compofi- 
tion, and different Degrees of Attraction, 
fome being fo fmall as to become Vola- 
tile •, others more coarfe and grofs; fome 
globular and fmooth, others fharp and 
poignant; whereby they either ftirnulate 
the Fibres, or corrode and diflblve them : 
Some of the Vegetable Salts are ftrongly 
attach’d to the Earth of the Plant; o- 
thers are hid in its Oil and Sulphur, and 
fome watry Plants have their Salts co- 
ver’d with an earthy Mucus, which pre- 
vents their fenfible EffeCls upon our Bo- 
dies. Cor. 4. The Caufe of the Fermen- 
tation, Heat, Foaming and Smoaking of 
the Tea or Water, with Salt of Tartar 
and acid Spirits, is the Particles of the 
Acid furioufly ruffling upon the Particles 
of the lixivious Salts, which excites fuch 
an inteftine Motion in the Liquor, as 
raifes a fenfible Heat: At the fame time 
it ftrikes with fuch Force againft the 
coarfer Particles, that returning the Col- 
lifion, they are broken in Pieces, and ei- 
ther turn to Air, or fend forth their im- 
prifon’d Particles of Air, which being 
fpecifically lighter than Water, rife up in 
Bubbles to its Surface. 
I boiled half an Ounce of powder’d 
roll Brimftone in a Pint of Water to three 
Quarters of a Pint, and took two Spoon- 
fuls of this Liquor after it was fettled, 
but fomething warm, to which I put a 
Grain of Copperas; ’twas foon diflblved, 
but the Water continued clear: To other 
two Spoonfuls of this Liquor, I put a 
Grain of powder’d Gall, which prefently 
chang’d it to a weak Purple Colour. Thefe 
two mix’d together, made a charming 
light Blue, but prefently a Precipitation 
follow’d, and left a transparent bluifh Li- 
quor at Top : Spirit of Hartfhorn al- 
ter’d not the Colour at all, but Copperas 
thrown into it, after this, turned it of a 
light Green, with a whitifh Blue Call in 
the middle of its Surface, and let fall a 
Precipitation : Spirit of Hartfhorn, drop- 
ped into the Cup wherein was the Gall, 
turned the Liquor of a reddifh Brown, 
without any Precipitation : A little Cop- 
peras put to them, made the whole of a 
brownifh Black, and had a flrong Pellicle 
on its Surface; it caufed a Precipitation 
much larger than the Quantity of all the 
three Ingredients put into the Liquor. 
From this Paragraph we learn, 
Corollary i. Seeing Copperas alter’d not 
the Colour of the Decodlion of Brim- 
ftone, therefore this Sulphur, befides its 
Oil, contains more of an acid Salt than 
Earth, fo as the Acid of the Vitriol and 
Sulphur, not having an Alkaline to adt 
upon the Water, ftill continu’d tranfparent. 
Cor. 2. Where the Alcali, or light porous 
neutral Earth in a Mixture, is fuperior to 
a real and fenfible Acid, there a Precipi- 
tation follows, but, vice verfa, when the 
Acid is manifeftly greater than the Al- 
cali, the Strength of the former clears 
and diflblyes the latter ; Thus Tea with Properties of TEA.’ 
Galls, mix’d with a Solution of Coppe- 
ras, produced a Sediment, but the acid 
Spirits quickly diffipated and diflblved 
it. 
I made a thick Liniment of Salt of 
Tartar, and Oil of Olive, and took a 
Scruple of this, one Grain of Galls, and 
three Grains of Copperas, upon which I 
pour’d a Tea cup full of boiling Water : 
This Mixture was firft; of a reddifh Brown, 
then of a deep blackifh Blue, with a dirty 
foaming brown Pellicle on its Surface, 
and a large Sediment. Then I put 
two Grains of Copperas to fix Grains of 
the Liniment, and pour’d two Spoonfuls 
of boiling Water on them, which turned 
of a light blue Colour, threw up a grofs 
Pellicle, and let fall a Sediment as in Tea. 
I mix’d one Grain of powder’d Gall, 
with four Grains of the Liniment, and 
pour’d boiling Water on them: The Mix- 
ture was firft brown, and then greenifh. 
. I put the clear Liquor of this to the 
clear Liquor upon the Copperas, which 
produced a deep reddifh Colour. It was 
the fame in all Refpedts, when I us’d 
Green Tea inftead of Water; for a little 
of the Liniment put into Tea, made it 
thick and whitifh, fo it did Water: Cop- 
peras caus’d it to precipitate in Tea, and 
fo it did in Water; it was firft reddifh, 
but quickly turn’d to a light or whitifh 
Blue, with a thick white Pellicle at top: 
Water did the like ; fo that uling Green 
Tea, inftead of Water, was only adding 
fo much more Oil and Salt: Salt of Tar- 
tar alone produced the fame Phenomena 
as the Liniment. Now as Salt of Tar- 
tar, whether it be made by calcining ft 
in a Crucible, or wrapping it in a Paper, 
and burning it in an open Fire, after all 
Purification liquifies again, and turns to 
Oil, if the Air has free Accefs to it. This 
Corollary arifes hence, 1 hat Oils, whe- 
ther fine or coarfe, fixed or volatile, con- 
fift of, and are reducible to, a fpongy 
Earth, Salt and Phlegm; fo that Oil can- 
not, with any tolerable Propriety or Stridl- 
nefs, be call’d a Principle, but a fpecial 
Modification or Compofition of the for- 
mer. 
But in order to be fatisfy’d on, what 
Principle or Principles thefe Phenomena 
of Tea depend ; I took two Drams of 
Green Tea, and pour’d feveral times boil- 
ing Pipe Water upon it, till the Liquor 
was not only clear and infipid, but till 
Copperas would give it no Tindture; 
then I burnt the Leaves to white Afhes, 
and threw them into the Tea, boiled ft 
on a flow Fire till the whole Humidity 
was evaporated j but when the Water 
was almoft fpent, there rofe up a very 
thick blue Smoak, which was the Oil; A 
little of this Extrad, mix’d with a Solu- 
tion of Copperas in Water, made the Li- 
quor exceeding blue. The Smoak being 
gone, and nothing but dry Faces remain- 
ing, (which were the Earth and Salt) I 
took them from the Fire, pour’d Water 
on them, and ftirr’d them well about, and 
then put three Grains of Copperas into a 
little of this Liquor, but no Change or 
Alteration of Colour follow’d upon it; fo 
that thefe Phenomena depended not on a 
Mixture of the Salt and Earth ; then I 
filtred the reft of the Liquor, and put a 
little Powder of Gall into one Part, and 
fome Copperas into another ; hut thefe 
alter’d not the Colour; this Variety there- 
fore depends not on the Salt. Then I 
took fome of the Earth mixed in Water, 
and added Copperas to it, but no Change 
follow’d, fo that the Earth was no prin- 
cipal Agent in thefe Phenomena. Hence 
’tis plain they depended on the Oil or Sul- 
phur, and therefore this being feparated 
from the reft, no Variety of Colours were 
to be expedled. This is further de- 
monftrable from Copperas and Galls, turn- 
ing the Water with the forementioned 
Liniment of a light Blue. By this Courfe 
we are not only taught the Principle 
which occafions thefe pleafing Changes of 
Colour, but its Texture alfo; for both 
Sulphur and Sal Volatile, contain a moil 
fubtile Oil, in great Plenty ; and the 
Reafon why ’tis volatile in-them, and not 
in Tea> though it bears a near Refem- 
blance to them, is, becaufe that of Tea 
is more firmly attached- and cemented to 
the earthy Particles, as we fhall fee from 
other Experiments in the next Sedlion. 
1 could like wife give the Reafons why The Nature and 
The Princi- 
ples of lea. 
Tea, as imported to us, contains fome little Phlegm, (but mote vola- 
tile Saks) which it had either retained in the roafting, or imbibed from 
the Air afterwards. All kinds of Bobea have naturally more of this than 
the Green, becaule ’tis pluck’d while this Principle exceeds its due Pro- 
portion, viz. before the Salt, Oil and Earth have been fufficiendy dif- 
folv’d and rarided by the fubterranean and aerial Heat, and prepared to 
rife up into the Plant, in due Quantity with the Phlegm. As the Leaf 
grows, its watry Principles leffen, and its oily ones increafe ; for the firft 
Juice, this Plant draws in plentifully from the Earth, is a grofs, acid, 
faline Matter, of which Bohea Tea exudes more in roafting than Green. 
The Reafon why the Oil increafes is this, the tracheal Veftels being 
expanded by the ratified Air, compreft the Juice conveying Tubes, 
and as thefe are driven into fmaller Diameters, and are more agitated, 
they cither expel their finer watry Juices thro’ their perfpiratory Duds 
of the Leaves, or return them to the Earth, but the more cohefive or 
entangled Parts, becoming thicker, are drained off, and propelled into 
finall lateral Bags, appointed to receive the oily Part of the Plant. But 
if the Herb contain Salt or Oil, of more fubtile, minute, or reparable 
Parrs, than the Water; or if they are more attraded by the Water 
than by one another, and the Pores as favourable for the Filtration of 
them, then they go off together with the Phlegm. For this Reafon 
the aromatick Plants yield the tnoft odoriferous Smell in a dry hot Sea- 
fon, after a warm Shower, which relaxes their parched Fibres. 
This Oil of Tea is of fimdry Sortments, one Parc of it being (b loofe 
that it exhales, if either the Leaf be expofed to the open Air, or put up 
in Paper, or any fpongy Veftel0; for which Reafon ’tis fent to us in 
Tin Canifters. Another Parc is drawn oft' by Infufion in cold Water P. 
Copperas, Galls, Sal Martis, &e. make 
the Infufion of one Vegetable blue, of 
another yellow, of a third green, of a 
fourth black, iffc. which is more, and 
gives a truer Account of the Proportions 
and Modifications of Principles in Plants, 
than Chymiftry has yet done, as far as I 
know ; But this would protradt the pre- 
fent Difcourfe yaftly beyond its intended 
Brevity. 
0 I weigh’d a Dram of Green, and a 
Dram of Bohea Tea, fpread each upon a 
Saucer, which I fet before a fmall Fire 
within the Fender a quarter of an Hour; 
tho’ both had the fame Degree of Heat; 
yet when I weigh’d them again, the firft: 
had loft two Grains, i. e. one thirtieth part, 
the laft had evaporated fix Grains, i. e. one 
tenth part of the Weight. 
p I infufed two Drams of Green Tea 24 
Hours in a Pint of Pipe Water cold, then 
pour’d oft' the Water, and dried the 7A?, 
and then weighing it, found it had loft 32 
Grains ; during that Infufion, the dried 
Leaf was fomething blacker than before, 
but recover’d Its former Curl. Two 
Drams of Imperial Tea, infufed 24 Hours 
in a Pint of cold Pipe Water, when the 
Leaf was dried again, had loft 30 Grains, 
i. e. one fourth part. The fame Quan- 
tity of Bohea thus infufed, loft 31 Grains. Properties of TEA 
33 
A third Part is extrafted by boiling Water s. A fourth is not to be 
moved by Infufion; but requires a ftrong Decodion to fetch itoour.tr. A 
fifth fort is not to be drawn off by an aqueous Vehicle, but muft have 
rectified Spirits to extrad ics: And the lall Part is only feparable by an 
a Two Drams of Imperial Tea, infufed 
two Hours and a half in three fundry boil- 
ing Waters after it was dried, had lod 
thirty four Grains: When this Imperial 
Tea, and that which had been infufed in 
cold Water, had lain two Days after they 
were dried, the fird was ten Grains lighter 
than the latter, its Leaves were alfo black, 
and had lod their Curl, which they never 
recover’d, but the other fcarce lod either 
Curl or Colour. I pour’d a Pint of 
boiling Water on that Green Tea, which 
was infufed in cold Water before, and 
dried again, and let it dand an Hour; the 
Liquor when pour’d off, was little Ihort 
cither of its Adringency or Tindure, but 
deditute of its fine Flavour; The Leaf 
dried again and weighed, had lod fixteen 
Grains more, that is, forty eight in all. 
Two Drams of Green Tea infufed in 
four feveral boiling Waters, each of which 
dood on half an Hour, the lad when 
pour’d off was clear, and had little Tade ; 
then I dried the Leaf before the Fire, and 
found it had lod forty fix Grains. -Two 
Drams of Bohea, infufed as the lad in all 
Refpedts, and dried, had lod forty eight 
Grains. One hundred and twelve 
Grains of Hyjftn Tea infufed three quar- 
ters of an Hour in boiling Water, lod forty 
two Grains, which is above a third part, 
Of thole Teas that had been thus infu- 
fed , I took five Scruples and twelve 
Grains, pour’d a Pint of boiling Water on 
them, and let them dand twenty four 
Flours, then chang’d the Water, and let 
it dand on as long a fecond Time, and 
repeated it twice more; Copperas dill 
tindur’d the Liquor of a light blue, till 
it came fird to a weak purple, and then 
clear; I took out the Leaves and dried 
them, and found they had lod only nine 
Grains, for one hundred and three re- 
main’d. 
r I took the laft hundred and three 
Grains, and boiled them in a Pint and a 
half of Water to half a Pint, which drain- 
ed off, tailed more allringent than the 
third Infufion of Tea ordinarily does, but 
not bitter, nor had it any fine Flavour; 
Copperas made it of a beautiful blue, but 
it neither depofited fo much Sediment, nor 
was the Liquor at Top fo clear as in the 
firft Infufion: I gave it fix Decodions 
more; the fourth was blue with a purple 
Call, the fifth more inclined to a purple, 
the leventh was perfedly clear; in all 
thefc Decodions the Sediment Hill de- 
creafed with the Colour, but more of this 
prefcntly. 
* After I had firft infufed Pehe Tea, 
and boiled it as above, and dried it, I put 
twenty two Grains into an Ounce and a 
half of redified Spirit of Wine in a Phial 
Glafs, and fet it before a hot Fire ten 
Hours : It tindur’d the Spirit of a deep 
green; the Liquor being pour’d off, and 
the Tea dried, it had loft two Grains and 
a half. I took alfo one Dram and 
twelve Grains of Bohea, (that had been in- 
fufed in fix or feven boiling Waters fix- 
teen Hours, and boiled in as many more 
the next Day, and then dried) which I 
put into a Phial Glafs with two Ounces 
and a half of redified Spirits, fetting it 
three Days before the Fire; The Spirits 
were tindur’d of a deep beautiful green, 
tho they appeared black thro’ the Glafs: 
Fhefe pour’d off, I put on frelh Spirits, 
which in two Days were tindured of a 
light green, and the Leaves were fo crifp’d 
as to powder in the Hand : When they 
were thorougly dried, they had loft feveii 
Grains and a half: I exhaled the Spirit, 
and had feven Grains of Gum. On this 
Gum I poured frelh Spirits, and fet it on 
fire till the Spirits were burnt, expeding 
the Flame would confume the Oil toge- 34 
Tloe Nature and 
open Fire \ fo that the Oil of Tea is a femi-balfamick Liquor, confin- 
ing of Mucus, or light fmall feparable Earth and Oil, which conftitutes 
a Gum u, partly diilolved in Waterx, and partly inflammable with the 
Fire y. The whole is very thick, black, ftrong and aftringent. Hence 
ther with the Spirits; but it left the Gum 
entire and very moift, and before the Fire 
it diffolved more. 
1 I put two Drams of Teay (after it had 
been infufed and boil’d in Water, and had 
its Refin extracted by Spirits of Wine) 
into a Crucible, fet it in a good clear Fire, 
and cover’d it with an Iron Plate fitted to 
it; but the Rarefaction of the heated Air 
obliged me prefently to take this off, to 
fave the Crucible from burfting to pieces. 
The Tea firft fent up a very thick blue 
Smoak, and then taking fire, gave a great 
clear Flame} a deal of black tough Oil 
hung upon the lower Side of the Plate, 
which tailed exceeding rough and bitter. 
I tried the fame on other Tea, and found 
the fame EffeCts. 
u I took four Scruples of Hyjfon Tea, 
which I divided into two equal Parts, and 
put into two Phials, then pouring two 
Ounces of Spirits of Wine on each, I fet 
the one before a warm Fire five Days, 
(N. B. In all thefe Experiments before the 
Fire, the Glaffes were fet at a Foot and 
a half Diffance from the Bars of a fmall 
Stove, within a broad Fender, which o- 
vertopp’d the Phials, and reflected the 
Heat upon them,) and then removed it 
into a Window in the fame Room, where 
it flood feven Days more. The other 
Phial I fet in a cold Room, which had no 
Fire in it, and let it Hand thirteen or four- 
teen Days. I did the like with four Scru- 
ples of Green Tea> and four Scruples of 
Pekoe: After thefe three, which were fet 
before the Fire, had flood fix Flours, the 
Spirits were of a molt beautiful green Co- 
lour ; the Pekoe afterwards turn’d very 
dark, the Hyjfon fcarce tranfparent, the 
'Green Tea very brown, but flill tranfpa- 
rent. At the End of the Time above fpe- 
cified, when the Spirits were pour’d out 
upon three Saucers, they were all of a 
deep dark green, and very thick 3 the 
Hyjfon Leaves when dried, were of a 
whitifh green Colour, and had loft thir- 
teen Grains, i. e. near a third part; the 
Pekoe had loft twelve Grains, the Green 
thirteen Grains and a quarter, exaCtly one 
third. The Spirits wherein the Hyjfon 
had been infufed, when exhaled, left thir- 
teen Grains of a greenifh brown, and 
tranfparent beautiful Gum ; the Pekoe left 
eleven Grains and a half of Gum like- 
Lacca : Green Tea afforded thirteen Grains 
of a green coloured Gum. Of thofe which 
had flood thirteen or fourteen Days in the 
coldlnfufion, Green Tea loft feven Grains, 
and had feven Grains of Gum ; Hyjfon 
left feven Grains of a very bitter, aflrin- 
gent and delicate tailed green Gum; Pe- 
koe loft fix Grains, and had fix Grains of 
a brownifh black Gum. The TinCtures 
drawn in the cold, were much more beau- 
tiful than thofe drawn in the Heat, and 
had a finer Flavour} the dried Leaves 
were of a clear fparkling Colour, as tho’ 
cover’d with fome Refin : Thefe foon ex- 
panded when put into boiling Water, but 
the other Leaves which had flood in the 
hot Infufion were fo crifped, that they ex- 
panded not before they had been two or 
three Hours in Water; This Hyjfon Tea 
infufed in feveral boiling Waters, till Cop- 
peras w'ould tinCture the Liquor no' long- 
er, when taken out and dried, weighed 
only nineteen Grains: The Pekoe Tea 
weighed eighteen Grains and a half} the 
Green Tea nineteen Grains. 
x I put a little of the Gum, extracted 
by the Spirits, into cold Water, and fet- 
ting it before the Fire, a great Part of it 
inflantly diffolved and tinClur’d the Water 
green, making it exceeding bitter and 
aflringent. ‘ 
y I laid fix Grains of the Gum on a 
Fire-Shovel, heated red} it all quickly 
flow’d, burnt away in a crackling Flame, 
and left only a few white Afhes,. Properties' of TEA. 
then, this Leaf affords us, i, A thin Gil, which is diflipated either by 
lying long in the open Air, or by Infufion in cold Water. 2. A lem i- 
balfamick Liquor fomewhat groffer than the former, 3.. A thick and 
black fubrefinous Oil. 4. A little Refin, friable in the cold, and inflam- 
mable by Fire, but not diflblvable by Water. 3. A Gum confiding of 
more Mucus than Oil 2, and therefore either diffolvable in Water, or 
combuftible in the Fire. This is the true Texture of the Oil this Leaf 
affords; as for that of its Flowers and Seeds, I have had no Oppor- 
tunity of examining it, nor are thefe fiich Parts of the Plant, as are tiled 
feparately, either here or in India. 
Ilea contains a Salt too, but ’tis chiefly fixed, when ’cis brought to 
us a. It has alio a folid Earth, which neither Water can diffolve, nor 
Fire dedroy b. And as mod other Vegetables have their proper Juices, 
fb the He a Leaf, when green, has its own peculiar Humour, which is 
neither aerial, pinguedinous, nor refinous: Thus Celandine has a yel- 
low, Aloes a golden colour'd, Sow-thidle and Spurge a white milky 
Juice, and that of He ais yellow; but as this evaporates in reading, its 
fenfible narcotick Quality is lod. This Juice Teems therefore ro contain 
z All young Sprigs, or Shoots of Trees 
have their Bark well ftor’d with this kind 
of Matter, which fences them againft the 
Winter cold, and likewife the Leaves of 
Ever-greens, whereby they are preferved 
during Storms and Frolls. Hence we are 
convinced from this Analyfis, that lea 
Leaves muft continue green through the 
Winter Seafon. Ever-greens abound more 
with Oil than other Plants, becaufe their 
excretory Dudls are narrower, or have 
fmaller Diameters, whereby they perfpire 
lefs in the fame given Time than others, 
and what they do fend off confifts of finer 
and fmaller Particles j for Oil not being 
capable of the fame Degree of Motion, 
from an equal pulfive Caufe, as Water, 
nor confifting of fuch. fubtile Parts, there- 
fore lefs of this goes off, in Proportion, 
than of the latter; and where thefe Cir- 
cumftances meet in a Shrub or Leaf, well 
ftor’d with Oil, fuch will bid Defiance to 
the Winters cold. But upon the Sum- 
mer’s Return, when Nature appears in 
her greateft Beauty and Glory, and the 
Heat diffolves, and raifes the Salt, Oil 
and Phlegm afrefh from the Earth, then 
are thefe old remaining Principles in the 
laft Years Leaf, either loft, or fo indif- 
folvably fix'd and cemented, and the con- 
taining Veflels become fo rigid, indilatable 
and incapable of new Attrition and fur- 
ther Growth, that the old Leaves muft 
fall off, and give way to new ones. 
a * I took two Drams of Tea, and drew 
off all that Infufion or Decodlion cou’d 
extract, then dried and burnt the Leaves, 
put the Afhcs into the Liquor again, and 
evaporated it over a flow Fire to Drynefs. 
I pour’d Water on the Refiduum, and fil- 
ter’d it twice, then dried the Earth well, 
which weighed thirty fix Grains. I then 
evaporated the filtrated Liquor flowly, 
and there remained eight Grains of an ex- 
ceeding brackifh brown Salt, which would 
neither ferment with acid Spirits, nor Le- 
mon Juice ; A Proof that fixed Chymi- 
cal Salts, which ferment with thefe, are 
nor the true Product of the Vegetable, 
thus chymically analized, but the Effedta 
of the Fire. The Nature 
much fubtile and volatile Salts of a very fufive Nature0. 
The Proportion of thefe Principles to one another, appears, by the 
molt careful Experiments I could make, to be as follows: Bohea Tea 
contains one tenth of Phlegm and volatile Salt; this conftitutes only a 
thirtieth Part of Greena. The fix’d Earth, which is neither to. be car* 
ried off by Decodion nor Incineration, conftitutes , about a third part of 
both, only Green Tea has a thirty firft Parc, more Earth than Bohea *; 
The different 
Proportions 
of thefe Prin- 
ciples. 
c To know the Effeds of Narcoticks 
on our Fluids, I took two Drams of Goe- 
culi Indict grofly powder’d, put them into 
a TeaPot, and pour’d above half a Pint 
of boiling Water on them, which flood 
fix Hours; and then putting three Tea 
fpoonfuls of this Liquor into three Ounces 
of Blood, it turn’d it to a beautiful'Crim- 
fon red, and diSolved four Times more 
than either, the fixed or volatile, alkaline 
Salts. Next Day L fit it before, a very- 
hot Fire, till about half a Spoonful of it 
was evaporated, but there, appear’d not 
the leaft Tendency to a Coagulation in it; 
Into the Remainder I put fourteen Drops 
of Spirit of Salt, and let it ftand three 
Hours,; then viewing it again.,. I found 
fiwas, coagulated as far as the Spirit had 
reach’d, or rather.confolidated into fo-ma- 
ny hard Knots ; but the Blood in the In- 
terfaces was ftill thin, tho’ blacker; I 
broke two or three of thefe.Knots, which 
wete black without, but of a whitifh 
brown within, and fpongy as a Mufh- 
room : Yet the Blood was not rarified d'e 
now,, nor took it up any more Space on 
the Saucer, than before the Spirits were 
dropt into it. 
Corollary 1. From .this Experiment we 
learn, why Narcoticks are fo dangerous 
and deftrudive when given to Excefs: The 
Multitude of their volatile Salts deftroys 
the Texture of the Blood, fufes, and 
makes it take up much more Room in.the 
Veffels, while at the fame Time thefe 
Tubes,, which fhould give a Check and 
Refiftance to Rarefadion, are relaxed, 
and laid by refty and ufelefs, through the 
large Quantity of Oil, as well as,, Salts, 
which they contain; for this Tea had 
Siuch Oil fwimming at Top, j,- From 
hence we know the Reafon why Ale, that 
has Cocculi Indici in it, is clearer and ftrong- 
er in proportion, and will keep longer; 
and why after five or fix .Months, it may 
he drunk, pretty fafely, wh. during .Fer- 
mentation, and after its, barrel’d up, thefe 
folid, minute,, penetrative Particles of' 
Salts, enter the Cohefions of the Liquor 
diftend and break them; and becaufe they 
are exceeding light, they maintain their 
rcfpedUve Pofitions of. Gravity, and as 
they break the other grofs Cohefions, the 
laft fall to the Bottom, and leave the 
Liquor very clear ; but this Attenuation, 
or Divifion of thefe fundry larger Com- 
binations, caufes them to emit their whole 
Spirits into the Ale, whereby it becomes 
ftronger; but thefe narcotick- Particles 
being of the fmalleft and lighteft Sort- 
ments, they either exhale, or are imbi- 
bed by the Cafk, till they are wholly 
fpent, and fo leave the Liquor clearer and 
ftronger, and. not prejudicial to the Drin- 
ker. 3. From this Experiment we fee 
hoy/ deceitful' it is to truft the Cure of 
oyer dozed. Opiates to Bleeding, and the 
cold Bath, for the firft cannot give a 
brisk, continued Stimulus to the whole 
nervous Syftem, nor the latter take off the 
Blood’s Rarifadlion, or its Caufe. 4. 
We hence fee the Reafon why an unne- 
ceffary and frequent Ufe of volatile Spi- 
rits in Tea, muft make the Drinker pale, 
feeble, faint and vapour’d ; they rarify 
the Blood in the fame Manner, tho’ not 
to the fame, Degree as Opiates. 
d See the Notes on the former SedliOn, 
under the Letter °. 
e€ I took Green and Bohsa Tea, of each 
three Drams, infufed them feparately in 
feveral boiling Pipe Waters, a whole Day Properties of TEA. 
37 
and the laft has about a thirteenth Part more Salt than the other, i. e. 
Green has one fifteenth Parc of a reddifli Brown, brakifh, pene- 
trating Salt: Bohea 15-rV Part of the fame Salt6. The lighter Sort- 
ments of Earth that fly off in Decodion and Evaporation of the 
filtrated Liquor, and the Oil make up W and a half of the whole f. 
But the Proportions of thefe Principles drawn off by Infufion in three 
fundry Waters, is different from this; for the whole Phlegm is taken 
out,,, and about one half of its Salt g; fomething more than one half of 
its fixed Earth g, and a twenty feventh Part lefs Oil, than Salt and Earth 
taken together s. But thefe Quantities differ according to the Purity or 
and Night, and* next Day repeated the 
fame again ; then I pour’d the whole In- 
fufions and Decodlion.s of each Sort into 
two feparate Veffels, and incinerated the 
Allies till they were white, and then put 
thole of the Bohea to their own .Liquor, 
and 'thofe of’the Green to their Tea, and 
exhaled both in two wide, fliallow Pans,, 
till their Refiduum was throughly dried, 
and their Oil confumed : On this , I 
poured frefliWater, and filter’d it thrice; 
then dried the Earth, and exhaled the fil- 
ter’d Liquors to a dry, reddifh brown 
Salt. The Green Tea. left fixty one Grains 
of Earth, and the Bohea fifty nine.and,a- 
half; the firft had twelve Grains of Salt, 
and the laft thirteen. 1 But this Experi- 
ment muff be made very carefully, for I 
repeated it feveral Times writh different 
Succefs, until I.took two Pots of equal 
Depths and Diameters, and,-placed them 
in the fame Degree of Heat with the Ex- 
tradls of tire firft Evaporation (having 
ppur’d them out of the Pans when they 
turned thick, leaft in toping off' the 
Earth, I fhould get fome Iron with it, and 
be prevented in. making a juft. Computa- 
tation) and let them ftand over a fmall 
dear-Eke, till they ceafed fmoaking even 
when removed from it ; for the Oil of 
Tea is-exceeding clolely attached to its 
Earth, and requires Time to be feparated 
from it. ’Tis .eafy to obferve when the 
Oil rifes, for after the Smoak of the 
Phlegm wholly ceafes, then a palpably 
thick, blue, ftrong Smoak immediately 
afeends, which rifes and ceafes by Turns, 
even after the Faces feem dry, efpecially 
if taken from the Fire 5 this thick Oil 
carries up fome Earth with it, as,the 
Phlegm did fome lighter Parts, 
f For if we take a Quarter of an Ounce 
of Tea, there .is eigh.t Grains of Salt, two1 
Scruples of fixed Earth, and four Grains 
of Phlegm, fo that fixty four Grains of 
Oil,- and fmall light Earth mult remain : 
Bur a tenth Part of Bohea being Phlegm 
and volatile Salt, and only a thirtieth Pa’rt 
of Green, i. e. Bohea having three Times 
the Quantity of Phlegm that Green con- 
tains, and their fixed Parts, after Evapo- 
ration not being fo widely different, there- 
fore. Green Tea affords more Oil -than 
the Reverfe of which is the.c-om- 
mon Opinion,. 
gg g Two Drams of Green Tea, infufed 
in three feveral boiling River Waters, 
which flood'two Hours -before the laft 
was poured off; when tire whole Liquor 
was evaporated, there, remained twenty 
fix Grains of fixed Earth and Salt; the 
Leaves taken out of the Pot and dried, 
weighed one Dram and feven Grains ; 
four Grains of Phlegm being fubftradled 
from, the laft, we have twenty, three 
Grains of Oil left; for it being evapo- 
rated over an exceeding flow; Fire, the 
Earth had no Opportunity to rife.; freffv 
warm Water being pour'd on the Earth 
and Salt, and let ftand a little, then fil- 
ter’d twice, and the Earth and Cup waffl’d 
again with warm Water, the filter’d Li- 
quor exhaled, and the Earth dried, I had 
four Grains and a half of Salt, and The Nature and 
Mixture of the Water ufed in making the as I have already pro- 
ved by many Experiments. Milk is a much more improper Vehicle 
than either River or Pipe Water, even when the T’ea is boiled in it, for 
its Particles are too grofs and fmootH to relax the Veflels of the Leaf, 
to penetrate, diffolve, and draw forth its Principlesh. 
Thus we fee that different Vehicles extrad different Parts from T’ea-, 
■ Water, its feline, loofe, fulphureous and light mucous Parts-, redified 
Spirits, its fine aromatick Oil; Spirits of Wine and a finall Sand Heat, 
its fixed Oil, or refinous Subdance; but fimple Element, which is free 
from feline, metallick and earthy Parts, (that ,might either {Emulate too 
much, or obdrud the Diameters of the finalled Veflels) draws out mod 
of the Principles of ftea, in the lead Time, and is mod proper for con- 
veying them into, and mixing them with our Blood: But then this 
Water mud be hot, that its Particles may be rarefied, and fo difpofed 
to penetrate into the Leaves, and difiblve their Salts, their loofer Sul- 
phur and Earth. 
Sugar not only makes the Liquor more palatable, by qualifying its 
bitter adringent Tafte, but is alfo a good Cleanfer of the Lungs, and a 
gentle Stimulator of the Kidneys; and the finer Sugar we ufe, it anfwers 
thefe Intentions fo much the better: Therefore grofs, cachedick and 
heavy Bodies, fhould ufe the fined in their Tea; but this being too (harp 
and abrading for thin, hedick Conditutions, thefe fhould prefer the 
more grofs or coarfer Sort, which having more Oil, lubricates and foft- 
ens more, and dimulates lefs, and therefore will fooner occafion Obdru- 
dions, and leave a Lentor on the Infides of the Veflels and Strainers of 
lax and unweildy Habits \ 
Different Ve- 
hicles extradi 
different 
Principles. 
Of Sugar 
with Tea. 
twenty one Grains and a half of Earth. 
Bohea Tea, two Drams, infufed the 
fame Time, in the fame Sort and Num- 
ber of Waters, afforded alfo twenty fix 
Grains of fixed Earth and Salt, and the 
Leaf dried again weigh’d one Dram; 
twelve Grains fubftradled from this, for 
the Phlegm, and we have twenty two 
Grains of Oil, I had four Grains and a 
Quarter of reddifli brown Salt. 
h I boiled a Dram of Green Tea twenty 
five Minutes over a flow Fire, in a Pint 
of Milk, then ftrain’d it through a Sieve, 
wafh'd the Leaves in cold Water, dried 
and weigh’d them, and found they had 
loft only twenty three Grains. 
* For the coarfer the Sugar the more 
vifcous it is; its effential Salt is more 
ftridly united to its Oil and vifcous 
Earth, which the Lime-Water, Lees and 
Eggs, ufed in its fundry Decod ions and 
Clarifications, divide and attenuate, or 
carry down to the Bottom, or raife them 
to the Top in a Scum ; and the oftner 
thefe are repeated, the finer it is. —— 
This coarfe Sugar ufed moderately, is a 
notable Balfamic, and ferviceable in fheath- 
ing up {harp Humours, which irritate the 
Lungs, and excite a troublefome tickling 
Cough. - But where grofs Phlegm 
loads and Huffs the Lungs, double or tre- 
ble refined Sugar, or white Candy, in- 
cide, attenuate, break, and feparate this 
Vifcidity, and gently irritate the Organs Properties of I hA. 
of Refpirafion to pump it up. For this 
Reafon it’s good in a Cold, when the re- 
tained perfpirable Matter is thrown upon 
the Thoracic Contents, to be from thence 
difcharged. This fine Sugar is no lefs 
iifeful in feveral Vifcidities of the Blood, 
or too great Serofity of the Juices, the 
Solids being lax and lluggifh ; here its 
fine Salts attenuate and prepare the firft 
for Motion, Circulation, and Evacuation; 
it abrades the flimy Mucus from the In- 
lides of the Veffels; by the Solidity of its 
faliitie Particles, and the frefh Momentum 
raifed in the Blood, gives it a better Con- 
fiftence. Its efpecially beneficial to the 
aged, phlegmatic, and lluggifh ; and to 
grofs bodied Children, if moderately us’d. 
It agrees well with cold Climates, foggy 
Air, Winter-Seafon and rainy Weather. 
It’s alfo of Ufe in gravelly Cafes, being a 
fine Diuretic ; in all which Cafes it’s well 
adapted to Green Tea, joyns Blue with, 
and makes it anfwer better. —Coarfe Su- 
gar, containing much of its Oil and its 
Salts not being fubtilized, nor having their 
fharp Spicula unfheathed ; but being more 
hid in the coarfe Oil and vifcous Earth ; 
as alfo the Salts of the Lime and Lees; 
therefore, I fay, it affords much Oil to 
the adipofe Veficles ; in which, with the 
Adhefion of its fine earthy Parts to the 
Sides of the Velfels, make it fitter for' 
thin, meagre, unhealthy, or he&ically dif- 
pofed Habits, whereby it’s better fuited to 
Bohea Tea than Green. But fine Sugar is 
the oppofite to very choleric Conftitu- 
tions ; for being too ftimulating, it en- 
creafes the Motion of the Fluids; its 
Salts w- -ir the Infides of the Velfels, and 
dry the 3ody; for this Reafon fhould 
meagre Perfons take Care how they make 
too free with it; nor fhould they mdulge 
themfelves an Excels of the Coarfe ; for 
tho’ its Salts are not fo naked and fharp as 
to wear the Veffels with their Solidity and 
Number, yet it’s too apt to turn acrid, 
and render the Juices fuch. Coarfe Sugar is 
injurious to phlegmatic and bulky Bodies, 
feeing it encreafes the Oilynefs and Vif- 
cidity of their Juices, over lubricates and 
relaxes their Solids, begets many and cb- 
ftinate Qbflru&ions, which frequently 
terminate in a Cachexy. The much Salt 
and Lime in fine Sugar, excite Third:, 
dry the Blood, and encreafe its Motion ■, 
therefore fnould it be fparingly ufed in 
hot, dry Weather, hot Countries, and ar- 
dent Fevers. 
Sugar is imported from both Indies, but 
efpecially from Madera, Brafil, and the 
Caribbe IJlands in the Weft-Indies. It was 
unknown to our Predeceflbrs in Great Bri- 
tain, till Columbus difcover’d the American 
World : The Antients either knew not 
the Cane, or the Manner of expofing its 
Juice ; or they were ignorant of the Art 
of condenfing, hardening, and refining it, 
and fo mull have been Strangers to our 
Sugar. Some of them mention Indian 
Salt; and withal, that it fpontaneoufly 
ouz’d out of the Cane, and harden’d to it 
like a Gum, and was friable between the 
Teeth like Salt. Salmafus fays, theirs 
was loofening and refrefhing; but ours we 
find is hot, and excites Third. Plow- 
ever, it feems, that theirs confiding only 
of the fined and molt mature Parts, which 
had exuded and condenfed in the Air, 
was therefore better than ours ; the fame 
Author alfo allures us, that the Arabs had 
the fame Art of making Sugar 800 Years 
ago, which we now have. Sugar is the 
eflential Salt of the Reed and Cane, pre- 
pared by repeated Decodions and Clari- 
fications ; its exceeding Sweetnefs arifes 
from the intimate Union of its Salt and 
Sulphur. Several Authors charge the chief 
Caufe of the Prevalency of the Scurvy in 
the Northern Parts of Europe, upon it} 
becaufe Chymifts extrad out of it a molt 
acid, lharp, penetrating, -and diflblving 
Spirit. Tho’ lam not to anfwer for the 
Effeds of its Excefs, yet this feems a 
groundlefs, if not ill-natur’d Refledion ; 
for we read of the Scurvy in Britain when 
it was a Roman Colony ; and we know 
alfo, that Salt, Honey, Salt Petre, Brim- 
ftone, &c. afford more acid and corrofive 
Spirits ; and the firft of thefe is of fir 
more frequent and general Ufe than Sugar, 
The coarfer Sugar is fweeter than the 
finer3 for retaining more Oil, it conti- 
nues longer on the Take ; for if the Oil 
be feparated from the Sait, neither of  The N A t ur e and 
The Infufions of all the Sorts of tea are reftfingentk, and their 
greater or Idler Degree of Reftringency, is in proportion to the Weak- 
nds or Strength of the Liquor drunk, and the Elafticity or Laxnefs of 
the Drinker’s Fibres. Rut tho’ all thefe Infufions ad as Aftringents, yet 
Lome aftringe more powerfully than others; all Kinds of Bohea aftringe 
in a Idler Degree than thofe of Green, and common Green tea more 
than the Hyjfon. * And the different Principles of tea ad after a diffe- 
rent manner on our Fluids, when feparated from the reft; for its Salt 
-diftblves the Blood its Earth neither attenuates nor coagulates itm, its 
'On what its 
Aftringency 
depends. 
How its dif- 
ferent Princi- 
ples acfl on 
our Solids 
-and Fluids. 
'them is fweet, but the laft is acid, and 
the other is infiprd : But when both are 
‘mixed, the Salts penetrating the Pores of 
the guftatory Nerves, make Way for the 
"Oil to follow ; both entering, and gently 
"evocating, caufe the Sweetnefs of its Tafle. 
'Sugar Was originally the* Produdt Of the 
Uaft-Indies, 'from thence it was brought 
'to Barbary and the African Ijlands, as the 
Madera's, Canaries, &c. then it crept to 
'the Weft-Indies, as Jamaica, Barbadocs, 
'Nevis, Antegoa, Monferrat, &c. and to 
the Spanijh Indies ; then into Europe, as 
‘Spain and Portugal, but in very fmail 
Quantities. Madera's Sugar was formerly 
"esteemed beft; that from the Canaries 
next; and laflly that from St. Thomas: 
But now Jamaica and Barbadoes are in- 
ferior to none ; next to them is the 
Lifhon, tho’ it is not fo white, its more 
■fat and oily. 
Sugar fuccecded the life of Honey ; 
and has made the laft to be alraoft forgot, 
being disagreeable to cholerick Constitu- 
tions, flatulent Bodies, lean PerSons, and 
thofe who are fubjedt to Inflammations of 
the Vifcera; but yet its better for the 
phlegmatick, aged, cold or moift Consti- 
tutions, being more healing, inciding, 
detergent, diuretic and opening. The 
Antients gave Sugar in Fevers, Hoarfe- 
nefs, Inflammations, ardent 1 hrrft, Stran- 
gury, Heat and Drynefs of Mouth, 
Throat, Stomach and Breaft. The beft 
Sugar is folid, light, and exceeding white 
and fweet, glittering like Snow, hard 
and not Spongy, melting quickly in Wa- 
ter, tfc. 
k I put two fmail Tea Spoonfuls of 
warm,, fmail Green ’Tea on a Saucer, as 
much weak Bobea on another, and the 
like Quantity of tepid Water on a third, 
and then pout’d two large Spoonfuls of 
Blood on each of them ; after they had 
flood eighteen Hours in the Window of 
a cold Room, the Blood with Water was 
the thinneft, of the lighted Colour, and 
had molt Serum on its Surface, that with. 
Green Tea was' darker colour’d and thick- 
er, that with Bohea was very dark, near 
to a black Colour, and fomewhat thicker 
than the laft. Note, The Blood was 
ftirr’d about as it fprung from the Vein, 
to prevent its Coagulation. 
1 I took fix Ounces of Blood, and pre- 
ferving as much as poffible the Fluidity it 
had in the Body, pour’d two Ounces of 
it upon a Saucer, and put to it a Grain 
and a half of white purified Salt of Tea ■ 
to other two Ounces, I put two Grains of 
Salt of Tartar ; and on a third Saucer I 
put two Ounces of Blood only; and fet 
all three in a cold Room ’till the next 
Morning : That with the Salt of Tea had 
feparated much Serum, and the Blood be- 
low it was very thin, and of a light red ; 
that with Salt of Tartar was yet thinner, 
had more Serum on its Surface, and was 
of an exceeding light cherry red • the 
Blood alone had neither fo much Serum as 
the other, nor was its Texture fo much 
broke, but continued thicker and of a 
darker red, 
m I put a little of the fmail Earth, which 
remained in the Cup after the third Filtra- 
tion, into two Ounces of Blood; but it Properties of TEA. 
41 
Oil thickens it a little n, but its Gum very much °, whether extracted 
in an aqueous or fpirituous Vehicle j and its Oil and Earth extremely con- 
trad our Fibres p. 
neither coagulated nor diffolved it ; all 
the Effeft this had upon it, was only it 
made it fomewhat blacker. 
n Putting fome of the Oil which hung 
on the Iron Cover of the Crucible into 
one Ounce of Blood, it made it much 
blacker and thicker than that which flood 
upon a Saucer by it felf without any Mix- 
ture. 
0 Taking three Saucers, with two Oun- 
ces of Blood on each, I mixt with one 
three Grains of Tea Gum, drawn with 
Spirits of Wine; with another, three 
Grains of this Gum drawn with Water, 
but made no Addition to the Blood on 
the third Saucer: I fet them in the fame 
Window as before, and let them ftand 
twenty four Plours: The firft was very 
black and thick coagulated, (tho’ its Co- 
agulation, after it was drawn from the 
Vein, had been prevented,) and its Sur- 
face was dry; the fecond was neither fo 
thick, nor black, but moift, and had a 
little Serum on its Surface; the laft was 
of a light red, and abounded with Serum. 
When they had ftood two Days more, 
above two parts of this was clear Water, 
and its Bottom was only a light red Gore, 
but the firft was fcarce moift at Top, and 
the fecond had feparated about one Dram 
of Serum. 
p I took fixty four Grains of a long thin 
Mufcle, on-the Infide of a Shoulder of 
Mutton, the Length of the Mufcle was 
five Inches and four eighths. I feparated 
the Fibres longitudinally into four Parts, 
and put one into a Spoonful of Water, 
wherein was diffolved four Grains of Tea 
Gum extracted in Spirits, another into a 
Spoonful of very fmall Green Tea, a third 
into a Spoonful of Bohea Tea, the fourth 
into a Spoonful of warm Water, and let 
them ftand twenty four Hours;' then took 
them out and meafur’d them again, the 
firft was become very rough, hard, and 
twilled up like a Cat-gut before a hot 
Fire, and when laid on the Rule or Mea- 
fure, was only three Inches and a half 
long ; its utmoft Stretch, without break- 
ing, was but four Inches: The fecond 
was three Inches and five eighths; at its 
utmoft Stretch four Inches and a half: 
The third was four Inches and one eighth, 
and its furtheft Stretch five Inches: The 
fourth was four Inches and feven eighths, 
and extended to fix Inches two eighths, 
but broke in two Places. 
Corollary i. From thefe Experiments 
we fee, That the Aftringency of Tea de- 
pends upon the clofe and ftrift Union of 
its Oil and Earth ; for its Salt diflblves 
the Blood, and alfo its Salt and Caput 
Mortuum, in Proportion to the Quantity 
of Salt in that Earth ; its Oil thickens it 
a little, but the Oil and Earth together 
aft in a high Degree of Reftringency. 
When feveral Waters had drawn off as 
much Earth as was feparable that Way, 
tho’ Copperas turn’d the Liquor of a light 
Blue, for two or three Infufions more, 
yet thefe had no fenfible Reftringency, 
becaufe then the light feparable Earth was 
drawn off, and that which gave the Tin- 
fture was Oil only. Again, when we 
came to make a ftrong Decoftion, this 
frefh violent Motion and Agitation of the 
Leaf, feparated and brought off frefh Earth 
with the OH, which revived its Aftrin- 
gency, and reftor’d its blue Tinfture with 
a Solution of Copperas ; and when the 
Decoftion could not loofe or feparate any 
more Earth, then the bitter aftringent 
Tafte was loft as before : But the Leaf 
dried again, put into a Crucible, and fet 
in an open Fire, afforded a more fixed 
Oil and Earth, more bitter and aftrin- 
gent than any of the former. Carol. 2. 
Hence we fee, that Aftringents, by the 
Afperity of their Particles, corrugate the 
Fibres and Membranes, and make them 
draw up clofer, and by thickning the 
Fluids, prevent them from running off’ fo The Nature and 
Having enquir’d into, and difcover’d the Principles of Tea, it remains 
that we apply its Virtues and Ufcs to particular Cafes ; which Sim. 'Pauli 
fall as before; and therefore Aftringents 
are called Strengtheners, and differ from 
Stypticks only in Degree of Efficacy. 
Carol. 3. Strengtheners ad, upon our So- 
lids, not only by bracing them more 
firmly, and expelling the fuperfluous flow 
Juices in the fmall VefTels, whereby they 
ad more powerfully upon the remaining 
contained Liquor; but by adding Bulk 
to the Solids, in a daily Supply of pro- 
per Earth. Now the Strength of different 
Animals of the fame Species, or of the 
fame Animals at different Times, is by 
feveral, demonftrated to be in a triplicate 
Proportion of the Quantities of the Mafs 
of Blood ; for all the Strength of an A- 
nimal is the Force of the whole Fibres 
of all the Mufcles taken together; there- 
fore all Reftringents increafing the Strength 
increafe alfo the Force of the Mufcles. 
But Reftringents preventing the too pro- 
fufe Waite of Fluids, may fo thicken and 
increafe the Quantity of the Blood, as to 
diminifh the Strength of the Animal; for 
the /Equilibrium betwixt the Blood and 
the Veflels being deftroy’d, the Strength 
is wonderfully impair’d, as in a diminifh’d 
Perfpiration : Though this increafe the 
Blood, yet it leflens the Strength, becaufe 
the retain’d Matter, which fhould have 
been expeli’d, fo alters lhe Mafs of Blood, 
as renders it unfit for mufcular Motion. 
Suppofe the increafed Quantity to be 
joyned by an extraordinary Vifcidity, the 
fmall feparable Parts decreafing as the 
Vifcidity increafes, the Quantity of ani- 
mal Spirits feparated in the Brain will be 
lefs, and the Tenfity of the Fibres, being 
in Proportion to the animal Spirits, and 
their Difpofition to Motion, the Fibres 
cannot counterpoife the great Weight of 
the Blood, and hence muft follow a De- 
cay of Strength. Carol. 4. Hence we fee 
why Green Tea is a greater Aftringent 
than Bohea, tho’ the firft contains more 
Oil, viz. Becaufe the Oil of Green is 
more firmly cemented and attached to its 
Earth, therefore I always found the fe- 
venth Infufion or Decodion of this, as 
much tindur’d by a Solution of Copperas, 
and depofited as much Sediment, as the 
fourth or fifth of Bohea : And as the Oil 
of this is lefs and more feparable, fo ’tis 
thinner, not having fufficient Time on 
the Shrub to become of a relinous Nature, 
and be incorporated into the very Sub- 
ftance of its earthy Principles. Carol 5. 
From the triple Decreafe of Weight in 
Bohea more than Green Tea, in the for- 
mer Experiments, though it feem really 
Phlegm that exhales ; yet this is not re- 
concileable either with Reafon or Expe- 
rience, for both having had the fame Ad- 
vantage of roafting and curling, and the 
Leaf of Bohea being more tender and po- 
rous, and its Veflels larger, we cannot 
imagine but it muft part with its Phlegm 
fooner, and more eafily than the other, 
whofe Veflels are more compad, and the 
Phlegm entangled with more Oil : We 
muft therefore allow a part of this Lofs 
to confift of the more feparable, fubtile 
and fine Salts: But thefe Salts in the 
tender Buds, partaking more of an acid 
Nature than in the full grown Leaf, there- 
fore Bohea muft contain more of a nar- 
cotick Quality than Green ; thefe remain- 
ing fubtile Salts, being more acid, will 
confequently prick the Nerves more, and 
we are in greater Danger of Stupidity, 
Tremors, and fickly Fits from this than 
from Green Tea; and it will (generally 
fpeaking) affed the nervous Syftem more 
fenfibly and frequently. From the whole 
preceding Courfe of Experiments, we fhall 
have fo much Light and Certainty of its 
Nature and Properties, that our follow- 
ing Difcourfe, on the medicinal Quali- 
ties of its dietetick Ufe, will flow as ft> 
many eafy and confpicuous Corollaries. 
And that we may form a clearer and more 
juft Idea of the manner of its Operation, 
I think it neceffary to mention what feems 
to me the true mechanical Caufes of thofe 
Diftempers, wherein the Ufe of Tea is re- 
commended or caution’d againft, Properties of TEA. 
43 
affirms to be local, and do not hold with European Inhabitants: But 
Pechlin refutes this Opinion, maintaining that it is good in many Dif 
cafes. 
And doubtlefs ’tis of fpecial Service in Diforders of the Head, pro- 
ceeding from cold and fluggifli Caufes, which Co alter the Mai's of 
Blood, Lymph and Spirits, that they have not a free Courfe thro’ the 
Veffels of the Brain, but adhering to their internal Surfaces, either fliort- 
en or (hut up their Diameters •, fiich is a fizy, thick, pituitous Difpofi- 
tion of the whole Mafs of Blood, which, when it arrives at the {mail and 
tender Yeflels of the Brain, their inherent Force not being equal to the 
Strength neceffary to propel a vifcid Fluid along their Canals, its Mo- 
tion is therefore flow; but the quickeft Motion being always in the 
Axis of the Veffels, from the repulfive Collifion or Refinance of the Sides, 
and the moll: fluid Parts of the Blood being fufeeptible of the greatcfl: 
Motion, thefe will therefore be chiefly propelled; while the more vifcid 
Parts, unapt for Motion, as they conflfl; of grofler, lefs prepared, or 
more attractive and adheflve Particles, give the greateft Refiftance to the 
Actions of the Solids and Yeflels, and lie nearefl their Sides, which be- 
ing weak, foaked in Humidity, and over lubricated, have not Force to 
fhake them off, and throw them into the Axis; therefore they firfl move 
flowly, then lie {Fill and flick to the Sides of the Yeflels, where they at- 
tract other Particles of the like Nature, till they (hut up the Veflel, and 
prevent the Motion of the Blood or Lymph. 
Now what Diluter can be better in this Cafe than Green 'Tea? For 
the Water thins, its Salts feparate the fluggifli Mafs, they ftimulate and 
invigorate the Yeflels, increafe the Celerity of the Blood’s Motion, its 
Earth and Oil draw up and contrad the relaxed inelaftick Tubes, and 
difpofe the flimy adheflve Mucus to be thrown back into the circulating 
Mafs, and thereby widen the narrow, and open the obftruded Yeflels 
of the Brain. The Fluids being thus difpofed for Motion, and the Yef- 
fels for Adion, the different Cohefions of the firfl: will be broken and 
expell’d by proper Outlets : The Blood being thus thinned, ’tis fitter to 
pafs all the Meanders, Windings and Circumvolutions of the Brain, and 
have its nervous Juice ftrain’d ofl in greater Plenty, which will invigorate 
the Fibres and Solids of the Body, whereby the Yeflels and Mufcles 
will perform their Office more eftedually, with more Eafe and Speed, 
and longer; and a beginning Fleavinefs, Dulnefs, Drowfinefs, Lethargy, 
or Coma cured, and their dangerous Paroxyfms prevented, or fct further 
off. 
This Liquor is no lefs beneficial in preventing a thrcatned Apoplexy 
or Catalepfy from thefe Caufes; for that the Body is in Danger of a 
Tea good m 
Difeafes of 
the Head, 
from a Lent or 
of the Blood, 
and a Lax- 
nefs of the 
Veffels. 
In a Lethar- 
gy. Apo- 
plexy, Cata- 
’epfy, Dul- 
nefs and 
Drowfinefs, 44 
The Nature and 
Seizure, or Attack from thofe fleepy Difeafes, may be forefeen from 
adive Perfons becoming lazy and idle all' of a fudden; turning dull; 
fleepy and indifferent to all Exercife or Motion; their Speech is flower 
than ufual, they fometimes throw up Phlegm, their Eyes are pale, turgid,, 
rnoift and dim, their Head fwims, they breath with more Difficulty af- 
ter Exercife or Motion, they have frequent Tremors, and Snortings, and 
are Hag-ridden. All thefe Symptoms proceed either from a natural lax 
Fibre and fluggifli Blood, or by making too Fee with meally Aliments, 
and unripe rough Fruits, or by diminifliing former neceflary Motion, or 
a too great Wafle of the more fluid Parts of the Blood thro’ the relaxed 
fecretory Yeflels, or from a want of good Blood, or Deficiency of Bile, 
or a Retention of the thicker Part of the Blood and Humours, or their 
Adhcflon to the Infides of the weak and lax Yeflels, &c\ 
Green Pea is no lefs fcrviccable in Lethargies, Apoplexies or Head- 
aches, from an Adhefion of the thicker Parts of a gruminous Blood to 
the Infides of the Yeflels, whether in the carotid or vertebral Arteries, 
or in the fmall Yeflels of the Brain; for if thefe grumous Parts of the 
Blood flick long to the Yeflels, they will produce polypous Contractions, 
either within the Cranium itfelf, or in the Heart or great Arteries: Thefe 
in the Heart muft be fucceeded by a Palpitation and unequal Pulfe; 
thofe in the Brain, by a Swimming of the Head, and Dimnefs of Sight, 
upon a fmall Increafe of Motion or Heat. Now the dietetick Ufe of 
"Tea diflblves thefe grumous Adheflons; and it the Polypuss be not yet 
formed, prevents their Concretions, cleanfes the Yeflels, and by- a- gentle 
Stimulation and Corrugation, increafes their Force and Adion, whereby 
they prevent the Blood’s running into fetch pernicious Combinations. 
In the former Cafes the Pea fliould be drunk very ftiong, and in a 
midling Quantity Morning and Afternoon; in the latter, weaker and 
more plentifully, and be attended with Exercife in both. N. B. In this, 
and the whole, following Dffeourfe, I fuppofe the Drinkers betwixt flxteen 
and fixty Years of Age. ■ ' 
If Difeafes proceed from an inflammatory Thicknefs of the Blood, 
difcoverable by a (harp, conftant Fever, a chronick and violent inflam- 
matory Pain of the Head, and a Phrenzy, with a Redncfs, Tumor and 
Inflammation of the Eyes, (caufing involuntary Tears) and the Face; 
then fmall Green Pea drunk plentifully, after fufficient-Evacuation by 
Bleeding, thins the Blood, and ieflens its Refinance againft the Yeflels, 
caufcs it to move more eafily, to mix better, and afford more animal 
Juices, and firs it for Nutrition and Evacuation, u e. It brings the mu- 
tual Refiftance and Force of Solids and Fluids nearer to an 
for all thefe Symptoms arife from air increafed Circulation of the Blood, 
Green Tea 
good in Dif- 
eafes arifing 
from the 
Thicknefs of 
the Blood, Gi- 
fts Abundance 
of earthyPar- 
ticks which 
make it gru- 
mous. 
It anfwers the 
like Defign in 
Difeafes from 
an Inflamma- 
tory State oi 
the Blood. Properties of TEA. 
fir proportion to its Confidence; but this Confidence being too thick, 
and it meeting with no Hindrance in the greater Vedels, they mud ex- 
ert a greater Force over it, and throw it into the (mailer; which being 
weaker, and not capable of great Oppofition, either as to the thick Li- 
quor, or the unnatural fupenor Force of the emptier great Vedels, they 
mud therefore be loaded and overpower’d with a thick Mafs, which 
by its flow Motion lobes its natural and due Confidence, and being more 
at reft feparates into different Parts: But the fmall reftringed Vedels 
exerting their greated Force in redding this unwieldy Load, the Blood 
not being fb fufceptible of Motion, redds them again; and the Parts of 
the Blood oppodng the Celerity of each* others Motion, caufes a great 
Heat and Rednefs of the external Parts. In the mean time, the thinner 
Parts of the Blood being dill fufceptible of Motion, by the Conatus of 
the fmall Vedels, they are thrown back into the Veins and greater Vefl 
fels, while the thicker continue in the fmall, which diftend and fwell 
the Parts: Hence a full Eye, involuntary Tears, and a Heat of the Parts, 
from the mutual Attrition of the Parts of the Blood againd one another, 
and of this againd the Vedels, and they againd it: But the Vedels being 
{Emulated and contracted by the Ufe of Tea, and the Blood fitted for 
Circulation, Secretions and Evacuations, the Balance, of Nature is brought 
nearer, and the Body relieved. 
In a Vertigo, or fwimming of the Head, when Objeds feem to turn 
round, becaufe the Images which proceed from them fall-fuccedively 
upon diderent Parts of the from the lateral Predlire of the Ar- 
teries, and a Concudion of the Retina and Oprick Nerve, occafion’d by 
the Extendon, Oppredion, and Load of the Arteries. Green T’ea drunk 
(not too drong) once or twice a Day3 after bleeding and vomiting, will 
be very ferviceable in removing this Indifpodtion, becaufe ’tis of a dilu- 
ting, attenuating, clcanfing, (Emulating, and invigorating Nature; the 
Water, wherein ’tis infufed, thins the Blood, its faline Particles give it a 
fredi Momentum, clcanfe the Infides of the Vedels, feparate and divide 
the Coheflons, and give iuch a Stimulus, that tho* they are too due to 
be perceptible any where elfe, yet when they enter into the fmalleft Fi- 
bres, by their pricking and diaking of them, they irritate their Vibration, 
and prevent the future Lodgment of that ufelefs Load in the Cavities of 
the Vedels, or their Interfaces, which clogs their Motion, and relaxes 
their Coats and Membranes <L. 
Green Tea 
good in a 
Vertigo, or 
fwimming of 
the (Lad. 
i Dom. Amhrof Sfegmann. de Decodf. 
Herb.Thea, Mijcel. Cur. Vol. 5. p. 36. 
tells us of a Woman, who from a Fright 
{lie received when in Labour, fell into an 
Epilepfy, in which (he continued three 
Months, and by his Direction was cured The Nature and 
It difpels 
Drowfinefs 
and Clouds 
that hang 
over our in- 
telledlual Fa- 
culties, and 
enlivens our 
Ideas. 
Another Thing which mightily ingratiates the UTe of this Liquor to 
Men of a fprightly Genius, who court the Continuance of their lively 
and diftindl Ideas, is, its remarkable Force againft Drowfinefs and Dul- 
nefs, Damps, and Clouds on the Brain and intellectual Faculties11; for it 
of it by drinking Tea, And p, 37. He 
gives us an Account of a Boy feven Years 
old, who daily had frequent Convulfions, 
like an Extafie, and when both inward 
and outward Means had been long ufed in 
vain, by the Diredlion of feveral Phyfi- 
cians, he advifed him to drink Tea, which 
cured him. p. 38. He fays he cured 
many Children who had Convulfions, af- 
ter the Small Pox and Mealies, with this 
Liquor : I fuppofe he means by the In- 
fufion of Green Tea. 
r The Reafon why Tea creates fuch a 
vigilant Vivacity, difpels Heavinefs, and 
is therefore beneficial to lucubratory Stu- 
dents, is, 1. The gentle Irritation which 
the Salts give to the Fibres, whereby the 
Courfe of the nervous Fluid is roufed and 
determined, and commanded into the 
Mufcles to prevent their falling back ; but 
the Aftringency of the Liquor contradling 
the Fibres, caufes this Juice to circulate 
more brilkly in the Brain: Hence comes 
a more plentiful Stock of animal Spirits, 
to fupply the Organs of the intelledlual 
Faculties. 2. By this Stimulation it not 
only begets a better Contradlion in the ex- 
quifitely fenfible nervous Coat of the Sto- 
mach, which is quickly communicated to 
the Brain, whereby it lhakes off that Load 
of Juices in its Velfels, which diminifh’d 
their brifk Tone, and Derivation of Spi- 
rits into the Nerves, which occafion’d a 
Drowfinefs and Inclination to Sleep, (for 
Contradlion is oppofite to Sleep, which is 
a State of Indolence and Relaxation) But 
the exceeding fine Earth and fixed Oil 
help to repair the Waite the Velfels have 
fuftained by the Day’s Exercife or La- 
bour, and give them a frelh Supply, and 
better Firmnefs ; for tho’ the feparable 
Parts of Tea be not volatile, yet they are 
exceeding fine and folid ; the laft Rubs of 
the adhefive latent Lentor from the Sides of 
the Veffels, where they are furr’d up, 
and conftitute a Part of them, where 
their Sides are clear and lie open to the 
Touch. The Reafon given for this 
Vivacity, by the Liquors binding and 
Ihutting up the Mouth of the Stomach, 
and preventing the Riling of its Fumes 
into the Head, is ridiculous; there being 
no other Paffage for thofe grofs Exhala- 
tions to afeend by, but thofe of the Blood; 
therefore the Diforders of the Stomach 
cannot be the primarv or immediate Caufe 
of the Affections of the Brain, but the fe- 
condary only. For tho’ an agreeable or 
pleafant Senfation from Meat or Drink 
upon the Stomach, (efpecially after in- 
tenfe Cold or Hunger, which contracts 
the Solids) may caufe a foft undulatory 
Motion of the nervous Juices, and fo re- 
lax the Nerves, and occafion a Defire to 
fleep, yet the Aliment upon the Stomach 
is the Caufe of this fweet Senfation and 
gentle Relaxation; or if we fuppofe that 
Hunger has created Pain and Watchful- 
nefs, the Stomach is not the firft Caufe 
of this, but the acid glandular Juice dif- 
charged into the Stomach, and the Attri- 
tion of its Coats or Sides againft one ano- 
ther in its Motion, when no intermediate 
Body lies betwixt them to be aCled upon : 
Or Ihould Flatulency abound in the Sto- 
mach, ’tis the Flatus’s which diftend its 
Coats, ftretch them beyond their Tone, 
and from the Origin and Communication 
of the Nerves, raifes a Pain in the Head. 
Acid or acrid Humours lying on the Sto- 
mach, prick its Nerves, which being com- 
municated to the Brain, caufe Pain of the 
Head. Too much Heat likewife relaxes 
the Solids , and difpofes the Body to 
Sleep : Here the Infufion of Green Tea 
comes in as a very feafonable Rcftringent 
to brace up the relaxed Fibres, and re- 
ftore them a better Tone ; Hence the Ufe Properties of TPA. 
keeping the Eyes watchful and clear, animates the intelle&ual Powers, 
maintains or miles lively and brifk Ideas, excites and fliarpens the 
Thoughts, gives new Vigour and Force to the Invention, awakens the 
Senfes, and ftrengthens and clears the Underftanding; becaufe by its 
thinning the Blood, through the Miniature of its Salts, it enters into, clean- 
fes and clears the Glands of the Brain, increafes the Secretion and Di- 
fhibution of animal Juices, which compenfate the preceding Lofs of Spi- 
rits, whether fpent on the intelledual or bodily Organs, it afrcfli invigo- 
rates the Fibres and Veflels, takes oft that Laxnefs and Sluggiflmcfs which 
caufes a Neceftity of Sleep: The neceftary Evacuation by the Skin and 
Kidneys are duly and regularly carried on at the fame Time, Co that the 
Body is not loaded with fuperfluous Juices, which make it dull and in- 
difpofed. On which Property Waller has thus defcanted. 
Fhe Mufes Friend' Tea, does our Fancy aid, 
Reprefs thofe Vapours which the Head invade, 
And keeps that Palace of the Soul ferene 
Fit on her Birth-day to falute a Queen. 
And becaufe it promotes a free Circulation of the Blood, gently de- 
terges and comforts the Brain, that there is no Load, flow Circulation 
or Stoppage in any of its Veflels and Glands, therefore the Perfon, who 
frequently drinks it, is not terrified with frightful Dreams, unlefs he has 
loaded his Stomach with flefli Meat, and goes to Bed before Digeftion, 
which comprefles the defending Trunk of the great Artery, whereby 
greater Surges of Blood are fent up to the Head, to fill the Veflels, and 
difturb a free Circulation. 
And as Pains of the Head and Megrim owe their Rife either to a 
Buffing of the Veflels with a grofs fizy Blood, or a Diftention with an 
inflammatory Fluid, fo that which thins and attenuates the firft, and 
promotes the Digeftion and Secretion of both, mu ft be ferviceable in this 
Cafe •, and the drinking four or five Diflies of Green Tea once or twice 
a Day, will have this Effeft, if not too ftrong, for then its Stimulation 
It is good a- 
gainft fright-, 
ful Dreams* 
And for 
fjead-ach. 
of Tea mull be very advantageous in Chi- 
na, and other hot Countries. —Kircher, 
lib. iv. of his China illujirata, takes No- 
tice of Tea for clearing the Head, and o- 
pening the urinary Paflages. Alex, de 
Rhodes, in his Voyages & Miffion Apoftoli- 
que, fays, He always cur’d himfelf of a 
periodical Pain in his Head by Tea, and 
having often Occafion to fit up whole 
Nights in China, to take the Confeflions 
of dying People, he found fuch Benefit 
from Tea in thofe great Watchings, that 
he was always as vigorous and frelh next 
Day, as tho’he had relied all Night in 
Bed: Nay, by the Affiftance of Tea, he 
fate up, as he fays, fix Nights together, 
Vide Dr. Chamberlain in Treat, of Coffee’•> 
Tea and Chocoh 12*1685.. pag, 46.  The N at u re and 
is too great: Bat to prevent frightful Dreams, ’tis beftto take three or 
•four Difhes in the Afternoon, but not too ftrong, left it caufe Watch- 
ings, and to forbear a Flefh Supper after it: The fame Time and Quan- 
tity is beft to prevent Drowfinefs, 
In Difeafes of the Eyes, as Weaknefs, Dimnefs of the Sight, involun- 
tary Tears, &c. from a Dilatation of the Glands, Diftention of the Yef- 
fels, and Tranfudation of the Humours, or from an Increafe and Con- 
denfation of the Goats and Humours, or a Lodgment of Vifcidities in 
the fmall Yeflels, and their diftending and prefling upon the Optick 
Nerves, and preventing their free Communication with the Brain, where- 
by they emaciate, wafte or fubfide; or from a Ample Plethora, which 
•overfills the Yeflels, whereby the thinner Parts are ftrained oft', and the 
thicker left behind: In all thefc Cafes the Ufe of Green Pea is fervice- 
able, for it lubricates the rigid, {Emulates the lax and dilated Yeflels, 
thins the thick, attenuates the vifeid, and obtunds the acrid Blood, dif- 
folves the coagulated, and by invigorating the Nerves and Mufcles, they 
(hake oft' the ftagnated Juices: But in a Laxnefs and Dilatation of the 
Glands and their Coats, it muft be drunk pretty ftrong and warm, in 
the other Cafes weak and temperate. 
In Relaxations of the Drum of the Ear (if not chronick) from cold, or 
other recent Afflux of pituitous Juices on the Yeflels of its delicate Mem- 
branes, the Ufe of Green Pea is advifeable s. 
And ’tis of fpecial Service in Rheums and Catarrhs, whether of the 
Nofe, Throat or Bread, if drunk ftrong, four or five Difhes Morning 
and Afternoon. For thofe Difeafes being a Defluxion of fharp Serum 
from the Glands about the Head and Throat, are often the Eftefts of 
diminifhed Pcrfpiration, commonly called a Cold 3, for then what fliould 
be feparated and difeharged by the Skin, falls upon the Glands of the 
Head, and irritating them, caufes a freezing, running of the Nofe, or 
a Cough, and fometimes Dulnefs of Hearing; Or thefe Catarrhs may 
proceed from whatever occaflons a too great Accumulation of Serum 
either in the whole Body, or in thefe Parts; fuch as the Diminution of 
renal or cuticular Secretions, which liquefies the Blood, and weakens Di- 
geftion; or from a natural Laxnefs of the Coats of thofe Glands, or a 
greater Flux of Humours to, or a flower Motion of the Blood about the 
Idead. Now the Glands about the Head and Throat, are the moft fuf- 
Againft Dif- 
Fyel °f thS 
In Dulnels of 
Hearing from 
a Relaxation 
of the Tym- 
panum. 
in Rheums 
and Catarrhs. 
9 Dr. Jo. Ludov. Apirms, Ohf 70. De- 
cur- 3- Ml feel Curiof. gives an Inftance of 
a learned Man who had been long Deaf, 
and ufed Iflues, Spirit of Sal Ar mania ck, 
Purges, £sV. in vain; but was fpeedily and 
perfedly cured by drinking Pea : He had 
frequently before a founding in his Ears, 
follow’d with a Crack, after which he 
heard better for fome Days. Properties 0/*TE A. 
49 
ceptible of this increafed Quantity of Serum, becaufe they are provided 
with the lead Helps, either to oppole, or throw it off after it is lodged. 
For this Reafcn alio, Perfons who have the Quantity of this Serum in- 
creafed, are dull and unadive, becaufe the Glands and Veflels of the 
Brain being weak and dilatable, they will fudain a great Share of the 
Load, which didends the Blood Vedels, and compreffes the Roots of 
the Nerves. Hence there is neither fo much animal Juices feparated 
from the Blood, nor is its Influx into the Nerves and Muffles Co free, fo 
that they become redy, fluggifh and inadive: But the Spirits being 
kept undulating in the Brain, they cauff Anxiety, Reflleflncls, fliorter 
difturbed Sleeps, and being lent off into the Nerves of involuntary Mo- 
tion, the Heart is invigorated , the Adion of its Muffles is increafed; 
hence a quick Pulfe and Heat. Now in all theff Diforders, Green Tea 
attenuates the Blood, gently pricks the Yeffels, increafes or raifes their 
Momentum againd the Fluids, helps to redore their natural Fluidity, and 
homogene Mixtures, for tho’ in a weakened State of Digedion, our Ali- 
ments be changed into a kind of Fluid, yet the Attrition or Attenuation 
of the Chyle is not- diffident to make it of due Mixture and Confidence, 
with a healthy Blood; therefore will its grofler Particles readily feparate 
again from it, whenever the Strength and Velocity wherewith it was ex- 
pell’d the Heart, turns weak; and this will be the Cafe of the Glands 
about the Head, which are both numerous and weakly fenced: But Tea 
{Lengthening the Vifcera, promoting Digedion, Circulation and Secre- 
tion, will help the Veflels to attenuate and affimilate the Chyle to the 
Blood, and prevent the Attraction and Lodgment of its grofler Parts in 
thefe Glands; whofe Coats being alfo corrugated and invigorated by the 
gentle Pungency of its Salt, and Adringency of its Earth, will give a 
more fenfible Refidance to the Blood’s Impetus, and prevent the Recep- 
tion of too large a Quantity: Hence lefs Serum will be drained ofl, and 
the Rheums and Catarrhs helped orhhealer.dr. 
Where Perfpiration is too great, the Force of the Fibres and Veflels 
too drong, the Circulation rapid, the Blood ground down, and the Body 
always lean and thin, Bohea Tea is very ferviceable, becaufe it adds much 
frefli Sulphur, or fine Oil to the Juices, which lubricates, foftens and 
relaxes the Fibres and Veflels, prevents or diminifhes their too great ela- 
dick Force, Drynefs and Crifpnefs, leflens the immoderate Expcnce of 
Bohea Tea ufe- 
ful, i. In a 
conftant lean 
Habit of Bo- 
dy, from a 
too plentiful 
Perfpiration. 
t Thofe employed In the Dutch Em- the Gout or Stone, which their Phyfi- 
bafly to China, ohferv’d that the Chinefe dans impute to the liberal Ufe of Tea. 
foil"very little, and are rarely afflicted with Tom. 3. Pbilof. Tranf. N°. 14. The Nature 
the Fluids by the Skin; the Solids ad not with fo great Celerity and 
Force, the Blood’s Circuit therefore is not fo rapid, nor its Parts fo 
quickly attenuated or expell’d, and hence the Body is better nourifhed u. 
In Spitting of Blood, whether it be from the Delicacy and Tendernefs 
of the Pulmonary or Bronchial Ydfels, or the Force, Velocity or Acri- 
mony of the Humours, which (if not hereditary) is moftly the Effed of 
an indifereet Ufe of hot, aromatick, faline or animal Food, ftrong Exer- 
cife, efpecially of the Lungs, by coughing, finging, playing, fhouting, or 
much and loud fpcaking, too much Freedom with fpitituous Liquors, vi- 
olent and frequent Palfions of the Mind, Supprdlion of ufual and ne- 
cefiary Evacuations ; thefe, or whatever elfe may increafe the Quantity, 
Acrimony or Velocity of the Blood, and withal determine the fame to 
the Lungs, with a Eorce fuperior to their Refinance: Here, after dimi- 
nifhing the Blood’s Quantity, and labouring to reunite the ruptur’d Veil el 
or Veffels, we fhould corrcd the Rapidity, Heat and Acrimony of the 
Humours, by the Ufe of emollient Balfamicks; which Title Bohea "Tea 
challenges, feeing it abounds with Oilx, which nourifhes much, checks 
the Stimulation, and blunts the Acrimony of the Salts, and repleniflics 
the Blood with healing balfamick Parts. In this Cafe it muft be drunk 
pretty ftrong, with very coarfe Sugar, to five or fix Difhes in a Morning) 
ind three or four in the Afternoon, with two Tea of thick 
Cream, and the Yolk of an Egg in every DiftiD 
r. 
Tn fpitting of 
Blood. 
* Thefe, Effects of the Bohea Tea are 
not fo much owing to either the Quan- 
tity, Smoothnefs, or Finenefs of the Sul- 
phur, as 1. To the fmall Quantity of 
indifcoverable Acid refiding ftill in the 
Leaf, and drawm off in Infufion \ for in 
all'thefe rapid Motions of the Blood, and 
too great Strength and elaftick Force of 
the VefTels, there’s> a fecret acrid Salt,, 
Simulating the Solids,,, and fufing the Flu- 
ids; and 2. To the fmaller Cohefion of 
tts Earth and Oil, which makes it left 
Aftringent, or fit for adding Bulk arjsL 
Firmnefe to theVefTels“themfelves,,where- 
by they may become more elaftick. 3. To 
the Loofeneft or Spongineft of the Earth, 
whereby it a£lS' after the Manner of a 
Tower ahforbent in Breathing fome acrid 
Particles. 4. To its retaining a. greater 
narcotick Quality than the Green ; hence 
Yis a kind of fmall Opiate to the Body. 
* Not that Bohea contains a larger Quan- 
tity of Oil than Green Tea, for Reafon 
and Experiments prove the contrary, but 
its Oil is more feparable, lets attached to 
its Earth, and therefore comes off more 
freely in a fhorter Time ; and bccaufe it 
is lei's aftringent, it raifes not fuch,a Gon- 
traftion of the Veflels, nor fo quick a 
throwing about of the Blood in the Body, 
gives the nutritive Juices abetter Oppo im- 
portunity of Application and Apportion 
to the. Sides of the Veflels, .which is Niu 
trition. 
Y' The Yolk of an Egg, with a Tea 
Cup full of Cream, and, if Circumftance 
and Convenience will allow, two Drops 
of Oil of Cinnamora .added, will make an 
exceeding good Mixture, fufficient to 
fcrve two or three People to mix with 
their Tea, for Cream being chiefly the 
Oil of the Milk, and the Yolk the moft 
nutritive Part of the Egg, they are both 
lubricating and nourifhing : The Oil is 3 
Angular good Cordial1 and Strengthened Properties of TEA. 
This may alfo be of Service in Ulcers and Abfceftcs of the Lungs, 
with Difficulty of Breaching, a dry frequent Cough, efpedally after Eat- 
ing or Motion, often returning Fits of a Hedick Fever, great Anxiety to- 
wards the Evening, and Night Sweats: Here Bohea Tea ufed as above 
prevents the Abfceis or Ulcer from increafing, and defends the Blood 
from the purulent Matter mixing with it, for it eaffly and readily paftes 
the Lungs, without forming new Obftrudions near the impoftumated or 
ulcerated Parts; its vulnerary and balfamick Particles corred and foften 
the acrimonious Humours, and hinder their Putrcfadion. It is alfo fome- 
what diuretick, and aflifts in determining the Humours that Way to the 
Relief of the Lungs, and makes the Expcdoration of the purulent Matter 
more eafy. 
In Obftrudions of the Lungs occasion'd by a Vifcidity of Humours 
from too great Heat and Motion, (which is difcovorablc from a Con- 
tradednefs of the Fibres, a ftronger and quicker Pulfe, and Urine of a 
higher Colour) or the drinking of fpirituous Liquors, profufe Sweats, 
being expofed to cold frofty Weather, North and Eaft Winds, which 
diminiffi Perfpiration, determine the Humours to the Lungs, and make 
their Veftels narrower, or obftrud them; or they have had cutaneous 
Eruptions, which by the Vifcidity of the Fluids, and Contradion of the 
perfpirable Veftels, are retir’d and fallen on the Lungs, and incrcafe the 
Quantity, Heat, Motion, and Acrimony of the Humours; and by the 
increafed Heat and Prefture of the Veftels on them, are compaded and 
prefs’d together, adhere with a larger Surface, and fo have Globules 
larger than the Capacity of the transmitting Veftels. Here, after Bleed- 
ing and gentle Purging, the Ufe of Bohea Tea, of a middle Strength, 
and drunk freely, as above, dilutes and diftblves thefe Humours, not 
without fome Detergency ot the Veftels. How Detergents ad, fee under 
that Head upon Sage. 
In a violent laborious Cough which abrades the Infidcs of the Wind* 
pipe, takes off' its lubricating defending Mucus, whereby it’s quickly ir- 
ritated by the cold Air, or by the Sharpnefs of the glandular Humour 
there feparated. Here oily Medicines2 often relax the Stomach, increafe 
the Vifcidity of the Humours, relax the Glands, and leften their Refin- 
ance of the Flumours thrown upon them. In this Gale Bohea Tea affords 
a fine Oil and balfamick Particles, which relaxes not the Coats of the 
Glands, nor turns the Blood rancid; and therefore is a good Morning 
Diet, and Afternoon Diluter, if it affeds not the Nerves. 
3- 
fn Ulcers or 
Abfceifes of 
the Lungs. 
, 4- 
In 
ons of the 
Lungs from 
a Vilcidity of 
Humours 
caufed by too 
great Heat or 
'Motion. 
*• 
fn a violent 
Tickling, la- 
borious 
Cough, from 
the Sharpnefs 
of the Serum. 
2 Viz. Coarfe Oils not only relax the 
Stomach, but they are apt to grow ran- 
cid, thicken the Blood, and Simulate th£ 
Vcifds more, and’chcrenfe' the Cough, Tloe Nature and 
In Punrirci' 
Afiedions. " 
In Pleuritick or Peripneumonick Diforders, or Pains in the Sides, from 
a Diftention of the Pulmonary or Plenricick Veffels with a fizy Blood,, 
inch as cannot down with Linefeed or Mallow <Tea) may find a proper 
Succedaneum in this, feeing it dilates and attenuates the Blood, and fof- 
tens the rigid Veffels, fb as the grofs Particles may pais. Thus I have- 
thrown the chief Ufes of Bohea ‘Tea together; and to thefc I might 
add its Fitnefs in Ulcers and Abfcefles of the Reins and Bladder, where 
Simulating Medicines are improper, and only Lubricators fit: But E 
haften forward a. 
In OMrudti- 
ons of the 
Lungs, from 
vifcid Blood, 
and weak 
Vdie's. 
In Obftrudions of the Lungs, owing to the Vifcidity of the Humours 
from their too flow Motion, difcoverable from a fofc flaccid Habit of 
Body, a weak flow Pulfe, a languid Circulation, pale Urine and no Thirft, 
as refblving of the impacted Humours, and attenuating the vifeid, and 
invigorating their Motion, are neceflary here. Green Tea drunk ftrong,. 
and twice a Day, in a moderate Quantity, viz. three Diflies in a Morn- 
ing, and two or three in an Afternoon, with double refined Sugar, fti- 
mulates the YefTels, refolves the Humours, increafes the Blood’s Motion,. 
Perfpiration and Secretion. 
In want of Appetite and Indigeftion, from much Slime lining the In- 
fide of the Stomach, and palling it, or from a feeble and languid Action 
of its mufcular Coats, or from want of animal Juice to inflate and invi- 
gorate its Nerves, or from loading it with Food of hard Digeftion, or 
from much oily Acrimony lodged in it, the dietetick Ufe of Green Tea 
is of the greateft Service; for it thins and wafhes down the Slime out of 
the Stomach into the Intefhnes, and haftens its Evacuation, and the reft 
by Urine and Perfpiration ; it gently and infenflbly ftimulates the Fi- 
bres, and by opening Obftrudions of the Brain, clearing its Paffages, 
accelerating the Motion of the Fluids, promoting an increafed Secretion 
of animal Spirits there, thefe inflate and invigorate the Nerves of the 
Stomach, raife up and remove the Sluggiflinefs of the Adion of its muf- 
cular Coats: Then fmall Tea loofens the Food of hard Digeftion, and 
promotes the Separation and Attrition of its Parts. The Tartars, who< 
feed much on raw Flefb, are very fenfible of this Effed; for if their 
Diet opprefs the Stomach, they quickly run to Tea, and find their Re- 
lief in it, as it takes off their Faintncfs and ftrengchens them. Le 
Compte tells us, p. 22. that the Infufion of Tea will foften Flefb, and; 
In Inappeten- 
cy and Indi- 
geftion. 
a Ried/in. Lin. Medic. Ann. 4li 1698. 
gives us the Hiftory of a Man aged forty 
Years, of a very thin and phthyfical Ha- 
bit of Body, the Son of a confumptive 
Father, who by plentiful Drinking of 7k?, 
was reftored to a more healthy and bulky 
Habit, Properties of TEA. 
make hard Meat tender b, which if ’tis true, ’tis plain it promotes Dige- 
geftion and the Difl'olution of the Food, as well by reftoring the natural 
Fluidity of our Juices, as gently aftringing the Tone of our Bowels and 
Veflels by its fine faline Particles. And fince many chronick Difeafes 
arife from a Diminution of Digcftion in the flrft, fecond and third di- 
geftive Powers, from how many Difeafes may we rationally exped Ex- 
emption, by a moderate and difereet Ufe of this Liquor ? 
After Crapulas, or Surfeits of either Wine or Malt Liquors0, which in 
have left much adhefive Mucus, or faline Particles in the Stomach, Bow- 
els and Veflels, or the Quantity of the Liquor drunk has diftended the 
Veflels beyond their Tone, or left its Salts fix’d in the Coats of the de- 
licate Tubes, or loaded the Veflels of the Brain, or fecrctory Duds of the 
Skin with a tough Slime, which either ftraitens or obftruds them; hence 
Pain or Swimmings of the Head, Dulnefs, Heavinefs, Belchings and 
Oppreflion of the Body, Fulnefs and Loathing of Food; in all thefe Dif- 
orders, the good Effects of Green rfea is no lefs fenfible than vifible; it 
waflies off that palling oppreflive Load of Slime from the Stomach, di- 
lutes the whole Mafs of Blood, clears the Canals of the Brain, and mil- 
itary Duds of the Skin, invigorates the flaccid Veflels and Solids, and: 
reftores them to their proper and refpedive Ufes, foon lightens the Body 
of its Load, and procures the Evacuation of thofe hurtful and fuperfluous 
Juices. 
In delicate and tender Stomachs, which either from the Thinnefr, or A 
Abraflon of the tunica evillofa by fpirituous Liquors, or the exqui- 
fite Senfibility of the nervous Coat, cannot bear rough, harfh or nau- 
feous Dofes, no Vomit is more fafe and fuitable; for it cleanfes the Sto- 
mach from its oppreflive Load of Slime, and leaves a gentle Reflrin- 
Surfeits, 
fafeVomiti 
b Novemb. 18. I took half an Ounce of 
the mufcular Part of a Loin of Mutton 
cut fmall, and divided into two equal 
Parts, and put them into two Phial Glaf- 
fes; on the firft I pour’d two Ounces of 
tepid Green Tea, on the fecond two Oun- 
ces of tepid Water; when they had flood 
fix Hours before the Fire, in a Heat equal 
to that of the Blood, and the Heat re- 
flected on that Side furtheft from the 
Fire, by a bright Fender, the firft turn’d 
of a brown Colour, like ftrong Bohea Tea, 
the fecond was clear as before ; and tho’ 
it was hard Froft all the while, yet on 
the fifth Day they w’ere both exceeding 
fetid, tho’ that with Water was moft fo, 
firm and of a pale Colour ; that with; 
Green Tea was next Day of a deep red 
TinCture, then of a pale brown ; when- 
both were pour’d out, the Flefh in the- 
Tea had loft forty Grains, that in Water 
thirty fix. But the Colour of the Liquor- 
on the firft, plainly fhew’d that this Di- 
minution of Weight was from the Dilu- 
tion and Extraction of the Fluids contain- 
ed in the Meat, and not from the Diftb- 
lution of its Subftance or Solids. 
c ’Tis alfo the Cuftom with fome to> 
drink Tea before they go to the Tavern,, 
to prevent Drunkennefs. See Nat. Hift 
of Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate, p. io,. The Nature mid 
gcncy behind it, which prevents After-Naufcoufnefi, paries up the Strain- 
ers, which were the Fountain of that Drain of irritating Juices, which 
made the Stomach quafy, fore, relaxed and belching. 
In flatulent Cholicks, occafioncd by a'Laxnefs, a languid ordiminiflied 
periftaltick Motion of the Guts, whereby feme of the more grofs and 
tenacious Parts of the perfpirable Matter lies in the Bowels ratified, di- 
flcnds their Coats, turns iharp and pricks the Guts, Green Tea dilutes 
and prepares it for entering the Body, or palling along the inteftinal 
Canal, to be expelled by an Explofion; and at the fame Time gently 
and pleafantly {Emulates, and corrugates the Fibres, invigorates their de- 
cayed Tone by its Bitternefs and Aftringency, whereby they are capable 
to ad with greater Force on the Contents, and drive them forward to 
their refpedive Outlets. 
In bilious Cholicks (which are often the mod tedious, painful, and 
dangerous of all others) very fmall Green "Tea thins the Bile, (but 
Chicken Broth in the Fit is infinitely preferable) carries it down, and 
delivers the Body from the Rack for the prefent, and by its Salts fcours 
the Glands and excretory Duds of the Liver from that Fleap of Bile 
which lodges in them, and at the fame Time, by its Roughnefs and Re- 
flringcncy, whereby it draws up the Fibres, and gives them a better Ten- 
fion, it contrads and fhortens the Diameters of the dilated biliary Strainers, 
and fb diminifhes a too copious Secretion of Bile. 
In nephritick Pains, from Stone, Gravel, or a mucillaginons Colledion 
of Matter, I {hall explain its Ufefulncfs afterwards. Its Friendlinefs 
to the Nerves, which I have already accounted for, makes it advanta- 
geous in Flyftcrick Cholicks. 
In Obftrudions of the Liver, Spleen, Pancreas, and others of the ab- 
dominal Vifcera, Green T’ea is mod valuable •, for the warm Water, 
wherein it is infufed, thinning the Blood, and refolving the dole impad- 
ed, and compreffed obfiruding Matter, its Salts and pungent Particles 
will feparate and diUblvc thole Cohelions, whether mucous, purulent, 
ffcatomatous or vifeid Serum, open and clean the Vcflels, incrcafe or re- 
cover their weakened Tone, lay open their narrowed or obftruded Tubes, 
to the frefh and duly mixed circulating Fluid, to which the Salts of the 
"Tea have added a greater Momentum, For in thole Obftrudions the 
Vellels arc ftraitned or (hut up, fo as to refill the Fluids, and prevent 
their free Pafiage along them, or totally oppofe their Entrance. This 
Narrownefs of the Yellcls arifes either from an incrcafed Contradion by 
whatever adds to their elaflick Force, fo as they will not give way to 
the Power of the Fluids, or from a Diflention of the lateral VdFels, 
which confiitutc the Sides of the largcft ones; the more diftended the 
Good in fla- 
tulent Cho- 
Jicks. 
ia bilious 
Cholicks. 
In nephritick 
Cholicks. 
Andhyflerick 
Cholicks- 
Jn Obftrueli- 
xirs of the 
Bowels. 
Caufes of 
Ol ftrudions 
explain’d. Properties of TE A. 
firft are, the more Space they take up and chicken the lad, fo as to 
(horten the Diameters of their Cavity. But Obftrudions may and do 
often happen in healthy Veffels, either from too great a Vifcidi.ty or Flui- 
dity of the Juices., Any thing- renders the Fluids too vifeid, and inca- 
pable of Circulation, which cither changes their globular Figure into 
another, as it happens when the equal Prdlure of the fmalleft Particles,, 
which formerly aded and prefs-’d equally together from all Sides, ceafes; 
and this is the Cafe when the Motion is languid, or the Veflels relaxed, 
or the Quantity of the Fluid diminifhed. The Juices alfo become vifeid, 
when the Attraction of any of their Principles becomes too Prong, fo 
as feveral Particles run into one, which comes to pafs by too much Red, 
whereby the Fibres become inactive, reify and relaxed; or by intenfe 
cold, which thickens the Blood, &c. Too great a Fluidity of the Blood 
generates ObPrudions, becaufe its globular Parts are very much divided 
into Idler Particles, which find cafy Admilfion into the dilated Mouths 
of the fmall Veflels, but prefcntly Pick, and can neither- read! nor pals 
the extream Part. Now thefe fmall Veflels are loofened, either by too 
great a Fulncfs, whereby their RcfiPancc is diminifhed, or by an increa- 
fed Motion, which throws a greater Load upon them than ufual, or a. 
Rarifadion of the Fluids, whereby their Particles being feparated,. they, 
are difpofed to enter a narrower Canal, or from a Relaxation of the 
Veflels themfelveSi— Now that Green I’ea is ferviceable in either a Vif-- 
cidity of the Juices, or a Relaxation of the Solids, I Have fliewed al- 
ready: But that ic is alfb beneficial In Oblfructions from too great a. 
Fluidity of the Juices, remained! to be prov’d. The Blood’s Quantity 
being firffc diminifhed, this Liquor Being drunk very fmall and warm, di- 
lutes the groflcr Globules of the ratified Blood, which had miffaken their 
Paflage, and Popp’d after they had enter’d the dilated Mouths of the 
finall Yeffels; it increafes their Motion thro’ the Veflels, and the Adion. 
and Power of the Vcffels over their contained Fluids, by its Pimulating 
and affringing the Fibres. It is no lefs advantageous where feveral 
fmall Particles have run into one, and increafed the Blood’s Thicknefs, 
as in Colds, Idlencfs, or too great FFcat, which difiipatcs the. more Hurd. 
Parts of the Juices-, and leaves the thicker and more dry behind; for 
its fine Salts Pimulate. the Veflels, its Roughnefs Prengthcns- them, and, 
both increafc their Adion, and caufe an alternative Motion in them: 
And what appears fomething like a Paradox, ’ns alfo beneficial in too. 
ejaPick or ftiff Solids, becaufe ’tis evident that the Cure of fuch a Vellel 
or Fibre indicates the plentiful Ufe of aqueous and tepid Drink, its . 
Warmth foftens, loofens and relaxes the Veifcls, which makes way for 
the Impetus of the Fluids; the Liquor drunk increafes the Blood’s Qtian- The Nature and 
tity and its Refiftance to the Solids, the Thinnefs of it enables the lym- 
phatick Juices, wherewith ’tis mix’d, to pais and flow thro’ the (mai- 
led: pervious Veflels. But here it muft be drunk freely, and very fmall; 
for if ftrong, its Roughnefs pricks the Veflels, and increafes their Con- 
tractions, which is the chief Thing we have to guard againft here ; and 
therefore much Excrciie and much Watching muft be avoided. Thus 
I have accounted for the Ufefulneft of Green Tea iu Obftrudions of the 
Blood Veflels, which may produce Inflammations; and alfo in the ob- 
ftruded and dilated lymphatick Arteries, which are follow’d by Corpu- 
lency, Leucophlegmatia s, and a Cachexy; and in the Glands phlegma- 
tick Swellings, and in the fmalleft lymphatick Pains, without any viflble 
Tumor. But 'Tea in the flrft Cafe muft be drunk plentifully, and ex- 
ceeding weak, in the other two, very ftrong and in (mail Quantities. 
When the more thin and moveable Parts of the Blood are diflipated, 
and the grofs and lefs moveable remain united, whereby it becomes 
thick, earthy, fat and black, or is the atra bills of the Ancients; hin- 
ders and confounds Circulation, the feveral Secretions and Excretions, 
efpecially in the Spleen, Liver, Mefentery, Inteftines and Pancreas, and 
all the other Vifcera of the lower Belly, as is the Cafe of all hypochon- 
driack Perfons; then the Infufion of Green Tea, being thin and light, 
will dilute and refolve the thick, oily Parts of the Blood, foften or dilute 
its Acrimony, loofen the Veflels, and expel with a gentle Stimulus: The 
Matter lodged in the obftmded Bowels will become moveable, and may 
with Safety be gently driven our. But then it muft be drunk in a Morn- 
ing and Afternoon only, that it may not prevent Sleep, which is a 
chief Thing wanting here, and therefore muft often be procured by a 
Paragorick Draught at Night d. 
In the Stone, which is a Collodion of fome earthy Parts of the Blood, 
and a little grofs Salt cemented with a very ropy Mucillage, at the Ends 
of the fmalleft renal Arteries, in Shape of red Sand, and there gradually 
increafe by the Acceflion, Accumulation and Adhefion of other earthy 
Parts from the Blood, in the drained off Urine, till it flop up the Dud, 
and increaflng yet further, it comprefles the reft, deftroys the Ufe of 
the Kidneys, and comprefles it, here a liquid, foft, thin and falihe Diet 
of watry Drink, which may keep up the Circulation, dilute the Blood, 
lubricate, relax and expand the Veflels, and gently determine the Courfe 
of the Blood to the Kidneys, where fo much Liquor may be drained 
Good in the 
Hippo. 
In the Stone. 
d Riedlinus in his Lin, Medic. Ann. 3. 
1698. tells us of a Woman in a deplorable 
hippocondriack Diforder, who, after an 
unprofitable and tedious Courfe of all other 
Kinds of Medicines, was cured by drink- 
ing Tea and how common is it to fee 
languid Perfons exhilerated by their After- 
noon Regale of Tea ? Properties of TEA. 
off, as may wafh out, and carry off thcfe beginning earthy Concretions, 
and clear the Parts from this foreign and mifehievous Lodgment, and 
drive it down into the Ureters and Bladder, fo as to be difeharged by 
Urine. Now Green Tea drunk plentifully twice a Day, but not too 
Prong, anfwcrs all thefe valuable Intentions. We may find Abundance 
of Examples hereof among our felves, befides the Exemption of the 
Eaflern Countries from the Agonies of this Difeafe by their free Ufe of 
this Liquor. 
As Tea cleanfes and ftrengthens the Veffels, re Pores the natural Con- 
fidence of their contained Fluids, and preferves or reftores a due Circu- 
lation, wherein all the Fluids are made to pals their refpeftive Strainers, 
it is therefore a good Cordial, cheats the Heart, revives and increafes the 
Spirits, makes the Body light and lively, difpels thofe Clouds and that 
Drowfinefs which hang over a lax Fibre, a languid Circulation, and load- 
ed Veffels of the Brain, whereby the animal Spirits,. being either not fe- 
parated, or flint up in their Cell, and not propelled by the lively Pulfa- 
tions of the Arteries upon the finall Nerves, the Mufcles flag and fall 
back, are lazy and inactive. 
For the fame Reafon Green Tea is an Antidote again ft chronick Fear 
or Grief, wherein the Solids relax, and the Blood’s Motion becomes lan- 
guid, being ill prepared, and unfit to pafs the Strainers, or afford due 
Nourifliment. But to pafs from thefe Difeafes, chiefly confined to the 
Contents of the three Ventricles, let us take a Specimen of others, which 
affect the Body more univerfally. 
"When the watry Parts of the Blood return not to, nor pafs through 
the Veins, but ft agnate in the extended Veffels, or fhut up thofe which 
return the Lympha plentifully from the Cavities, and the Liquids already 
depofited in them are neither exhaled nor reforbed by the Veins, then 
are the Veffels either diftended or broken. If in the firft Cafe this Lym- 
ph a ftagnates, and is depofited over the whole Habit of the Body, it’s 
called an Anafarca, Upofarca, or Leucophlegmatia; but if this vifeid Se- 
rum be collected in any one particular Place, it has a refpedive Deno- 
mination : If in the Head, it is called liydrocephale ; if in the Forepart 
of the Neck, Bronchocele; in the Bread:, Empyema; in the Belly, an 
Afcites or Tympanites, 6ec. Here Green Tea drunk ftrong and fparingly, 
(if no Veffels are broke and difeharge their Liquor into feme Cavity) 
revives the vital Strength, promotes the Circulation of the ftagnant Lym- 
pha, quenches Thirft, forces Urine, thins and attenuates the Blood, fti- 
mulates, invigorates and fcours the Veffels, increafes Perfpiration, Circu- 
lation and Secretion, moves the collected Serum, cafts it back into the 
larger Veffels to be mix’d with the reft, and expelled at its proper Out- 
A good Cor- 
dial. 
An Antidote 
againtt the 
Effctfls of 
chronick, 
Fear. 
In Dropfies.' 58 
The Nature and 
lets. Bat if the Veil els be broke, Tea does more Mifchief than Good. 
In the Gout, whofe immediate Caufe is a Vitiation of the nervous 
Veflels of the Body, and of the Liquor which they contain, and where- 
with they are nourifhed; for the Solids are contracted, become narrow, 
Itift and corrugated, and the Fluids are fliarp and fizy, therefore the ex- 
tream Parts fuffer mod: here; for the Motion of the Fluids being flowed: 
in them, they redd it the mod, from the Contraction, Solidity, and 
Narrownefs of the Veflels, and the Exercife and Weight of the pricking, 
thick, fizy Liquor laid upon thofe Parts, through which it flows with 
mod Difficulty; fuch are the Teriofteum, the Nerves and Membranes of 
the Parts at greated Didance from the Heart. This Reddance of the 
Motion of the Fluids, diminiflies the Velocity of their Courfe, and the 
Evacuation of their fuperfluous and noxious Particles: Hence they be- 
come dill more defedive by their Acrimony and Vifcidity, prefs upon, 
didend, and pinch the Parts more, till the Violence of the Pain brings 
down a greater Afflux of Humours upon the pained Parts, which blunt 
the former, widen the Veflels, promote Perfpiration thro’ the Interftices 
of their Coats, and caufe a Swelling. Here Green Tea thins and fweet- 
ens the Blood, prepares its corrupted Parts for Evacuation, prevents their 
Stagnation in the narrow Cells of the afligned Places, ..redores the de- 
cayed Vigour of the Veflels, fliortens the Fir, and by a temperate Ufe of 
the Non-naturals prevent its Return. The Chinefe and who 
drink this Liquor much, are Strangers to the racking Pains of the Gout, 
Stone, and Rheumatifm, which fo frequently attack us Europeans, tho’ 
the mountainous Parts of yap an are much colder than our Climate. 
In the Scurvy c, whofe Caufe is a peccant Conditution of the Blood, 
it being too thick in one Part, and too thin, fliarp or fait in another, 
as is demondrable from the Nature, and all the Symptoms and Effects cf 
the Difeafe. And that Green Tea is an excellent Thinner of the Bloody 
has been fufficiently proved before; and that this Sharpnefs of the Blood 
is either acid, alkaline or oily, is undeniable-, and that all thefe different 
Sharpnefles of the Blood, are either the Effeds of a bad Digedion in the 
Body, or of irregular Living, or of unfuitable Food, 1 have fully proved 
in a former Difeourfe. But whatever is the Caufe of this Didcmper, 
Experience allures us, that drong Evacuations never fail to exafperate its 
In the Gout. 
In the ScuT' 
* Tea could be no great Friend to a 
fcorbutick Body, if IValdfachmid's Ac- 
count of it held true ; for he fays, Ted: 
mix’d with Milk hinders its curdling, 
call what Acid foever you pleafe into 
it. Di/puL Medic„ BV®.8V®. To try this, I 
put three Spoonfuls of Tea to four Spoon- 
fuls of new Milk, and added a Spoonful 
of Vinegar, the Milk inftantly coagula- 
ted, and threw up a hard Curd at Top, 
leaving a fine clear Liquor below it. Properties of TEA. 
Symptoms, and fometimes make it wholly incurable: Whereas, when 
we attempt the thinning the grofs Humours, re (taring Motion to the 
ftagnant, feparating the Cohefions, foftening and blunting the faline, and ren- 
dring the too thin more compad, we are in a fair Way to fuccced. Now 
a Diet of Green ‘Tea is a great Softener and Thinner of a thick Blood, as 
is evident from the Quantity of Water wherein it is infufed ; and that 
its fine attenuating, gently pungent Salts, do infenfibly prick the tender 
Fibres, and invigorate their Adion, is plain from its railing the Pulfe: 
Thus the Solids ad with greater Force over the ftagnant Juices, (which 
at the iame Time the Additions of the aqueous Particles of the Blood has 
fbftned) hereby they are moved, fliaken, propelTd, and caft into the 
larger Channels, where they are mix’d with the circulating Mats, ground 
down, and in due Time expelled together with the other excrementi- 
tious Juices; and of whatfoever kind the reigning Acrimony of the 
Blood is, the thinning of the Blood diflblves the large Combinations of 
its faline or oily Parts, fits them for Circulation, Secretion and Evacua- 
tion, provided the Patient can keep to this Diet. 
In intermitting Fevers f, which acknowledge for their Cauie a Lent or1 
or Sizynds of the Blood, together with a lax Fibre and Veftel, a Diet1 
In intermit-: 
ting Fevers. 
f De Blegny in Fehrlum Medela effca- 
ciam infigniter depradicat, 'quibus Lewen- 
hockii Febrem pariter These potu profli- 
gantis Obfervationem (Van de Eyerftock, 
p. 17.) confirmat, Ada Erudit. Vol. 7. 
p. 49. 
Dan. Crugerus, in Mi feel. Curiotf. Dec. 
2. Ann. 4li. p. 141, is dubious, whether 
an exceffive Ufe of Tea, as it palls the 
Stomach and Digeftion, may not be a fre- 
quent Caufe of tertian Fevers, faying, 
Ahieejlio hie movetur, utrum ex potu Herba 
Theae Febris h<zc orta? Putahant enim 
quidam, Ventriculi Tonum nitnis ejfe laxa- 
turn, acidum Ventriculi nitnis propter Copiam 
Aqua dilutum, unde Co Ft 10 non rite in Ten~ 
triculo hoc pituofo peradla, cruditatis prog- 
nata cf Febris conciliate ; quarn litem diri- 
mere mini; fed hoc dixi, Cerium jam ejfe 
potum Theae febrem pr a cave re non potuijfe, 
etlamji ejfetlurn debitum pros filter it. 
Neque ulli Aubtor ero, ut potu Theae largiori 
qmtidiano indulgent, qui Ventriculum habet 
pituofurn, debilem,• calidum innatum, debile. 
And certainly thus far he is in the right, 
(whatever he means by his callidum inna- 
tnm, a mere Sound, without any deter- 
minate Meaning as far as I know) that 
Pcrfons of a lax, phlegmatick, and weak 
Habit of Body, cannot bear an exceflive 
Ufe of weak, watry, tepid Liquors; but 
this is no Argument why a moderate Ufe' 
of pretty ftrong Green Tea, and Exercife 
after it, may not be very ferviceable to 
fuch Conftitutions*- fince we find it an 
agreeable Aftringent and Bitter; but we 
are fatisfy’d that whatever has a diuretick 
Force in it, whereby it may leflen the 
too great, or growing Quantity of Sero- 
fity, and ftimulate and invigorate the 
Veilcls and Solids, dilute a Sizy, and re- 
ftore a Texture to an attenuated Blood, 
mull be ferviceable in fuch a Habit ; but 
Green Tea is pofleffed of all thefe Proper- 
ties in a fenfible Manner, and therefore 
how its moderate Uie, and due Strength, 
fhould be hurtful here, is to me a Para- 
dox. And as to its occafioning intermit- 
ting Fevers, I will not anfwer for its 
Excefs ; but take we England over, and 
we fhall find that this Diftemper attacks 
ten Ale Drinkers, for one that contents 6 o 
The Nature and 
of Green 'Tea is no left pleafant than ufeful, being a Thinner of a vifcid 
Fluid, a Stimulator of a weak and diftended Veffel, and to nice and de- 
licate Palates may be a very good Succedaneum to Wormwood and Ca- 
momile Flower Infufion, which are the beiF known Specificks our Cli- 
mate affords againft this Illneft. 
In thick, cloudy, mold, foggy Weather, or in low, fenny or watry 
Countries, Green Tea, drunk pretty ftrong, is of great Service; for by 
its Roughneft and Stimulancy it draws up and encreafes the elafhck 
Power of the Fibres, which moftly in fuch Times and Places are re- 
laxed, partly from the Diminution of the Elaflicity of the Air mix’d 
with the Blood, which is in /Equilibria with the external Air, or Atmo- 
sphere, whofe Spring being broke, it takes up a larger Space in the Vcf- 
fels j partly from the Detention of the Veflels with a larger Stock of 
Juices, accumulated in the Body from the Decreafe of Perfpiration, and 
other Evacuations. This Plethora giving too great a Refiftance to the 
Veflels, they ad with left Force ; the Circulation in the fmall Veflels is 
flower, the due Mixture of the Blood by a regular Motion is prevented, 
it firft turns thinner, then its more fluid Parts being drained off, the re- 
maining muft be thick and fizy. Hence Obdrudions, Fevers continual 
and intermitting, Pleurifies, Squinzies, Rheumatick, Scorbutick or Ca- 
chedick Illneffes, &c. But here Green Tea by its watry Parts attenu- 
ates the Blood, by its Roughneft increafes the Tenfion of the Veffels, 
and by its Bitterneft reftorcs Perfpiration, and cafes Nature of fome of 
the obftruding Matter, which lies in the cuticular Strainers, and their 
fecretory Duds, and at the lame Time, it (Emulates the Kidneys and 
caufes a more copious Secretion of Urine. The fame Reafons will re- 
commend the Ufe of Tea in very warm Weather, when the Blood is 
ratified, the Veffels relaxed, and the fecretory Duds of the Skin are (hut 
up by a vifcid Mucus, which the weakened Veffels cannot propel with- 
out the Help of the cold Bath, and is therefore not an infrequent Caufe 
of inflammatory Fevers, Pleurifies, Peripneumonies, &c, 
Infedious Difeafes are either Endemick, wherein the fame Difeafe affeds 
many People from fome peculiar Caufe of the Countrey or Seafbn, or 
Epidemick, which may over-run feveral Kingdoms at the fame Time g. 
In a thick, 
moift, foggy 
Air, 
InEpidemick 
and Ende- 
mickDifeafes. 
himfelf with a moderate Dilh of Tea, 
And pafs we next to what the Ancients 
called putrid Fevers, wherein there is a 
fmall, flow, uncertain Pulfe, clear Urine, 
&c. from a general Relaxation of the ner- 
vous Syftem, and a great Vifcid ity of the 
animal Juices; 1 believe that diluting 
the Blood with fmall Green Tea, fome- 
tirnes for ordinary Drink, before gentle 
Catharticks, and ftrong Epifpafticks, might 
be more cohfonant with Theory, than the 
warm Regimen. 
E The ialine Effluvia fent off from in- 
feded Bodies, mixing with, and hanging Properties of TEA. 
The firß is often occafioned by fome Alteration of the Seafon or Air, 
herein the Humours are either too fluggifli and vifcid, or too rapid and 
ratified in both Cafes; they load the Vefiels, efpecially the Capillaries, 
and diffend them beyond their natural Tone, whereby their Reiiftancc 
is weakned, and their contained Juices become firft too watry, and then 
too fizy; and hence flow Fevers. Now whatever keeps up the Vigour 
of the Fibres and Vefiels, preferves their Refiftance in /Equilibria with 
that of the Fluids, fo as there is neither Accumulation nor Stagnation 
of them in the Vefiels; and this a daily Diet of Green 'Tea oflers very 
fair for, being both a Thinner of the Blood, and a gentle, yet powerful 
Rouzer of a fluggifli Fibre. As a pannick Fear often ftrikes the 
Minds of Men in Time of raging Epidemick Illnefles, which difpofes 
their Bodies for Infection; fb whatever prevents in a greater or lefler De- 
gree the Effeds of this Dread and Terror, muff be of Benefit to the 
Body: But that Tea is ferviceable in any chronick Fear, I have already 
(hewn, and (hall therefore fpare a Repetition here. 
Tea, if moderately drunk, and of a due Strength, is generally more 
ferviceable to the fair Sex than to Men. Becaufe Nature having framed 
them with a more lax and delicate Fibre, they are more liable to a Ple- 
thora, or Fulnefs of Juices; as alfb becaufe they are more exempted from 
Exercife and hard Labour, than which nothing braces and gives the Fi- 
bres a greater Elafticity; and becaufe they are lefs accuftomed to drinking 
of Wine; whole Aftringency corrugates the Fibres, and enables the Vef- 
Pel to ad with greater Brisknefs and Force, and fb anfwers the fame as 
moderate Labour. 
As to the Seafons of the Year, thefe are very little regarded in Refped 
of Diet, when it can conveniently be come at; but the hot Weather in 
Summer, the foggy, cloudy and moifl: Weather in Winter, and after the 
Autumnal Equinox, being Times wherein our Juices are mod liable to a 
Lent or, and our Bodies to an Abundance of Humours, from a relaxed 
State of the Solids, feem fitted for the Ufe of Green Tea, to keep our 
Juices thin, and our Fibres braced, that Circulation, Digeftion, Secretion 
and Evacuations may be regularly and duly performed. 
As to the Stages of Life, Manhood being the Noon-day of our Age, 
Accretion being then finifhed, our Vefiels and Bodies at their full Growth, 
and in their greated Vigour and Force, whereby the Digeftions and Se- 
More fuitable 
to Women 
than Men. 
; Good in very 
hot Weather. 
In what Sta- 
ges of Life 
’tis bed. 
in the Air, being received into the Bo- 
dies of the healthy, both in their Breath 
and Meat and Drink, taint the Blood, 
and produce the like Illnefs in them, ex- 
cept their Bodies are very ftrong, healthy 
and vigorous, fo as they perform all the 
Addons of Nature with Eafe, Fleafurc, 
and in due Time. How found, healthful 
Perfohs are infeded hereby, Bcerhave and 
Quincy have explained at large. The Nature and 
crctions are bed performed, Teems to want Dilators and Stimulators 
lead; therefore Childhood, Youth, and the Decline of Life, require thefe 
Things mod; bccaufe in the two fird Cafes we are the mod expofed 
to Plethora's, from the Provifion Nature makes for our Growth, Non- 
riflimenc and Evacuations-, in the lad, Circulation and Digedion are 
weaker, the Secretions groder, and Evacuations begin to lefl'en, all which 
expofe the Body to more grofs and phlegmatick Humours; but old Age 
requires a warmer Liquor than Lea, viz. Lac Senum, or a Glafs of ge- 
nerous Claret to revive and glad the Heart. 
The Conditutions to which it Teems peculiarly adapted, are the Phlcg- 
-1 matick and Melancholy, becaufe the Blood of the firft is moftly liable to 
heritors from the natural LaxneTs of their Fibres, and that of the lad, to 
an earthy Thicknefs and Grodhefs, from the Strength, Firmncfs, and Stiff- 
nefs of their Solids, which dowly but powerfully drains od the thinner 
Parts of the Blood, To as it often wants a Diluter ; and a greater Relaxcr 
we know not of than warm Water. 
As to the Strength and Quantity that fliould be drunk, all phlegma- 
! tick, corpulent, cachedick, dropfical People, with all thofe who have 
lax Stamina, whether hereditary or acquired , fliould drink it in Tmall 
Quantity, not above two or three Diflies at mod, and very drong, viz, 
about two Lea Spoonbills of Lea, for three Tmall Cups of its Infufion. 
Sanguine Perfons fliould drink it weaker, but not in too large Quantities, 
dnee they are liable to a Plethora, which expofes them to inflammatory 
Difeafes; tho’ they are in lead Danger from this of any thing they drink, 
three or four Didics is a Tuitable Dofe for them. Melancholy Tempera- 
ments may ufe it of a moderate Strength, and with more Freedom, viz. 
to four or five Diflies, feeing their Wire Fibres have Tuch Force in grind- 
ing down and expelling the finer Parts of their Juices, To as their Blood 
is always black, thick and oily. Bilious People are to exped the lead 
Profit from it of all others. I Tee nothing but Company and Fafliion 
that can prevail with them to turn it to a daily Diet, feeing their Fi- 
bres are too eladick, their Blood too (harp, and their PerTpiration too 
large; they eTpccially fliould ufe Milk or Cream in a good Quantity, not 
forgetting Bread and Butter; Lea Drinking once a Day is Tufficienc for 
healthy temperate People, viz. in the Morning: But Tuch, whole Qua- 
lity, BufineTs or Company often calls them to a generous Evening Glafs, 
or a luxurious Diet, fliould wafli the Stomach in the Afternoon, both to 
help Digedion, dilute the Chyle, and drengthen the Bowels. 
Thus far of the good Effects of Lea, from which one would be apt to 
imagine it could do no MiTchief. But daily Obfervation may Tatisfy us 
To 
Coflliitutions 
molt ufeful 
Its Strength 
and Quantity 
adapted to 
fundry Cou- 
fiitutions. 
The ill Ef- 
idts of Tea. Properties TEA. 
of the contrary: However I (hall but briefly name a few, and conclude 
this DifcouiTc, having already run out beyond my firft Deflgn. 
Such as have very fenflble and claflick Nerves, when they have drunk 
feveral Diflies of Green ‘Tea, but efpecially of Bohea, are (Sized with a 
Tremor, or (baking, which is a wavering of their Nerves betwixt their 
Tone and Laxity, being now contracted, and then relaxed; which Mo- 
tions immediately fucceeding one another, againft the Perfon’s Will, are 
the true Caufe of that Trembling, obferved in fevcral after drinking of 
Tea; for its Roughnefs and Reftringency afleding the Fibres, and cauflng 
them to contrad, the continual and regular Influx of the nervous and ar- 
terial Juices is ft opt, being fometimes abfent and fometimes prefent; for 
when the Fibres are fuddenly drawn up, the Reflftance of the Sum of 
all their Ramifications is fuperior to the Heart’s Force, or the Brains 
Propulfion of its nervous Juice; and while this Reflftance is fuperior, the 
Influx is flopp’d, but upon the Remiflion of this hidden Conrradion, 
the Fibres relax again, and the Tubes are filled, till the next Twitch gives 
them a Check again. In this Cafe, the frequent Ufe of Green Tea, 
efpecially if drunk ftrong, mu ft occaflon Impediments in the Circulation 
of Humours, and produce fundry Defects. But Bohea Tea, containing 
more narcotick Saks, as well as home aftringent Oil and Earth, throws 
the Vefleis into thofe convulfive Vibrations, betwixt the relaxing Power 
of the flrft, and the contrasting Force of the laft. 
In (harp ferous Diftillations upon the Wind-pipe or Lungs, caufing 
frequent, laborious, tickling Coughs, or in convulfive Coughs, the Ufe 
of Green Tea is imprudent; for tho’ it dilutes the tharp-Humours, yet 
it pricks the Fibres, whereby they are irritated and contraded, the Vefl- 
fels are made narrower, and more fenflble of the Acrimony of the Blood, 
and hence the Cough is exafperated. 
In all Coughs, Afthma’s, and Obftrudions of the Lungs, from a Vifl 
eidity of the juices, becaufe of the Blood’s Lent or, and the Weakncfs and 
Laxnefs of the Fibres, the Ufe of Bohea Tea is very culpable ; feeing its 
Property is to lubricate, foften and fmooth the Fibres with its oily and 
balfamick Parts; but this. Cafe calls for Detergents, Attenuators, and Sti- 
mulators, which are the Properties of Green Tea. 
In cachedick, dropfleal, and phlegmatick Cafes, Bohea Tea may add 
to the Diftempers, but can bring no Advantage to the Drinkers, who 
want a Liquor to invigorate their Solids, cleanfe and rouze their Vef* 
(els, attenuate and diminifli their Fluids by Secretion and Evacuation. 
In Obftrudions of the Liver, Spleen, Pancreas, or other Bowels, 
Bohea Tea is not to be allowed for Reafons juft now given. 
It caufes Tn- 
mors in them 
that have ve- 
ry feniible 
and elallick 
Nerves, 
Bad in (harp 
Diitiliations. 
In Obftrudfj-; 
ons of the 
Lungs from 
a Vifcidity of 
the Juices. 
In dropfical 
and cachc- 
eftiek Habits; 
In O Who fel- 
ons of the 
Liver, or* The Nature and 
n from*" 
long Fever.r. 
The Ufe of Green Tea is no lefs unadvifeable upon Recovery from 
long and continued Fevers, which have wafted the Body, and Shatter’d 
the Constitution-, for here a reiterative nourishing and balfamick Diet is 
indicated, and not Detergents, which, where they have no Mucus to 
cover them, diminish and wear the VeSTels, which the Fever had worn 
out before. 
Where the Stomach is very weak, fenfible and delicate, either from 
a conftant Drain of Humours, which, by their lying in the fecretory 
Duds, are become Sharp, and So prick the Stomach that its fomewhat 
inflamed, or by the Abrafion of its mucous Coat, whereby its nervous 
Coat is expoSed to the Touch of its Contents; or from the over Deli- 
cacy and Senfibility of the Nerves, and their Turgefcence with nervous 
Juice, the USe of Green Tea is hurtful; for by its Roughnefs, it Stimu- 
lates the nervous Coat, and caufes the Stomach to contract and throw up 
its Contents. 
In too great 
ofSthebllity 
mach. " 
ItcaufesCho- 
licks, 
In fome fine Constitutions, where either the mucous Coat of the Bow- 
els is very thin, or the Ramifadion of the Nerves very many, large, or 
exceeding fenfible, Green Tea, especially if drunk flrong, pricks the ner- 
vous Coats, and raifes Cholick Pains and Gripes; but Instances of this 
kind, are rather owing to its being drunk too Strong, than to the Simple 
and moderate. USe of this Liquor. 
In the dry Gripes, a Difeafe endemick, and often fatal in hot Coun- 
tries, Green Tea, being both Stimulant and reftringent, mult be perni- 
cious; Since this Difeafe is only to be treated with tepid, relaxing, and 
lubricating Things, as Chicken Broth, Oil of fweet Almonds, and Man- 
na, or Balfam Capivi. 
Neither is it advifeable to meagre Bodies, and thin Constitutions h, for 
in this Cafe the Solids are an over-balance for the Fluids, their Perfpira- 
tion is too large in Proportion to the Aliments they take in; therefore 
whatever thins the Blood more, and fits for a quicker Filtration through 
the cuticular Strainers; or whatever by a gentle Stimulation, or brifk 
Titulation, adds to the Force and Corrugation of the Fibres, mud fub- 
Strad from the weak Refiftance of the Fluids: Now Green Tea does 
both in So high a Degree, that by an Indulgence of its frequent USe, 
its Saline Parts mufi abrade and deftroy the Sub fiance of the Ycfiels, as 
well as fubtilize the Humours, and thereby caufe an Atrophy. 
Thofe who lead an idle and fedentary Life Should either drink little 
Tea, or have it Strong, that it may, in fome Degree, compenfate their 
Dry Gripes. 
Bad to mea- 
Bodies 
Ind Per 
ions.1 C £r' 
h Herm. Nic. Grimmius, Ohf 36. took 
notice in India, that the exceffive Ufe 
of Tea threw feveral into an Atrophy and 
Diabetes, Properties of TEA. 
65 
want of Exercife, and preferve the due Motion and Fluidity of their 
Blood, which in this Cafe becomes firft watry, and then by Reft, or ex- 
ceeding flow Motion in the fmall Veflels, and the Percolation and Exha- 
lation of its finer Parts, it turns fizy, is apt to (well the Veflels, and foul 
the Glands. 
But it’s yet worfe to fuch as work hard, or ufe much and ftrong Ex- 
ercife, becaufe both thefe raife the Tone of the Solids, and prepare and 
expel the Fluids rather in too great Plenty than otherwife j thefe there- 
fore require a Liquor which elevates and nouriflies at the fame Time; 
whereas Tea, being diuretick and aftringcnt, rather increafes than dimi- 
niflies their great Wafte. 
Antonim de Heide, in Holland, obferved, that the excefllve Ufe of 
Tea had occafioned a very intenfe Coldnefs in the Stomach, and whole 
Abdomen of feveral, fo as to caufe a Shivering. To all thefe I might 
add the common and pernicious Pradice of drinking it daily with Sal 
Volatile, or Spirits of Hartfhorn, whereby the Drinkers are in Danger 
of overfilling their Blood, inducing a Cachexy, and feveral obftinare Dift 
orders. And to thefe may be applied what Cruger fays, that Tea Drin- 
kers are prefently difcoverable by their pale Countenance, and faint dis- 
colour’d Looks. • The Pradice of fome is flill more ridiculous and fur- 
prizing, who firft drink Tea to wafli their Stomachs, promote Digeftion 
and thin the Blood, and then drink Wine, Drams, or volatile Spirits, 
to raife their Spirits, or prevent their flagging with Tea. But I can- 
not fee the Force of Reafon to juftify either of thofe Pradices. 
To the more 
laborious. 66 
A N 
APPENDIX 
CONTAINING A 
DISSERTATION 
O N 
SAGE and WATER 
Surprizing to fee fo many "Europeans employed in a 
warm Enquiry into the Nature and Properties of Tea, 
and yet wholly overlook a domeftick Herb, no lefs coni- 
mon than ufeful; I mean Sage, for which the Chinefe 
formerly exchanged their admiring and preferring 
*s=ssss it as much to their own Shrub, as we do that to Sage*y 
which thus Supplanted itielf in a manner, to make Room for our Ac- 
quaintance with the Indian Leaf. It muft, doubdefs, be allowed the 
only Englijh Herb that has put in its Competition or Rivalfhip with 
this foreign Plant, and indeed feems preferable in Several medical Inten- 
tions. Orpheus, Vejlingius and JEtius, teftify from their own Experience, 
that three or four Spoonfuls of Sage Juice drunk (especially with Honey) 
in a Morning, for Several Days together, effedually hops a Small Vomit- 
ing, or Spitting of Blood: And they who have a fluking or trembling of 
their Hands, find Relief by wafhing pretty often for feveral Days, in an 
InfuSion or Decodion of Sage in Wine; And what a pleafant Draught 
Why Sage 
ought to ho 
fpoken of 
with Tea. SAGE and WATER. 
does its Pea make, mix’d with a little Lemon Juice in Fevers ? And furely 
one would think in Inflammations, where Lubrication and Relaxation 
of the Veffels, and Attenuation of the Blood is indicated, we fhould pre- 
fer Sage to C 1 ea, being lefs aftringent, and better ftored with volatile Par- 
ticles. Befides, it’s the Produd of the fame Earth, nouriffl’d in the fame 
Climate, and expofed to the fame Viciffitudes of Seafons with our felves: 
And if thefe Confiderations could not counterballancc our Prejudice from 
the Commonnefs of it; yet they fhould fo far recommend it, as to ex- 
cite our Endeavours to reftore and maintain its former Charader Abroad, 
that we might at lead continue the old Trade of bartering it for their 
Leaf. 
Sage is called Salvia a falvando, quia reddit homines incolumes & fa- 
nos. Agrippa calls it Herba facra, from the great Effeem the Ancients 
had for it. The Greeks call Pig-Sage ’EMAia-tpazigh, becaufe of theAfh- 
colour’d, dry and fcorched Deformity of its Leaves, for it naturally grows 
on dry parched Hills in hot Countries, fignifying to roll up and 
contrad, and blafting: But Pena thinks it rather deferves that 
Name, becaufe of its lingular Virtue in refforing the pined and withered 
Members of Mens Bodies. Some call it Cor falvium, reputing it an uni- 
versal Heart-cafe. Pig-Sage is alfo called Sage Royal, Small Sage, and 
Sage of Virtue. Many Perfons breakfaft on its Leaves with Bread and 
Butter in May, while they are young and tender; but when full grown, 
they gather and dry them for the Kitchen, or for Pea. The Italians 
admire this Herb fo much, that they perfuade themielves, if they eat 
Sage Leaves with a little Salt faffing, they are Proof againft all Infedion 
by poifonous Creatures, or Epidemick Difeafes, and becaufe they believe 
it poffefs’d of fo many and great Virtues, ’tis faid, 
Etymology 
of Sage. 
Cur moriatur Homo, cui Salvia crefcit in Horto? 
Late Botanifts a have multiply’d this Herb into thirty different Species, 
thirteen whereof grow in mod or all Countries of Europe, fix come from 
Crete or Candy, two from Samos, iix from the Eaf-Indies, and two are 
Natives of Spain: But three only are commonly ufed amongft us, viz. 
Broad leaf’d white Sage, broad leaf’d red Sage, and Pig-Sage, or Sage 
Royal, whofe Familiarity to every one will fave me the Trouble of giving 
their Culture, Defcription and Difference. 
Some curious Perfons having view’d Sage thro’ aMicrofcope, have ob- 
ferved its whole Surface covet’d with fmall Filaments, like the moil: de- 
The various 
Sorts of Sage. 
Microfcopi- 
cal Obferva- 
tion on Sage. 
* Tairnefori’s compleat Herbal, p. 2.  on 
licate Spider’s Webs, wherein are Multitudes of very minute Animal- 
cnla b, which feem to creep about it. 
The Conceit of Toads and other venemous Creatures flickering them- 
felves under its Leaves and Roots, tho’ more fabulous than true, yet made 
the Ancients fo careful, that they never eat it in Salads unwafhed ; for 
the fame Reafon the Italians, either plant Rue near their Sage, or put 
£^em down together in the fame Bed; hence that Verfe, 
Why Sage and 
Rue planted 
together. 
Salvia cum Rutd faciunt tihi Pocula tut a c. 
However, I think it but a neceftary Care that it fhould be wafh’d, be* 
caufe its rough hairy Leaf is a very proper Receptacle of (mall Infects, 
and a good Ned for their Eggs, which by Negligence taken into our 
Bodies may animate and hatch there. 
Ambrofe Party d tells us a difrnal Story, (which probably (Lengthen- 
ed the fuperftitious Opinion of the Vulgar, coming from fo good' Au- 
thority) of two Merchants, near the City of Pholoufe, who- walking in 
the Garden, till Dinner was ready, gathered fome Sage Leaves, put them 
into their Wine unwafti’d, and drank it; they were prefently after feiz’d 
with a Vertigo, loft their Sight, fainted, vomited, were convulfed, their 
Tongues turn’d black, they had a terrifying Look, were all in a cold 
Sweat, their Bodies fwell’d, and they died. The Innkeeper with his 
Family were hurried before the Magiftrates and examined, but they 
truly and ftrenuoufty denied any Acceftion to, or ConfcioLifnefs of the 
Poifon, and faid they had all eaten of the fame Meat, and drunk of the 
lame Drink, except fome Wine, into which thefe two had put unwafti’d 
Sage Leaves: A Phyfician was call’d, and afked whether Sage Leaves 
could poifon ? He defir’d to fee the Sage, and at the Root of it he fpied 
a Hole in the Earth, into which he caufed boiling Water to be poured, 
and a whole Neft of Toads came crawling oute. 
j 
A Story of its 
harbouring 
poifonous A-1 
nimals, ; 
* MifcelL Cur. Vol, 9. Obf, 163, 
€ Schol. Salem, cap. 20. 
d Lib. zt. c. 24. 
c Granting the Truth of this Story, I 
fhould ftill be more fufpicious of the Mif- 
chief from fmall Spiders, or their Eggs on 
the Leaves, than Toads at the Root: Eor, 
1. I fuppofe it univerfally granted, that 
the Poifon of Animal's is more or lefs dan- 
gerous, as the Climate is hotter or colder, 
and France enjoys a much warmer Climate 
than we, 2, Tho’ the Air be more tern- 
perate, yet Spiders arc not wholly ha ma- 
le fs here; for I knew a Surgeon, who 
fmoaking his Pipe in his own Room, a 
frnall Spider lighted on his Hand and bit 
him, the Part prefently turned red, and 
fwelhd ; he then cut it out, but his Hand 
fwell’d ftill, and was exceeding painful, 
and in half an Hour a Fever fucceeded. 
After he had.applied a Cataplafm, he went 
to Bed, and took an Alexipharmick Bo- 
lus, but the Hand continued to fwell up- 
wards j then he fet the Arm on his Elbow,. SAGE and WATER. 
I fhall be very brief on this Subjed, bccaufe. it is of a longer and more 
univerfal Acquaintance in Europe than Tea; and aifo bccaufe Franci/cm 
Paulinus has already favour’d the World with a very ufefui and elabo- 
rate Trcarife on Sage: (printed at Noremherg., 1688. in B°*) He has di- 
vided it into four Sedions, and each of thele into fundry Chapters: In 
the firft Sedion he gives us its fundry Names, Defcriptions, Differences, 
Cultures, Qualities, Preparations and Ufes. In the fecond, which he 
calls Medico-chymica, he lays open in three Parts, how it is ferviccable in 
Difcafes of the three Ventricles of the Body, viz. of the Head, Breaft, 
and Belly; and reduces his Prefcriptions of it to all Forms, as Infufions, 
Decodions, Eleduaries, Bolus’s, Pills, Powders and Draughts. In the 
third, he accounts for its great Virtues in Fevers, and external Difbrders, 
and plentifully fupplics each Chapter and Sedion with various Forms ol 
Prefcriptions, borrow’d from other Phyfidans, or built on proper Obler- 
vations. Fie fays, where Sage grows naturally in great Plenty, there 
Difcafes of the Head are moft frequent; as tho’ kind Nature had placed 
the Poifon and.its Antidote, the Dileafe and its Cure, next Door Neighr 
bouts. The laft Sedion contains its Ufes in Cookery, 
Sage, no doubt, confifts ot the fame Principles as Tea, but their Mo- 
difications, Proportions and Bulks are very different; for 1. The (mai- 
ler and loofer Parts of thorough dried and well kept Sage, feparable by 
a gentle Heat, in a quarter of an Hour’s drying before a moderate Fire, 
are in a middle Proportion betwixt thofe of Green and Bohea Tea f. 
2. Its Salt and Oil are much more fubtile and volatile g, for in their 
Tire Author's* 
Reafon for 
writing brief- 
ly on it. 
The Diffe- 
rence betwixt 
Tea and Sage. 
and flay’d up the Hand expanded to the 
Bed’s Head, and lay in that Pollute ail 
Night; the Tumor turn’d and went off 
at his Finger’s Ends,; but he was confin’d 
to his Room three or four Days after. 3. 
Microfcopes difcover many of thefe In- 
feds lodged in the Sage down. 
f Green Tea, Bohea and- Sage, all dried 
in the fame Degree of Heat, and the fame 
Space of Time, one Dram of the firft 101 l 
two Grains, a Dram of the fecond fix 
Grains, a Dram of the third four Grains. 
g One Dram of broad leaf’d red Sage, 
infufed three Weeks in two Ounces and 
a half of Spirits of Wine, fin a cold Room 
during the Froft and Snow) the, Spirits 
pour’d off, and the Sage dried, it had loft 
twenty four Grains: The Tindure was 
of a beautiful green, and very thick 3 the 
Liquor evaporated before a fmall Fire, at 
about two Feet Diftance; I had fix Grains 
of a very oily Extract, which flow’d be- 
fore the Fire; here were eighteen Grains 
of volatile Oil and Salt loft. The dried 
Leaves fmell’d very little of Sage; and 
tailed only of the Spirits; on them I pour* 
ed half a Pint of boiling Water, let it 
Hand forty eight Hours in a warm Room; 
and then poured off the Liquor, which 
fmell’d faintly of Sage, was of a deep 
brown Tindure, and wholly taftelefs. I 
dried the Leaf, and it had 101 l eleven 
Grains and a half more, z. e. it weighed 
twenty four Grains and a half; this Li* 
quor exhaled, there remained fix Grains 
of Salt and Earth, on which I poured, 
warm Water, and filter’d it twice, them 
evaporated the Humidity, and three Grains? 70 
A Dissertation on 
Extra&ion in Spirits of Wine, few or none of the Parts of Green Tea 
are loft, or fly off in evaporating the Spirits, whereas near one third of 
Sage is loft, ’tis fo volatile. 3. The Oil of Sage, ftored up in its Cel- 
lulce pinguiferce, exifts in (mailer Particles, is left attached and fixed to 
its Earth, and therefore as eafily and fully extraded by an aqueous as 
fpirituous Vehicle h. 4. Sage contains no Refin, nor fo much as a Gum 
conftituted of Mucus and fix’d Oilk 5. The Perfpiratory Duds of Sage 
of brownilla Salt remain’d, Pig Sage 
infufed at the fame Time with the other 
in Spirits, loft thirty five Grains, its Ex- 
trad weighed eight Grains; when the Spi- 
rits were poured off, its Leaves were 
crifp : This Sage infufed in boiling Wa- 
ter, the fame Quantity and Space of Time, 
then taken out and dried, weighed fcarce 
twenty two Grains. Its Salt and Earth 
left in the Water were fix Grains, the 
Salt two Grains. Thus we fee the Pig 
Sage contains more fixt Parts than red 
Sage, yet it communicates more of its Par- 
ticles to the Water ; for one Dram of red 
Sage contains eighteen Grains of volatile 
Oil and Salt, that is, near one third Part; 
but a Dram of the other only yielded fe- 
venteen Grains, tho’ it loft a Grain more 
in the Infufion than the other. And where- 
as red Sage loft only eleven Grains and a 
half in Infufion in boiling Water, Pig Sage 
loft thirteen Grains. We fee alfo that red 
Sage contains a third Part more fix’d Salt 
than the other: Hence its Colour arifes 
from the greater Subtilty of its Parts, and 
Abundance of Salt. 
h I took of broad leaf’d red and white 
Sage, and Sage royal, of each two Drams, 
put them into fundry Tea Pots, pour’d 
boiling Water on them, and let them ftand 
two Hours ; then poured off the Liquor, 
and put on more boiling Water, and re- 
peated it four or five Times, till they had 
Hood twenty feven Hours ; the red Sage 
taken out and dried, had loft thirty five 
Grains in the Infufion, the white forty 
eight Grains, Sage royal forty three. Then 
I took the Infufions of each Sort, (for I 
kept them feparate) and boiled them over 
a flow Fire, till the Water was confurned. 
From the Infufion of the red Sage, I had 
four Grains of Salt, and about eighteen of 
Earth; the Infufion of the white left nine- 
teen Grains of Earth and Salt; tho’ but 
about one and a half of the laft. Pig Sage 
left nineteen Grains of Earth and Salt j 
when feparated, there remain’d two Grains 
and a half of Salt, fo exceeding penetra- 
ting, that it was next to corrofive, but 
would not ferment with acid Spirits: Af- 
ter the Phlegm was exhaled from the Salt 
and Earth of thefe Infiifions, much Oil re- 
mained, which made the reft exceeding 
tough, and almoft infeparable, and of a 
blue red Colour. I took thefe two 
hundred and twenty nine Grains of Sage 
Leaves, which had been infufed and dried, 
and boil’d them in a Pint and quarter of 
Water, till three Parts were confirmed; 
then pour’d it off, and boiled the fame 
Leaves again in as much frefh Water as 
before; this laft had neither Colour, 
Tafte, nor Smell of Sage; then I took it 
out and dried it, and it had loft forty 
Grains more; I fet the Liquor of thefe 
Decodions on the Fire, till the Phlegm 
and Oil were exhaled, and there remained 
nine Grains of Earth and Salt, three and 
a half of which was a reddifh brown 
Salt. 
1 I took one Scruple (i. e. twentv 
Grains) of this Sage, which had been firft 
infufed; then boiled, and put into one 
Ounce of redified Spirits, and fet it forty 
eight Hours before the Fire; it was fcarce 
"greenifh, but rather white and muddy; 
then I poured off the Spirits and exhaled 
them, and there remained three Grains of 
a yellow coarfe Dull, or Mucus the 
Leaves dried had loft three Grains and a SAGE and WATER. 
are larger, and give Exit to a more free and copious Perfpiration of its 
Parts. Hence, i. Tea abounds more with a fix’d Oil than Sage; there- 
half; fo that ten Times and a half three 
and a half, is about thirty fix and a half, 
which taken from two hundred and twenty 
nine, one hundred and ninety two Grains 
and a half remain; which is all that re- 
mained of the three hundred and fixty 
Grains firft put to Infufion. Now it is 
plain from this Mucus, that the Infufion 
and DecoClion had extracted all the Oil 
from the Sage, which enter’d not into the 
Conftitution of its Fibres, /. e. all the 
Oil laid up in its pinguiferous Tubes or 
Bladders. This proves that Sage has no 
Refin, nor indeed any fuch fix’d Oil as 
conftitutes a Gum. After Infufion the 
Leaves fmell’d ftrong of Sage, but not 
after DecoClion. I burnt thefe one hun- 
dred ninety two Grains and a half of Sage 
to white Afhes, which weighed ten Grains, 
then pour’d warm Water on them, and 
evaporated the Water, a little white Mu- 
cus remained, but not a Grain of Salt; fo 
that the Water had diflblved, and extract- 
ed its faline Principles. 
To try the Difference betwixt a hot 
and cold Infufion of Sage, in Spirits, I 
put two Scruples of it into two Ounces 
of rectified Spirits, and fet them before 
the Fire thirteen Days, then pour’d off 
the Liquor on a Saucer, and exhal’d it 
before the Fire, there remained fix Grains 
and a half of a fetid oily Extract, the 
Leaf dried and weighed had loft ten 
Grains. ' I infufed this half Dram of the 
dried Leaves in half a Pint of boiling Wa- 
ter twenty four Hours; it tinCtur d it of 
a very deep brown Colour: The Leaf taken 
out and dried, and weighed again, had loft 
eight Grains more. Thus we fee that the 
Sage, which flood five Weeks in the cold 
Infufion in Spirits, loft more than in the 
hot. Laftly, To fee the EffeCts of 
Sage Tea upon the Blood, I took three 
Saucers, and pour’d upon each of them 
two Ounces of Blood, to the firft of 
which I put two Spoonfuls of Pig Sage 
Tea ; to the fecond, two Spoonfuls of the 
broad leafed white ; and to the third, two 
Spoonfuls of broad leafed red Sage Tea, 
and fet them all Night in a cold Win- 
dow ; next Morning, the firft had about 
half a Spoonful of Serum on its Surface, 
v/hich was cover’d with a very thin Pel- 
licle ; the Liquor was black below the 
Serum, and red at Bottom; the fecond 
was thicker, blacker, had a ftronger Pel- 
licle at Top, and lefs Serum ; the third 
had a thinner Pellicle, more Serum, and 
not fo black, nor of fo ftiff a Confiftence. 
Two Spoonfuls of Green Tea, to two 
Ounces of Blood, made the laft much 
thinner and redder than any of thefe : 
Becaufe Sage had communicated its whole 
Oil to this ftrong Tea, and Oil thickens 
extravafated Blood. Next I divided 
two Drams of a Mufcle of a back Loin 
of Beef, into four Parts, their Length 
was five Inches; one I put into a Spoon- 
ful of Green Tea, another into a Spoonful 
of Pig Sage Tea, a third into a Spoonful 
of white, and a fourth into a Spoonful 
of broad leafed red Sage Tea, and let them 
ftand forty eight Hours; that in the Green 
Tea was fhrunk up moft, viz. half an 
Inch, but ftretched out two eighths of an 
Inch more ; this Tea was turned of a 
whitifh brown Colour; that in the Pig 
Sage Tea had fhrunk up five eighths of an 
Inch, being only four, three eighths ; and 
ftretched to four, feven eighths and a half. 
That in the white Sage Tea was drawn up 
a quarter of an Inch, and ftretched to five 
Inches ; that in the red Sage Tea was 
only fhrunk to four, feven eighths, and 
ftretched to five Inches and one eighth : 
The whole when taken out, weighed 
ten Scruples and fixteen Grains, having 
gained four Scruples and fixteen Grains,, 
which imbibed Liquor had expanded the 
Vefl'els, lengthened their Diameters, and 
fhortened their Fibres. The Tindures 
made by Copperas, Galls, and Spirit of 
Hartfhorn, but efpecially the firft upon 
Sage Tea, do ajfo fhew, that this Plant A Dissertation on 
Tore it (lands out the Winter Golds and Storms, when the other mud 
knguifli. 2. Sage requires more Nouridiment than Tea, becaufe it per- 
fpires more. 3. Therefore Tea is lefs Aromatick in its Leaf, but of a 
more fragrant and agreeable Tade in Infufion. 4. Becaufe the Oil and 
Earth of Tea, are more clofely united and coherent, therefore ’tis a 
greater Adringcnt. 5. But Sage, containing much Spirit and volatile 
Parts, therefore this is a more immediate Invigorater of the Nerves, and 
■fends a larger Supply into their imperceptible Tubes; but Tea, confid- 
ing of more fix’d and folid Parts, gives a more durable Strength and 
Eladicity to the Fibres; folid Particles enduring a dronger and longer 
Attrition before they be abraded, than light porous Corpufcles. 
There are not only feveral very notable Differences betwixt Tea and 
Sage, but there is fome Variation amongd the fundry Kinds of Sage, as 
you may (ee in the marginal Notes. 
The grateful, aromatick Smell and Tade of Sage, difeover at once its 
' aromatick and penetrating Parts, which make it ufeful in all nervous 
Diforders, as Palfies, Convulfions, fleepy Difeafes, uterine Alfedions, or 
any Relaxation and Obdrudions of the efpecially where they 
proceed from a Thicknefs of the Blood, or its Vifddity, which make the 
Circulation fluggifli in the Vedels of the Meninges and Brain, didend 
their Fibres, and fo caufe Pain or Dulnefs. Here the Parts of Sage be- 
ing readily commifcible with the Blood, and carried with it into the 
Brain, accelerate its Motion, didolve its grofs or fizy Subdance, invigo- 
rate the Vedels, and fo preferve or redore the Separation, and equal Di- 
dribution of the animal Spirits. Flcnce Rulandus wonderfully extols its 
Infufion in Wine, and with this one Medicine declares he has cured 
many Epilepticks. He makes Sage one Ingredient in his excellent fti- 
mulatory Powder in deepy Difeafes ; fo is it in Tauvrfs fneezing Pow- 
ders for Ulcers of the Nofe, whether Venereal or other: And of Sage 
Sage a Cepha 
lick and Ner- 
vous Plant. 
contains much finer and fubtiler Parts 
than Tea ; for as Copperas turns one blue, 
fo it makes the other of a blackifh Green 
Colour, becaufe the different extracted 
Particles, which fwim in Tea, having lar- 
ger Surfaces, they refrad, incurvate or 
change the Determination of the Rays of 
Light, for the greateft Refrangibility of 
Rays appears blue. This is further evi- 
dent from Spirits of Hartfhorn turning 
Sage Tea with Copperas of a dark red, 
and the Cup walkings of a Purple, here 
the Rays being lefs-refracted, change the 
-Colour .to a reddifh Caft. It.’s alfo plain 
from Sage Tea with Copperas depofiting 
a lefs Sediment than Bokea: Now, be- 
caufe the Parts difengaged and extracted 
from Tea by warm Water, are very mi- 
nute, (yet not fo fmall as to afford a Spi- 
rit) therefore they ex id more univerfally 
in the Liquor, and being opake Particles 
they give the greater Refradion to the 
Rays; But the’ the Particles drawn oft' 
from Sage be really fmaller, and in greater 
Divifions, yet are they fo minute, that 
they refract the Rays lefs. For a fuller 
Analyfis of Sage, you may confult Mr. 
Bourdeline. SAGE and WATER. 
Juice he makes a flrrong vulnerary Errhinc, which at the fame Time 
drains off much Serofity by the falival Glands. And that excellent pra- 
ctical Phyfician Riverius prefcribes it very profufely in mod Difeafes of 
the Head, and in all Forms, as Powders, Decodions, Infufions, Opiates, 
Errhines, Sternutatories, Gargles, Fumigations, Clylters, Fomentations, 
Cucupha’s, Ointments, Liniments, &c. 
Take we Alexipharmicks in that ftrict Senfe, wherein they are laid to 
prevent the Mifchiefs occafioned by the Bites of poifbnous Animals, 
then Lenicerus fays, Sage Wine, or a Decoction of Sage in Wine expels 
all poifonous Infedion, and alfb that of venemous Beads, if the Deco£Jion 
be drunk, and the Wound walked with it. Antonins Mizaldus prefers 
the Application of its frelli Leaves to the Wound: Diofcorides prefcribes 
Sage as an Antidote againftlthe Poifon of the Sea Scorpion, and Sea 
Parfnip, & contra Murencz iffium. Gefnerus and Mgineba order Sage 
Wine, or Sage in Wine, to prevent Mifchiefs from the Sea-Dragon, & 
ad Morfum Muris. And Petrus Aponenfis propofes it again It the 
Fumes of Mercury. But thefe Gentlemen having left us unapprized of 
the Nature and Way of ading, both of thefe Poilbns and their Anti- 
dote, we are excufable if we have Recourfe to other Preservatives, whole 
Mechanifm we are better acquainted with; for it’s neceflary that he 
who prefcribes an Antidote, fhould know whether the Poifon ads, I. By 
relaxing the Solids, and ratifying the Fluids, as Opiates: Or, a. By 
cauling a violent Contradion and Convullion of the Lungs, (befides its 
other Mifchiefs) as Arfenick: Or, 3. By coagulating the Liquids, which 
all ftrong Acids do: Or, 4. By deftroying the very Texture and Sub- 
ftancp of the Veffels and Fibres, as Mercurius fublimatus corrofivus: Or, 
5. Whether it ads by all the laft three: Or, 6. By a particular Alteration 
of the Texture of the Mals of Blood, as in a Hydrophyhia, and Epidc- 
mick Difeafes: Or, laftly, by infpiring mineral Perfumes, or a thin 
watry Vapour loaded with fuch Particles, as, when united together, do 
compofe folid and heavy Maffes, will expel the Air out of the Lungs, 
and llraiten the Paffage of the Blood Yeflds, by their too great Gravity, 
and hop the Circulation of the Blood, as is the Cafe with the Animals 
let down into the Italian Grotta de Cani. 
As Sage aboundeth with Oil, it relaxes and dilates the renal Velfels. 
2. The warm Water wherein it is infufed, divides and dilutes the Blood. 
3. Its Salts ftimulate the Coats of the Yeflels, and make the Blood move 
more briskly: Hence Sage obtains a very confiderable Place in the Clafs 
of Diureticks, and as fuch is ferviceable where Serofities of the Blood 
abound, as in a Cachexy, Sluggiflmefs of the Spirits, beginning Dropfy, 
and in Obllruclions of the Vifcera of the lower Belly, viz. of the Liver, 
\n Alexi- 
pharmick. 
A Diuretick. 74 
on 
Spleen, Pancreas, Mefentery, Kidneys, Uterus, &c. And in Collections of 
Matter in the Bread:, or falling and fettling of Defluxions upon the 
Joints in a Jaundice, &c. 
Sage affording a fpongy, light, and porous Earth (efpecially if taken 
in Subflance) (heaths the Afperities of (harp, corrofive Humours, and 
dries np fuperfluous Humidity, it’s therefore a good Sweetner of the 
Blood, or Abforbent. 
Having large Store of volatile Parts, they invigorate the Fibres, and 
ratify our Juices; hence is the Blood put into a brisker Motion, which 
difengagcs its Particles more from one another, (the warm Water where- 
in the Sage is infufed, diluting the Juices at the fame Time) and enables 
or fits them to pafs the Skin more cafily, and in larger Quantity: But 
if the different Attractions of the Blood be diminifhed, i. e. if its Parti- 
cles happen to be lefs attached or united to one another, or if it abound 
with a greater Proportion of Serofity, than can eafily pafs the milliary 
Glands and excretory Duds, thefe volatile Parts will caufe not only a free 
and brisk Perfpiration, but Sweating; the warm Water relaxing the Pores, 
while the fubtile Parts fufe the Blood, and titulate the Veflels; but if 
the Skin be not difpofed to relieve the Body of this Matter, then it is 
carried to the Kidneys, and proves diuretick: And of how great Service 
the preferving or reftoring a due Perfpiration or neceflary Diaphorefis 
is, our own Experience and daily Obfervation on others, may fufficiently 
(atisfy us. The Want of this often caufes Colds, Coughs, Confump- 
tions, Fevers, intermittent, continual, malignant and peftilential; Inflam- 
mations, bilious Loofenefles and Vomitings, Cholicks, Gout, Rheuma- 
tifm, and feveral other Difeafes both acute and chronick. But Sage 
being a Promoter of Secretion and Excretion, both by the Skin and Kid- 
neys, may be juftly termed an excellent Preventer of this black Cata- 
logue of Diftempers. 
Sage being thus Diuretick, Diaphoretick, and Sudorifick, thereby ex- 
pelling the fuperfluous Serofities, and alfo abforbent, in drying up fome 
Humidity, and (heathing the naked acrid Particles of the Blood, that 
they aCt not upon the containing Parts, it challenges the Name of a 
Reftringent, (tho’ only fuch accidentally) and fo is ufeful in Hemorrha- 
ges of Blood, occafioned from the Thinnefs and Sharpnefs of the Blood, 
and Weaknefs or Corrofion of the Veflels; and in watry Loofenef*- 
fes, &c. 
Sage Tea Infufion or DecoClion, being a thin, fine and foft Liquor, 
in which, neither acid Salts, nor acrid Oil are predominant. 2. Sage 
containing a Mucus or glutinous Earth, which is abforbent, and a bland 
Oil i die Water alfo* wherein it is infufed, being, a great Diluter, thefe 
At fo. bent. 
A Diaphore 
lick. 
An Afirin- 
J.enu 
i Vulnerary, SAGE and WATER. 
either obtund or dilTolve reigning Acids in the Blood Yeflels, whether 
conftituted of oleaginous, faline or terreftrious Particles. 3. This Infufion 
attenuating thick or grofs Particles, the Chyle and all the animal Juices 
are made better, fofter and thinner. 4. This is an equally diluting Diet, 
and alio keeps up a regular Warmth in the whole Parts. Now where 
all thefc Things concur, they remove thofe Obftrudions which prevent 
Secretion in the Toft and tender Parts of our Bodies, that is, they beget 
a free Influx of Liquids into thefe Parts, and thefe Liquids being Toft and 
glutinous (from the flne Oil and mucous Earth) find a free Paflage into 
the fmalleft Yeflels, whereby the Fibres are made capable of Extenfion 
by the Fluids ; fo as feparated Yeflels being thus extended, meet and 
unite again, and not only do they meet, but they are fo interwoven, 
braced up and ftraitned, that nothing befides Sweat and perfpirable 
Matter can pafs their Pores or Interftices, after which they become dry, 
the Vcfle’s being extended and united, the Exfudation or Efflux of their 
Fluids ceafes. Now, whatever Yegetable confifls of thefe Parts, and 
produces thefe Effeds, is a Vulnerary; but Sage, infufed in Water, or 
any thin, penetrating, diluting Liquor, being luch, is juftly term’d a 
Vulnerary, and as fuch has long, and is Bill continued the Bafis both of 
Diet-Drinks, and Ointments, by many charitably difpofed Women, and 
Countrey People, and thefe they keep as great Nojirums in the Cure of 
Wounds; but a better Acquaintance with the Yegetable Kingdom, wou’d 
provide them with many more Aftringent and Vulnerary. But though 
ftrong Aftringents may produce a Callus fooner, yet this notable Incon- 
venience often attends their Ufe in larger Wounds, cfpecially of the mem- 
braneous and nervous Parts, that the lately extended Fibres, being too 
clofely braced up, they refill the ncceflary Exhalation of the perfpirable 
Parts, which occafions a Difficulty of Motion in the Liquids about thofe 
Parts, and Perfpiration is flopp’d or diminifhed; hence when the exter- 
nal Prefl'ure of the Air is increafed, that mix’d with Blood ading with 
a greater Elafticity upon thofe ftraitned Parts, exerts its Force in the more 
indilatable Tubes, and caufes Pains; while at the fame Time the increafed 
Gravity of the Atmofphere prefles more ftrongly upon them, but chiefly 
the Application of ftrong cicatrizing Medicines, as they leave a greater 
Scar, fo they caufe more intenfe Pains before Change of Weather, in 
Frofts, and Storms of Wind, efpecially Eafterly, &c. 
Detergents are very nearly allied to Yulneraries, for thefe are not on- 
ly indued with fuch adive Principles, and fuitable Configuration of Par- 
ticles, as difpole them and the Fluids in which they are mix’d, to Mo- 
tion, and to attenuate and diflblve, if not abrade and carry along with 
them, into the larger Canals, fuch Adhefion as laid on the Infides of the 
A Determent, A Dissertation on 
/mail Veflels, and prevented their Nutrition and Invigoration, by lying” 
betwixt them, and the truly nutritive Parts of the Blood, (which being 
fmall, are always confined to the Axis of the Veflels, where the Infidcs 
are lined with any Lenfor.) But when this heritor is attenuated and fofi- 
ned, they come with a mucous, foftening, adhefive Subftance, confiding 
of a comparatively larger Surface and Flexibility of its component Parts; 
this eafily falls into ContaCt with, and cleaves to the attenuated, fofened 
Lent or, whereby both are carry’d off, and the Veilels, Wounds or Ul- 
cers are clcanfed ; after which, the adhefive Parts of the Sage (or other 
detergent Medicines) will readily dick to the Veflels and Fibres, and de- 
fend them from the Mucus of the Blood, till its frcfli Current, in the 
fmall, wounded, lacerated, or ulcerated Tubes, {apply the Place with 
good and proper Nourishment, ’till the Wade or Didance is made up, 
and the Parts healed. Now Sage is manifedly poflefs’d of thofe active 
attenuating and diflolving Particles, as we faw from the Exhalation of 
near three Parts of its Extraction in Spirits of Wine *, it alfo abounds with 
very adhefive Particles, as was (hewn from the Saponatioufnels of the 
remaining Extract, and the Plenty of Mucus which rectified Spirits drew 
from the Leaves after their Infufion and DecoCtion. ’Tis plain then Sage 
is a Detergent; and for the fame Reafons, an Ointment or Liniment of 
Sage will alfo be an external Detergent. 
Pliny fays, That Sage is both an Emmenagogick and Anti-emmena- 
gogick, Ae. it provokes obdruCted Menfes, and alfo flops their overflow- 
ing. Chefneau fays, that the great Nojlrum ufed by the Court La- 
dies in the Fluor albus, is Powder of Sage, Sarfaparilla and Balaufline- 
Flowers, of each a like Dole, two Drams every Morning for feme Days* 
Agrippa fays, where the Uterus of a Child-bearing Woman is too 
lax and cold, being loaded with flimy adhefive Humours, which pre- 
vent their Retention and Impregnation by the Semen, Sage eaten with 
Salt four Mornings together, abftaining in the mean time from the Huf- 
band, will certainly make them retentive, and remove Sterility; it alfo 
prevents threatned Abortions j therefore in Cyprus and Egypt, after a 
defolating Plague, the Women drunk Sage Juice to make them more 
fruitful, fuppofing the contagious Air had weakned their generative 
Parts. I might add many other uterine Diforders, wherein Sage has 
been, and is ftill accounted ferviceable, but Brevity and Decency oblige 
me to pafs them by ; and only enquire what is neceflary to conflitute 
a Plant an uterine, and then fee whether thefe Requifites are to be found 
in Sage. An Uterine muft firfb remove fuch ObftruChons as prevent 
the general ng of good Blood, whether thefe ObftruCtions lie in the 
Stomach, Inteflines, Mefentery or Blood Veflels. 2. It muft promote 
An Uterine the Generation of not only good, but Plenty of Blood in the Body. 3, 
It muft fometimes tend to, or promote the Rarifadion of that Blood, 
4. Where a heritor prevails in the Blood, it muft haften the Attenua- 
tion, Diftblntion and Evacuation of this Lentor or Yifcidity by the Skin 
and Kidneys chiefly, y. It muft increafe the Reflftance of the Blood 
againft the uterine Veftels, to promote their Rupture: And laftly, what- 
ever produces the laft twoEfteds, muft be of a diftblving, {Emulating, de- 
tergent, laponatious Nature. But I have already proved Sage to be a 
deobftruent, a ftimulant and detergent, of a faponatious Nature, and by 
reafon of its volatile Parrs a Rarifier of the Blood: Therefore Sage is an 
uterine, tho’ I don’t fay of the moft certain and powerful Nature. 
But why Sage (hould fometimes put a Stop to the menftrual Evacuation 
is, 1. When the Blood is too forous, and the Pores of the Skin toe 
much lock’d up, fo as the greater Load falls upon the uterine Veftels, 
which are deftitute of the Aftifbnce of Valves; here, whatever is a 
brisk Diaphorenck, attenuates the groft Serum of the Blood, and tits it 
to pafs the fecretory and excretory Paftages there, and at the fame Time 
clears thefe excretory Duds of their Mucus, and invigorates thefe final! 
Veftels for their proper Ufes, muft relieve the Machine of much inun- 
dating Serum; but Sage is demonftrably an excellent Diaphoretick: 
Therefore, z. When the Blood abounds with acrid Particles, which cor- 
rode or keep open the ruptur’d Veftels, and caufe an immoderate Dif- 
charge; whatever is an Abforbent of this acrid Humour, and a Diluter 
of the whole Mafs, muft ad the Part of an Aftringent; but Sage abound- 
ing with a mucous, gluey Earth, and a foft fine Oil is an Abforbent, and 
Sweetner of the Blood, as the Water wherein it is infufed is a Diluter; 
therefore it very well in thefe Refpeds merits the Charader of an Anti- 
emmenaeoeick. On thefe Accounts Mathiolus commends the inward 
Ufo of Sage, in all Defluxions and Diftillations of (harp Rheum on any 
Part, whether the Eyes, making them often drop involuntary briny 
Tears, or on the Glands of the Throat, Mouth or Lungs. And as 
it is detergent, it’s found often ferviccable in Difeafes of the Breaft, for its 
Juice mixt with warm Water, and drunk in a Morning and Afternoon, 
cures a Hoarfenefs: And as it is an Abforbent and Diaphoretick, Worm- 
wood and Sage taken together, in Subftance, Infufion or Decodion, 
have been frequently obferved to cure a Bloody-Flux. 
Where the Stomach is lax, weak and unfit for Digeftion, becaufe of fo 
much Slime or Phlegm, loading or palling it, Reftringents poftHs’d of vola- 
tile and tenacious Parts, which retrieve the true Tone of the Coats and Fibres, 
are ufeful, by abforbing fome of that fuperfluous Humidity, and flip ply- 
ing the Solids with freili Spirits; but Sage having thefe volatile Parts, to- 
b Abb and w Ame 
\ Stoma* 
chick.  Dissertation on 
gather with an abforbent Mucus, is a proper Stomachick, tho’ inferior 
to Green Tea in its Aftringency, yet fuperior to it in the Finenefs and 
Subtilty of Particles. 
Simon Paulus fays, He often prefcribed to Countrey People in the 
Tooth-ach, with Succefs, a Deco&ion of a handful of Sage Leaves, To- 
bacco two Drams, Barley Meal a Pugil, boiled in Vinegar of Beer, to 
gargle the Mouth with frequently. Mathiolus applauds its inward and 
outward Ufe, not only in Difeafes of the Head, from a Weakncfs of the 
Veflels, and Vifcidity of the Blood; but in arthritick Pains. A Decodtion 
of its Leaves in Wine, both for Drinking and Fomentation, is good to 
re (tore Paralytick Members; its Juice kills thole Infcdls which either get 
into, or breed in the Ears. And as it’s a great Strengthener of the 
Nerves, ’tis accounted highly (erviceable in Decays of the Memory, efpe- 
cially the Conferve of its Flowers. Its diftilled Water, incinerated Salt, 
chymical Oil, and Conferve, were formerly all kept in the Shop, but 
now the two laffc are only retained, and feldom order’d, becaufe little 
.relied on. Some old Phyficians fay of Sage, 
Schola Salen’• 
Confortat Nernoos, manuumque tremorem 
Tollit, & ejus ope Febris. acuta fugit. 
Sahia fahafrix, Naturae concihatrix. 
Explain'd, 
It comforts the Nerves, being a warm Aromatick, abounding with vo- 
latile, and fome adhefive Parts, which (Emulate and cleanfe the Veffels 
aftuate them with frefh Vigour, attenuate the Humours, and promote the 
thinning, carrying off, and difeharging of what is fizy, and loads, relaxes, 
and diminifhes the Circulation in the fmall Veflels, either of the Brain, 
or elfewhere; for the fame Reafon it’s good in Tremors: It prevents 
acute Fevers, not only by keeping up or re (fori ng the Tone of the Vel- 
Pels, but by preventing or diffolving the Cohefions of the Juices, which 
lined and pall’d their containing Tubes. Becaufe it’s fo friendly to the 
Nerves, they formerly made a Wine of it, which was .highly valu’d in 
all Difeafes of the Head, Brain and Nerves. They alfo ufed it in their 
Sauces, to excite the Appetite, promote Digeflion, warm the Stomach, 
and help it to diflodge vifeid, ftagnating Humours; and to allift its more 
powerful Operation, in nervous Diforders, they joined to it Caftor, La- 
vender, Tanfy, Primrofe and Nafturtium; and becaufe it promotes Per- 
fpiration much, they commonly laid, 
Adde Rofae Florem, minuuntq; potenter Amorem. 
I (liould now proceed to give a Colleftion of fcveral Forms of Pre- 
(criptions (whereof Sage is either the Balls, or a very confiderablc Inote- 
dient) fuited to a greater Number of Diforders, both internal and exter- SAGE and WATER. 
nal, to which the human Body is fubjeCt; but I mu ft remember, ’cis 
only an Appendix I am here propofing, and therefore, as moft agree- 
able and confonant to this Dellgn, I (hall conclude with a few of the 
Inconveniencies attending the Ufe of Sage: fat Hoffman iuftly obferves, 
r . /• 7S , • ° 'u J J ’ 
Juas etiam Qua Mates habet noxias. 
As cold Weather, foggy Air, and old Age, generally occafion Abun- 
dance of Phlegm and Sizincfs of the animal Juices, which indicate the 
Ufe of aSage, and Sage Tea, becaufe it is full of volatile Parts, ratifies. 
the Blood, is a Diaphoretick, and Reliever of the Body by a copious 
Perfpiration; fa thefe Things become Difadvantages, and either wholly 
forbid, or at leaft oblige us to a moderate Ufe of it in hot Weather, 
and alfo before, and at the Meridian of Youth; for then the Blood 
being ratified, (except made vifeid by feme Accident) whatever fupra 
Modum increafes this RarifaCtion, may either deftroy its Texture, or 
drive its diflblved globular Parts into the Lymphaticks, and fa occafion 
Inflammations and Fevers. 
The Incon- 
veniencies of 
Sage. 
Bad in hot 
Weather, be- 
fore and at 
■the Meridian 
of Youth. 
As marfhy Countries, phlegmatick Conftitutions, and lax Fibres,, re- 
quire Invigorators, Attenuaters, Diluters, and brifk Diaphoreticks, fo a 
dry Air, cholerick and fanguine Conftitutions, and a too corrugated Fi- 
bre, call for Things more emollient, abforbent and relaxing than Sage, 
or its Tea, except drunk very weak, and in a moderate Quantity with 
Lemon Juice. 
As a fluffing of the cuticular or renal Strainers, with any Slime, 
Mucus, or other grofs vifcid Subftance, indicates the Ufe of Attenuaters, 
Diluters, and Evacuators thofe Ways, fo an Excels of thofc Evacuations ( 
oblige us to ufe Thickners, Obtunders, and gentle Reftringeius, and 
therefore forbid the Ufe of Sage, or its 'Tea. 
As in long or chronick Fears, Grief, or low Spiritednefs, (wherein the 
Spirits, which fhould invigorate the Muffles, are fpent on the Organs of 
the intellectual Faculty, and the Fibres relax and fall back, the Fluids. 
alfo, through the Decay of the Refinance of the Solids, form different1 
Cohefions and Combinations, and turn fizy) the ufe of nervous, invigo- 
rating and volatile Things becomes neceffary; fo in hidden and violent 
Frights, ftrong Paffions, or great and long Exercife, which contract, and 
fbmetimes convulfe the Mufcles and Yeflels, whereby their contained 
Fluids are quickly and impetuoufly ground down, hurried forward and 
expell’d, Diluters, Emollients, flippery and anodyne Things are to be 
ufed, which take off the Corrugation, or rather Crifpation of the Fibres, 
leave fome Mucus, and foften the Fluids.; but Sage Tea, efpecially if' 
ftrong, being of a contrary Nature, is therefore unfafe, or at belt can an- 
fwer no valuable End. 
In a dry Air, 
to a chole- 
ric!?, fanguine- 
Confutation, 
and a corru- 
gated Fibre.- 
In extraordi- 
nary Evacua- 
tions, by' the 
cuticular 
Strainers. 
Infudden, vi~ 
•olent Frights, 
itrong Paffi- 
ons, and long 
Exercife.  on 
In threaten’d 
Abortions 
from a V'-etho- 
rn. 
lii threaten’d Abortions from a Plethora, no Preparations of Sage arc 
. fafe, becaufe, though it be fomething Aftringent, its ratifying the Blood 
with its volatile Parts, incrcafes this RarifaClion, and makes the Cafe 
much worfe; and may certainly produce the Effects whereof we are 
afraid. Neither is it to be milled in an cxcelllve Fluxus Menftruus from 
the Thinnels of the Blood. And Sage with Salt lam afraid will prove 
no Cure of Sterility from the fame Caule, except its Force upon the Skin 
be fuperior to its Impetus on the Uterine Veffels. 
I might mention more Gales, wherein the Ule of Sage and Sage Fea 
is unadvifeable, but flowing from the fanie Caufes, tho’ appearing in a 
different Manner, and receiving other Denominations, viz. a too great 
Thinnels, Scarcity, or Rarifadion of the Blood, a too great Expence of 
the animal Fluids, a Stiffnels, Rigidity, or too llrong Refinance of the 
Solids, whether from Diet, Watchings, Fallings, hard Labour, great Eva- 
cuations, &c. they are deducible from the former Heads. 
Water fepa- 
lates Salts or 
Spirits, from 
Oil or oily 
Bodies. 
Since no Infufions or Decodions of either TAz or Sage, are or can be 
made without Water, let us confider this a little; though I fliall not en- 
ter a Detail of its Ufes, either in the mechanical Arts, or Occafions 
of Life, nor in a chymical Light; only let me obferve, that from the 
preceding Precedes, we fee it alone can feparate Salts or Spirits from 
Oil, or oily Bodies, by attrading them to itfelf: For it diflblves all kinds 
of Salts, and incorporates them to itfelf by their being infinuated be- 
tween the void Interfaces of the Water, and repelling the Particles of 
Air which lodge there. Hence diftblve we fuch a Quantity of Salt in 
any given aqueous Body, as fills up thofe whole Interftices. Then the 
Fluid can imbibe no more, nor diftblve any more Salts, though at the 
fame Time the fame Mixture ihall diftblve Salts of another kind, their 
Particles being differently figured, and fo capable of filling up, or finding 
a Place in the Vacancy left by the former. Thus may we diftblve feve- 
ral kinds of Salts in the fame Water. 
Water ads the fame upon all faline Bodies, it being their conftituent 
Charader, that they are inflammable and diflblvable in Water. Thus 
Water may diftblve the moft folid and ponderous Bodies (Metals not 
excepted) as far as they are reducible to Salts; it alfo diflblves all fapo- 
natious Bodies, i. e. all Mixtures of Oil and alkaline Salts, and feparates 
them. Now all the Humours in our Bodies plainly tafte faline, though 
none of them are fait itfelf. 
It alfo diftblves all Gums and gummous Bodies, it being their Chara- 
der that they are diflblvable in Water. Fermentation without Water is 
impoflible, Water alone can perform all Putrefadions. The Eftervef- 
Diffolves all 
faline and 
faponatious 
Bodies. 
Diffolves 
Gums and 
gummous 
Bodies. 
The Caufe of 
all Fermenta- 
tion and Fu' 
trefa&ion. SAGE and WATER. 
fcence/ or inteftinal Motion between contrary Salts, can only be excited 
by Means of Water. But it cannot ad upon Rclin, Oil and Sulphur; 
the firft being only infpiftated, or concenter’d Oil; the fecond confifts 
of too large Particles, and thofe too much entangled by one another, 
to be difengaged by Watery nay Water repels it. Hence the Fat of 
our Bodies is not diilblved by this Vehicle, which rather Teems to con- 
tribute to the Collection of animal Oil in the adipofe Cellules: Hence 
the Reafon of that Brisknefs, Adivity and Health of the Bodies of Wa- 
ter Drinkers. Earth is the fourth Body indiffolvable by Water, as it is 
incombuftible by Fire. By Water alone we are able to dired and deter- 
mine all Degrees of Heat. 
Whatfoever Water is the moft light, pure, tranfparent, fimple, free 
from Tafte and Smell, warms and cools fooneff, has the heft Colour, \ 
and wherein Herbs and Pulfe infufe and boil fooneff, is the be ft; and] 
the Rain Water may really appear fteeft from all adventitious Mixtures, 
yet if you gather that which falls in a fultry hot Summer’s Day, after 
a loud Thunder-clap, let it ftand and fettle, you fhall find a real Salt 
flicking to the Bottom of the Yeftel, from the infinite Kinds of heteroge- 
neous Matter fwimming in this vaftly commoved Atmofphere K 
Diffolves not 
Kelin, Sul- 
phur, Oil nor 
Eaith. 
Summer Wa- 
ter loaded 
with other 
Muter. 
k Augufl 27. Being twenty five Days 
after the laft Rain, and the preceding ele- 
ven laft Days having been exceflive hot, 
I infufed one Dram of fine Green Tea in 
nine Ounces of boiling Pipe-water; let it 
ft and eighty Minutes; then pour’d off the 
Liquor, and dried the Leaves, and it had 
loft only twenty one Grains, which is 
two Grains lefs than it loft in the fame 
Pipe Water in the laft Winter’s Froft. 
Augufl 28. Being a rainy Afternoon, and 
fultry hot, I gather’d a Pint of Rain Wa- 
ter in a new, clean Tin Pan, and boil’d 
ten Ounces of it in a clofe Tea Kettle, 
pour’d it on a Dram of the fame Green 
Tea, let it ftand three Hours, then pour’d 
off the Liquor, dried the Leaf, and weigh- 
ed it, and it had loft only eleven Grains; 
from which fubftract two Grains, and on- 
ly nine remain, which is all that this Wa- 
ter had imbibed from the Tea, i. e. only 
one third Part, or near it, of what Win- 
ter Pipe Water had extracted from Green 
Tea. Then I weigh’d in Hydroftatick 
Scales the Liquor drawn oft', and it hnd 
not gain’d the hundredth Part of a Grain, 
being exadlly the fame with an equal 
Quantity of Pipe Water. Then I hoped 
to find the reft of the boiled Rain Water, 
lighter than the fame Quantity of Pipe 
Water; but upon weighing both oppofite 
to one another, there was not the lead: 
Difference. Here I was at a Lofs to 
think, what was become of the nine 
Grains that the Tea had loft in the Infu- 
fion ; then I imagined that the like Quan- 
tity of adventitious Matter contain’d in 
the Rain Water, might have penetrated 
and lodged in the Pores of the Leaves; Jb 
that the Tea\\?A imbibed near as much as 
it had given out in the Infufion, for it 
was the w'orft tailed Liquor I had ever 
found of the Sort. To be further fatif- 
fied; the next Shower, the fame Day, I 
fet the-Tin Pan dry under a very green 
Apple-tree, then weighed two Ounces of 
the Rain that dropped from the Leaves, 
and I found it two Grains heavier than 
the fame Quantity of Pipe Water. Then 81 
/f Dissertation 
Water never 
found un- 
mix’d with 
other Matter. 
Bat the Winter Rain has very little Alteration, efpecially if gather’d inc 
Froft, when the Earth’s condenfed Surface has fealed up the Exhalations. 
But take even this pure Rain Water, filtre it a hundred Times, dry the 
Cap each Time, and you fhall Rill obferve an Encrcafe of Weight from 
the Adhefion of earthy and other heterogene Particles in the Paper. 
Hence Dr. Boerhave has juft Reafon to be convinced, that no Man ever 
yet faw a Drop of pure Water. All we can promife our felves is, that 
it be free from this or that fort of Matter; but that it be wholly de- 
prived of Salt, is eternally impoflible, feeing both Earth and Air abound 
with it. 
Water is the mod penetrating of all Bodies next to Fire, and the 
hardeft to be confined: It makes its Way through all Wood, and is 
only to be retained by Glafi or Metals. Nay, by fufficient external 
Force it may even be exprefs’d through the Pores of Gold, though the 
mod compaft of all Matter in our Orb. It is Co fluid, that it confifts of 
fmaller Particles than Air it felf, for Leather or Bladders confine the laft; 
but the firfl: is perpetually ouzing through them, till the whole is fpenr. 
Our Atmofphere Bill encreafes its Gravity, as it approaches our Earth; 
and no Heat of the Sun can fo>rarifyir, as to make the fuperincumbcnt 
Pillar either equal to, or heavier than its Bafis. But the fame Sun or 
Heat ratifies the Water into fiich minute Particles, as are fpecifically 
lighter than the Air, and are drawn up into Clouds at a great Diftance. 
Hence it pafles through the Pores and Parts of Animal Bodies, where 
the Air has no Accefs ; as it moiftens and diflblvc's the glutinous Mat- 
ter hanging on the fine Fibres of the Membranes, renders them more 
pliable and diflra&ilc. Hence Water enters the Compofition of all Bo- 
dies, Animal, Vegetable and Foflils, and is again readily feparable from 
them; which cannot be faid of Fire. This Property of Water joined to 
its Smoothnefs, makes it an excellent Vehicle for the fit and eafy Convey- 
ance of the nutritious Matter of all Bodies; feeing it never plugs up the 
Pores, but leaves Room for the following Water. Tho’ Water Teems Co 
little cohefive, and feparable from other Bodies, yet it will firmly attach 
and bind together the mod folid Mafles. Water mix’d with Earth, or 
Afhes baked by a vehement Heat, produce a Veflel, indiflolvable by the 
mod intenfe Degree of Heat. Neither is Water elaflick, feeing it is in- 
capable of being reduced to a leflfer Compafs. 
Water the 
moft pene- 
tiating. 
Confifts of 
lei's Particles 
than Air. 
Separates Bo- 
dies beft. 
And cements 
moll ftrongly. 
I gather’d two Ounces of the Rain Wa- 
ter of the fccond Shower (the find having 
fufficiently wafhcd the Slate and Lead, 
from the Leaden Spout on the Houle 
Side} and it weighed half a Grain lei's 
than the.fame Quantity of Pipe Water; 
fo that the Leaves of the Apple-tree had 
increafcd the fpecifick. Gravity of the Wa- 
ter two Grains and a half. SAGE and WATER. 
83 
Hence, as to the Nature of we may be allowed thefe Corro- 
laries, 1. Its Parts are infinitely (mail. 2. Exceeding fmooth, free from 
all fonfible Afperities. 3. Moft folid. 4. Entirely Tranfparent. 5. Hard, 
Rigid, and Inflexible. 
All animal Bodies are fo contrived, that their Blood and Juices arc in 
continual Agitation, and the watry and fpirituous Parts thereof in con- 
ftant Diftipation, either by infenfible or fenfible Evacuations. Therefore 
was there a Neceflity for the Reparation of this Lofs, to prevent the 
Deftrudion of the animal Oeconomy, which in this Cafe could only be 
preferved by Drink; therefore has wife Nature abundantly fupplied us: 
with Water, which is certainly moft wholefome and agreeable to moft 
Conftitutions; and moft fuitably anfwers all the Intentions of a Potable. 
For though it nourifhes not, yet is it the beft Promoter of a healthy and 
lively Nutrition; and all other compound Drinks are only fo far whole- 
fome, as they are mix’d in fufficient Quantity with this. Nay, in Strid- 
neft and Propriety of Speech, Animals have no other Drink but Water. 
For all compound Liquors are either for Nourifhmenc, Gratification of 
Tafte, Luxury, or for fome medicinal Intentions. Ale, Wine, and Spi- 
rits, are only a Jumble of Salt, Oyl and Earth, blended with Water j 
not one nor all of which three can anfwer any one, much left all the In- 
tentions of Drink, if feparated from Water. For Salts cryftallize, be- 
come hard and dry; Earth is apt to petrify, (witneft the Stones in the 
Kidneys, Gall, Bladder, &c.) Oil coagulates our Juices, turns rancid, 
excites Thirft, prevents the Diftribution of Nourifliment in the Body, &c. 
It is only Earth that gives them Being, Form, Increafe and Continuance •, 
or in other Words, that keeps them up. Therefore Pliny ridicules the 
Humour of Mankind, which is at fuch Pains to prepare other Potables, 
fince Nature has furnifhed us with one that is far more wholefome for 
common Ufe than any we can invent. For others are either taken in- 
difcreetly, without Regard to the flindry Ages, Conftitutions, Seafons, 
Sexes, different Ways of Life, &c. or they are drank to Exceft. Thus 
far was neceftary to premife before I preceded to the following Propoft- 
tions, which contain what I have here to add on Water. 
Corollaries 
from thefe 
Properties. 
Why Drink 
necdTary to 
preferve ani- 
mal Bodies. 
Water the beft 
Drink. 
Prop. I. Water of all other Liquors que?iches Lhirjl the be ft. 
Prop- 2. Water of all other Liquors promotes a true nutritious and 
healthy Digefion beji. 
Prop. 3. This of all other Liquors bef makes up the Lofs we continue 
ally fujiam of the moifi and watry Parts of our Blood and Juices. 
Prop. 4- 'Lhe due life of this in the Touth and Manhood of healthy 
Bodies, is the beji way to attain a long and comfortable Life.  on 
In all which I confider Wafer only in a dietetick Light, 
i. Third is occasioned either from a Thicknefs, Saltnefs, or Sizynefi of 
the Blood, or the Increafe of Tome other Evacuation, which calls for, or 
drains off too much of the ferous Parts of the Blood ; or laftly, from a 
Conftridion of the Glands, or excretory Duds, of the Mouth, Throat and 
Stomach. Now Water, from the Smallnefs of its Parts, the Solidity of 
its Particles, and the due Quantity drunk, thins the grumous or fizy 
Blood, fills and expands the Veffels, (whereby together with its relaxing 
Power when warm) the fecretory Duds are opened; the adhefive Slime 
is diluted and wafh’d off; the Orifices of their fmall Divisions are un- 
locked, way is made for the Ingrcfs and Egrefs of the Fluids, whereby 
Secretions are performed, and Saliva produced, to moiften the Infide of 
the Mouth, Throat and Gullet; and all this done without leaving any Sti- 
mulus upon the Veffels, which may contrad them, fo as to leffen or 
hinder Secretion. Or if the Blood abounds with grofs Salts, which, irri- 
tating the Parts, make the Veffels draw up, or fhut up the fecretory or 
excretory Duds, and caufe an Attrition, Heat, Drynefe, or uneafy Sen- 
fation in thofe Parts; Water drinking (efpecially if its Cold be taken off) 
encreafes the Serum of the Blood, helps to diflblvc its Salts, keeps them 
at a greater Diftance, hinders their Attradion till part of them, is evacu- 
ated and fjpent, and their Quantity diminiflied. 
The Excellency of Water in thofe Intentions is confpicuous in ar- 
dent Fevers, attended with intenfe Third, Blacknefs and Drynefs of the 
Tongue, Mouth and Throat, from the Thicknefs and Incapacity of the 
Blood’s Motion in the fmall Veffels. It’s true, during the Fever, the 
Blood may be more ratified, whereby it’s fitted to get into the fmall 
Conic Veffels, which it obftruds, and overpowers the propulfive Refift- 
ance of its containing Tubes, which at the fame Time are {Emulated and 
contraded by the Salts in the Blood: In the mean time both the Fe- 
ver’s Symptoms and Danger are increafcd: Now what can be better 
fitted to both, than a Drink which thins, cools, relaxes, diffolves, and’ 
increafes the Quantity of the Juices, and promotes both Secretion and 
Excretion, which is only attained by a regular, more full and eafy Cir- 
culation of better mix’d Fluids ? And fuch a Drink is Water chiefly. 
The Truth of this is manifeft and undeniable by thofe, who have any 
Sort of Acquaintance with the fimple and fuccefsful Pradice of the An- 
cients, who lived before that Vulcan, Paracelfus, who firfb introduced 
the hot Regimen in all Fevers, which proved fatal and mifehievons, till 
the ingenuous and immortal Sydenham was fent of Heaven to check that 
Plague, and re Bore the temperate Conrfe, with the imminent Danger of 
his own Life. A late Novell ft 7 and moft invediye and fatyrical Scribler 
Why Water 
quenches 
Thirlt bdi SAGE and WATER. 
(who deferves no Name here) again ft the Ufe of Wafer, has with his 
own Pen prevented his whole Defign, by confefling it was the Pradice 
of all the Ancients, and begins with Afclepiades, who was Co-temporary 
with Pompey the Great ; then he puts it to the Vote, Drink Water or 
not: And according to his own Scrutiny and Report, the Poll ftands 
thus, Tea's 32, befides a Multitude of Pupils and others: No’s 2, and 
himfelf. But finding himfelf outvoted, and that it’s impoftible for him 
to carry his Point this, Way; he condemns and rejeds the Ancients by 
the Lump, faying, They are no Precedent for an Engliftiman, therefore 
they are of no Authority. But his Paftion falling, and being afhamed 
of this publick Affection, he flies to another Shelter; and gathers up a 
Catalogue from Englijh Writers, in what Cafes Water is good or bad, 
but imprudently and blindly concludes with a vaft Superiority in Favour 
of the firft. 
Let us next fee how improper Ale, Wine or Spirits are for this Pur- 
pofe. We often fee, that Ale is fo far from quenching Thirft, that it 
excites and increafcs it: 1. Becaufe the Vifcidities in the Liquor, being its 
lighted Parts, they will {Fill be neareft the Sides of the containing Vef- 
fels, whilft the more fluid keeps the Axis, or middle: This Vifcidity, 
efpecially in a rapid Motion of the Blood, lies between the Orifices of 
the fmall fecretory Duds, and the more moift and watry Parc of the 
Blood; whereby the Secretion of the laft will be exceedingly leftened: 
For in an accelerated Motion of the Blood, its thinner Parts will ftill be 
in the greater Veftels, where no Secretion is performed; bur the Circu- 
lation being flower in the fmall Veftels, and its Vifcidities ftill left difpofed 
to Motion, and having the greateft Time and Advantage to attrad one 
another, the greateft Bulk of them will lie in thofe fmall Veftels. Bud 
all the Secretions being performed in thofe minute Tubes, and they fu- 
ftaining the greateft Share and Load of thofe Vifcidities, which lying, 
neareft the internal Surfaces of the Veftels, and the Orifices of the fecern- 
ing Tubes, therefore Secretion muft be diminifhed; the Vifcidity ftill in- 
creafes, till there is not fufticient Saliva ftrained off to moiften and cool 
the Mouth, Throat and Stomach; and the little that is fecerned, is 
only the thinneft Parts of the Mucus, exp refs’d by the elaftick Force and 
Adion of the fmall and lefs complicated Glands, whereby the remaining. 
Juice becomes thicker, more indifpofed for Motion, obftruds the Veftels,. 
and leaves a tough, flimy Lent or on them, which can only be wafh’d oft 
by Dilution, ftrong Exercife, or hard Labour. Beficies thofe Vifci- 
dities which chiefly confift of earthy Parts, there is the Salt of the Grain 
mix’d with thofe Liquors, which ftimulates the Veftels; This Stimulation 
contrads them;, the Contraction, of their Sides (Hortens their Diameters; 
Why Ale,. 
Wine, or spi- 
rits quench 
not Thirft, A Dissertation on 
makes them narrower and lefs; whereby they act with a more forcible 
Refidance againft their contained Fluid; drive the Yifcidity and Salts 
further on into narrower Paffagcs; drain off the thinner Parts, and 
leave the thicker, whether Earth or Salt, in the excretory Orifices, which 
hinder the Secretion of Saliva, 3. The Contraction of the Yeflels, and 
rapid Motion of the Blood, haften off its thinner and more feparable 
Parts by Perforation and Urine, but the groffer not being fo eafily at- 
tenuated and fitted for Difcharge, continues in the Blood; and fo much 
longer, by how much the purer Phlegm which fhould dilute it, is diffi- 
pated and fpent; hence a Diminution of Secretion, and Increafe of 
Third. 
Wine is alfb far fhort of Wafer in our prefent Intention, viz. quench- 
ing Third. For the fubtile and volatile Spirits of the Grape prefently 
infinuate themfelves into the Nerves, inflate and invigorate them; and 
all the Solids of the Body being only Sprigs of Nerves, mud likewife be 
invigorated and endued with a greater Eladicity and Force; whereby 
they will ad with a greater Strength over the Fluids, and encreafe their 
Motion. But thefe Spirits being the fmalled, fined, and mod feparable 
Parts of the Liquor, they will make their Efcape fird, and leave the 
Phlegm, grofs Salt, and Oil of the Liquor, an inadive vapid Mafs, en- 
creafmg the Blood’s Quantity and Confidence. Hence the like Evils or 
Inconveniencies will follow, as we mentioned from the Ufe of Ale, It is 
true, good Wines have lefs Yifcidity, grofs Oil and Earth in them. But 
that is not to the prefent Purpofe, when I am confidering whether Wine 
or Water quench Third bed. 
Brandy and Spirits are dill more undatable to this Intention, becaufe 
if of a right Standard, nine Parts of them fhould be Spirit to feven of 
Phlegm; and I have fhewed that thefe Spirits are readily didipared, and 
in their Diffipation cannot quench but encreafe Third, becaufe as they 
are excerned by the Glands, they not only exhale themfelves, but carry 
along with them that little Phlegm wherein they were entangled, and 
leave the Parts dry and parched. Befides, by their coagulating the Blood, 
and thickening the Juices, they increafe Third. Their minute Salts at 
the fame Time pricking and corrugating the Veffels. It is true, there 
arc a few Cafes wherein Brandy or Rum is preferable to Water, viz. either 
in a Dropfy, when other Fluids drunk in any Quantity encreafe the Di- 
ftemper, and haden Death; or when a Man is very hot and thirdy, 
then a Dram comes feafonably before a Draught of Water; for warm- 
ing the Stomach, it prevents the hidden Contraction of its Yeflels, and 
their Retention of the more grumous and fizy Blood; which without 
this Precaution would produce feveral Mifchiefs, which frequently hap- SAGE and WATER. 
pen in hot Countries, where the fatal dry Gripes are Epidemick. We 
have too many Inffances at home, where Water drinking, in this Cafe, 
occafions Coughs, Adhma’s, Phthyfis, Obffrudions and Ulcerations of 
the Lungs or Liver, or caff the Perfon into a Fever. But x. Spirits are 
not drunk here to quench Third, but to prevent the Mifchiefs of a 
fudden Shock and Contradion of the YefTels from the Water. 2. Thefe 
Things are not the Fault of the Water, but of the Perfon’s unfeafbnable 
and excefFive Ufe of it; but if Water drunk tepid and fparingly could 
be comply’d with, it would certainly quench the Third better, and with 
more Safety. It is true, the Brandy or Rum is alfo fomewhat Diuretick, 
and hadens the Expulfion of fome of the fuperfluous Fluids in the Body. 
Thus I have proved Water to be a better Quencher of Third, than 
either Ale, Wine or Spirits. E. D. 
Prop. 2. Another Intention indicating the Necedity of Drink is, to 
ajfiji Digeftion, as a Diluter of Food on the Stomach. Although other 
Drinks be Fluids, yet being mix’d with Water, they are dill more fluid, 
i. e. their grofler Particles are feparated at a greater Didance from one 
another. 
How Water 
promotes Di- 
geltion. 
That a Diluter may become a Promoter of a free and full Digedion, it 
mud have thefe Qualifications. 1. It muff confiff of the fmalled Parti- 
cles of any Potable. 2. Thefe Particles muff be feparated from one an- 
other with the moff Eafe and leaff Force, i. e. their Particles muff be of 
fuch a Figure, as that they may adf with the fmalleft Attradion, and 
have the leaff Cohefion, and of all Figures, chat of a Globular, has the 
Preference; becaufe fuch have the fmalleft Contads; and the attradive 
Force of Bodies is ffill in Proportion to the Largenefs of the Points 
whereon they touch, and the Quantity of Matter they contain. 3. That 
its Particles be capable of a ready and cafy Interpofition, or Penetration 
into the Food on the Stomach. 4. That it conffringe not, nor harden 
the Food wherewith it’s mix’d. 
The Proper- 
ties of a DF 
luter. 
Now Water is podefs’d of all thofe Conditions in the mod eminent 
and excellent Manner beyond all other Fluids. Let us now fee how 
Water does interpofe, mix with, and dilute the Food on the Stomach; 
and this it does, i. By the mufcular Motion, and Adion of the Stomach, 
Midriff, and Mufcles of the lower Belly, toiling, preffmg and grinding 
the Food on the Stomach, by which it’s impell’d into its folid Parts. 
2. By the Heat of the Stomach and adjacent Parts, warming and rati- 
fying the Drink, whereby its Parts become (mailer,, and more feparable, 
and are more eafily forced into, and made to pierce our Aliments. 3. By 
the Rarifadion and Expanfion of the Air, mix’d with the Food when 
warm’d: It fwells, takes up more Space, makes the Food more porous, 
How Water 
mixes with 
the Food in. 
the Stomachs 88 
Dissertation on 
and the ratify’d Water enters with greater Eafe, and in more Plenty; 
fo that Water has all the Requisites of a Diiuter. It is of a very fluid 
and Separable Nature, eafily difpofed to Motion, it is ratified by the Sto- 
mach’s Heat; thefe contribute to its ready Mixture with, and powerful 
Penetration of the Food; after both which it hill retains its Fluidity: 
By thefe it not only promotes Digeftion on the Stomach, but in the 
Bowels and Body. For, 
i. By the Motion of the voluntary Mufcles this thin Chyle, diluted 
with Water, is eafily and fully forced into the Mouths of the Lacfeals. 
2. A Small Force being great when impreSs’d upon a Liquid of the final- 
left and moft feparable Parts; the Witer dilutes any mucous Matter 
which may ftick to the Infides of the delicate, thin, flexible Tubes, and 
the finall Solid Particles of the Food fweep it away when diluted, till it 
is caft into the thoracic Drift, Subclavian Vein, Heart and Lungs; where 
it is feparated, divided, rendered more Fluid, fit for Motion, Circulation 
and Secretion, without caufing Obftruftions in the longer, more con- 
torted and finall Veflcls. 3. By this Fluidity of the Chyle, its FineneSs 
and DifpoSition to ready Motion, the Velocity of this Motion in the 
Body is accelerated, there being noThicknefs, GroflTneSs, nor Cohesion in 
the Blood, to procure a Remora or Stop, nor much SluggiShneSs requi- 
ring any great Force to overcome its ReSiftance. 
Water not only promotes Digeftion as a Diiuter, but as an Attenua- 
tor of a groSs, thick and fizy Mafs of Blood In the Body, by insinuating 
or intruding itfelf into the Pores, and within the Actraftion of the Mole- 
cules, or unhealthy Combinations of our Juices, and dividing and fepara- 
ting their grefs Parts, thinning their thick and earthy, fitting them to 
pals the finall Tubes, and to be caft back into the larger VeSTels, mixt 
with the Blood, and evacuated by their proper Outlets: On this Ac- 
count Water may be termed an Evacuator, which leftens the Tendency 
of the earthy, faline, or mucous Parts of the Blood to Cohefioii; or 
remove Such a Tendency where it’s beginning, the Veflels being ftill vi- 
gorous, and exerting their full ReSiftance. 
Let us now enquire, how Stronger Vehicles anSwer the Defign of Di- 
geftion by Dilution ;• Wine, it’s true, is a Diiuter; but, at the Same Time 
it’s a Stimulator. Its Pungency arifes firft from its fubtle Salt and Oil, 
which is its Spirit. 2. From its fixt Salt or Tartar, which continues 
longer in the Body, than the Spirits; gives a longer and more powerful 
Stimulus. Now as- Wine Stimulates and contrafts the Fibres of the Sto- 
mach, fo its Stipticity prevents the fpeedy and eafy Attenuation, Sepa- 
ration and Dilution of the Meat there. 3. Although the Spirits of 
Ale, Wine, Beer and Brandy, may eafily penetrate the Parts of our 
Advantage i f 
a we 1 diluted 
Chyle. 
How Water 
attenuate?. 
Whether 
Wronger Li- 
quors be pro 
Jjtx Diluters. SAGE and WATER. 
Food, yet promote they not, but retard Digeftion, their Particles hav- 
ing a very ftrong attradive Force; whereby, when they have infmuated 
themfelves into the Subftance of our Food, they bring its Parts nearer 
to one another, thicken inftead of ratifying, harden inftead of diffolving 
it. This may be eafily proved at pleafure. Let any two Perfons of 
equal Health, Appetite and Digeftion, dine upon Goofe, Duck, Venifon 
or Salmon, and each eat equal Quantities; let one drink clear, fine Ta- 
ble Beer, Water, or a little Wine in his Water, and the other drink 
Claret, or ftrong Beer, or Ale; the firft (hall digeft his Dinner much 
fooner, eafier, and have finer Chyle from it, than the latter. It’s from 
this attradive Force in Spirits, that they preferve animal and vegetable 
Bodies fo long from Putrcfadion. 
Whatever Digeftion is performed by the Aftiftance of Wine, Ale, 
ftrong Beer or Brandy, is entirely owing to their watry Parts, and not, 
I. To their Oils; for that begets Coagulations and Stagnations of the 
Blood, palls the Stomach, relaxes its Force, weakens its Fibres, renders 
its Orifices lax and glib, fo as Meat paft'es the Pylorus crude, and fcarce 
half digefted; hence a ropy, thick and indigefted Chyle. Nor, 2. Is it 
owing to the Salt or Tartar; for thofe, when feparated from the Water 
and Oil, cryftallize, dilute not, but ftimulate. Nor, 3. Is it owing to 
the Earth; for that, when ftript of its Moifture, is a thick, fblid, in- 
adive Mals. Therefore it muft only be the Water in thefe Liquors which 
dilutes and furthers Digeftibn. It’s true, a Mixture of feline Principles 
with the Water, makes it dilute more forcibly: But' then confider firft, 
that all Stimulants exert or ftir up Nature above herfelf; they excite in 
the Fibres, a Force fuperior to their ordinary Courfe of Adion, or the 
natural Exertion of their Strength; but this weakens and wears out 
their Springs fo much fooner. When the Stimulation ceafes, they relax, 
fall back, are languid and feint. To rouze up therefore and maintain 
this preternatural Vigour, we are neceftitated to continue the Courfe of 
ftimulating Liquors, to facilitate and perfed each Digeftion: When this 
ridiculous Method commences in Youth, Brandy will be too weak a 
Dram in Manhood, and redified Spirits will be but cold Stuff in the 
Decline of Life. As for old Age, he needs not be felicitous to provide 
againft that, except for a Coffin, a Stone or Turf. Whereas (mailer, 
more weak or watry Potables, tiled in the Morning and Meridian of 
Life, renders a moderate Glals of Wine, the cheriffing and acceptable 
Milk of old Age, which preferves the Lamp of Lite burning, as plea- 
fencly and comfortably, as we are then to exped. But, 
idly, The more to ftrengthen our Argument, let us confider what is 
neceflary to make up the Nature of Stimulants. And, 1. They muft be 
The Reqni- 
fires of Sti- 
muhnss.  on 
fe thin and fine, as to be capable of pafling the Cavities of the Vcffels, 
and fixing themfelves in the Surfaces of the lefler Yeflels, z. They 
mu ft be poffcis’d of fiich a Degree of Acrimony, as they may be able 
to clear a Paflage to, and feat themfelves in the Parts. 3. Tho’ the Par- 
ticles of thofe acrid Bodies be minute and fine, yet muft they be fe 
large, as to have feme extra-eminent Part; otherwife the Fibre and 
Yeffel would not be affeded by it; and to have a fixt adhefive Part 
without any Extra-eminence is the Property of Food only. And if 
acrid Particles have not Points to be darted into the Surfaces of the 
Channels, they would only be of the Nature of the globular Parts of 
the Blood, which never give any Uneafineis. 4. Thcfe pointed Parti- 
cles muff adhere with fiich Tenacity, as they may be fix’d for feme 
Time in the Parts. 
To the Pungency and Acrimony of Wine and Spirits, I might add 
the Tenacity and Glueinefs of the earthy Parts of ftrong Ale or Beer; 
which render them {fill worfe Diluters than Wine. Therefore it’s plain, 
that Water, fine Table Beer, or a little Wine mix’d with Water, are 
the bed, mod (afe and wholefome Diluters, and by far the fitted to 
promote the Digedion of Meat on the Stomach: Which is what I un- 
dertook to prove in the fecond Propofition. 
But to come more home, let us apply what we have faid of the fird, 
to the fecond and third Concodions or Digedions. Another Intention 
of Drink is, to promote the Comminution and Didribution of our folid 
Food, that it may be converted into the wholefome Nourifhment of our 
Body. But that we may have feme competent Knowledge of this, let 
us briefly confider, I. The Nature of our nutritive Juices, z. The Man- 
ner of Nutrition. 3. What Liquors will bed and mod probably anfwer 
this End. 
For the fird: Although the Chyle do fill the larger VeflTels, yet it can- 
not repair the Wade of the Solids, being too grofs, crude and unpre- 
pared v but when broken, altered, ratified, mix’d, fubtiliz’d, and fitted 
to pais the fmall Yeflels, by the Force of the Air in- the Lungs, and that 
in the Blood, and the repeated A6fs and Shocks of the mufcular Parts 
of the Body, till it be reduced to a fubtile Liquid of the Nature of the 
nervous Juice, or Serum, which is infipid, white, tenacious, and thickens 
by the Heat of the Fire, Spirit of Wine, or even an increafed Heat and 
Agitation of the Humours in a living Body, which exprefs its Oil, and 
retain its Salt, whereby it becomes (harp and unfit for Nutrition; and 
therefore if the Body be continued in good Plight, this formerly ufeful 
(but now hurtful) Liquid, mnft be fent off by the Skin and Kidneys: 
And then there is a treble Neceffity of new, fmooth, fefc, balfamick 
Water alfo 
beft promotes 
the fecond 
and third Di- 
geftions and 
Nutrition. 
The Nature 
of nutritive 
Juices. SAGE and WATER, 
Chyle; I. To blunt the Sharpnefs of the Salts of the remaining Stock 
of Chyle, z. To repair the Defed of Chyle in the Body; and 3. To 
re (tore the Abrafion and Wade of the Yodels; which both the Want 
and Sharpnefs of the other had occafioned. This nutritious Serum put 
over a Fire, firft thickens, then turns (harp, and laftly exhales, and leaves 
only an infipid, light, fine and pure Earth behind. The fame does the 
lymphatick Juice. It is of flow Motion in the Body, of a thin, penetra- 
ting, unduous and vifcid Nature, of a finooth and infipid Taftc, of a 
clear and whitifli Colour, and exifts univerfally over the whole Body: 
Perhaps alfo there is fome Nutrition in the capillary arterial Tubes; for 
1. The Chyle is neither too crude there, nor the Blood too thick, fee- 
ing it is capable of entering, and pafling along thole (mailer and finer 
conic VefTels. z. It has a flow Motion, Hides gently along the Veflels, 
contains fine enough Parts, and has fufficicnt Time to be applied to the 
internal Surfaces of the containing Tubes, which are Requifltes eflential 
to Nutrition. 3. This Blood has in it thofe very nutritive Principles, 
and the Conditions necefl'ary to Nutrition, and dilates the Veflels, Co as 
their Inequalities appear, and parts of a flmilar Nature to thofe abraded 
being prefent, and ready in the circulating Mafs, have an Opportunity 
of Attachment and Cementation to the Interftices, where the Motion 
and Adion of the Fluids had abraded and carried off the Particles, and 
cad them into the Mafs of circulating Fluids, to be expelled the Body. 
Nutrition is performed in fbme fuch manner as this: Thele Juices thus 
attenuated and prepared, are forced forward into conic and elaftic 
Tubes, i, e. from a broader into a narrower Channel, which refifts their 
Ingrefs and Motion: There the Humour endeavours to extend and di- 
late its Sides, whereby the nutritive Particles in a flow Motion, have the 
Advantage of an eafy Appofition and Application to thofe Parts of the 
internal Surfaces which are moft wafted, thineft and unequal: The 
Adion of the Veflels at the fame Time promotes the Adhefion, and firm 
Cementation of the new attached Particles to their Sides, where the} 
are fixed till the conftant Propulfions and Collifions wear them oft' again 3 
then they leave fome fmall Interftices in thofe Parts, where they adhered 
to the Veflels, and conftituted a Part of them; and this Lofs of the 
Subftance of the Veflels will ftill happen, in all Parts of the Body, du- 
ring Life ; i e. whilft the Motion of our Fluids, or Adion of our Solids 
remain; or the mutual Opposition of our Solids and Fluids againft: one 
another continues; and the more ftrong and durable thefe are, the more 
Lofs do we fuftain. But even thefe abraded or loft Particles are thrown 
back into a Liquor, which carries in it Abundance of fuch (mall Parts 
of the Nature of thofe now abraded and loft, but had been applied tc 
The Neceffi- 
ty of new 
Chyle. 
How Nutri- 
tion is per- 
form’d.  Dissertation on 
thofe very Interfaces, and with the like Force, whereby the Liquor en- 
deavours to break the VefTel; this Force fits and attaches thofe hopp’d 
Particles in thofe Cavities where they grow together as the former, and 
become a Part of the VefTel; and fo what was loft, is eafily and infen- 
fibly reftored, and the Solids ftill nouriflied and preferved, and will be 
fo while the Matter, Preparation, and Apportion thereof with the Force 
of Motion is the feme. 
What Drink- 
ables belt for 
Nutrition. 
Let us now enquire what Drinkables are bed, or fitted for this Pur- 
pose, and thefe we imagine can neither be: i. Such as contain much 
Vifcidity, or grofs unattenuated earthy Parcs, which increafe the Bulk of 
the Body in the whole Habit, but make not this Addition to the Solids 
but only extend their Cavities, and fill them with congeded and ftag- 
nating Humours, which really weaken indead of ftrengthening them. 
True Nutrition drengthens and thickens the VefiTels, without adding Bulk 
or Load to the Body; but the other Repletion extends, relaxes, and 
weakens the Ved'els; for wherever there is true healthy Nourifhment, 
the Food is diluted with a thin, fine, very feparable, and lefs attrafting 
vifcid, or cohering Liquor, the Chyle is well prepared, its different 
Principles are kept without the Bounds of unhealthy Combinations, in 
a moving State, whereby, when the Blood equally attenuated and duly 
mix’d, by the repeated Actions of the Lungs, Mufcles and Veffels, is 
brought to the excretory Dufts of the lad, without thofe Cohefions - 
and there the nutritive Parts being difengaged, fwimming at Liberty in 
a pure, well conditioned Vehicle, neither the Attraction of other fimilar 
earthy Pans is fuperior to the Motion of the Blood, nor to that Force 
wherewith they are applied, and fixed to the Sides of the Tubes; nor 
arc they accompanied with, or entangled in a Slime, lying betwixt them 
and the Interdiccs, to which they are to be attach’d. 
But here there is a Vifcidity in the Liquors whereby their earthy Parrs 
attraft one another, and their Oil is grofs; this being the State of the 
Liquors they mud communicate the fame Taint to the Blood, which in- 
ch fpofes it for a brisk, equal an . healthy Motion, by which Vifcidity and 
languid Motion, (both favouring Formations of fundry Molecules when 
thrown into the fmall Ved'els where the Motion is diminidied dill more) 
the fird will dill be neared the Sides of the Tubes; and the more fine 
and (wherein is the larged Share of the nutritive Particles) will 
keep in the Axis. Hence little Nutrition. But thefe Vifcidkies encrea- 
fing, they will dill didend, relax, and weaken the Veffel, whence a, Re- 
pletion, and little Nutrition or Increafe of Strength : For the nutritive 
Particles being kept from the Sides of the Vcdels by the Mucus which 
lines them, they will be ground, down dnaller by each Circulation, till SAGE and WATER. 
they be ufclefs, and then either expell’d the Body, or made a part of that 
Mucus, being entangled in it. This is the Cafe of thofe who make 
ftrong Malt Liquors, ftrong bodied Wines, or made Wines, their com- 
mon Beverage; and at the fame Time ufe little Exercife: But Water 
drunk affords the moft liberal and beft Diftribution of Nourishment, be- 
gets the moft true Strength, and leaft unneceftary Load of Repletion: 
It’s true, i. Table or fmall Beer well made, fermented, and kept till ir 
be clear, fine, and depofited its grofs earthy Parts, is much of the Nature 
of Water; it’s a!fo more agreeable to the Tafte, more pungent to the 
Glands of the Mouth and Throat, and gently warms and ftimulates the 
Stomach. Though Ale or ftrong Beer have the above Effects on the 
rich, luxurious, idle and indolent, yet it’s in fome meafure both Meat 
and good Drink to the laborious, healthy, and moiling Mechanick (pro- 
vided it be drank feafonably and moderately, nothing in the Conftitution 
or Health forbidding it:) Its Vifcidities are by his great Labour, Force 
and Aftion, turned to his Nourifhment; but the firft cannot long in- 
dulge the Ufe of this Liquor, and enjoy his Health at the fame Time. 
2dly, Neither are fuch Liquors as abound with Tartar, or naked Salts,, 
(which give a Stimulus to the fenfiblc Parts of the Body) the beft for 
common Drink: I. Becaufe they excite a greater attradive Force in the- 
different Parts of the Blood, which hinders the full Attenuation and 
Mixture of the nutritive Parts with the whole Mafs. 2. Becaufe they f 
give a Pungency to the Veftels, which fhortens their Diameters ; Co as 
the fmall Veftels admit lefs Blood into their Cavities, their Surfaces and 
Interftices are not fully dilated and expofed to the circulating Hu- 
mours, Co as their Wafte may be repaired. 3. The Nourifhment which 
they carry into the Body, is not durable enough; they elevate the Spi- 
rits a fhort Time, but quickly exhaling, they leave the Man faint and 
drooping; to rake oft' which,, he is obliged to repeat his Glafs, till it 
become habitual to- him; and can as foon ceafe to live, as to be with- 
out it: Then indeed Life is very uncomfortable, if not a Burden. 4. 
All acid or ftale Drinks are prejudicial to found Bodies, feeing they ab- 
rade and wafte the fmall Veftels; coagulate the Juices by their Pun- 
gency, beget a falfe Appetite, opprefs the Body rather than nourifh ir, 
and contract alfo the fmall Veftels; hence many and dangerous Difeafes. 
But to lax and weak Habits, to the idle, ftudious and valetudinary, the 
Tartar and pungent Salt of the Grafs, is doubtleft of fingular Service, 
feeing Male Liquors caufe Obftruftions, Water a Relaxation, and Spirits 
the Defttucaoii of the whole Machine. But even here, Wine requires 
a Mixture of Water 10 prevent Indigeftion, Gout, Stone, Gravel, &c. A Dissertation on 
Thus as I confidered Ale in the laft Paragraph as Food, Co do I Wine 
(except thin and fine) as a Medicine in this. 
Laftly, In this Preparation and Diftribution of the Chyle, all fpiritu- 
ous Liquors are improper, for their fubtile Parts confift only of Oil and 
Salt, neither of which nourifli; but the Salts being volatile, exhale fpee- 
dily; part of the Oil (being incorporated with that in our Body) con- 
tinues, which turning rancid thickens the Blood *, the earthy Parts are 
moftly too heavy to be brought over the Helm in Diftillation: Their 
Salts contrad and crifp the folid Parts of our Nourifliment, prevent their 
due Digeftion and Diftribution, ftimulate and corrugate the Veftels, fo 
as their Interftices (which are many, from the Solidity, Adion and Abra- 
fion of the Salts) appear not, nor lie in the way of the nutritive Par- 
ticles. Their more Ipirituous or volatile Parts in their Exhalation, made 
way for much of the watry Parts of the Blood to follow, and leave the 
reft thicker and more difpofed to Coagulations. Therefore Water, or 
fine Table Beer, being of the moft thin, feparable or finall Parts, and 
carrying the leaft Oil, Salt, flimy Earth or attradive Spirits into the 
Blood to load the Veftels, or lie between their Sides and the nutritive 
Particles, are bell for Comminution and Diftribution of our Food, pro- 
moting true Nourishment, Health and Strength. E. D. 
The fourth Intention of Drink is, to fupply the conjiant Wajle of the 
moif and watry Fart of the Blood and Juices, which are its thinned 
Parts, wherewith the Salts are mixed; which make it more ponderous. 
The Advantage of a due Fluidity of the Blood muft be obvious to all, 
who know any Thing of the Nature of animal Bodies. For hereupon 
depend Circulation, Secretion, Nutrition and Evacuations, Health, Life, 
and Ufefulnefs; for neither its too great Thicknefs nor DifTolution can 
long be attended with the three lad. Now what Drinks are mod pro- 
per to preferve this healthy State of our Juices, will readily appear from 
this: All fpirituous Liquors drunk too frequently (much more were they 
turn’d to common Drink) thicken the Blood, difpofe it to Coagulations 
and Stagnations. All vinous Liquors, drunk for ordinary, though they 
{Lengthen the Fibres, partly by {applying them with a fmall temporary 
Nourifliment, but chiefly by {Emulating them, yet they caufe fundry 
Combinations, Cohefions, and fotnetimes Concretions in the narrow Ca- 
nals, by overloading the Juices with faline, tartarous, or other acrimo- 
nious Parts (except prevented by Labour or Exercife.) Hence Gravel, 
Stone,' Gout, arthritick Pains, Difeafes of the Head, &c. All fermented 
ftrong Liquors made of Grain (if drunk often and in large Quantities) 
carry into the Blood much coarler, tenacious, earthy Matter, grofs Salts 
and Oil, which render the Blood vifeid, indifpofe it for Motion, inca- 
How lira pie 
Liquors (ap- 
ply the Wafte 
of the watry 
Parts of the 
Blood. SAGE and WATER. 
pable to pa(s the Strainers without fouling the Glands, and afford but (mall 
Secretion. 
It is true, too great a Diftblution of the Blood is alfo dangerous, but 
this is moftly the Effed either of Idlencfs, or an indifereet and exceffivc 
Ufe of volatile alkaline Spirits or Salts, as of Sal Armoniac, Hartfliorn, 
Sal volatile, &c. or too much Freedom with Cordials, as Saffron, di- 
ftill’d Cordial Waters; or an exceffxve Ufe of weak Tea drunk with Saf- 
fron, Sal volatile, &:c. which have ruined many a good Conftitution, 
among the fair Sex efpecially. Therefore fuch Liquors as confift of the 
leaft Parts, without hidden Exhalation or Rarefaction of the Blood, and 
of Particles (e parable with the fmallcft external Force, difpofed to a ready 
Motion, and have the leaft Tafte of Vifddity, earthy, (aline, or other 
heterogene Parts, is the fitted to (upply the Confumption of the wacry 
Parts of our Blood; and fuch is Water, &c. E. D. 
In the laft Place, whatfoever Drinks preferve the Motion of the Blood, 
in the moft eafy, natural, fleddy, and even Manner, greatly contribute 
to the prolonging of humane Life. But all fpirituous, vinous, and ftrong 
fermented Liquors, (Emulate the Yeflels of the Drinker, accelerate the 
Motion of the Blood, fometimes even to a Rapidity. Therefore, al- 
though Intemperance were exempted from all Accidents, though it 
fliould never occafion either acute or chronic Difeafes, yet it fhortens 
Mens Days, as it (Emulates the Yeffels, miles the Motion and Yelocity 
of the Blood; for though it is impoflible to preferve humane Life with*- 
out Circulation, yet the more accelerated the Motion of the Blood is, 
old Age and Death ftcal on (b much the fooner, and the Years to which 
any Man might attain by Temperance, will be in Proportion to the 
Quicknefs of his Pulfe ; for while a Man’s Body grows, the Force where- 
with the Fleart impells the Blood into the Yeffels, is fuperior to their 
Refiftance, and when the impelling Force of the one, and the Refiftance 
of the other, are equal, he continues at a Stand; but as the Yeffels be- 
come thicker, more compact and folid; then they get the Advantage of 
the Heart’s Force, till from its Rigidity it become very weak, fcarce able 
to expel its Contents, the Yeffels alfo become more inflexible, till their 
Refiftance quite overpowers the Heart; hence the quicker the PuKe 
beats, the fooner do the Veflels become ftiff and inflexible: Thus, al- 
lowing 70 Years for the Age of a Man, or A, and 60, or B, PuKes in 
a Minute ; let C be the Number of PuKes of a healthy Perfbn in a 
Year; then C B A, = 2209032000, the Number of Pulfes in his whole 
yo Years. But if any Man by drinking fpirituous Liquors immode- 
rately, raifes the Circulation to fuch a Rapidity, as may caufe 75 or D 
How fimple 
Liquors tend 
to long. Life. C B A 
Pulfcs in a Minute, then 56, is the Number of Years wherein 
fuch a Man will run out the fame Number of Pulfes. Thus his Pot and 
Companion (hall bring him 14 Years (boner to his Grave, than tire 
temperate Man. But (mall Potables, not quickening the Wheels of the 
Machine, not contracting or (listening the Veffels, nor“ unavoidably ha- 
ftening the Termination of Life, are the bed to preferve an eafy, fteddy, 
natural and even Motion of the Blood, and condquently are the bed 
Liquors to prolong Life. E. D. 
What I have (aid might be proved from the Health and Longevity 
of many in both ancient and late Ages, in fundry Parrs of the World, 
who have contented themfelves chiefly with Water •, fuch as the late 
CaryhianSy ApachaliteSy Canadians, Caufahians, Brajilians, Japanefe, 
the Inhabitants near Davids Streightsy the People of S'umatray Java, of 
the Mulattoes of Florida and Juculan, &c. But Iha (ten to the next 
and lad Head, viz. The Reafon why the fame Eatables or Drinkables, 
are not equally agreeable, wholfome and nutritive to all Conditutions. 
SI U I S S ERT A T 1 O N, OCC. 97 
A N 
ENQUIRY 
INTO THE 
REASONS 
Why the fame FOOD is neither equal- 
ly nor univerfally agreeable nor fer- 
viceable to all Constitutions. 
In a Letter to the Right Honourable and Truly Noble, 
MARY Lady MALT ON. 
Madam, 
HT is with the utrnod Pleafurc imaginable, that I have 
an Opportunity offered of attempting the Refolution 
of a Query to your Ladydiip: Though lam not un- 
apprized how difficult it is to anfwer one, in whom 
Nature gives the Blufh to Art; one fo well acquaint- 
ed with, and fo much Midrefs of our bed mecha- 
nical Writers. But a Defign fo ingenuous cannot fail 
to be acceptable to one who abounds with an innate Love of Candour, 
and whole whole Life and Adions are the mod convincing Proofs, and 
undeniable Indances of true Nobility, and greated Virtue, and who e- 9 8 
The Caufes of different Constitutions. 
ftccms it her higheft Ambition and greateft Glory, to relieve the Poor, 
Afflided, Pained, Miferable, and Diftreffed; who accounts a Day loft, 
wherein an Opportunity of doing Good to flich offers not it (elf; where- 
in you imitate not only the Pradice of ancient Kings and Princes, but the 
grcateft and brighteft Example that ever was in the World, who went 
about doing Good. However, if my prefent Effay come not up to my 
Defign, the World mull conclude me right in chufing fuch a Patron. 
i. The Query propofed affords another Confideration to be exa- 
mined hrft, and that is, What are the Caufes of the Variety of humane 
Confutations, the Refblution of which both implies and expreffes the 
former. 
The Defini- 
tion of a 
Conftitution. 
2. A Conftitution, or Temperament, is a particular Structure, Con- 
formation, or Elaficity of the Solids, with a peculiar Dijpoftion of the 
Bloodj whereby it falls into certain Combinations or Cohefwns more in one 
Perfo?2 than another of a different Conftitution, whether into Phlegmy 
Choler, Melancholy, dec. or it is the different Qualities of the feveral Hu- 
mours and Difpofitions of the Parts of the Body, which makes a greater 
Difference in the Degrees of Health, as well as the Difference of Ages, 
Sexes, and Non-naturals; all which make a Difference of Perfections 
in Mens Actions, and a Latitude in Refped of a healthful Difpoficion 
of Body; and yet People of all Confticutions may both be (aid and 
efteemed to be in Health, although they differ in its Degrees and Per- 
fedion of Adion. This Knowledge of the Divifion of Conftitutions is 
ncceffary to all, who in the leaft meddle with the Pradice of Phyfick, 
for it inftruds them what Difeafes are moll likely to arife in each Con- 
ffitution, thole of every one being peculiar, and therefore to be foreleen. 
And although our Predeceffors have handed us down a very dark and 
unintelligible Account of the Caufes of thofe different Temperaments, yet 
this Oiould not hinder, but excite our fedulous and rational Enquiry into 
the Reafons of this Variety, without amuling our felves with their Jar- 
gon of Elements, Cardinal and occult Qualities, &c. 
3. Temperaments were divided by the Antients into nine, *viz, four 
Simple, Hot, Cold, Moift and Dry; and four Compound, Sanguine, 
Cholerick, Phlegmatick, and Melancholy y and one Temperate, wherein 
they imagined a juft and due Proportion of all the four fir ft Elements 
of Fire, Air, Earth and Water; but if one or two of thofe Elements 
have a greater Proportion to the reft, than they reciprocally bore to 
them again, the Peifon was faid to be of that Temper. E. gr. Did 
Earth bear a greater Proportion than any of the other three Elements ? 
Then faid they, it conftitutes a Melancholy Temperament. Did Fire 
T cmpera- 
menrs, how 
divided by 
the Amientf. The Caufes of different Constitutions. 
prevail ? then he is cholerick, &c. They alio divided Conftitutions into 
thofe ad pondus, and thofe ad jufiitiam j in the fir ft there is finch a 
juft Proportion of all the Qualities which exift in different Conftitutions, 
fio as none of them exceed the other in Quantity: In the laft there is 
a Difproportion of the Humours, as to one or more Qualities, which 
yet are agreeable to, and hinder not the peculiar Adions of that Body. 
4. But we fay that Body is hot, whole Humours move brifkly, are (harp 
and dry, its Bowels firm, its Veffels ftrong and contraded. On the con- 
trary that we repute Cold, whole Solids are loofie and fiaccid, and Flu- 
ids loft and watry, move with a flow Pace, the Body liable to Tumors, 
and his Mind to Pulillanimity. That is a dry Temperament, which is 
naturally exceeding thin and meagre, whole Veftels are much contrad- 
ed, its Fluids few, and thole almoft acrid. A moift Conftiturion has a 
languid Circulation, Fibres lax and weak, Blood watry and inlipid, it 
differs little from the cold one. The cholerick is much like the 
hot and dry, it is lean, has little but firm Flelh, its Veins are prominent, 
the Pulle is quick. Sanguine People have much and fioft Flelh, their 
Veins are blue, large and diftended with well conditioned Blood 
Phlegmatick have much white and fioft Flelh, their Blood-Veffels are very 
finall and almoft imperceptible. Melancholicks are very dry, lean, 
black, and fiwarthy coloured, their Blood is thick, but well mixed, and 
not readily changed. 
5. In fianguine People the acrimonious Salts of the Blood are either 
not plentiful enough, or they are imperceptible, being entangled in ei- 
ther the earthy or fiulphureotjs Principles of the Blood ; and all oily Par- 
ticles being large, hooked into one another, full of final I Branches, they 
wrap up, enclole and entangle all the other Bodies with which they 
are mixed, and become the predominant Principles in the Blood. This 
Sulphur being fat and fiweet, muft render the whole Mafs of Blood bal- 
fiamick, fioft, fiweet and fat, by covering and fixing the (aline and earthy 
Parts of the Blood, wherein it is allifted by the Phlegm. The Temper 
of this Blood being fat, its Mafis in a natural State will afford much 
Swear, juice and Lympha, full of animal Spirits, and adapted for a 
good Plight of Body, and Nourifhment of the folid Parrs, which enables 
the Man to perform his Adions and Motions with Eafc, Speed, and Plea- 
fure. The Fatnefis, Smoothnefis, and Oylinefs of fuch Mens Blood begets 
a cheerful Countenance, engaging the Refiped of Spedators; from this 
Plenty of Oil, without any fenfible Acrimony which may ftimulate, they 
are full bodied, have a white Skin, interfperfed with a beautiful red 
Colour. From this Abundance of Juices their Pulfe is full and regular. 
What we un- 
defftand by 
;heir Hot, 
Dry, Cold, 
Hoift, e/c. 
The State of 
Solids and 
Fluids in a 
Janguine 
Conllitutiou. The Caufes of different Constitutions. 
and all the Recrements afforded therefrom are well proportioned both 
in Quantity and Quality. 
6. The Caufes of a (anguine ConfHtution are briefly, i. A greater 
Strength of the Stomach, Bowels and Mefentery, to prepare and force 
the Chyle into its Veffels, and regularly to expel the Evacuations. 2. 
The Numeroufneft and Opennefs of the Laffeals. 3. The natural' 
Strength and elaftick Force of both the ladeal Veffels and meferiack 
Glands. 4. The juft Proportion of all the Secretions over the whole 
Body to one another. 5. The placid State, and ftnooth Undulation of 
the Fibres from the Softnefs and Smothnefs of the Blood. 6. The Pre- 
valency of a fulphqreous Principle in the Blood, before the Chyle was 
mix’d with it. 7. The Freedom of Stomach and juices from much A- 
crimony, Vifcidity, Serofity, or grumous Earth. 
7. When the acrimonious Salts of the Blood are let at Liberty from 
its other Principles, efpecially from the Earth and Sulphur, and is (b di- 
luted by the Phlegm, as to feparate the Oil which entangled the other 
Bodies wherewith it was mix’d, then this acrimonious Salt is the fuperior 
Principle of the Blood, which by the Sharpnefs of its Particles, and Ve- 
locity of its Motion, and Collifions with other folid Particles exift- 
ing in the fame Fluid, it forcibly a£ts againft the Sides of the Veft'els, 
carries off Parc of them, (Emulates the Fibres, fo as here the Blood errs 
not in Quantity, but in Quality, and this Quality conftitutes the Cho- 
lerick, or hoc and dry Temper. It is hot becaufe the Circulation is 
quicker in equal Times than in the fanguine. It is dry becaufe the 
Blood has left Phlegm, Perforation being greater here. It is evident that 
Blood thus conditioned cannot afford fuch Tweet and fmooth Recrements 
as the laft, therefore the Body is not fo flefliy and fat, the PuKe more 
quick, from the elaftick Force of the Fibres carrying on a brisk Circu- 
lation. The nervous Juice drain’d off from this Blood is not fo moift 
as that feparated from the fweet oily Blood, therefore muft the animal 
Spirits of the Cholerick be exceeding fine and fubtile, endued with a- 
free Motion; and alfo the Veffels of the medullary Part of the Brain 
will be pliant. 
8. A cholerick Conftitution is occafioned by, 1. A Largeneft and Pa- 
tency of the Glands of the Liver, where much Bile is (eparated from 
the Blood, pour’d into the Bowels, and mix’d with the Chyle. 2. The 
Predomination of Acrimony in the Blood, 3. The Irritability of the 
Fibres and Solids, and their Sufceptibility of a Stimulus. 4. An Elafti- 
city and Agility of the Fibres and Solids. 5. A free Perfpiration, carry- 
ing off the more (crous Parts of the Blood. 6. A greater Difpofition of 
the Blood and fubtie Spirits to Motion, &c. 
Caufes of a 
iangnine 
Couflimtion. 
The State of 
Solids and 
Fluids in a 
cholerick 
.Temper, 
Caufes of a 
cholerick 
Temper. The Caffes of different Constitutions. 
9. Give me Leave to take Notice here, before I proceed to the other 
Conftitutions, that not only the Caufes of different Temperaments of 
Body are explicable from the different State of their Solids and Fluids, 1 
but alfo their different Tempers of Mind may in fome Meafure be ac-: 
counted for from the fame; for the Recrements of (anguine Peoples 
Blood being well proportioned both in Quality and Quantity, Tweet and 
well temper’d, the nervous Juice will be fo unctuous as to make the (mall 
Veffeis of the Cineritious, or external Part of the Brain very pliant, that 
the animal Spirits eafily convey to them the Impreffions made by ex- 
ternal Objects upon the internal Organs of the Senfes. Men whofe ner- 
vous Juice is Tulphureous (and therefore porous) come eafily at the 
Knowledge of fuch Things as are offered to their Mind through their 
Senfes, and their Ideas will leave an abiding Impredion thereof on the 
Medullary, or white Subftance of the Brain, which caufes a great Viva- 
city,. a retentive Memory, and a folid Judgment. For the Nature of 
their animal Spirits being fofc and fmooth, their Motion regular, neither 
rapid nor flow, their Wafte not Tpeedy, the Idea raffed by external Ob- 
jects upon fuch Organs of Senfe will neither be too fwift nor flow, bur 
make a deep and durable Impreffion, therefore the Judgment has the 
Advantage of Rumination, Reflection, and Reafoning. The Softnefs of 
the Blood, the Smoothnefs and Plenty of the nervous Juice, the pliant 
Undulation of their Spirits, muff make them pleafant, chearful and gay, 
in Love with what pleafes their Senfes, the Titulation and Gratification 
whereof are often ready to feduce them, unlefs they are under Com- 
mand of Reafon and Religion. This Pleafantnefs and Gaiety of Temper 
renders them civil and obliging' to Equals, grateful to all, and compaf- 
fionatc to the Miferable: And if to this Temper a good Education be 
added, it makes them alfo wife, learned, polite and fociable, all which 
challenge a Regard, fo as fuch Men eafily come at their Ends, or are 
fuccefsful in their Enterprizes. From the Subtility and Velocity of the 
animal Spirits of the Cholerick, the Impreffions of external Objects up- 
on their Organs of Senfe are fpeedily conveyed to the common Senfory;. 
therefore muff fuch Men have a great Penetration. But becaufe their 
Juices are difpofed to a quick Motion, they cannot reflect upon their 
Ideas with that Steddinefs that is neceffary to perceive wherein they 
agree or difagree, therefore make they wrong Judgment, and reafon 
falfely, efpecially when their Imagination and Vivacity are raffed. From 
their hafty way of thinking, the Traces of Impreffions of external Ob- 
jects made upon the Brain prove fuperficial, and are prefently defaced 
by new ones. From the Superficialnefs of thofe Impreffions, and their 
olentiful Succeffion of new Ideas, they arc ant in Converfation to riy 
How the 
> Temper of 
Body afF:6ts 
the Mind, or 
.alters it. The Cmifes of different Constitutions. 
from one Subject to another; and from Want of Attendance and Re- 
flexion upon their Ideas, fo as to form a right Judgment, they are te- 
nacious of their own Opinion. The fupcrficial Impreftion made by 
Objeds will occafion a very flippery Memory: Their Vivacity preventing 
them the Advantage of examining the Agreeablenefs or Difagreeablenefs 
of their Ideas, makes them inconftant in their Refolutions; for the fame 
Reafon are they conceited, and not to be convinced without great Dif- 
ficulty. From the Brisknefs of their Circulation warming the Body, and 
their Imagination, they are apt to be paffionate. 
From the like Reafoning might I (hew with Vicufenius, in the T’ranf- 
aßions of the Royal Academy of Sciences, why Ideas railed by external 
Objeds, in the Minds of the Phlegmatick, are languid and eafily de- 
faced j why their Judgment is feldom very penetrating, or their Memory 
retentive; why their Ideas are of fhort Continuance; why fuch Men 
are not fhaped out for brave Adions, or if they undertake them, are they 
likely to prove fuccefsful; nor why curbing their Paffions is no great 
Glory, their Conftirutions not prompting them ftrongly to the Gratifica- 
tions of Senfe and Defire; why Honefty in them is little Virtue, for 
Fear of Events frightens them from what may be of dangerous Confe- 
quence, &c. And why Ideas excited by the Prefentation of Objeds to 
the external Senfcs of the Melancholick are flowly conveyed, but make 
deep Impreflions on their Brain; and though they come not fo quickly 
at the Knowledge of Things, yet the Traces of their Ideas are too ftrong 
and deep to be quickly defaced; therefore have they Time to ruminate 
on them, and examine wherein they agree or difagree, on this Account 
have they a folid Judgment, a retentive Memory, and reafon clofely, &c. 
But this being done at more Length already, I proceed, 
io. When the Salt, Oil, and Earth in the Blood happen to be diluted 
with too great a Quantity of Water, whole Particles are fnall and pliant, 
they eafily and plentifully infinuate themfelves into the Pores of the Par- 
ticles of the other Principles, feparate and diffolve them, and fo thin 
the Blood. This is the Call: of phlegmatick Peoples Blood, who are 
therefore of a cold and moift Temper. From this Prevalency of Water 
over the other Principles this Phlegm is fo united with the fine Oil, 
and fo attenuates it, and difl'olves the Earth and Salt, that the Juices fe- 
parated from fuch a Blood mull be fat and fweer, but much more fe- 
rous than thofe of the fanguine ; therefore are phlegmatick People often 
fat, their Skin white, Countenance mild, Pulfc flow, their animal Spirits 
are too much foaked and diluted with Water, therefore are they not 
fb ftrong, adive, laborious, and indefatigable as others. 
State of Flu- 
ids and Solids 
in a Fblegma- 
lick. The Caufes of different Constitutions. 
103 
The Fluids of the Phlcgmatick bear a greater Proportion to their So- 
lids, therefore mu ft the laft ad with left.Force, their Fibres are weaker, 
and not fb firmly attach’d, and over lubricated with the redundant 
Water and Oil in the Blood; their Bowels and Veftcls are weaker, there- 
fore left able to bear much Exercife or hard Labour. 
This Redundancy of Phlegm in them is from the Inability of their 
Solids to ad: upon, refill: and feparate throughly the whole Mafs of 
Fluids, and to extricate the Principles from one another. For from the 
due and full Attenuation and Mixture of thofc arifes the red Colour of 
the Blood; and this Mixture is not attainable but by a vigorous Refin- 
ance of the Solids, at leaft equal to that of the Fluids. It is this Lax- 
nefs of the Solids, and (low weak Motion of the Fluids, which occafions 
a copious Secretion and Repofition of Oil and Serum in the adipofe 
and lymphatick Veffels; hence a grofs and bulky Habit of Body; and 
becaufe both the Fibres want a greater Stimulus, and the Nerves a rub- 
tile Juice, to raife a Brisknefs and Vivacity in the Mufcles, therefore is 
the Countenance fimple and mild: The Fibres are lax from their Idler 
Degree of Cohefion in their conftituent Parts from the much Serum in 
the Body, which {ketches and difiends the Veftels and Fibres fo as they 
touch on fmaller Points. This Plenty of warm, foft Serum leflens the 
Attradion of the conftituent Particles of the Fibres. 
11. A phiegmatick Conftitution arifes from, i. The Prevalency, or 
too great Proportion of the watry Parts of the Blood, to its other Prin- 
ciples. 2. The Laxnefs and Weakness of the Solids. 3. The finall Vef- 
fels are loaded with a warm, foftening, difiblving Serum; or Vifcidities 
furr up and obftrud their Cavities. 
12. When the terreftrious Parts of the Blood prevail over its Sulphur, 
Oil and Salt, i. e. when Earth exceeds its due Quantity in Proportion 
to the reft:, it conftiturcs a Temper cold and dry, or melancholick. 
Here the Texture of the Blood is top thick ; its recrementitious Juice of 
too denfe or thick a Confiftencc, and Ids fluid than thofe of other Con- 
fiitutions. Such Blood mud be attended with a very mufcular Body: 
For it being thick and not over-diluted with Phlegm, affords but few 
recrementitious Juices, and what it yields are not over-thin, fo as the 
Parts nouriftied by it mud have more Confidence and Vigour than thofe 
of the other Tempers; and from the greater Strength of the Solids 
they are generally more healthful; for the fame Reafon their Pulfe, tho’ 
flow, is ftrong : Their Solids bear a greater Proportion to their Fluids : 
The conftituent Particles of their Fibres are conneded more ftrongly, 
and cohere firmly, either becaufe they touch in larger Surfaces, or the 
Particles being more Amply terreftrious. attract more powerfully: Hence 
Caufes of z 
phiegmatick 
Conltitution. 
State of the 
Solids and 
Fluids in n 
F cn&pcr* i©4 
The Caufes of different Constitutions. 
they are more ftiff and rigid, better for Labour, but lefs agile and ela- 
ftick. The Strength and Rigidity of thefe Peoples Fibres arife from the 
Thicknefs, Clofencft, and good Mixture of their Blood, which is neither 
eafily altered nor changed, though Earth be the predominant Principle 
in it, and all our Solids are conftituted of Earth: Therefore its greater 
Proportion in our Juices mu ft occaflon ftrong and ftiff Solids. The 
Thicknefs, Stifthefs, and Compadnefs of this Blood, difpofe it more to 
fall down upon, and load the Vijcera of the lower Belly, and fb confti- 
tute a Temper truly and properly melancholick, heavy, penfive and flow. 
This Thicknefs of the Blood is difcoverable from an Iron-like or blackifli 
fwarthy Colour, and great Strength of the Body, from a ftrong and 
flow Pulfc: The Man’s Intentnefs upon the fame Ideas, his Gravity, 
Choice of a folitary Life, a frequent Senfe of Weight and Oppreflion of 
the abdominal Fife era, &c. 
13. The Caufes of this Conftitution are, 1. The Abundance of earthy 
Parts in the Blood, and its Thicknefs and Drynefs therefrom, x. The 
Strength and Confidence of their nervous Juice. 3. The Stifthefs and- 
Rigidity of their Fibres and Solids. 4. The Difpofition of the Blood, 
from its Thicknefs to load the Bowels of the lower Belly. 
14. Flaving thus taken a fliort and general View of the State of So- 
lids and Fluids peculiar to each Conftitution, the immediate Caufe there- 
of, with the particular Symptoms of each, and accounted for thofe 
Signs; let us next defeend to a more Arid Examination of both the 
eonftituent and accidental Parts, with the mediate Caufe of this Variety. 
* Give me Leave only to premife in general, that our very Diet (though 
little regarded) affords us fbme certain Indications and Proofs of each 
s Temperament. Thus Floney, and all ftimulant, faline, and abrading 
- Things difeover and difturb the Cholerick. An aqueous, foft, infipid, 
or vifeid Diet fwells up the Phlegmatick, and diforders it. All ftrong 
Evacuations, much Fading, or an obftinate Courfe of terreftrions Food, 
loading the abdominal Vifcera, caufing a (mall dull Pain, Weight, Op- 
prdfion, and Reftlefnefs, fliew the Body to be Melancholick. Long 
Feeding on lubricating, baKamick, very nutritious Food, with Neglect 
of Exercife, will beget feveral Difeafes in the Sanguine, from a Plethora. 
1- 15, The Solids alfo vary in their peculiar Conformation or Strudure. 
For if the Heart be larger and ftronger, and its Veft'els endued with 
a more elaftick Force in Proportion to the reft of the Body, the Blood 
muft be better mixed and attenuated, and thrown more forcibly about 
the Body, and the Heart bears a greater Proportion to the other Parrs, 
than they bear to it. This fuperior Strength in the Heart, and its Vef- 
-1 Lis, I know, helps to fecure one againft Polypus’s, and other Excref- 
Caufes of a 
melancholick 
Loniikution. 
How Diet ai 
fords us the 
Pathogno- 
monic!?: Sign 
of each Con 
Citation. 
TTow the So- 
lids vary in 
Conforma- 
tion and 
Structure. 
The Force 
of the Heart 
greater in 
fame. The Caufes of different Constitutions. 
cendes on the Infides of thofe Veflels, but at the fame Time expofes 
the Heart more to Callofities and Opification in the Decline of Life. 
16. Some People have a larger Liver, and its Veflels wider and more 
open, therefore have they a greater Quantity of Bile feparated from the 
Blood, and poured into the Duodenum, and mixed with the Chyle. Where 
the Veflels of this Vilens are ftrong and parent, the Body is lefs liable to 
obftinate Jaundices, Schirrus’s, and Obftrudions, &c. but on that Ac- 
count it is more expofed to bilious Cholicks, Gripes, Loofenefles, and 
other Difeafes produced by much Bile. 
17. Such whole Stomach and Inteflines are ftronger in Refped of the 
reft of the Body, have more, better attenuated and prepared Chyle, and 
more powerfully expelled the Inteftines: Hence the Body is better Tup- 
plied with Nouriflimenr, and left liable to Dileafes from Flatulency, Cru- 
dities, and Indigeftion, Cholicks, Gripes, but more expofed to gnaw- 
ing Pains, and Convulflons of the Parrs, when they are much irritated 
by acid Humours, &c. 
18. The Veflels and Glands of fome Peoples Kidneys are ftrong and 
more elaftick than thole of others, whereby they perform their Office 
better, and the Body is left grieved with bloody Urine, mucilaginous 
Dilcharges, or Stones and Gravel, &c. I might mention many more Dif- 
ferences of the Conformation of the different Parts in fundry Perfons, if 
it were needful. 
Bilious Secre- 
°m 
others. 
Some have 
machs'and0- 
Bowels than 
o:iiers* 
Some have 
their Kidneys 
more ftrong 
and elaftick. 
19. But the Solids differ not on this Account only, but alfo in He- 
lped of their different Tendons: For Ibme People have lax and weak 3 
Fibres and Yeffels, others have them more elaftick, agile, and difpofed, 
to Adion; others have them ftronger, but a great deal more ftiff and 
rigid, but lefs quick and adive; and fuch as the Fibres are, whether 
lax, weak, elaftick, ftiff, &c. fuch mu ft the Yeffels conftituted of them 
be. Thus a Veftel compofed of lax Fibres muft be weak, &c. that of 
ftrong Fibres ftrong, &c. 
20. A lax Fibre is that nervous Thread, whofe conftituent Particles 
attrad each other in a lower Degree, or cohere not fo firmly to each | 
other, either becaufe the cementing Power is lefs, or becaufe the com- ] 
ponent Particles touch in lefs Points. Corol. 1. Hence we fee that! 
where the Fibres are either conftantly foaked in much foftening, tapid 
Serum, fo as they have the Force of their Cement diminifhed, or where 
the conftituent Particles of a Fibre touch on leffer Surfaces, that Fibre 
muft be weak. Corol. 2. The Yeflels formed of a lax or weak Fibre 
muft likewife be lax and weak. Corol. 3. That the Mixture and Secre- 
tions of the Juices depending on the Force of the Solids, where thefe are 
weak, the other muft be impeded, and Serofities remain in great Plenty 
Peoples So- 
lids differ m 
Refpedl of 
their Ten- 
fion. 
The Defini- 
tion, Cauf'c, 
and EfFcfts 
of a lax Fi- 
bre. The Caufes of different Constitutions. 
in the Body. Corol. 4. That a lax Fibre mufl: alfo be a very dudilc one, 
and the Veflels conftituted of fiich capable of great Diftention, and Lodg- 
ment of Matter of any kind; no Wonder then to fee fuch often languifli- 
ing in Dropfies, Tumors, &c. 
21. By an elaftick Fibre I underhand that inherent Force in a Fibre,, 
whereby when it is fo bended, extended, or compreflcd, as that its con- 
ftituent Parts are lengthened out, but not difeontinued, broken or fepa- 
rated ; when this Extenfion or Compreflion ceafes, the Fibre re-aflumes, 
or fprings back to, its former State with great Velocity; this Fibre is agile, 
performs its Adions or Motions more perfcdly, eafily and fpeedily in 
equal Times; or it is a nervous Filament, which, though it be (mailer 
than the ftiff or rigid, yet have its Particles a firmer Cohefion than thofe 
of the lax. Corol. Becaufe the Tendency of its Particles to each other 
is greater, therefore will it ad with a greater, quicker, and more fen- 
fible Refiftance againft the Fluids contained in the Veflels conftituted 
of it. 
The Defini- 
tion and Ef~ 
lefts of an 
elaftick Fibre. 
The Defini- 
tion and Ef- 
n" 
22. A ftiff and rigid Fibre is that Thread, which though it ads with 
greater Strength, yet it moves with lefs Velocity, or it has a lower De- 
gree of Nifus Reftituendi; becaufe it is conftituted of more or larger 
Particles than the two former, either the Attradion of its Particles is 
ftronger, or their Cementation to one another firmer. Corel, i. Becaufe 
the Fibres are fliff, the Veflels will be lefs flexible, their Cavities narrower 
and {hotter. Corol 2. The Stiflhefs of the Fibres mufl: prevent the 
large Extenfion or Dilatation of the Veflels. Hence no Humours, or ex- 
cept fiich as are very grumous and dry, can find any Lodgment or Set- 
tlement in them; but when a Colledion of Humours fall upon a Part, 
their more fluid Parts muff be expelFd, and more earthy, thick or faline 
will remain. Therefore are Perfons of this Conftitution more liable to 
Cancers and Schirrus’s. Corol. 3. Becaufe thefe Fibres are very ftrong, 
their Juices rauft be thicker and drier; for the more ferous are powerfully 
expelfd. 4. Becaufe they ad with lefs Velocity, the Pulfe which 
depends upon their Motion mufl be flower. 
23. A Veflel is find to be lax, either, 1. When the Attachments or 
Connedion of its Fibres with one another is fiich, as may be feparated 
by a Degree of Motion, either little or no more than what is neceflary 
in a State of Health. Or, 2. When the Veflel is fo diftended and di- 
lated that the conneded Fibres are either ftretch’d beyond their Spring 
and Tone, or their Interflices fo large, as the more aqueous Parts of the 
Blood make their way through them, and over-lubricate the Fibres, fo as 
to leffen their cohefive Force. 3. When their contained Blood and Juice 
is fluggifh and inadive, from the Abundance of Fitnita mix’d with it : 
A lax Veil'd 
what. Or laftly, when they have not been exerted, and put forth on Adion, 
but laid by and become refty. 
24. A Veflel is faid to be weak, when the Fibres conftituting it are 
fuch, and it is at the fame Time duly filled with Fluids: It is reputed weak, 
when loaded with a Plethora, or Fulnefs of good conditioned Blood, 
ftretching it beyond its proper Tone; but more efpecially if thole Hu- 
mours, or that Blood be vifeid, thick, or fuch as requires great Refiftance 
from the Vefl'els, to continue it in due Motion and Mixture. 
I foe Laujes of atjj-erem kjt> ns t 1 tijtt enrar 
A weak Ve 
fel what. 
25. A Veflel is faid to be when its Fibres are endued with 
a ftronger cohefive Power, and greater Attachment in Proportion to its 
Bulk, and is capable at the fame Time to ad with a greater Velocity 
and Strength. 
26. A Veflel is taken for ftiff and rigid either when, 1. The Fluids 
running through it do preft upon and diftend its Sides, (b as the (mailer 
Vefl'els in its Coats are deprived of their Fluids, and thereby degenerate 
and grow together into an impervious Solid or Fibre, but not of the 
(impleft Kind, and will ad with a Force equal to all the Ample Fibres uni- 
ted, and dripp’d of the Reflftance of their contained Fluids. Or 2. The 
intercurrent Fluids thicken and adhere to the Sides of the Vefl'els, and 
deflroy their Cavities. 
The Reafon why a very elaftick Fibre ads with a greater Velocity, 
or in Ids than equal Times with a rigid, is, 1. The Fluids in its Nerves 
are finer. 2. The Tubes themfelvcs are more flexible. 3. The Blood 
is not (b earthy and thick. 
28. The Elaftidty of all Fibres is proportioned to their Strength, and 
their Strength is adapted, 1. To the Quantity of Matter they contain. 
2. To the Coheflon of that Matter; for where the cohefive Power is 
weak, they are capable of being readily ftretched and broken; when 
this Power is too great, they are left flexible, their conftituted Vefl'els 
more narrow and ftiort, and their Refiftance of the free Motion of the 
Fluids too great, becaule of their Tendency to come near to one an- 
other. 
29. The Caufes of lax Fibres and Vefl'els are, 1. The Alteration of our 
Food into the Nature of found Juices obftruded; and this proceeds from 
too great a Sluggiflineft of the Solids, and wafte of the more attenuated 
and thinner Fluids; or from the too much Tenacity of our Food, where- 
by it refifts and overpowers the Force of our Solids, which fliould duly 
alter, mix, and attenuate them. 2. The too (lender Coheflon of the 
conftituent Parts of the Fibres to one another, arifing from too languid 
a Motion of the Fluids, and this from a Defed of mufcular Motion. 
3. A too great pulling of the Fibre, till it is ready to feparate or break. 
An elaftick 
VdTd what. 
A rigid Vet- 
lei what. 
Why elaftic 
Fibres aft 
with greater 
Velocity thai 
the ftiff. 
Elaftidty 
how propor 
tioned. 
Caufes of a 
lax Fibre. This lax Fibre is capable of great Dilatability, even to a Prodigy *, the 
Manner whereof is no more inexplicable than the Caufes. For th© 
Blood moving llowly, the nutritious Particles have the Advantage of an 
eafy Attachment to the Sides of the Fibres or Veflels, which Particles 
being fix’d, the conftituting Particles of the Fibre Hill dilating, giving 
way, and receding from their Contad, they ftparate, and the formerly 
attached Particle having now the fame Degrees of Cohefion conies in 
betwixt the two juft now feparated, and is attraded by, and attrads both, 
and the llender Cohefion of the Particles of the Fibres, and their Weak- 
nefs in Infancy and Childhood, and their making Room for the Inter- 
pofition of new ones betwixt them, is the true and explicable Caufe of 
the Child’s Growth, as well as the Extremities of all the Veflels being 
Fluids. By this Means a Fibre may be monftroufly dilated. 
30. The Caufes of an elaftick Fibre are, 1. A too free and frequent 
Ufe of Foods confifting of ftparable and volatile Parts, or Oils and Salts, 
with forae Earth fo prepared before we take it, that it refembles the 
Juices in a ftrong and healthy Body, as Milk, Eggs, Shell-filh, rough 
Wines, &c. 2. An Increafing and Invigorating the Motions of the So- 
lids and Fluids by much bodily Exercife and maintaining a plentiful Per- 
fpiration. 3. Many acid and auftere Meats and Medicines. The Man- 
ner how acid or auftere Corpufcles become a Stimulus to our Solids is, 
when theft abound in the Blood, and it giving a Refiftance to the So- 
lids, and they mutually refilling it again in the oppofite Adions of each 
other, theft fliarp Spicula have their Points darted into the Sides of the 
Veflels, and ftparate or wound the Fibres of the conftituting Membranes. 
The Adion of faline Bodies are moft vifible and intelligible to them who 
confider the Adions and Effeds of Cantharides. But how this mi- 
IheLauJes of Constitutions. 
Caufes of an 
elaftick Fibre. 
nute wounding, or Separation of a Fibre fhould excite Pain, is only ex- 
plicable by him that underftands the Modus of the Union of our mate- 
rial and immaterial Slibftances. 
Caufes of a 
ftiff Fibre. 
31. The Caufes of a ftifF Fibre are, 1. A greater Quantity of Solids 
in Proportion to the Fluids. 2. The Blood is thicker and drier; their 
nervous Juice ftrong, and therefore neither fo fit in an Inftant, ad Nu~ 
turn to inflate the VeflTels, nor fo fufceptible, of a forcible Ex- 
pulfion with Velocity. 3, The VeflTels themfelves are narrower, their 
Diameters fhorter, and their Sides thicker j therefore muft they give a 
greater Cheek to the fpeedy Motion of the Blood and Juices. 
32. Watry and fat Fo6ds relax the Fibres, 1. From a Want of a 
due Mixture of earthy Parts to correct thole, and repair our Lois; and 
by their lubricating and moiftening too much, whereby the Fibres be- 
How watry 
xni fat Foods 
r*lax. The Caufes of different Constitutions. 
come more du&ile and cxtenflve, and lofe their Force. 3. By the Wa- 
tty Blood over-filling and ftretching the Veilels. 
33. Earthy and rough Foods ftrengthen the Fibres, 1. For they are 
made of fine earthy Particles, duly prepared and cemented together, j 
2. The earthy Aliments make the Blood drier and flronger, Co as the 
Solids are not over-moiftened and (baked in warm, watry and oily Juices. 
3. Earthy Particles are mod: blunt and obtufe, fo as their Points neither 
penetrate, pain, or tear the Sides of the Veftels, nor put the Fibres up- 
on a Conatus of Contraction, and drawing nearer to one another, to 
expel the penetrating Body. Corol. 1. Hence we fee the Reafon why 
fimple Foods are the moft healthy and ftrengthening. 2. And why a 
liberal and continued Ufe of the moft earthy Foods are not the beft 
for Attainment of Health and long Life. 3. And why the Ufe of earthy 
rough Foods anfwcr the Recovery of a weak and lax Fibre and Veffol 
fo well. 
34. Foods of Aromatick, light, feparable and volatile Parts render 
healthy Fibres elaftick, becaufe they afford much and eafily prepared 
nervous Juice to fill the Nerves, and ferve for mufcular Motion ; but are | 
not fo fit for Nutrition, becaufe Salts conftitute no real Part of our Solids, 
and the volatile Parts are foon attenuated, prepared, and fent oft' by Per- 
fpiration and Urine. Corol. 1. Hence we learn the Unfuitablenefs of 
fuch a Diet for the Cholerick, whofe Juices are already too faline, pun- 
gent, volatile and fubtile, for it dries their Fibres, and crifps them; makes 
their fmall Veftels grow up, and haftens old Age and Death; difpofes 
their Bodies for the Reception and Sufceptibility of the irafcible Paffions, 
and helps to deprive them of the Serenity and Compofure of their Minds. 
2. For thofe very Reafons Nature indicates its Excellency to the phlegm 
matick, bulky, and dropfical, as. it (Emulates their Solids, attenuates 
and diffolves their Fluids, promotes Perfpiration and Urine. 3, Here 
we fee the beft Diet for the Aged, to aftift Nature in the DefeCf of Per- 
fpiration, from a Sluggifhnefs of both Solids and Fluids, and the Decreafe 
of their minute Yeffels. 
3£. Solids that are too ftiff rauft be relaxed by thin, watry, and lu- 
bricating Food and Medicines, gentle Exercife, emollient Baths, Fomen- 
tations, Steams, &c. Such as are too lax muft be (Emulated, corrugated, 
and invigorated by aromatick, nervous, and volatile ftrengthening Food 
and Phylick, much Exercife, the cold Bath, and Abftinence from too 
much Sleep, Indolence, Study, and Day Napps. Too elaftick Fibres re- 
quire nutritive Food, and foinewhat tenacious, that their Spring be not 
too quickly worn out, and the Lamp of Life extinguifhed. 
How rough 
and earthy 
flrengthen. 
How Aro- 
maticks ren- 
der the Fibres> 
elaftick. 
How too-bur, 
ftiff «nd 
flick Fibres 
are to he al- 
tered. Tloe Caujes of different Constitutions. 
How Solids 
differ in Re- 
fp.6l of the 
Glands or 
Strainers. 
36. Solids differ alfo in Refpect of the Difference there is in the Vef- 
fels and Strainers of fundry Perfons. For fome have large Yeftels, others 
(mall; fome have (luggifh and unweildy Veflels, others aflive, elaftick, 
and Tubes difpofed to Motion; others very ftrong, but (lift'and (low 
moving Canals; fome have large adipofe Vehicles, others fmall; fome 
have larger falival Glands than others. The Diameters of the renal (e- 
-cretory Veflels are much longer in fome than in others, whereby they 
drain off much more Seroflties and Salts from the Blood, and leave left 
for the Skin to do; hence are they more obliged to their Kidneys in 
Proportion, than to their cutaneous Glands, or their excretory Duels. 
The Glands of the Liver are much larger and opener in fome than in 
others, therefore have they more Biles. Some have their pancreatick 
Strainers larger than others. The lymphatick Veflels are greater in fome 
than in others. The Ladeals are larger and ftronger in fome than in 
others.; therefore have they more Blood, if they eat good Food propor- 
tionable. Some Females have their uterine Blood-Veflels larger, ftronger 
or (mailer, and weaker than others. Some have the Glands of the 
Brain more clear, open and large than others; hence a better Stock of 
nervous Juice, a more free and better Underftanding, a left clouded or 
eclipfed Judgment; and fo of the other Parts of the Body. 
37. The Solids differ in their Strength according to the Adivity or 
Indolence, Laborioufneft or Lazineft of the Perfons. For the Indo- 
lent, Studious, Idle, Luxurious, Intemperate, and Venus9s Slaves have 
more lax and weak Solids than the Laborious, Temperate, Chafte, or 
fuch as ufe daily Exercife. 
38. The Solids of the (ame Perfons do often differ among themfflves 
in their Degree of Tenfion and Strength. For the Muffles of fome 
Members are ftronger in Proportion than thofe of the others; for fome 
have the Flcart ftronger, others the Stomach and Inteftines, or Liver, or 
Kidneys, or Lungs; others the Hands, fome their Legs. 
39. The Strength or Weakneft, Soundneft or Difeafedneft, Stiffneft or 
Elafticity of the Solids do primarily depend upon the firft Stamina the 
Embryo’s of our Nature received from our Parents. This is the pri- 
mary, mediate, or remote Caufe of various Conftitutions in different 
Perfons; and it is neither fo unintelligible nor inexplicable as fome have 
imagined. 
40. The Tenfion of the Solids varies in Refpefl of the different Stages 
of Life. For Infancy abounds with Humidities j its Fibres and Solids are 
lax, and the Body moift •, but the Heart having a (hotter Way to throw 
the Blood about, its Circulation is brifker, and its Motion heats the 
Solids differ 
in Refpedi 
of their 
Strength. 
They differ 
in refpedf of 
their parental 
Stamina, 
Tenfion of 
the Solids va- 
ry according 
to the fundry 
Stages of 
Life., The Caffes of different Constitutions. 
Body. In this Period the Fibres are not Co firm and ftrong. i. Becaufe 
of the Redundance of Moifture in the Body. z. Becaufe of the 
Laxnefs of the YefTels themfelves. 3. Becaufe of their Want of Motion 
and Exercife. In Youth the Fibres are ftronger, and the Blood thicker, 
but their YefTels and Bodies being lengthened out, it has a longer Cir- 
cuit to go, therefore is the Body more temperate, and the Pulfe ftronger 
and flower. In Manhood the Elafticity of the Fibres is at its Height, 
for now the Solids bear a greater or nearer Refiftance to the Fluids: 
This is the Meridian of Life, now all the Secretions and Evacuations 
are difcharged beft, and the Body being at its full Growth, and conti- 
nuing fbme Years without either Increafe or Decreafe, this muft be the 
Halcyon Term of Man’s Days. In old Age the Fibres are become ftiff 
and rigid, their Motion is flower, all the animal Adions are weaker. Eva- 
cuations arc impaired, Secretions diminifhed, and the Body turns cold 
and moift. 
41. The Solids are alfo fufceptible of Alteration from the Nature of 
thole Eatables and Drinkables wherewith the Body is nourifhed ; thus a 
long and continued Courfc of earthy Food, and much Exercife will change 
a lax Fibre into a ftrong. An obftinate Ufe of tenacious and flatulent Food 
that confifts of very vifcid Parts, will turn a fanguine Temper into a 
phlegmatick; for it overcomes the Refinance of the Solids, and dimi- 
nifhes the brisk Motion of the Fluids, whereby they are lefs duly mixed, 
but being thin, watry and vifcid, generate Obftrudions in the fmall Vef- 
fels, turn the Body pale and cold; and in this flow Motion ©f the Flu- 
ids, the Blood is not prepared to pafs all the Strainers of the Brain, and 
have all its nervous and animal Juices drained ofl for the Supply of the 
Solids. A phlegmatick Temper, by a tedious and liberal Diet of vola- 
tile, pungent Aromaticks, and Things eafily feparable, commifcible, and 
of quick Digeftion, and producing Abundance of good foft balfamick 
Blood, full of fine animal Oyl, may be changed into a fanguine. A 
fanguine Conftitution, by much Exercife, Abftinence, faline and aroma- 
tick Foods, occafioning a copious Perfpiration of thinner, watry Parts of 
the Blood, and an Invigoration and quicker Motion of the Solids, may 
be turned into a cholerick from the Salts in its Juices, and the increa- 
fed Adion and Agility of its Fibres. And a cholerick by much terre- 
ftrious and thickening Foods, and an intenfe Ufe of the intelledual Fa- 
culties about the fame Ideas may be converted into a melancholick- 
And that by Abftinence, acrimonious Food, much Exercife, and frequent 
flight glancing on Ideas may become a cholerick. 
42. The Climate alfo makes fome Alteration in Conftitutions. For a 
phlegmatick removed from a moift, marfliy, foggy, or woody Countrey, 
Conftitutions 
alter’d into 
one another 
by our Food- 
the Air. Thi €cmfes oj different Constitutions. 
to a clear hot and dry Air, by Temperance, Exercife, and a Diet fbme- 
what detergent and balfamick will incline much to a fanguine. A fan- 
guine Perfon removed from fiich a thick, grofs, moift Air, and placed 
in a dry, hoc and clear Countrey may come near to, or turn to a cho- 
lerick, if at the fame Time he ufe an acrid Diet, and fo of the reft. 
43. Neither are the Paflions without their fenfible Effects upon our 
Bodies; for where the deprefling continue long, frequently, and in- 
tenfely, they break the ftrongeft Conftitution, weaken, relax, and load 
the Fibres and Veflels; on the contrary, the elevating Paflions give our 
Solids a Stimulus, and raife them above Nature, and put our Blood in 
a Hurry. 
By the Paf- 
fions. 
Tenfion of 
the Solids dif- 
fer according 
to the diffe- 
rent Sex. 
44. The Difference of Sex is the lad Thing I fliall mention, which, 
occasions different Tenfions in the Solids; for Womens are generally 
more lax and weak than Mens, becaufe they are more liable to a Ple~ 
thoray or Fulnefs of Blood, which is wifely provided by the Author of 
Nature for the Nourifliment of their Young. Idle, indolent, fedentary 
and ftudious Perfons have more lax Fibres than the laborious; Exercife > 
accelerates the Motion of the Fluids, and promotes their Mixture and 
Secretion, and invigorates the Fibres. Hence Perfons who ufe much Exer- 
cife have ftrong Fibres, becaufe the Refiftance of the Solids is anfwer- 
able, if not in fome Degree fuperior, to that of the Fluids, whereby 
they are attenuated, mixed, and prepared for Nutrition, and all the 
natural and neceflary Secretions; the Veflels of the larger Glands have 
their fuitable Vigour, and fuffer no Stuffings, ObftmClions, or Remora 
in them. 
A Fibre 
what. 
4£• To render what I have (aid on the Solids more intelligible, it 
may not be amifs to add, that a Fibre is an animal Thread, or nervous 
Sprig made up of folid Particles of Matter chiefly earthy. For none of 
the other Principles arc capable of that Conatus or Tendency to cohere ; 
and this inherent Force of Cohefion have all the Fibres conftituting the 
Membranes, Veflels and Solids of the whole Body. 
46. The Caufe of this Cohefion is the fame in the little as in the 
great World, viz. the mutual Attraction of every Point or Particle of 
Matter in the Fibre towards one another, and the Cementation of the 
Particles with a delicate Oil. 
47. This Tendency of the Parts towards one another is preferved by 
the fix’d Points of the Particles of the Fibre, and by the Circulation of 
the Fluids in the Veflels, and the Counterbalance of the Attraction of 
the Antagonift Particles. And perhaps the Air may be of fome Afliftance 
in uniting our Solids; for, as Sir Ij'aac Newton fays, T’hofe Particles will 
recede from one another with the greatef repuljive Force, and are mofi 
The Caufe of 
Cohefion. 
Why the 
Parts have a 
Tendency to 
one another. The Caufes of different Constitutions. 
c 'ultly brought together, do upon Contact cohere moji Jirongly. Qu. 31. 
A fr. Kales fays, if the Attraction of Cohefon or an unelajiick Air 
Parade he proportionable to its repuljive Force in an elajlick States 
then fince its elajlick Force is found to be Jo vaftly great, fo mujl that oj 
its Cohefion be alfo. Sir Ifaac Newton demondrates from the Infledion of 
the Rays of Light, that the atuading Force of Particles near the Point 
of Contad is 10000,0000,0000 greater than the Force of Gravity. 
,48. The Laxnefs or Solidity, Loofenefs or Compadednefs of the Fi- 
bres of Bones, Membranes, VefTels, Mufcles or Cartilages, depend on the 
different Degrees of mutual Attradion, wherewith the Particles are com- 
bined; and as the Blood is a Mixture of various Materials, Nature curioudy 
proportions this Mixture according to thofe many different UTes for which 
it is defigned. The Reafon of the Growth of Animals is the Tendernefs 
of the Extremities of the capillary VefTels; for they all terminate in a 
Fluid, while the Animal grows; for the very Bones where they are ar- 
ticulated with one another are tipped with a foft glutinous Cartilage, 
which when it turns to Bone, the Animal ceafes growing, and when the 
Extremities of the capillary VefTels become folid Membranes, their Elon- 
gation is at an End, and an Animal continues at that Growth, till they 
collapfe, (brink up, and the lead Veflels degenerate into Fibres; then the 
Animal declines. 
Caufe of the 
different Co- 
hefion of the 
Solids. 
49. The Force or Refinance of a Solid againft its Fluid, is, 1. Only 
the Conatus or Tendency of its Fibres to come clofer or nearer together, 
and oppofe the Exigence of a Space, and expel the Fluid contained in 
the Vcflel. 2. The Change of the VeffieTs Site or Podure; for when the 
VelTels are ftraitned, the Particles of the Fibres touch upon larger Sur- 
faces or Points, ad with more Force, and expel the Fluids more vigo- 
roufly. Carol. The fliorter then the Diameters of the VefTels are, they 
ad with lb much more Force upon the Fluids; and on the contrary, 
the larger the Cavities of the VefTels are, they ad with the lefs Refin- 
ance. Schol. 1. Hence appears the Reafons of the Blood’s Circulation 
in the {mailed VefTels, fited at the greated Didance from the Heart. 
Schol. 2. Hence we Tee the Reafon why Nature has not provided large 
Bafons for receiving the Blood from the capillary Arteries on the Body’s 
Surface and Extremities, but returns it by fundry Ramifications of (mall 
Veins uniting and dividing fcveral Times till they reach the Cava, Schol. 
3. Here we have the Reafon why if one Branch of a Vein be obdruded, 
the CouiTe of the Blood is not hopp’d, but the other Branches fupply 
its Place till the Obdrudion be removed. Schol. 4. Hereby we can ac- 
count for the Difficulty in removing Tumours placed in the dualled Vd- 
fcls, fuch as the lymphatick Glands, &c. Schol. c. Hereby we fee 
' Why the Vef- 
fels relilt the 
Fluids. 114 
The Caufes of different Constitutions. 
why fchirrhous and carcinomatous Tumors ace fb inveterate, and moftly 
fatal Evils j for not only are the (mall containing Veflels ftretched out 
beyond their Tone, but the diftending Matter is fb thick,, earthy and 
ftrong, that it is impofliblc for the Veflels to attenuate and diflblve it*, 
and with this Thickneft Cancers have an Acrimony joined, which of- 
ten corrodes the Veflels and Parts adjacent. Schol. 6. This fliews us 
why an Afcites is the mod tedious Sort of Dropfy (except the Hydrocs~ 
pbale) to deal with, even where there is no Rupture of the Lympha- 
ticks. 
Difference of 
Conrtitutions 
ids™ theFiU” 
£O. The fecond Caufe of the Diverflty of humane Confutations arifcs 
from the Fluids, and this is from the Prevalency of their different Prin- 
ciples, or their Difpofition to run into various Combinations or Co** 
hefions. 
Principles of 
the Blood. 
51. The Blood conflfts of Phlegm or Water, Salt, Sulphur or Oil,, 
and £arth : The Quantity of the fir ft is naturally the greateft; the fe- 
cond next to it; the third is of a left Quantity than either of the other 
two; and the laft is leaft of all. Which of thefe four Principles fbever 
happens to be the fuperior, it is juftly reckoned the Predominant, be its 
Quantity what it will fo that the Temper of the Blood confifts in a 
due Proportion of the Quantity and Quality of thofe Principles. For if 
the Oil of the Blood abforb its feline and earthy Part, and its Propor- 
tion is more plentiful than its Salt: On the contrary, when the Salts 
difeover themfelves in the fmall VeflTels, either by Tafte or other E(Feels, 
they are the predominant Principles. If the Phlegm fo diflblve the 
Salts and Earth, that they ceafe to ad their juft Part, it is the mod 
powerful Principle. If Earth exceeds its Quantity, it thickens the Blood, 
and is Mafter. 
Gaufes of its 
too great Flu- 
idity, 
52* Too great a Fluidity of the Blood is occafioncd, 1. When its Par- 
tides are (mailer than they ought to be. 2. When they have not a due 
Tendency to cohere with one another. 
£3. The Smallneft of its Particles, and too great Fluidity proceed from 
its Mixture of Things more capable of Separation than the Particles of 
the Blood; fiich are all volatile Salts and Spirits diftilled, Cordial Wa- 
ters, and flrong Cordials, as Saffron, Cochineal, Contrayerva Root, &c, 
or mineral Salts, and all mercurial Preparations. 
54. This Fufion of the Blood firft happens in the larger Veflels, and 
is communicated by them to the (mailer, lateral, and fecretory Duds, 
from which it exhales fo copioudy, that Wcaknefs and Faintnefs mu ft 
enfue, through the Incapacity of the VefTels to retain fuck minute Par- 
ticles, from plentifully and powerfully efcaping, either through the Inter- 
dices of their Fibres, or excretory Duds. Corol. i. Hence wc know The Caufes of different Constitution?. 
what to think of the hot Regimen in ardent Fevers, where the Skin is 
dry and parched, the Tongue and Mouth black, the Pulfe very quick, 
and how near it approaches to Manflaughtcr. z. Here we learn the 
Effects of immoderate Tea-Drinking, efpecially with Tindure of Saffron, 
or Drams after it. 
55- The Blood’s flow Motion is either, i. Becaufe its Particles are too 
large to pals the fmalleft VcfTels; or, 2. From, its Principles being fo en- 
» Caufes of its 
too flow Mo-, 
' cion. , 
tangled together, as not to be readily dillolved: Both thole nil, llraiten, 
or fliut up the Veflels. If this flow Motion happens firft in the large 
Veflels, it caufes Polypus’s in the Heart, and thofe Veflels. If it fall out 
in the fmall Tubes, it produces Stagnations, which either are cured with 
Difficulty, or end in Inflammations, Abfcefles, Gangrenes, Schirrus, Can- 
cer, or Mortification, according to the Nature of the pent up Humour ; 
and in the lymphatick Veflels it is followed with flzy Obffrudions of a 
white Phlegm j or if it happen in the fmaller Lymphaticks, Dropfles of 
all forts enfue, which, if they continue long and greatly encreafe, 
will excoriate and difeharge an ichorous Matter, fo as to emaciate and 
kill the Body. We fcldom meet with a Vifcidity in the nervous juice, 
for that is contrary to the Delicacy of the Tubes which ffrain it off, and 
alfo to the Subtility of the Liquor it felf, and the Rapidity of its Mo- 
tion. Yet it is not wholly excufed from this Confidence, as we fee 
from the Lofs of both Senfe and Motion of the Parts. 
56. An increafed Circulation of the Blood is owing to the oftner and 
ftronger Contradion of the Heart and Yeflcls; and this conies either, 
1. From the Brain and Cerebellum being too ftrongly prefs’d, and there- 
by made to fend forth the nervous Juice in too great Quantity, or too 
forcibly, as we fee it happens in Pains or Padions of the Mind. 2. When 
the Heart it (elf is irritated by the Acrimony of the Blood. 
Caufes of it 
encreafed 
Circulation. 
57* The Caufes of a great Quantity of Blood in the Body are, I. 
Feeding freely on fucli Things as afford much Chyle and good Blood; 
Caufes of a 
Plethora. 
or, z. Living on fuch Things as are tenacious, and breed much Blood; 
but its Attenuation, Mixture and Evacuation is flow, becaufe it is diffi- 
cult to be digefted. 3. A great natural Strength in the Bowels andVef- 
fels of this Chylification, and in the Heart and Arteries, but a Weaknefs 
in the Veins and other fmall Veflels. 
58. When the Blood is too fluid, copious Evacuations of all forts, 
large Stools, much Urine, Spittle, - and Perfpiration enfue, the Body turns 
lean, weak, thirfty, and inclin’d to Motion. 
, Effccfls of i 
too great Fli 
idiry. 
The Blood of inch as have itrong ribres and vends is thick, yet 
fofc and kind fuch People life Exercife, which ftrengthens the Fibres, 
by attenuating, mixing, and propelling the Blood j fo as it is fitted to 
Effefls of 
much Exer- 
cife. The Caufes of different Constitutions. 
pafs all the Strainers of the Body, efpecially thofe of the Brain, whereby" 
much animal Juice is feparated, which fervcs both for Adion and Nu- 
trition ; the thicken’d Humours are diffolv’d, the Sluices of Evacuation 
are fet open in a healthy Manner, and fich Labour or Exercife is fo far 
from diilipating the Spirits, or weakening the Body, that the frft is en- 
creafed, and the laft invigorated. But for the fame Reafon any Excels 
in thefe will ftiffen the Fibres, fliut up the fmall VeflHs, dry the Body, 
and bring it fooner to its End; fo that although much Labour or Exer- 
cife be conducive to Health, yet is it not to long Life. 
State of weak 
s 60. On the contrary, the Blood of weak and tender People is light, 
thin, broken and (harp, from the Incapacity of the Solids, to put and 
preferve the Blood in a right Motion for Attenuation and Mixture. 
61. A Vifcidity of our Humours begets Want of Appetite, Indige- 
stion, a huffing at the Stomach, Loathing of the Food, Vomiting, the 
Bile is fluggifh and (limy, the Stomach and Inceftines are furr’d up with 
] ropy, tough Phlegm, the Belly is coftive, the Chyle is Tent crude and 
'unprepared into the Ladeals, which caufes a tough pale Blood, inca- 
pable of Circulation; hence Obftmdions and Concretions in the Vcf- 
fels, the Urine pale and almoft infipid, feveral white Swellings appear, 
all the Secretions arc marr’d, the fmalleft YefTels fhut up and grow to- 
gether. This gelatinous State of the Blood arifes from a too free Ufe 
of crude and mealy Aliments, and unripe rough Fruits, or from a De- 
ficiency of good Blood in the Body, or a Laxnefs and Weaknefs of the 
Bowels and YefTels, and a Defed or Thinnefs of the Bile; and a Dimi- 
nution of animal Motion, or an immoderate Evacuation of the more 
watry Parts of the Blood through the weak and lax Strainers, and 
thereby follows a Retention of the thicker Parts of the Blood and Hu- 
mours ; hence Obftrudions and white Tumours. 
Caafes and 
EffeAs of its 
V Acidity, ac- 
cording to 
Boer have, and 
the late Me- 
chanicks. 
and 
[Effe<fh of an 
'acid Acri- 
mony. 
62. The Acrimony of the Blood is of four Sorts, viz. Acid, alkalious, 
oily> muriatick. An acid Acrimony is manifefl from an acid Smell 
and Tafle, four Belchings, Hunger, gnawing Pain of the Stomach, Cho- 
licks, Flatulency, and Convulfrons in the Inteflines, Inadivity of the 
Bile; the Chyle and Excrements fmell four, and the Serum of the Blood 
has the fame Tafle j the whole Body looks pale, and is perplexed with 
Obflrudions, Itchings, Erofions, Eruptions, Ulcers, Coagulations of the 
Blood, Twitchings of the Brain and Nerves; hence Convulfrons, and 
a Stop put to the Circulation. This Humour is occafioned from much 
mealy Aliment, acid Juices, either new, crude, or in the Ferment, or 
already fermented; or by a want of good Blood in the Body fed with 
that Food, or laflly from a weak and lax Strudure of the Fibres and 
YefTels. The Caufes of different Constitutions, 
117 
63. An alkalious Acrimony difeovers it felf by Third, Lofs of Appe- 
tite, dinking Belchings, a fetid, cadaverous Scent; the Mouth, Tongue, 
Palate and Throat tade of putrified Urine; there is a Loathing and 
Caufes and 
EfFedts of an 
alkalious A- 
crimony. 
Vomiting of putrid bilious Matter; the Belly is loofe, and difeharges 
much Choler, the Stools are filming, black or dark coloured, and of a 
mod intolerable Stench; there are Iliack Pains, and great Heat in the 
Belly; an inextinguifhable Third ; black, livid, or brown coloured Ero- 
(ions break out, and fpread on the Body; Urine is fetid, fharp, thick, 
brown and frothy, with little or no Sediment; there is little Sweat, and 
that is alfo fetid; the Skin is dry, the Blood is thin, florid and diflbl- 
ved, fcarce coagulates; it is oleous and volatile, unde for Nutrition, but 
confumes and dedroys the (mall Veflcls, didurbs and dedroys the Fun- 
ction of both Solids and Fluids; Circulation, Secretions and Evacuations 
are no longer regular ; burning Fevers with fetid Difeharges enfue; 
Gangrenes, Buboes, and Purple Spots, fudden Inflammations, Mortifica- 
tions and Bliders bring up- the Rear. This Acrimony is caufed by a 
too free Ufe of fuch aromatick Plants as have a fharp Tade; for thofe 
being putrefied, melt into a dinking fat Alkali; or by living upon ani- 
mal Food, fed by Animals of another kind, fuch are all amphibious 
Creatures, Birds, Fifhes, Beads and Reptiles ; or by a Plenty of fuch 
Blood as already tends to Corruption. A great Strength of the Bowels 
and VeflTels, and much Bile, contribute to the fame. 
64. We know the Prevalency of a muriatick Acrimony from a Salt 
Tade in the Mouth, an Itching and Rednefs on the Skin, great Third, 
Roughnefs and Drynefs of the Body, Urine full of Salt, with much Sc- 
Caufes and 
Effects of a 
muriatick A- 
crimony. 
diment, and a fat Scum ; it will fcarce putrify or (link: This proceeds 
from an immoderate Ufe of Sea Salt, pickled Meat, and Meat dry’d in 
the Smoak, or of Salt, of the Nature of Sea Salt. 
65. We are fatisfied that an oily Acrimony prevails in the Blood, 
when there is a Tade in the Mouth like that of burnt or putrefied 
Oil, bitter, rancid and fharp, and a great Heat in the Jaws, and a 
Belching which fmclls like rotten Eggs ; the Stomach loaths its Food; 
Stools are white, far, (linking, and very hoc in the Anus-, the Urine 
is (canty, frothy, fetid, and flame coloured, the Mouth and Skin are 
dry, and the lall is often fee with a fetid Scurf, the Blood is dried up 
with Heat, the Body is often attacked with acute, fudden, and dub- 
born Inflammations and Suppurations, and often mod fetid Gangrenes. 
This Acrimony owes its Birth to a coo plentiful Indulgence of fat 
Meat, Butter, Oil, and oleaginous Fare, and very fat gravy, &c. 
Caufes and 
Effeds of an 
oily Acrimo- 
ny. The Caffes of different Constitutions. 
Howallthefe 
are cured. 
66. A predominant Acidity of the Juices is cured by Diluters, Ab- 
forbents, Strengthened, Exercife, and whatever begets good conditioned 
Blood. An alkalious Acrimony requires Acids, Diluters, Abferbents, 
foapy detergent Medicines and Reft. A Yifcidity of the Juices indicates 
the ,Ufe of Things well fermented and fait, Corroborated, Diluters, Re- 
folvers, Stimulators, Exercife, foapy Medicines, with Fridion and Blifter- 
ing. An oily Acrimony calls for Acids, Coolers, Diluters, and foapy 
Things. A Blood too Fluid, fhould have the Motion of its Solids en- 
creafed: Terreftrious Things, Thickeners, and Aftringents are needful 
here. A muriatick Acrimony muft have an infipid, watry Diet, with- 
out Salt, but a little acidulated and diluting, and lixivious Medicines. A 
vifeid Blood is attenuated by Diluters, gentle Evacuations, Chalybeats 
and Bitters (if there be neither a Plethora, nor Inflammations to forbid 
them, and in that Cafe black Hellebore comes in the Room of Steel) 
and good Exercife. If too thick Blood, it is thinned by Diluters, gentle 
Catharticks, and fuch Things as difpofe its Parts to a brifker Motion, 
Reft, thin and fomewhat {Emulating Diet, ire. 
Thus, Madam, I have attempted both the Solution of your Lady- 
(liip’s Queftion, and at the fame Time to give the beft Account I am 
capable of the many Caufes of the Variety of humane Conftitutions 
both as to Solids and Fluids, whether they be natural or adventitious; 
which if agreeable to your Ladyftiip, and ufeful to the World, I have 
my End, and my Labour fully compenfated. 
I am, Mad a m, 
Tour Ladyjhifs 
Mojt Humble, moji Obliged’ 
and Obedient Servant, 
Th o. Short. up 
Notes upon Sett, 39. 
r. Cl rnaxime laxae, vel dilatabiles lint 
v 3 ovi fceminei Membranas vel Tu- 
nicae; vel fi Fluida in ovo contenta, per- 
ferofa, mollia h lubrica Tint; aut fi 
nimiis ejeclionibus, praecipue voluntariis, 
vel Tenuitate vaforum fecernentium, aut 
Inopia Sanguinis per Arterias fpermati- 
cas ad Tefticulos delati ; aut a Glandula- 
rum Telticularium Laxitate, Obftructio- 
nibus, Inelafticitate, vel a Veneris Difluc- 
tudine r vel Abftinentia, Sperma Maf- 
eulinum pertenue, paucum, infipidum, 
minus praeparatum, aquofum, he. ell; 
vel li Glandularum uteri, in Coitionis, 
Conceptionis, Geftationifve Tempore, ad- 
fit nimia Laxatio vel Imbecillitas, ferofi 
Liquoris in Uteri Cavitatem eopiofa fe- 
quetur Evomitio, quae certo Semen virile, 
h Liquorem in Ovo contentum, rnaxime 
diluet, h Ovi Membranas, Embryonif- 
que Tunicas laxabit; bine orientur Vitas 
laxa Stamina, Fibrifque mollibus h 
morbofis nafeetur Infans indutus. 
dominabit, fique habebunt Matris Fluida 
eadem falina corpufcula prevalentia; cum 
a Liquidis parentum Fluida recipiet Em- 
bryo, in ejus fuccis primis eadem praeva- 
lebunt, quae in parentum Fluidis, Genera- 
tionis, h Gravidationis Tempore fuper- 
averant. 
5. Si a inaxime ferofis Fluidis prima- 
ria Liq.uida recipiet puer, perferofus & 
pertenuis erit ejus fanguis ; impoffible 
enira eft, parentes Liberis fuccos falubrio- 
res communicare quam in Corporibus 
fuis Generationis Tempore exiftebanr. 
Hinc Cholericum Cholericus, Phlegmati- 
cum Phlegmaticus, he. gignet j qui ta- 
men Nonnaturalium proprio h obftinato- 
ufu in Gonftitutiones alia? mutentur. 
6. Si aliqua vafa, vel Glandulas an- 
guftiores, vel laxibres in quavis Corpo- 
ris parte habet Pater, i. e. Si obftrudlio- 
nibus, ftagnationibus, ftimulationibus y 
coagulationibufve, in Cerebri Glandulisj, 
pedum Nervis, totius Corporifve Lym- 
phaticis obnoxius eft Parens Mafculus j 
a vaforum illorum Laxitate, Dilatabili- 
tate, Tenuitate, vel Dlametrorum Lon- 
gitudine, vel Brevitate, vel a Fluidorum, 
per yafa ilia facile circulare ineptitudine, 
vel a variis Attradlionibus, Cohasfionibus, 
vel Liquidorum Combinationibus. Cum 
Sperma a Fluidis illis fecerni oportet* 
Attradlionibus ejufdem Generis obnoxium 
erit, ftaminaque talia conftituet, five in 
Nervis, aut Glandulis, vel Lymphaticis. 
Hinc Apopledlicus Apopledlicum, Paraly- 
ticus Paralyticum, Afthmaticus Afthmati- 
cum, Strumaticus Stmmaticum, Phthyfi- 
cus Phthyficum, Podagricus Podagricum 
gignet. ' , 
2. Si e contra Ovi vel Ovarii Tu- 
nicae bene h firmiter connexse Tint, fa- 
lubrifque craffiorifve Confiftentiae eorum 
fucci fique optime praeparatum, al- 
bum, fpiffum, partibufque falubribus h 
terreftribus abundat Semen mafeulinum, 
nec Veneris illicitae Labem continet, fique 
Sal is Tartaris, in Manu cum Aqua cal- 
lida diffoluti, odorem referat; eodemque 
Tempore Foeminae fanguis, ferontate ni- 
mia, vel tepido, molli, lubrico, infipido, 
h pinguifero Liquore non repletur, nec 
multum fieri fecernentes uteri Glandule 
laxae, nec Geftationis fpatio, cibis aut 
potis aquofis nimis aut laxantibus indul- 
gebit Mater, concipietur Embryo, h naf- 
cetur Infans firmis fanifve folidis. 
3. Si partibus fulphureis, mollibus h 
ffexis, aliifve principiis praedominantibus 
abundat femen virile, fique fanguis Ma- 
ternus, cseterique corporis, ovorum, h 
uteri fucci ejul'dem fpeciei fint, Embryo 
h Infans Fluidis balfamicis, oleofis, h 
mollibus indutus concipietur. 
This Chain of Reafoning will readily 
help us to account for feveral Things 
of this kind, which feem very difficult; 
as how Difeafcs become hereditary ? 
Why Parents may at fome Times beget 
Children of Conftitutions quite different 
from their own, &c. which the Inge- 
nious will eafily difeover, but the Stupidl 
never can. 
4. Si cujuficunque fpeciei, in fanguine 
h fpermate parentis Mafculini, fal prse- *The Reader is defined to correß the following Errata occafoned by the 
Author's Abfence from the Prefs, 
PAGE 2. Line penult, for Sex, read Sexes, p. 3. I, 24. for crumbled r, crum- 
pled. p. 3, and 4. for Trigantius r. Trigautius. p. 4, 5, n, iz. for Kempfer 
r. Kempfer. p. 5. I. 3. for Difcourfe, r. Defcription of the Plant and its Leaf, 
p. ii. 1. 14. of the Notes for Mauvi r. Mauri, or Maurigafmia. p, 12. I. 11. for 
Sbrub r. Shrub, p. 15. 1. 5, and 34. r. Copperas, p. 22. 1, 14. for heighth r, 
height, p. 28. Notes Col. 2. 1. 35. r. Colour precipitated much, p, 34. 1. 3. 
r. diflblvible. p. 39. Notes Col. 2. 1. 13. r. exprelling. p. 40. Col. 1. 1. 5, r. ir- 
ritating. p. 73. 1. 14. r. iEgineta. p. Br. 1. 15. for the r. tho’. p. 93. 1. 37. for 
Grafs r. Grape, p. 96. 1. 14. r. Molocco’s. p. 102. 1. 32. for Call; r. Cafe, 
p. 103. I. 2. r. Oflification. p. no. 1. 12. for Biles r. Bile. p. 112. lin. penuu. 
for will r. which.