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Published according to let of Parliament Dec 10771
.

THE
NATURAL HISTORY
OF THE
Τ Ε Α - Τ Ε Έ Έ,
WITH OBSERVATIONS ON
THE MEDICAL QUALITIES OF TEA,
AND ON THE
EFFECTS OF TEA-DRINKING
A NEW EDITION,
BY JOHN COAKLEY LETTSOM, M. D.
LONDON:
PRINTED BY J. NICHOLS;
FOR CH A R L ES DILLY.
1799.

P Р
UN

Museum
10 15.37
(
iii)
ADVERTISEMEN T.
92
10-18-37 reed
IN the year 1769 was printed an inaugural diſſertation, in-
tituled, “ Obſervationes ad vires Theæ pertinentes.
In the year 1772 was publiſhed, “The Natural Hiſtory of
66 the Tea tree, with Obſervations on the Medical Qualities of
6* Tea, and Effects of Tea-drinking," which not only contained
a tranſlation of the Theſis, but likewiſe the natural hiſtory of
this vegetable, and which having been long out of print, it was
thought a ſecond edition would be favourably received by the
publick.
In Sir George Staunton's Embaſſy to China, lately publiſhed,
there are ſome remarks on Tea, which are occaſionally referred
to in the preſent edition ; and they are referred to with the
ſatisfaction of confirming the relation firſt offered to the publick.
in 1772 .
As the Preface inſerted at that time affords fome hints re-
ſpecting the introduction of the Tea-tree into Europe, it is pre-
fixed to the preſent edition.
PREFACE

1

( v )
P R E F A C E
TO
THE FIRST EDITION, 1772.
The ſubject of the following Eſſay being now in general
uſe among the inhabitants of this kingdom, as well as in many
other parts of Europe, and conſtituting a large part of our com-
merce, it cannot but afford pleaſure to the curious to poſſeſs
the hiſtory of a ſhrub, with the leaves of which they are ſo well
acquainted.
Many treatiſes have been publiſhed on the uſes and effects of
Tea; a few writers have likewiſe given ſome circumſtances re-
lative to its natural hiſtory and preparation, the indefatigable
Kæmpfer particularly ; but theſe circumſtances lie fo diſperſed,
and the accounts which have been given of the virtues and
efficacy of Tea are in general ſo contradictory, and void of true
medical obſervation, that it ſtill feemed no improper ſubject for
a candid diſcuſſion. The reader may at leaſt have the ſatis-
faction of ſeeing, in a narrow compaſs, the principal opinions
relative to this ſubject.
Within

vi
PR E F A CE.
Within theſe three or four years we have been ſucceſsful
enough to introduce into this kingdom a few genuine Tea plants.
There was formerly, I am told, a very large one in England,
the property of an Eaſt-India captain, who kept it ſome years,
and refuſed to part with either cuttings or layers. This died,
and there was not another left in the kingdom. A large plant
was not long ſince in the poſſeſſion of the great Linnæus, but,
I am informed, it is now dead. I know ſeveral gentlemen,
who have ſpared neither pains nor expence to procure this ever-
green from China; but their beſt endeavours have, in general,
proved unſucceſsful. For, though many ſtrong and good plants
were ſhipped at Canton, and all poſſible care taken of them
during the voyage, yet they foon grew fickly, and but one, till
of late, furvived the paſſage to England.
The largeſt Tea plant in this kingdom is, I believe, at Kew;
it was preſented to that royal feminary by John Ellis, Eſq. who
raiſed it from the feed. But the plant at Sion-houſe, belong-
ing to the Duke of Northumberland, is the firſt that ever
flowered in Europe ; and an elegant drawing has been taken
from it in that ftate, with its botanical deſcription. The en-
graver has done juſtice to his original drawing, which is now in
the poſſeſſion of that great promoter of natural hiſtory, Dr.
Fothergill, to whom I have been indebted for many dried fpe-
cimens and flowers of the Tea-tree from China. If the reader
compare
1

PRE FACE.
vii
compare this plate with the following deſcription, he will have
as clear an idea of this exotic ſhrub, as can at preſent be ex-
hibited.
A few young Tea plants have lately been introduced into
ſome of the moſt curious botanic gardens about London; hence
it ſeems probable that this very diſtinguiſhed vegetable will be-
come a denizen of England, and ſuch of her colonies as may
be deemed moſt favourable to its propagation.
In regard to the effects of Tea on the human conſtitution, one
might have imagined that long and general uſe would have fur-
niſhed ſo many indiſputable proofs of its good and bad properties,
that nothing could be eaſier than to determine theſe with preciſion :
yet ſo difficult a thing is it to eſtabliſh phyſical certainty in regard
to the operation of food or medicines on the human body, that
our knowledge in general, even with reſpect to this article, is
very imperfect. Nevertheleſs, I have endeavoured to avail
myſelf" of what has been written on this ſubject by my prede-
ceſſors with the appearance of reaſon, as well as of the con-
verſation of learned and ingenious 'men now living, together
with ſuch experiments and obſervations as have occurred to me,
ſo as to furniſh the means of a more extenſive knowledge of the
fubject.
With

vili
P R E F A C Ε.
With reſpect to the preſent edition, ſubſequent information
has enabled me to enlarge it with ſome important additions.
Since the period of the original publication, the Tea-tree has
been introduced into many of our gardens, and afforded the
means of aſcertaining its botanical characters. I have, at the
ſame time, the pleaſure to obſerve, that the firſt edition has
received the approbation of ſome of the moſt diſtinguiſhed
botaniſts. Linnæus, as well as Haller, as ſoon as they had peruſed
it, conveyed to me their approbation, in the kindeſt manner :
Murray and Cullen, and recently Schreber, have made frequent
references to its authorities. If theſe diſtinguiſhed characters
have approved the former, I am encouraged to hope that the
preſent edition will not be leſs favourably received by the
publick.
CONTENTS

( ix )
C Ο Ν Τ Ε Ν Τ S.
PA R T I.
THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE TEA TREE.
TER
IO
Section I. Claſs and Order
page 1
II. Synonyma
8
III. Authors upon Tea
IV. Origin of Tea
19
V. Soil and Culture
26
VI. Gathering the Leaves
29
VII. Method of curing or preparing Tea 33
VIII. Varieties of Tea
IX. Drinking of Tea
X. Succedanea
XI. Preſerving the Seeds for Vegetation 54
.
38
48
50
PART II.
THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF TEA
59
b
THE


( 1 )
THE
N A T U R A L
H I S T O RY
OF THE
T E A-T R E E.
PART THE FIRST.
SECTION 1.
CLASS XIII. ORDER I.
POLYANDRIA MONOGYNIA.
A PERIANTHIUM
quinquepartite,
very ſmall,
( PERIANTHIUM
quinquepartitum,
minimum,
K. CALYX,
planum,
Fig. 1, 2,
ſegmentis rotundis,
obtufis,
perfiftentibus. (Fig.
1. K.).
K. The CA-
LYX, Fig.
1,2,3.IO.
3. 10.
flat,
the ſegments round,
obtuſe,
permanent. (Fig. 1.
K.)
I
B

( 2 )
PETALA ſex,
The PETALS fix',
fubrotund, or
fubrotunda,
roundiſh.
concava :
concave :
duo exteriora (F.
4. 7. C. C.)
minora,
inæqualia,
C. The Co-
Nondum expanſa: ROLLA, F.
(F. 3. C.)
I, 3, 4, 5,
6, 7, 8.
quatuor interiora,
(F. 6. C. C. C. C.
C. COROLLA,
F. I. 3, 4,
5, 6, 7, 8.
two exterior, (F. 4.
7. C. C.)
leſs,
unequal,
the flower before
it is fully blown:
(F. 3. C.)
four interior (F. 6.
C. C. C. C. and
F. 5.
large,
equal,
before they fall off,
recurvate. (F. 8.
& F. 5.)
magna,
æqualia,
antequam decidunt,
recurvata. (F. 8.
C. C.)
C. C.)
Among ſeveral hundred ſpecimens of dried Tea-flowers that I have examined,
fcarcely one in twenty was perfect. Some had three petals only, ſome nine, and others
the ſeveral intermediate numbers. The greateſt number conſiſted of fix-large petals,
and externally three leſſer ones of the ſame form. But the flowers, which bloſſomed
on the Tea-plant belonging to the duke of Northumberland, from which this de-
ſcription is taken, conſiſted in general of fix petals. One of the flowers indeed
appeared to have eight petals ; however, the number in the flowers in moſt plants
vary confiderably, which may account for the miſtake of Dr. Hill, and profeſſor
Linnæus (who deſcribed this plant on Dr. Hill's authority), who make the green
and
boliea Tea two diſtinct ſpecies, giving nine petals to the former, and fix to the
latter. See Amen. Acad. Vol. VII. p. 248. Hill. Exot. t. 22. Kæmpfer. Amæn.
Exot. p. 607. Breyn. Exot. Plant. Cent. 1. p. 111. Hiſt. de. l'Acad. des Sciences,
1776, p. 52.
STAMINA,

( 3 )
f. FILAMENTA nu-
meroſa, (ducenta
circiter.) (f. a. F.
6. 9.
filiformia,
STAMINA, F.
6. 9, 10,
f. The FILAMENTS
numerous', (f.
a. Fig. 6. 9.)
(about 200.)
The STA- filiform,
MENS, F.
ſhorter than the
Corolla.
a. The AN-7
(F. 10.
THER A S
cordate, bi-magni-
fied.)
locular.
corolla breviora.
6. 9, 10,
II.
II.
a. ANTHE
(F. 10.
RÆ
cor-
II.
*
II.*
datæ, bi- Lente
loculares. aucta.)
ong
g. GerMeN globoſo-
trigonum. (F. 1.
TO. 12.)
S.
PISTILLUM,
F. I. 10.
12. * Len-
te auctum.
The GERMEN
three globular
bodies joined (F.
1. 10. 12.)
The STYLE
ſimple, at the
apex trifid, (F.
12.
After the petals
and ftamens are
fallen off, they
part from each
other, ſpread o-
IO.
s. Stylus fimplex, ThePistil-
ad apicem trifidus, LUM, F. 1.
(F. 12.)
magnified
Petalis Stamini-
buſque delap-
fis,
tuo recedentes,
divaricantes, &
12. *
a
fe mu-
? In a flower I received from that accurate naturaliſt, J. Ellis, F. R. S. &c. I
counted upwards of 280 filaments; and, in another I had from Dr. Fothergill, there
appeared to be nearly the ſame number.
Kæmpfer deſcribes the Antheræ as being ſingle.
2
B 2

( 4 )
I
PISTILIUM,
F. I. 10.
12* Len-
te auctum.
longitudine auc-
ta, marceſcentes,
(F. I. 12.)
The PISTIL-
LUM, F. 1.
t. STIGMATA ſimpli- 10.
cia. (F. 1. 9. 10. magnified.
12.)
pen, increaſe in
length, and wi-
ther on the Ger-
men. (F. 1. 12.)
The STIGMAS
ſimple. (F. 1.
9. 10. 12.
I 2.
t.
P. PERICAR-
RICARPI-
PIUM, F. i.
LA CAPSULE in the
CAPSULA ex tribus
form of three
globis coalita, (F.
P. The PE-
globular bodies
13.)
united, (F. 13.)
trilocularis, (F. 14.) UM, F. 1.
trilocular, (F. 14.)
apice trifariam de
gaping at the top in
three directions.
hiſcens. (F. 13.)
(F. 13.)
13, 14.
13. 14.
S. SEMINA,
[ Solitaria,
S. The
globoſa,
Seeds, F.
introrſum angulata. 14.
ſingle,
globoſe,
angular on the in
ward fide,
F. 14.
ramofus,
T. Truncus, lignoſus,
ramofe,
TRUNK', ligneous ,
T. The
round:
F. I.
teres :
F. 1.
ramis
1 Authors differ widely reſpecting the ſize of this tree. Le Compte ſays, it
grows of various ſizes from two feet to two hundred, and ſometimes ſo thick, that
two men can ſcarcely graſp the trunk in their arms: though he afterwards obferves,
that the Tea-trees, he ſaw in the province of Fokien, did not exceed five or ſix feet in
height.

( 5 )
the branches alter-
ramis alternis,
nate,
vague, or placed in
vagis,
T. The no regular order,
T. TRUNCUS,
F. Ι.
rigidiuſculis,
TRUNK, ſtiffiſh,
F.I.
inclining to an aſh
cineraſcentibus,
color,
prope apicem rufe-
towards the top
fcentibus.
reddiſh.
axillares, (F. 1. p.)
paxillary, (F. 1. p.)
alterni,
alternate,
folitarii,
ſingle,
curvati,
curved,
uniflori,
uniflorous,
PEDUNCULI,
incraffati, (F. 1. 2. Peduncles ) incraſſate, (F. 1. 2.
(F. 1. p.)
F.I.
7.)
7.)
ftipulati :
ſtipulate :
ſtipula ſolitaria,
the ſtipula ſingle,
fubulata, 1 (F. 1. 2.
fubulate, 1(F. 1. 2.
( erecta. 7.9.d.)
erect, $7.9. d.)
height. Journey through the empire of China. London, 1697, 8vo. p. 228. Du Halde
quotes a Chineſe author, who deſcribes the height of different Tea-trees, from one
to thirty feet. Deſcription génerale hiſtorique, chronologique, politique, et phy-
fique de la Chine, Paris, 1755. Fol. 4 Tom. Hiſtory of China, London, 1736.
8vo. Vol. IV. page 22.
See alſo Guil. Piſo in Itinere Braſilica.
But Kæmpfer, who is chiefly to be depended upon, confines the full growth to
about a man's heighth. Amen. Exot. Lemgov. 1712, 4to. pag. 605. Probably
this may be a juſt medium ; for Oſbeck fays, that he ſaw Tea-ſhrubs in flower-pots,
not above an ell high. Voyage to China, Vol. I. p. 247. See alſo Eckeberg's ac-
count of the Chineſe huſbandry, Vol. II. p. 303.
· When the peduncles increaſe in thickneſs towards their extremities.
alterna,

( 6 )
PEDUNCULI,
(F. 1. p.)
*maga
alterna,
alternate,
elliptica,
elliptical,
obtufe ferrata, mar-
PEDUNCLES, obtuſely ferrate,
F. 1.
edges between
ginibus inter den-
the teeth recur-
tes recurvatis.
vate.
[ apex emar-
apice margi-
ginate,
nata, (F.
(F. 15.
15. e.
* Lente
e.)
baſi integer-( aucta.
at the baſe (nified.
rima, (F.
16. 17.
tire, (F.
16. 17.
F. The
fmooth,
glabra,
LEAVES,
nitida,
F. 1. 15, 1 gloſſy,
16, 17.
bullata,
bullate
venoſe on the under
ſubtus venoſa,
fide,
conſiſtentia,
of a firm texture,
petiolata :
on foot-ſtalks :
The foot-ſtalks very
Petiolis breviffimis,
ſhort, (F. I. 16.
(F. 1. 16. 17. b.)
very en-
F. FOLIA, F.
1. 15, 16,
17.
17. b.)
* No author has hitherto remarked this obvious circumſtance; even Kæmpfer
himſelf fays, that the leaves terminate in a ſharp point. Amon. Exot. p. 611. .
2 When the upper ſurface of the leaf riſes in ſeveral places in roundiſh ſwellings,
hollow underneath.
fubtus

( 7 )
ſubtus tereti-
bus,
roundon the
under ſide, (F. 16.
(F. 16.
b.
* Lente
auctis.)
b.
gibbous, or f* mag
gibbis,
F: The
F. FOLIA, F.
LEAVES,
I. 15. 16.
17.
F. 1. 15)
16. 17.
fupra plano - canali-
culatis. (F. 17.
b. *Lente auctis.)
mag-
bunching nified.)
out,
on the upper-fide,
flattiſh, and ſlight-
ly channelled. (F.
17. b. * magni-
fied.
Nomina trivialia
Thea bohea &
viridis.
he common names
bohea and green
Teas!
There is only one ſpecies of this plant; the difference of
green and bohea Tea depending upon the nature of the ſoil,
the culture, and manner of drying the leaves.
It has even
been obſerved, that a green Tea-tree, planted in the bohea
country, will produce bohea Tea, and ſo the contrary”.
1 Whether the word Tea is borrowed from the Japaneſe Tsjaa, or the Chineſe-
Theh, is not of much importance. By this name, with very little difference in pro-
nunciation, the plant here treated of is well known in moſt parts of the world.
2 I have examined ſeveral hundred flowers, both from the bohea and green Tea .
countries, and their botanical characters have always appeared uniform. See Di-
rections for bringing over ſeeds and plants from diftant countries, by John Ellis, Eſq...
Sir George Staunton's Embafly, Vol. II. p. 464, fays, Every information received
concerning the Tea plant concurred in affirming that its qualities depended upon
««. the ſoil in which it grew, and the age at which the leaves were plucked off the
tree, as well as upon the management of them afterwards."
SECTION

( 8 )
S E C T I ON
II.
S Υ Ν Ο Ν Υ Μ Α.
MANY authors have at different times treated upon this
ſubject; fome who never ſaw the Tea-tree, as well as others
who have ſeen it'. I ſhall enumerate thoſe who are men-
tioned in the Species plantarum of Linnæus
Thea; Hortus Cliffort. 204. Mat. Med. 264. Hill. Exot.
t. 22.
Thee; Kæmpfer. Japan. 605. t. 606.
Thee frutex; Barthol. Act. 4. p. 1. t. 1. Bont. Jav. Amſtel.
fol. 87 ad 88.
Thee Sinenſium ; Breyn. Cent. 111. t. 112. incon. 17. t. 3.
Bocc. Muſ. 114. t. 94.
Chaa ; Caſp. Bauhin. Pinax Theatri Botanici. Bafil. 1623. 4to,
147
Evonymo affinis arbor orientalis nucifera, flore roſeo; Pluk.
Alm. Botan. Stirp. nov. tradens. 1 200. Lond. 1705. fol. 139.
t. 88. fig. 6.
In the Acta Haffnienſia, we meet with the firſt figure of this
tree; but, as it was taken from a dried ſpecimen, it does not
I See Jac. Breynii Exotic. Cent. I. p. 114, 115.
Vol. I. p. 734.
illuſtrate

( 9 )
illuſtrate the ſubject very well. Bontius publiſhed another, and
though drawn in India, where he might have ſeen the plant, it
does not much furpaſs the preceding. The figure given by
Plukenet is better than either of the former; and after his,
Breynius publiſhed one ftill better: but of all the engravings for-
merly executed, that given by Kæmpfer muſt be allowed to be
the moſt accurate'; yet even this icon, like all the others pub-
liſhed by this induſtrious naturaliſt, is extremely imperfect; al-
though he certainly ſaw the living plants which he has repre-
ſented, however expert the Chineſe may be in deception.
2
? Amoenit. Exotic. p. 618, et ſeq. See alſo his hiſtory of Japan by Scheuchzer.
Lond. 2 Vol. Fol. App. p. 3. Geoffr. Mat. Med. Vol. II. p. 276. Other figures of
this ſhrub are repreſented in Piſo Itinere Braſilico, Kircher's China Illuſtrata, and
Dutch Embaffy.
Olbeck, in his voyage to China, ſpeaking of the Camellia, ſays, “ I bought
one of a blind man in the ſtreet, which had fine double white and red flowers. But,
by farther obſerving it in my room, I found that the flowers were taken from ano-
ther; and one calyx was ſo neatly fixed in the other with nails of bamboo, that I
ſhould ſcarce have found it out, if the flowers had not begun to wither. The tree
itſelf had only buds, but no open flowers. I learned from this inſtance, that who-
ever will deal with the Chineſe, muſt make uſe of his utmoſt circumſpection,
and even then muſt run the riſk of being cheated.” Vol. VII. p. 17. Mocquet in
his Travels and Voyages, An. 1606, 1. 4. p. 264, relates a curious piece of deception
practiſed by a Chineſe of Canton. ". A Portugueſe,” he ſays, bought a roaſted
duck at a cook's ſhop in Canton. Seeing it look well, and appearing to be very fat,
he carried it with him on-board his veſſel, to eat it; but, when he had put his knife
within it to cut it up, he found nothing but the ſkin, which was upon fome
paper, ,
ingeniouſly fitted up with little ſticks, which made up the body of the duck; the
Chineſe having very dexterouſly plucked away the fleſh, and then ſo well accom-
modated this ſkin, that it ſeemed to be a true duck."
66
C
SECTION

( 10 )
S E C TI O N
III.
AUTHORS UPON TEA.
Besides the Authors already mentioned, ſeveral others.
have given ſome account of this exotic ever-green, the principal
of which are added for the farther information of thoſe who
may be deſirous of conſulting theſe writers on the ſubject.
Johann. Petr. Maffeus rerum Indicarum libro vi. pag. 108.
& lib. XII. pag. 242. Ludov. Almeyd. in eodem opere lib. IV.
ſelect. epiſt.
Petr. Jarric, tom. III. lib. 11. cap. XVII.
Matth. Ric. de Chriſtian, exped. apud Sinas, lib. 1. cap. VII.
L. Baptiſta Ramufio, le Navigationi e viaggi nelli quali fi
Contienne la Deſcrittione dell' Africa, del paeſe del prete Joanni
del mar Roffo, Calicut, iſole Molucheſe la Navigazione interno
il mondo. Venet. 1550. 1563. 1588. 3 Vol. Fol. Vol. III.
p. 15.
Tranſlation in Engliſh of Giovanni Botaro', an eminent
Italian author. Printed in 1590.
7
* This writer obſerves, that the Chineſe have alſo an herb, out of which they
preſs a delicate juice, which ſerves them for a drink inſtead of wine : it alſo preferves
their health, and frees them from all thoſe evils « that the immediate uſe of wine
doth breed unto us, By the uſe the modern Chineſe make of Tea (who are a fober
people) it can be nothing elſe. Anderſon's Chronolog. Deduction of Commerce.
Texeira,

(II)
Texeira, Relaciones del origen de los Reyes de Perſia у
de
Hormuz. Amberes, 1610. P. 19.
Fiſcher's Sibiriſche Geſchichte, 1639. Vol. II. p. 694.
Alois Frois, in Relat. Japonicâ.
Nicol. Trigaut. de Regno Chinæ, Cap. II. p. 34.
Linfcot. de Inſula Japonicâ, Cap. XXVI. p. 35. Ha. 1599.
Fol. et Belgiæ Amft. 1644. Fol.
Bernhard. Varen, in defcriptione Regni Japoniæ, Cap. XXIII.
P. 161.
T
Johan. Bauhin. Hiſtor. Univerf. Plantarum, 1597. Tom. III.
lib. XXVII. cap. I. p. 5. b.
Alex. Rhod. Sommaire des divers voyages et miſfions Apof-
toliques du R. P. Alexandre de Rhodes de la compagnie de Jeſus
à la Chine, et autres Royaumes de l'orient, avec ſon retour de
la Chine, à Rome; depuis l'année, 1618, juſques à l'annee,
1653, P. 25.
Dionyſii Joncquet, Stirpium aliquot paulò obfcurius officinis,
Arabibus aliiſque denominatarum, per Caſp. Bauhin, explicat.
p. 25. Ed. 1612.
Simon Pauli, Quadripartitum Botanicum, claffe fecundà,
pag. 44. Ibidemque claſſe tertiâ, pag. 493.
Simon Pauli, Comment, de abuſu Tobaci et herbæ Theæ,
Roftock. 1635. 4to. Straſburgh. 1665. Argent. 1665. 4to.
Francf. 17.08. 4to. London, 1746. 8vo.
Wilhelm. Leyl. epiſtol. apud Simon Pauli in Comment, de
abuſu. Tobaci, &c. p. 15. b.
Jacob. Bontii de Medicina Indorum, lib. iv. Leid. 1642.
I 2mo. et cum Pifone, Leid. 1658. Fol. Belgiæ, Ooſt en Weft-
indiſche waarande, Amſtel. 1694. 8vo. Anglicè. An Account
C2
of

( 12 )
of the Diſeaſes, Natural Hiſtory, and Medicines, of the Eaſt
Indies : London, 1769, 8vo.
Beginne ende voortgang van de Vereenighde Neederlande,
1646, 2 vol. et fub titulo, Recueil des Voyages faits pour
L'Etabliſſement de la Campagnie des Indes Orientales, Amſtel.
1702. 12mo, 10 Vol.
Joann. Nieuzofs, Gezantſchap an den Keizer van China,
p. I 22. a.
Eraſmi Franciſl. Oft-und Weft-Indiſcher wie auch Sinefiſcher
Luft-und Stats-Garten, p. 291.
Nicol. Tulpii, Obſerv. Medic. lib. iv. cap. LX. P. 380.
Leidæ, 1641. 8vo.
Adam. Olearii, Perfioniſche Reiſe-Beſchreibung, 1633. p. 325.
lib. v. cap. xvii. p. 599. Fol. 1656. Hamburg. 1698. Amſtel.
1666. 4to.
Johan. Albert. von Mandelſlo, Morgenlandiſche Reiſe-Beſch-
reibung, lib. 1. cap. XI. p. 39. Edit. 1656.
Olai Wormii, Muf. lib. 11. cap. xiv. p. 165. Hafn. 1642. 4to.
Gulielm. Piſo, in Itinere Braſilico, Cliviæ, 1661. 8vo.
Athanaf. Kircher, Chin. Illuftrat. Ed. 1658. cum figura Fruct.
Theæ.
Simon de Molinariis, Ambrofia Afiatica, five de virtute et
uſu Theæ, Genuæ, 1672. 1 2mo.
De Comiers, le bon uſage du Thee, du Coffee, et du Cho-
colat, pour la Preſervation et pour la Gueriſon des Malades, Paris,
1687. I 2mo.
Marcus Mappus, de Thea, Coffea, et Chocolata. Argent. 1675
et 1695. 4to.
Oliv.

( 13 )
Oliv. Dappers, Beſchryvinge des Keizerryts van Taiſing or
Sina, Amſtel. 1680. Fol. p. 226.
Nic. Blegny, du bon uſage du Thé, du Caffé, et du Chocolat.
Lyon. 1680. 1 2mo. Abrégé du traité du Caffé, &c. Lyon. 1687.
I 2mo.
John Overton, Voyage to Surat, London, 1696. 8vo.
John Overton, Efſay upon the Nature and Qualities of Tea,
London, 1735. 8vo.
Paul Sylveſtre du Four, de l'uſage du Thè, Caphe, et Cho-
colat. London, 1671. et auctius, 1684. 1686. 1 2mo. Hunc
libellum Jacobus Sponius Latinè reddidit, et edidit cum titulo,
Tr. nov. de potu Theæ, Coffeæ, Chocolatæ, Paris. 1685. 1 2mo.
cum figuris.
Pechlin, Theophilus Bibaculus, Franckfort, 1684. 4to.
Franc. Mich. Diſdier, Beſchreibung des Caffée, The, Choco-
late, und Tobaks, Hamb. 1684. I 2mo.
Bern. Albini, Diſputatio de Thea, Francf. Viadr. 1684. 4to.
Arnold. Montan. Gudenfwaerdige Geſandtchappen aen de
Kaiſaren van Japan. 1684.
J. Chamberlane, manner of making Tea, Coffee, and Cho-
colate, Lond. 1685. I 2mo. p. 46.
Republiques des Lettrés, tom. III. Fev. 1685.
Petri Petivi, Carmen de Thea; et Joh. Georg. Heinichen de
Theæ encomiis. Lugdun. 1685. 4to.
Corn. Bontekoe, van The, Coffy, en Chocolate. Haag. 1685.
8vo. Spanius de Thea, Coffea, et Chocolata.
Chriſtian. Kurſner, de potu Theæ. Marpurg, 1681.
Jan.

( 14
Jan. Abraham. à Gehema, Weetſtreit des Chineſiſchen Thea
mit Warmen Waffer Berlin, 1685, 8vo. Francf. 1696. 8vo.
fub titulo, Zwanzig geſundheits regeln.
Steph. Blankaart gebrugk en miſbruyk van de Thee. Haag.
1686. 8vo.
The Natural Hiſtory of Coffee, Tea, Chocolate, and To-
bacco, with a Tract of the Elder and Juniper Berries, Lond.
168 3. 4to.
Henrici Coſmii, magnæ naturæ æconomia cum demonſtra-
tione Theæ, Coffeæ, Chocolatæ, Francf. Lipf. 1687. I 2mo.
Elias Comerarius, in diſputationibus de Thea et Coffea,
Tubingae, 1694. 8vo.
Le Compte's Journey through the Empire of China. Lond.
1697. 8vo. p. 228.
Joh. Ludov. Apinus, obf. 70. Decur. 3. Miſcell. Curioſ.
1697. Andr. Cleyerus, Dec. 2. an. 4ti. pag. 7. Dan. Crugerus,
Dec. 2. Ann. 4ti. p. 141. Riedlinus Lin. Med. Ann. 4ti. Dom.
Ambrof. Stegmann, de Decoct. Theæ. Vol. V. p. 36.
Sir Thomas Pope Blounts Natural Hiſtory, 8vo. London,
1693.
Wilh. Ulrich Waldſchmidt, de ufu et abuſu Thea in genere:
Kiel, 1692. 8vo.
Ejuſdem, an potus herbæ Theæ ecficcandi et emaciandi vir-
tute pollerat ? Kiel, 1702. 4to.
P. Duncan, Avis Salutaire contre l'Abus du Coffe, du Cho-
colat, et du The Rotterdam, 1705. 8vo. London, 1766.
8vo.
Groot miſbruyk van de Theæ en Coffæ. Haag, 1695. 4to.
Philoſophical

( 15 )
Philoſophical Tranſactions, V. I. an. 1665, 1666. Monday,
July 2, 1766.
Plukenetii, Amalth. Botan. Londini, 1705, p. 79. 139.
Renaudot, anciennes relations de la Chine et des Indes. Paris,
1718, p. 31.
Kæmpfer, Amoenit. Exotic. Lemgov. 4to. 1712, p. 618.
Les Lettres curieuſes et edifiantes des Jeſuites, paffim.
Car. Frid. Luther, de potu Theæ, Kiel, 1712. 4to.
J. Cunningham, de variis fpeciebus Theæ, Agricultura Chi-
nenfi, &c. n. 280.
Levuh. Frid. Meiſner, Diſputatio inaugur. de Thea, Coffea,
Chocolata. Nuremb. 1721, 8vo.
Botanicum Officinale, or a compendious Herbal of ſuch Plants
as are uſed in Phyfic, by Joſeph Miller. Lond. 1722. 8vo.
Labat, Nouveau Voyage aux Iles de l'Amerique. Paris, 1721.
Joh. Henricus Cohauſon, Niewe Thee Tafel. et de Thea,
Coffea, &c. à Chriſt. Helwig. Amftel. 1719. 8vo. Germanicè,
1722. 8vo.
Short's Diſſertation upon the Nature and Properties of Tea,
&c. London, 1730. 4to.
Ancient Accounts of India and China, by two Mahommedan
Travellers. London, 1732.
L'Abbé Pluche, Le Spectacle de la Nature, à Paris, 1732.
Les Entretiens Phyſiques d'Arifte et d'Edoxe, par le pere
Reynault. Paris, 1732. tom. 3.
John Arbuthnot, M. D. Effay concerning the Nature of
Aliments. Lond. 1735. 8vo.
Caſp, Neumann, vom Thee, Coffee, Bier und Wein, Leipf. 1735.
J. Franc.

( 16 )
J. Franc. le Fevre, de natura, uſu, et abufu, Coffeæ, Thcæ,
Chocolatæ. Vefuntione, 1737. 4to.
R. James, Treatiſe on Tea, Tobacco, Coffee, and Choco-
late, tranſlated from Simon Pauli, Comment. &c. London,
1746, 8vo.
Barr. Rarior. 128. t. 904.
Du Halde, Deſcription generale Hiſtorique, Chronologique,
Politique, et Phyſique, de la Chine, Paris, 1735. Fol. 4 vol.
Haag. 1736. 4to. 4 vol. Hiſtory of Japan, Lond. 1735. 8vo.
4 vol.
Aſtley's Collection of Voyages, 4 vol. 4to. Lond. 1746.
The true Qualities of Tea. Anonymous. Lond. 1746. 8vo.
Petr. Kalms, Wäſtgöta Reſa, Stockholm, 1746. 8vo. tranſ-
lated by Forſter, Lond. 1772. 8vo. 2 vol.
James Stevenſon, Treatiſe on Tobacco, Tea, Coffee, and
Chocolate, Lond. 1746. 8vo.
Chambers' Encyclopædia, Lond. 1752. Fol. Tom. II.
Maſon on the Properties of Tea, 1756. 8vo.
The good and bad Effects of Tea conſidered, Anonymous,
Lond. 1758. 8vo.
Linnæi Amænit. Acad. V. VII. p. 241.
Newmann's Chemiſtry, by Lewis. Lond. 1759. 4to. p. 373.
Hanway's Journal of eight Days Journey. London, 1759.
8vo. 2 vol. p. 21. vol. II.
Hanway's Obſervations on the Cauſes of the Diffoluteneſs
amongſt the Poor. Lond. 1772. 4to. p. 73. et paffim.
L'Abbé Jacquin, de la Santé utile à tout le Monde, à Paris,
1763. 8vo. p. 190.
Burmanni

( 17 )
Burmanni Fl. Indica, Lugd. Bat. 1766. p. 122.
Linnæi Sp. Plant. Vindobonæ. 1746. p. 734. Syft. Nat.
Vind. 1770. Tom. II. p. 365.
Linnæi Mat. Med. Vind. 1773. p. 136. Conf. Murray, ap-
par. Med. Bergii Mat. Med. &c.
Encyclopedie, ou Dict. Raiſonné, Neufch. 1765. Fol. Tom.
XVI. Thè.
M. de Begne de Preſle, de Conſervateur de la Santé, ou Avis
ſur les Dangers, &c. à Paris. 1763. I 2mo. Dangers du Thè,
P. 118.
Concorde de la Geographie, ouvrage poſtume de l'Abbé
Pluche, Paris, 1764. I 2mo.
Will. Lewis, Experimental Hiſtory of the Materia Medica,
Lond. 1768. 4to. p. 518.
Hart's Eſſays on Huſbandry. Lond. 1768. p. 166.
Tiſſot on Diſeaſes incidental to literary and ſedentary Perſons,
by Kirkpatrick. Lond. 1769. 1 2mo. p. 145.
Romaire Dictionaire d'Hiſtoire naturelle. Paris, 1769. 8vo.
Milne's Botanical Dictionary, Lond. 1770. 8vo.
Brookes' Natural Hiſtory. Lond. 1772. 6 vol. with a plate
of the Tea Plant.
Ofbeck's Voyage into China, by Forſter. Lond. 1771. 8vo.
2 vol.
Young's Farmer's Letters, Vol. I. p. 202. & 299.
Buc'hoz, Diſſertation ſur le Thé fur la recolte, et ſur les bons
et mauvais effets de ſon infuſian. Paris.
Blackwell's herbal. Lond. 1739. t. 351.
Thunberg, Flora Japon. Lipfiæ, 1784. p. 225.
D.
Cullen's

( 18 )
Cullen's Mat. Med. Edinb. 1789. Tom. II. p. 309.
Murray, Appar. Medic. Gotting. 1787. Tom. IV. p. 226.
Grozier’s general Deſcription of China. London. 2 vol. 8vo.
Vol. I. p. 442.
Fougeroux de Bondaroi, in Rozier, obf. et mem. ſur la Phy-
fique, Tom. I. f. 1.
Woodville's Supplement to Medical Botany. Lond. 1794.
p. 116, with a figure.
Sir George Staunton, An authentic Account of an Embaſſy,
Lond. 1797. Vol. I. p. 22. and particularly Vol. II. p. 464.
SECTION

( 19 )
S E C ΤΙ Ο Ν
IV.
ORIGIN OF TEA.
As China and Japan' are the only countries known to
us, where the Tea fhrub is cultivated for uſe, we may reaſonably
conclude, that it is indigenous to one of them, if not to both.
What motive firſt led the natives to uſe an infuſion of Tea in
the preſent manner is uncertain ; but probably in order to cor-
rect the water, which is ſaid to be brackiſh and ill-taſted in
many parts of thofe countries. Of the good effects of Tea in
ſuch caſes, we have a remarkable proof in Kalm's journey
through North America, which his tranſlator gives us in the
following words:
“ Tea is differently eſteemed by different people, and I
think we would be as well, and our purſes much better, if we
were without tea and coffee. However, I muſt be impartial,
and mention in praiſe of Tea, that if it be uſeful, it muſt cer-
tainly be fo in ſummer, on ſuch journies as mine, through a
* Some authors add Siam alſo. Vid. Sim. Pauli Comment. et Wilh. Leyl. epiſt.
apud Simon. Pauli comment. Nich. Tulpius obferv. Medicin. lib. iv. cap. lx. Lond.
1641.
* Le Compte's Journey through the Empire of China, p. 112. Staunton's Em-
baffy, Vol. II. p. 96, and particularly p. 68.
deſart
D 2

( 20 )
deſart country, where one cannot carry wine, or other liquors,
and where the water is generally unfit for uſe, as being full
of inſects. In ſuch caſes it is very pleaſant when boiled, and
Tea is drank with it; and I cannot ſufficiently deſcribe the fine
tafte it has in ſuch circumſtances. It relieves a weary traveller
more than can be imagined, as I have myſelf experienced, to-
gether with a great many others, who have travelled through
the defart foreſts of America : on ſuch journics Tea is found to
be almoſt as neceſſary as victuals.”
About the year 1600, Texeira, a Spaniard, ſaw the dried
Tea leaves in Malacca, where he was informed that the Chineſe
prepared a drink from this vegetable ; and, in 1633, Olearius
found this practice prevalent among the Perſians, who pro-
cured the plant under the name of Cha orchia, from China, by
means of the Uſbeck Tartars. In 1639, Starkaw, the Ruffian
Ambaſſador, at the Court of thé Mogul, Chau Altyn, partook
of the infufion of Tea; and, at his departure, was offered a
quantity of it, as a preſent for the Czar Michael Romanof,
7
( We
Kalm's Travels into North America, Vol. II. p. 314. The following note is
added by the ingenious Engliſh tranſlator in the ed edition, Vol. II. p. 141 :
“ On my travels through the deſart plains, beyond the river Volga, I have had
ſeveral opportunities of making the ſame obſervations on Tea ; and every traveller
in the fame circumſtances will readily allow them to be very juſt.” Forſter, ibid.
See Brydone's Tour through Sicily and Malta, Let. 6. In letter 20, he ſays,
have travelled all night on mules ; and arrived here about ten o'clock, overcome
with ſleep and fatigue. We have juſt had an excellent diſh of tea, which never
fails to cure me of both; and I am now as freſh as when we ſet out.” Captain
Forreſt, in his Voyage to New Guinea, relates ſeveral inſtances wherein the ſailors
experienced the exhilarating effects of this infufion.
which

( 21 )
which the Ambaſſador refuſed, as being an article for which he
had no uſe!
This article was firſt introduced into Europe by the Dutch
Eaſt India Company, very early in the laſt century; and a
quantity of it was brought over from Holland about the year
1666%, by Lord Arlington and Lord Offory. In conſequence
of this, Tea foon became known amongſt people of faſhion, and
its uſe, by degrees, ſince that period, has become general.
It is, however, certain, that before this time, drinking Tea,
even in public coffee-houſes, was not uncommon; for, in 1660,
a duty of four-pence per gallon was laid on the liquor made and
fold in all coffee-houſes 3.
So
2
? Fiſcher's Libiriſche Geſchichte, Vol. II. p. 694—697. Monthly Magazine,
Vol. VI. p. 6o.
Hanway's Journal of Eight Days Journey, Vol. II. p. 21. The fame author
obſerves, that Tea fold at this time for fixty ſhillings a pound. Anderſon, in his
“ Chronological Deduction of Commerce,” remarks, that the firſt European
author that mentions Tea wrote in the year 1590. However, by the preceding
catalogue, it will appear, that this ſubject had been conſidered much earlier.
In Renaudot's anciennes Relations, Paris, 1718, p. 31, mention is made of two
Arabian travellers who viſited China about the year 850; and related, that the in-
habitants of that empire had a medicinal beverage, named chah or ſah, which was
prepared by pouring boiling water on the dried leaves of a certain herb, which in-
fuſion was reckoned an efficacious remedy in various diſeaſes.
By an act made this year, the duties of Excife on malt liquor, cyder, perry,
mead, ſpirits, or ſtrong waters, coffee, tea, ſherbet, and chocolate, were ſettled
on the King during his life. Then it was that Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate, were
firſt mentioned in the ſtatute book. Noorthouck, in his Hiſtory of London,
remarks, that King Charles II. iſſued a proclamation for ſhutting up the coffee-
houſes, &c. about a month after he had dined with the Corporation of London, at
Guildhall, on their Lord-Mayor's day, Oct. 29, 1675. At this feaſt the King af-
forded

( 22 )
So early as 1678, Cornelius Bontekoe, a Dutch phyſician,
publiſhed a treatiſe, in his own language, on Tea, Coffee, and
Chocolate'. In this he ſhews himſelf a very zealous advocate
for Tea, and denies the poſſibility of its injuring the ſtomach,
although taken to the greateſt exceſs, as far as one or two hun-
dred cups in a day. To what motive we are to impute the par-
tiality of Dr. Bontekoe, is uncertain at this period; but as he
was firſt phyſician to the Elector of Brandenburgh, and proba-
bly of conſiderable eminence and character, his eulogium might
forded the Citizens abundant inatter for animadverſion, in which they indulged
themſelves ſo much to his diſſatisfaction, and that of his cabal miniſtry,
that a proclamation was iſſued December 20, for ſhutting up and ſuppreſſing
all coffee-houſes; “ becauſe, in ſuch houſes, and by occaſion of the meeting of
diſaffected perſons in them, divers- falſe, malicious, and fcandalous reports were
deviſed and read abroad, to the defamation of his Majeſty's government, and to the
diſturbance of the quiet and peace of the realm.” The opinions of the judges were
taken on this great point of ſtopping people's tongues, when they fagely reſolved,
6 that retailing of Coffee and Tea might be an innocent trade; but as it was uſed to
nouriſh ſedition, ſpread lies, and ſcandalize great men, it might alſo be a common
nuiſance." In ſhort, on a petition of the merchants and retailers of Coffee and Tea,
permiſſion was granted to keep open the coffee-houſes until the 24th of June next,
under an admonition, that the maſters of them ſhould prevent all ſcandalous papers,
books, and libels, from being read in them; and hinder every perſon from declaring,
uttering, or divulging all manner of falſe or ſcandalous reports againſt government or
the miniſters thereof. Thus, by a refinement of policy, the fimple manufacturer of
diſh of Coffee or Tea was conſtituted licenſer of books, corrector of manners, and
arbiter of the truth or falſehood of political intelligence over every company he en-
tertained ! And here the matter ended. Chap. 15.
In May 1784 an act was paſſed, called the Commutation Act, “for repealing the
ſeveral duties on Tea, and for granting to his Majeſty other duties in lieu thereof;
and alſo ſeveral duties on inhabited houſes."
* The ſecond edition was publiſhed under the title of Van The, Coffy, en Cho-
colate. Haag. 1685. 8vo. The late Baron Van Swieten cenſures this phyſician for
his remarkable bias in favour of this exotic, Comment. Vol. V. p. 587. Eft modus
in rebus, may be as aptly applied to Dr. Bontekoe as to Dr. Duncan.
tend
a

( 23 )
tend greatly to promote its uſe : however, we find its importa-
tion and conſumption were daily augmented ; and, before the
concluſion of the laſt century, it became generally known
among the common people in England.
It is foreign to my ſubject, or it would perhaps afford to a
ſpeculative mind no inconſiderable fatisfaction, to trace the
conſumption from its firſt entrance at the Cuſtom-houſe to the
preſent amazing imports. At this time upwards of twenty-three
millions of pounds are annually allowed for home conſumption ;
and the Eaſt India Company have generally in their warehouſes
a ſupply at leaſt for one year.
The following account of the importation of Tea, from 1776
to 1795, as related by Sir George Staunton (Vol. II. p. 624),
may be ſatisfactory to the Reader :
An

An Account of the Quantities of Teas exported from China, in Engliſh and Foreign Ships, in each rear from
1776 to 1795, diſtinguiſhing each Year.
( 24)
Ships.
1776.
Ships.
1777:
Ships.
1778.
| Ships.
Ships.
1779
1780.
Ships.
1781.
1782.
1783.
Ships.
1784.
| Ships.
we | Ships.
1785.
Ships
ta
1
2
2 Ib. 2,562,500 | 2 3,049,1002 2,851,200 2
2,833,700 | 2 2,487,300 | 2 2,098,3001
4,923,700|44,856,500 4 4,695,700 4.
2,521,000 5 5,719,100 | 71 3,057,500 4
5
-
LO
ng + ||
3,328,000 2 2,626,400 3| 4,108,900 | 2 3,267,300 3
1,388,400 3 3,983,6002 2,341,400 3 4,118,500 4
4,553,100 41 4,087,800 4 4,957,600
2,102,800
1,375,900
317,700
3
4,265,000 3 4,878,900
5.477,2003 3,204,000 4 3,158,000
4 5:334,003
4,231,200 4 4,960,000
53,428,400
T!
2
1
3
8
-
By Swedes
Danes
Dutch -
French
Imperial
Hungarian
Tuſcan
Portugueze
American -
Pruffia
Spaniſh
11
I
11
1
-
E
E
1
.
I
1111
UIT
11
-
933,300
3,954,100
8
-
|||
I11
-
4.
2
3,199,000
880,100
11
--
1
2
3,329,800
2
Total Foreign - )
12 lb. 12,841,500 1316,112,000 15 13,302,700 II 11,302,300 10 12,673,700 10 11,725,600 5 7,385,800 16 14,630,200 21 "19,072,300 18* 17,531,100
Engliſh private
Trade included
5. 3,402,415 85,673,434 91 6,392,7887 4,372,021 none imported. 17|111,592,8199 6,857,731|4,138,295 13 9,916,760 14 10,583,628
17 15. 16,243,915 21 21,785,434 24 19,695,488 18 15,674,321 10 12,673,700 27 23,318,419 14 14,243,531 22 18,768.495 34 28,989,060 32 28,114,728
- -
1788.
1
-
І
1
I
1
3
ES
-
I
1
3
-
-
1
1
1
I
2
1
-
3
I
3
11
1
1
111
3
E
1786.
1787
1789.
1790.
1791.
1792.
1793
1794.
1795.
By Swedes
4 16.6,212,400 | 1
1,747,7002 2,890,9002 2,589,000
1,591,3301 1,559,730 I 756,130
Danes
3 4,578,1002
2,092,000 2 2,664,000 2 2,496,8001
1,773,0001 520,700
852,670
24,670
Dutch
4 4,458,800 5
5,943,200 51 5,794,900 4
5,794,900 41 4,179,000 5 5,106,9003 1,328,500 2 2,051,3303 2,938,5302 2,417,20044,096,800
French
466,600 | 1 382,200 3 1,728,900 I 292,1001 294,3002 442,1004 784,000 2 1,540,670
Imperial
Hungarian
Tuſcan
393,870
Portugueze
American-
695,000 5
1,181,8602
750,900 4.
1,188,800 14 3,093,200
3 1,863,200 6 1,538,4007 1,974,1307 1,438,270
Pruffian
499,300
3 743,100 1
5,070
Spaniſh
318,400
400
Genoefe
260
578,9302 289,4701
17,400
Total Foreign
13 lb* 16,410,900 14 11,347,020 15 14,328,900 15 11,064,700 21 10,267,400 10 3,034,660 12 6,294,930 191 9,403,200 12 5,436,930 14 5,577,200
Engliſh private
Trade included - 18 13,480,691 27 20,610,919 29 22,096,703 27 20,141,745 21 17,991,032 25 22,369,62011 13,185,467 1616,005,414 18 20,728,705 21 23,733,810
231
31 lb.29,891,591 41 31,957,939 44 36,425,603 42 31,206,445 42 28,258,432 35 25,404,280 23 19,480,397 35 25,408,614 30 26,165,635 35 29,311,010
* Moſt of theſe foreign fhips went to China, previous to the Commutation Act, which paſſed into effect in England in September, 1784.
Part of theſe ſhould have arrived in 1780.
2
|||
I
TI
-
3
I
IL
-
1
-
I
2
|/|||||||| || ||||

( 25 )
It is probable that the Dutch, as they traded confiderably to
Japan about the time Tea was introduced into Europe, firſt
brought this article from thence. But now China is the general
mart, and the province Fokien, or Fo-chen', the principal
country, that ſupplies both the Empire and Europe with this
commodity.
* In this province, this ſhrub is called Thee, or Te; and as the Europeans firſt
Landed here, that dialect has been preſerved. Le Compte's Journey through the
Empire of China, p. 227. Du Halde's Hiſtory of China, Vol. IV. p. 21.
E
SECTION

( 26 )
S E C T I ON
V.
SOIL AND CULTURE.
To the ingenious Kæmpfer we are principally indebted for
any accurate information reſpecting the culture of the Tea Tree;
and, as his account was compoſed during his reſidence at Japan,
greater credit is certainly due to it. We ſhall give what he
ſays upon this ſubject, and then ſtate the accounts we have
been able to collect of the Chineſe method.
Kæmpfer tells us, that no particular gardens or fields are
allotted for this plant, but that it is cultivated round the borders
of rice and corn fields, without any regard to the ſoil. Any
number of the feeds, as they are contained in their feed veſſels,
not uſually leſs than fix, or exceeding twelve or fifteen, are
promiſcuouſly put into one hole, made four or five inches deep
in the ground, at certain diſtances from each other. The ſeeds,
contain a large proportion of oil, which is ſoon liable to turn
rancid; hence ſcarce a fifth part of them germinate, and this
makes it neceſſary to plant ſo many together.
The ſeeds vegetate without any other care ; but the more
induſtrious annually remove the weeds, and manure the land.
The leaves which fucceed are not fit to be plucked before the
third

(27
third years. growth, at which period they are plentiful, and in
their prime.
In about ſeven years the ſhrub riſes to a man's height; but
as it then bears few leaves, and grows flowly, it is cut down to
the ftem, which occaſions ſuch an exuberance of freſh ſhoots
and leaves the ſucceeding ſummer, as abundantly compenſates
the owners for their former loſs and trouble. Some defer
cutting them till they are of ten years growth.
So far as can be gathered from authors and travellers of
credit, this ſhrub'is cultivated and prepared in China, in a
fimilar manner to what is practiſed in Japan; but as the Chineſe
export conſiderable quantities of Tea, they plant whole fields
with it, to ſupply foreign markets, as well as for home con-
fumption.
The Tea-tree delights particularly in vallies ; or on the de-
clivities of hills, and upon the banks of rivers, where it enjoys
a ſouthern expoſure to the fun; though it endures conſiderable
variations of heat and cold, as it flouriſhes in the northern
clime of Pekin, as well as about Canton, the former of
· The beſt Tea grows in a mild temperate climate; the country about Nankin
producing better Tea than either Pekin or Canton, between which places it is
ſituated. It has been aſſerted, that no Tea-plants have yet died in England through
exceſs of cold ; but the contrary, I know, has happened. The plant in the
Princeſs Dowager's garden at Kew flouriſhed under glaſs windows, with the
natural heat of the ſun, as now do thoſe at Mile-end, in the poſſeſſion of the
intelligent Botaniſt J. Gordon. The Tea-plant belonging to Dr. Fothergill thrives
in his garden at Upton, expoſed to the open air, and the plant introduced into the
Botanic garden at Chelſea had one leaf which meaſured five inches and a quarter
in length.
which
E 2

( 28 )
which is in the ſame latitude with Rome; and from meteo-
rological obſervations it appears, that the degree of cold about:
Pekin is as ſevere in winter, as in ſome of the northern parts
of Europe
I
* Du Halde and other authors have obſerved, that the degree of cold in foñe:
parts of China is very ſevere in winter. In the inland parts of North America, and!
on extenſive continents, the degrees of heat and cold are found to be much more:
violent than in iſlands or places bordering on the ſea in the ſame latitude, as the
air that blows over the ſea is liable to leſs variation in theſe reſpects, than that:
which blows over large tracts of land.
SECTION

( 29 )
SECTION
VI.
GATHERING THE LEAVES.
At the proper ſeaſons for gathering the Tea leaves, la--
bourers are hired, who are very quick in plucking them, being
accuſtomed to follow this employment as a means of their live-
lihood. They do not pluck them by handfuls, but carefully
one by one; and, tedious as this may appear; each perſon is
able to collect from four to ten or fifteen pounds in one day,
The different periods in which the leaves are uſually gathered,
are particularly deſcribed by Kæmpfer".
I. The firſt commences at the middle of the laſt moon, im-
mediately preceding the vernal equinox, which is the firſt month
of the Japaneſe year, and falls about the latter end of our
February, or beginning of March. The leaves collected at
this time are called Ficki Tsjaa, or powdered' Tea, becauſe
they are pulveriſed and fipped in hot water (Sect. IX. 1).
Theſe tender young leaves are but a few days old when they
are plucked; and, becauſe of their ſcarcity and price, are
diſpoſed of to princes - and rich people only ; and hence this
kind is called Imperial Tea.
* Amenitat. Exotic, p. 618, et ſeq. Hiſtory of Japan. Appendix to Vol. II
p. 6, et ſeq.
A fimilar
1

( 30 )
A ſimilar fort is alſo called Udfi Tsjaa, and Tacke Sacki
Tsjaa, from the particular places where it grows. The peculiar
care and nicety obſerved in gathering the Tea leaves in theſe
places deſerve to be noticed here, and we ſhall therefore give
ſome account of one of them.
Udfi is a ſmall Japaneſe town, bordering on the ſea, and not
far diſtant from the city of Miaco. In the diſtrict of this little
town, is a pleaſant mountain of the ſame name, which is
thought to poſſeſs the moſt favourable foil and climate for the
culture of Tea, on which account it is incloſed with hedges,
and likewiſe ſurrounded with a broad ditch for farther ſecurity.
The trees are planted upon this mountain in ſuch a manner as
to form regular rows, with intervening walks. Perſons are ap-
pointed to ſuperintend the place, and preſerve the leaves from
injury or dirt. The labourers who are to gather them, for ſome
weeks before they begin, abſtain from every kind of groſs food,
or whatever might endanger communicating any ill flavour to
the leaves; they pluck them alſo with the ſame delicacy,
having on a thin pair of gloves'. This ſort of imperial or
bloom Tea” is afterwards prepared, and then eſcorted by the
chief ſurveyor of the works of this mountain, with a ſtrong
guard, and a numerous retinue, to the emperor's court, for
the uſe of the Imperial family.
· The ſame cautions are not uſed previous to collecting other ſorts of Tea.
2 This cannot be the fort to which alſo the Dutch give that name, as it is fold
upon the ſpot to the princes of the country, for much more than the common bloom
Tea is ſold for in Europe. Kæmpfer, Amoenit. Exotic. p. 617. Hiſtory of Japan,
Appendix, p. 9. Neumann's Chemiſtry by Lewis, P. 373.
II. The

( 31 )
II. The ſecond gathering is made in the ſecond Japaneſe
month, about the latter end of March, or beginning of April.
Some of the leaves at this period are come to perfection, others
not arrived at their full growth; both however are promiſcuouſly
gathered, and are afterwards forted into different claſſes, ac-
cording to their age, fize, and quality; the youngeſt particu-
larly are carefully ſeparated, and are often ſold for the firſt
ga-
thering or Imperial Tea. The tea collected at this time is
called Tootsjaa, or Chineſe Tea, becauſe it is infuſed, and
drank after the Chineſe manner (SECT. IX. 1.) It is divided
by the Tea-dealers and merchants into four kinds, diſtinguiſhed
by as many names.
III. The third and laſt gathering is made in the third Ja-
paneſe month, which falls about our June, when the leaves are
very plentiful and full grown. This kind of Tea, called Ban
Tsjaa, is the coarſeſt, and is chiefly drank by the lower claſs of
people (Sect. IX. III.)
Some confine themſelves to two gatherings in the year, their
firſt and ſecond anſwering the preceding ſecond and third.
Others have only one general gathering', which they make
alſo at the ſame time with the preceding third or laſt gather-
ing: however, the leaves collected at each time, are reſpec-
tively ſeparated into different fortments.
The Chineſe collect the Tea at certain feaſons, but whether
the ſame as in Japan, we are not ſo well informed, moſt pro-
1 In this caſe the under leaves, which are harſh and leſs ſucculent, are probably
See Eckeberg's Chineſe Huſbandry in Olbeck's Voyage, Vol. II.
p. 303.
2 Du Halde's Hiſtory of China, Vol. IV. p. 21.-
bably
left
upon
the trees.

( 32 )
bably, however, the Tea harveſt is nearly at the ſame periods,
as the natives have frequent intercourſe, and their commercial
concerns with each other are very extenſive'.
Du Halde, Vol. II. p. 300. Kämpfer obſerves, in his Hiſtory of Japan, that the
trade between theſe nations has continued from remoteſt antiquity; formerly the
Chineſe had a much more general intercourſe with the Japaneſe than they have at
preſent; the affinity in the religion, cuſtoms, books, learned languages, arts and
ſciences of the Chineſe with the latter, procured them a free toleration in Japan.
Hiſtory of Japan, Vol. I. p. 374.
SECTION

( 33 )
SECTION VII.
METHOD OF CURING OR PREPARING TEA
IN JAPAN.
Public buildings, or drying houſes, are erected for curing
Tea, and ſo regulated, that every perſon, who either has not
ſuitable conveniences, or wants the requiſite ſkill, may bring
his leaves at any time to be dried. Theſe buildings contain
from five to ten or twenty ſmall furnaces, about three feet
high, each having at the top a large flat iron pan', either high,
ſquare, or round, bent up a little on that fide which is over
the mouth of the furnace, which at once ſecures the operator
from the heat of the furnace, and prevents the leaves from
falling off.
There is alſo a long low table covered with matts, on which
the leaves are laid, and rolled by workmen, who ſit round it.
The iron pan being heated to a certain degree by a little fire
made in the furnace underneath, a few pounds of the freſh-ga-
thered leaves are put upon the pan; the freſh and juicy leaves
crack when they touch the pan, and it is the buſineſs of the
? Some writers mention copper pans, and ſuppoſe that the green effloreſcence
which appears on copper may increaſe the verdure of green Tea; but, from expe:
riments that I made, there does not appear any foundation for this fuppofition.
See Sect. VIII.
F
operator

( 34 )
operator to ſhift them as quick as poſſible with his bare hands,
till they grow too hot to be eaſily endured. At this inſtant he
takes off the leaves, with a kind of ſhovel reſembling a fan,
and pours them on the matts to the rollers, who, taking ſmall
quantities at a time, roll them in the palms of their hands in
one direction, while others are fanning them, that they may
cool the more ſpeedily, and retain their curl the longer'.
This proceſs is repeated two or three times, or oftener, be-
fore the Tea is put in the ſtores, in order that all the moiſture
of the leaves may be thoroughly diffipated, and their curl more
completely preſerved. On every repetition the pan is leſs
heated, and the operation performed more ſlowly and cau-
tiouſly”. The Tea is then ſeparated into the different kinds,
and depoſited in the ſtore for domeſtic uſe or exportation.
As the leaves of the Ficki Tea (Sect. VI. and IX. 11.), are
uſually reduced into a powder before they are drank, they
ſhould be roaſted to a greater degree of dryneſs. As ſome of
theſe are gathered when very young, tender, and ſmall, they
are firſt immerſed in hot water, taken out immediately, and
dried without being rolled at all.
Country people cure their leaves in earthen kettles 3, which
anſwer every neceſſary purpoſe at leſs trouble and expence,
whereby they are enabled to ſell them cheaper.
.
Sir G. Staunton, Embaſſy to China, obferves that the Tea leaves are each
rolled ſeparately between the fingers of a female, Vol. II. p. 465.
2 This ſhould be carefully attended to, in curing the fine green Teas, to preſerve
their verdure and periſhable flavour. See Sect. VIII. ad finem.
3 This is alſo done in China. See Eckeberg's Chineſe Huſbandry in Olbeck's
Voyage, Vol. II. p. 303.
To

( 35 )
To complete the preparation, after the Tea has been kept
for ſome months, it muſt be taken out of the veſſels, in which
it had been contained, and dried again over a very gentle fire,
that it may be deprived of any humidity which remained, or
might fince have been contracted.
The common Tea is kept in earthern pots with narrow
mouths ; but the beſt fort of Tea uſed by the Emperor and
nobility is put in porcellane or China veſſels.
The Bantsjaa,
or coarſeſt Tea, is kept by the country people in ſtraw baſkets,
made in the ſhape of barrels, which they place under the roofs
of their houſes, near the hole that lets out the ſmoke, and
imagine that this ſituation does not injure the Tea.
This is the relation we have from Kæmpfer of the method
in which the Japaneſe collected and cured their Tea. In the
accounts of China, authors have in general treated very ſlightly
of the cultivation and preparation of Tea. Le Compte' indeed
obſerves, that to have good Tea, the leaves ſhould be gathered
while they are ſmall, tender, and juicy. They begin com-
monly to gather them in the months of March and April, ac-
cording as the ſeaſon is forward; they afterwards expoſe them
to the ſteam of boiling water to foften them; and, as ſoon as
they are penetrated by it, they draw them over copper plates
1
2
Journey through the Empire of China.
Upon this ſubject, fee Sect. VII. and VIII. It may be doubted alſo whether
the concluſion of Le Compte's relation is not erroneous, as it is improbable that any
leaves ſhould of themſelves take ſo perfect a curl as that in which Tea is, brought
into Europe. No materials are uſed but iron and earthen for drying Tea, as obſerved
in note , p. 33.
kept
F a

( 36 )
kept on the fire, which dries them by degrees, till they grow
brown, and roll up of themſelves in that manner we ſee them.
However, it is certain, from the Chineſe drawings, which
exhibit a faithful picture, though rudely executed, of the
whole proceſs from beginning to end, that the Tea tree grows
for the moſt part in hilly countries, on their rocky ſummits,
- and ſteep declivities; and it would ſeem by the pains the
Chineſe are at, in making paths, and fixing a kind of ſcaf-
folds, to aſſiſt them, that theſe places afford the fineſt Tea.
It appears from theſe drawings, that the trees in general are
not much taller than man's height: The gatherers of the
leaves are never repreſented but on the ground; they make
uſe of hooked ſticks indeed, but theſe ſeem rather intended
to draw the branches towards them, when they hang over
brooks, rivers, or from places difficult of acceſs, than to
bend down the tops or upper branches of the trees on plain
ground.
They pick the leaves as ſoon as gathered into different forts,
and cure them nearly in the manner deſcribed to be practiſed
by the Japaneſe. They build a range of ſtoves, like thoſe in
a chemiſt's laboratory, or great kitchen, where the men work,
and curl the leaves in the pans themſelves. It ſeems alſo that
they repeat the drying. They dry it likewiſe, after having
ſpread it abroad in ſhallow baſkets, in the fun; and, by the
means of fieves, ſeparate the larger from the ſmaller leaves, and
theſe again from the duſt.
The Chineſe put the finer kinds of Tea into conic veffels,
like fugar loaves, made of tutenaque, tin, or lead, covered
with

( 37 )
with neat matting of bamboo ; or in ſquare wooden boxes lined
with thin lead, dry leaves and paper, in which manner it is ex-
ported to foreign countries. The common Tea is put into
baſkets, out of which it is emptied, and packed up in boxes or
chefts as ſoon as it is ſold to the Europeans'
One thing ſhould be mentioned to their credit ; when their
harveſt of Tea is finiſhed, each family fails not to teſtify, by
ſome religious rite, their gratitude to the Giver:
+ There are ſeveral diſguſting circumſtances attending the preparation of Tea.
Ofbeck ſays, the Chineſe ſervants tread the Tea into the cheſts with their naked
feet. Voyage to China, Vol. I. p. 252. Sir George Staunton makes a fimilar re-
mark, Vol. II. p. 466.
SECTION

( 38 )
S E C T I O N
VIII.
VARIETIES OF TEA.
It has been already obſerved (Sect. VI.) that many
different fortments of Tea are made during the times of col-
lecting the leaves; and theſe are multiplied according to the
goodneſs of their preparation, by which the varieties of Tea
may be conſiderably augmented'. The diſtinctions with us are
much more limited, being generally confined to three principal
kinds of green, and five of bohea.
I. Thoſe of the former are,
1. Bing, imperial, or bloom Tea, with a large looſe leaf, of
a light green colour, and faint delicate ſmell.
11. Hy-tiann, hi-kiong, or hayfſuen, known to us by the
name of Hyfon Tea, ſo called after an Eaſt-India merchant of
that name, who firſt imported it into Europe. The leaves are
cloſely curled and ſmall, of a green colour, verging towards
blue ?
i Du Halde's Hiſtory of China, Vol. IV. p. 21. Olbeck's Voyage to China,
Vol. I p. 246, et ſeq.
2 The Chineſe have another kind of Hyſon Tea, which they call Hyſon-utchin,
with narrow ſhort leaves. Another ſort of green Tea they name Go-bé, the leaves
of which are narrow and long.
111. Singlo;

(39)
11. Singlo, or fonglo, which name it receives, like many
other Teas, from the place where it is cultivated.
II. The bohea Teas.
1. Soochuen, or ſutchong, by the Chineſe called ſaatyang,
and fact-chaon, or ſu-tyann, is a ſuperior kird of long-fou Tea.
It imparts a yellowiſh green colour, by infuſion '.
II. Camho, or foumlo, called after the name of the place
where it is gathered; a fragrant Tea with a violet ſmell. Its
infuſion is pale.
11. Cong-fou, congo, or bong-fo. This has a larger leaf
than the foilowing, and the infuſion is a little deeper coloured.
It reſembles the common bohea in the colour of the leaf 2.
IV. Pekao, pecko, or pekoe, by the Chineſe called back-ho,
or pack-ho. It is known by having the appearance of ſmall
white flowers intermixed with it.
v. Common bohea, called moji by the Chineſe, conſiſts of
leaves of one colour 3
+ Padre futchong has a finer taſte and ſmell than the common futchong. The
leaves are large and yellowiſh, not rolled up, but expanded, and packed up in
papers of half a pound cach. It is generally conveyed by caravans into Ruſſia.
Without much care, it will be injured at ſea. This Tea is rarely to be met with in
England.
2. There is a fort of Tea called lin-kiſam, with narrow rough leaves. It is
feldom uſed alone, but mixed with other kinds. By adding it to congo, the
Chineſe ſometimes make a kind of pekoe Tea. Oſbeck's Voyage to China, Vol; I.
p. 249.
3 The beſt bohea Tea is named by the Chineſe tao-kyonn. An inferior kind is
called An-kai, from a place of that name. In the diſtrict of Honam near Canton,
the Tea is very coarſe, the leaves yellow or browniſh, and the taſte the leaſt agreem
able of any. By the Chineſe it is named Honam té, or Kuli té.
III. There

( 40 )
III. There has alſo been imported a ſort of Tea, in balls, of a
different form from any of the preceding, made up into
cakes or balls of different ſizes, by the Chineſe called Poncul-
tcha.
1. The largeſt kind of this cake Tea, that I have ſeen, weighs
about two ounces; the infufion and taſte reſemble thoſe of good
bohea Tea.
11. Another fort, which is a kind of green Tea, is called
tio tè: it is rolled up in a round ſhape, about the fize of peas,
and ſometimes as large as a nutmeg.
III. The ſmalleſt kind done in this form is called gun-powder
Теа.
IV. Sometimes the fucculent Tea leaves are twiſted into
cords like packthread, about an inch and a half or two inches
long; and uſually three of theſe are tied together at the ends
by different-coloured ſilk threads. Theſe reſemble little bavins,
one of which might ſuffice for tea for one perſon. I have feen
them both of green and bohea Tea.
The Chineſe likewiſe prepare an extract from Tea, which
they exhibit as a medicine diſſolved in a large quantity of water,
and aſcribe to it many powerful effects in fevers and other
diſorders, when they wiſh to procure a plentiful ſweat. This
extract is ſometimes formed into ſmall cakes, not much broader
than a fixpence, ſometimes into rolls of a conſiderable ſize.
That there is only one ſpecies of Tea tree, has already been
mentioned (Sect. I.) from which all the varieties of Tea are
procured.


BOHEA TEA ,

( 41 )
procured. Kæmpfer, who is of this opinion, attributes the
difference of Teas to the ſoil and culture of the plant, age of
the leaves when gathered, and method of curing them '.
Theſe circumſtances will ſeverally have more or leſs influence ;
though whether they account for all the varieties obſervable in
Tea may be doubted. The bohea Tea trees, now introduced
into many botanic gardens near London, exhibit very obvious
varieties. The leaves are of a deeper green colour, and not
ſo deeply ferrated; the ſtalk is uſually of a darker colour, and
the whole ſhrub appears leſs luxuriant than that repreſented in
the annexed plate of the bohea Tea; but the botanical cha-
racters are the ſame.
I infuſed all the forts of green and bohea Teas I could pro-
cure, and expanded the different leaves on paper, to compare
their reſpective fize and texture, intending thereby to diſcover
their age. I found the leaves of green Tea as large as thoſe
of bohea, and nearly as fibrous; which would lead one to
fuſpect, that the difference does not ſo much depend upon
the age, as upon the other circumſtances.
We know that in Europe the ſoil, culture, and expoſure,
have great influence on all kinds of vegetables : but the ſame
ſpecies of plants differ in the ſame province, and even in the
fame diſtrict; and in Japan, and particularly along the continent
of China, it muſt be much more conſiderable, where the air is
in ſome parts very cold, in others moderate, or warm almoſt to
I am perſuaded that the method of preparation
an extreme,
more
1 This renders what has been obſerved at the concluſion of Sect. I.
probable.
G
muſt
i

(42)
muſt alſo have no little influence. I have dried the leaves of
ſome European plants in the manner deſcribed (SECT. VI.)
which ſo much reſembled the foreign Tea, that the infuſion
made from them has been ſeen and drunk without fufpicion.
In theſe preparations which I made, ſome of the leaves re-
tained a perfect curl, and a fine verdure like the beſt green
Tea; and others cured at the ſame time were more like the
bohea.
I would not, however, lay too much ftreſs upon the reſult
of a few trials, nor endeavour to preclude further enquiries
about a ſubject which at fome future period may prove of
more immediate concern to this nation.
We might ftill try to diſcover, whether other arts, than are yet
known here, are not uſed with Tea before its exportation from
China, to produce the difference of colour, and flavour 3,
peculiar to different forts. An intelligent friend of mine informs
me, that in a ſet of Chineſe drawings, in his poffeffion, repre-
ſenting the whole proceſs of manufacturing Tea, there are in one
fheet the figures of ſeveral perſons apparently ſeparating the
? A certain moderate degree of heat preferved the verdure and flavour better
than a hafty exficcation. In the firſt caſe, it is neceſſary to repeat the roaſting
oftener.
2 Infuſions of fine bohea Teas do not differ a great deal in colour from thoſe of
green. To fpirit they equally impart a fine deep green colour.
3 I am informed by intelligent perfons, who have refided fome time at Canton,
that the Tea about that city affords very little ſmell whilſt growing. The fame is
obſerved of the Tea plants in England : and alſo of the dried ſpecimens from China.
We are not hence to conclude, that art alone conveys to Teas when cured the ſmell
peculiar to each kind; for our vegetables, graſſes for inſtance, have little or no
ſmell till dried, and made into haya
different
1

SNIL
OF

OLEA FRAGRANS.
S. Miller del:et
fo:

( 43 )
different kinds of Tea, and drying it in the fun, with ſeveral
baſkets ftanding near them filled with a very white ſubſtance,
and in conſiderable quantity. To what uſe this may be applied
is uncertain, as well as what the ſubſtance is; yet there is no
doubt, he thinks, that it is uſed in the manufacturing of Tea,
as the Chineſe ſeldom bring any thing into their pieces but ſuch
as relate in ſome reſpect to the buſineſs before them.
We are better acquainted with a vegetable ſubſtance which
has been employed by the Afiatics in giving a flavour to Tea.
This is the Olea Fragrans, whoſe flowers are frequently to be
met with in Teas exported from China: and as the plant is now
not unfrequent in the gardens near the metropolis, I am enabled
to give an engraving of the plant and its botanical hiſtory?
OLEA FRAGRANS.-Sweet-ſcented Olive,
Clafs and Order.
DIANDRIA MONOGYNIA.
Generic Character.
Cor. 4. fida: laciniis fubova-
tis. Drupa monoſperma.
Corol. 4. cleft: ſegments
ſomewhat ovate. Drupe, one-
feeded.
? See Thunberg's Flora Japonica, from which work the Botanic Hiſtory of the
Olea Fragrans is chiefly taken.
G 2
Specific

( 44 )
Specific Character and Deſcription
from THUNBERG.
OLEA fragrans foliis lanceo- OLIVE ſweet - ſcented with
latis ferratis, pedunculis latera- lanceolate ferrated leaves, pe-
libus aggregatis unifloris. Thunb. duncles lateral, cluſtered, one-
Fl. Japon. p. 18, t. 2.
flowered.
Caulis, arboreus vaſtus.
Stem, a vaſt tree.
Rami et ramuli trichotomi, Branches both large and ſmall
obſolete tetragoni, glabri. trichotomous, faintly four-cor-
nered and ſmooth.
Folia decuſſata, petiolata ob- Leaves growing croſs-wiſe on
longa, acuta, ſerrata, margini leaf-ſtalks, oblong, acute, fer-
ſubreflexo, parallelo-nervoſa, re- rated, edge ſomewhat turned
ticulata, glabra, fupra faturate back, ribs parallel, reticulated,
viridia, fubtus pallidiora, paten- ſmooth above, of a deep green
tia, in ramulis frequentia, di- colour, paler beneath, ſpread-
gitalia.
ing on the ſmall branches, nu-
merous, about the length of
the finger.
Petioli femiteretes, fulcati, Leaf-ſtalks, flat on one ſide,
glabri, ſemiunguiculares. round on the other, grooved,
fmooth, half the length of the
finger nail.
Flores in ramulis umbellato- Flower on the ſmall branches
aggregati, circiter 6 vel 8, pe- in cluſtered umbels, about 6 or
dunculati.
8 together, ſtanding on pe-
duncles.
Pedunculi

( 45 )
one-
Pedunculi filiformes, uniflori, Flower-ſalks filiform,
glabri, albidi, unguiculares. flowered, fmooth, whitiſh, a
finger nail in length.
Perianthium, 1-Phyllum, mi- Perianthium, one-leaved, ve-
nimum, obſolete 4-dentatum, ry minute, faintly four-toothed,
albidum, glabrum.
whitiſh and fmooth.
Corolla, 1-petala, rotata, fla- Corolla of one petal, wheel-
vo-alba; Tubus fubnullus; Lim- ſhaped, of a yellowiſh-white
bus patens, quadrifidus : laci- colour; Tube ſcarce any; Limb
niæ ovatæ, obtufæ, concavæ, ſpreading, quadrifid, ſegments
craffiuſculæ.
ovate, obtuſe, concave, thick-
iſh.
Filamenta duo, ori tubi in- Filaments two, inſerted into
ferta, alba, breviffima.
the mouth of the tube, white,
very ſhort.
Antheræ ovatæ, grandiuſculæ,
didymæ, flaveſcentes.
Germen fuperum, oblongum,
glabrum.
Stylus filiformis.
Stigmata fimplicia, acuta.
Antherce ovate, ſomewhat
large, double, yellowiſh.
Germen above, oblong, and
fmooth.
Style filiform.
Stigmata, ſimple and pointed.
Sir George Staunton, in his Embaſſy to China, Vol. II.
p. 467, deſcribes another Plant, whoſe flowers are uſed for the
purpoſe of ſcenting Tea. The flower reſembles the dog-roſe,
and the leaves thoſe of Tea; hence the Chineſe call it Cha-
whaw, or Flower of Tea. A Plate of this Plant is annexed;
with the following deſcription, which this very accurate and
learned

( 46 )
1
learned traveller has obligingly permitted me to introduce
here.
“ A Plant very like the Tea flouriſhed at this time on the ſides
and the very tops of mountains, where the ſoil conſiſted of
little more than fragments of ſtone crumbled into a fort of
coarſe earth by the joint action of the fun and rain. The
Chineſe call this plant Cha-whaw, or Flower of Tea, on ac-
count of the reſemblance of one to the other; and becauſe its
petals, as well as the entire flowers of the Arabian jeſſamine,
are ſometimes mixed among the Teas, in order to increaſe
their fragrance.
66 This plant, the Cha-whaw, is the Camellia Seſanqua of the
botaniſts, and yields a nut, from whence is expreſſed an eſcu-
lent oil equal to the beſt which comes from Florence. It is.
cultivated on this account in vaſt abundance; and is particu-
larly valuable, from the facility of its culture, in ſituations fit
for little elſe." It is delineated on the oppoſite page.
As green Tea is by fome ſuſpected to have been cured on
copper, they have attributed the verdure to be derived from
that metal (Sect. VII.); but, if there were any founda-
tion for this ſuppoſition, the volatile alkali, mixed with an
infuſion of ſuch Tea, would detect the leaſt portion of copper,
by turning the infuſion blue '.
1 The hundredth part of a grain of copper, diffolved in a pint of liquor, ſtrikes
a ſenſible blue with volatile alkalies. Neumann's Chemiſtry, by Lewis, p. 62. .
The fineſt imperial and bloom Teas fhewed no ſign of the preſence of this metal by
experiment.
Others

Camellia Sosanqua2.

SNIL
OF
Mic

( 47 )
Others have, with leſs propriety, attributed the verdure to
green copperas"; but this ingredient, which is only falt of iron,
would immediately turn the leaves black, and the infuſion made
from the Tea would be of a deep purple colour.
Is it not more probable, that ſome green dye, prepared from
vegetable ſubſtances, is uſed for the colouring ?
See Short on Tea, p. 16. Boerhaave attributed the verdure of green Tea to
this ſubſtance.
2 “ It is confidently faid in the country, that no plates of copper are ever em-
ployed for that purpoſe. Indeed, ſcarcely any utenſil uſed in China is of that metal,
the chief application of which is for coin. The earthen or iron plates are placed
over a charcoal fire, which draws all remaining moiſture from the leaves, rendering
them dry and criſp.” Sir G. Staunton's Embaſſy, Vol. II. p: 465.
SECTION

( 48 )
S E C TI ON
IX.
DRINKING OF TE A.
NEITHER the Chineſe, nor natives of Japan, ever uſe Tea
before it has been kept at leaſt a year; becauſe when freſh it is
faid to prove narcotic, and to diſorder the ſenſes". The
former pour hot water on the Tea, and draw off the infufion
in the ſame manner as is now practiſed in Europe; but
they drink it ſimply without the addition of ſugar or milk ?.
The Japaneſe reduce the Tea into a fine powder, by grinding
the leaves in a hand-mill; they then mix them with hot water
into a thin pulp, in which form it is fipped , particularly by the
nobility and rich people. It is made and ſerved up to com-
pany in the following manner : the Tea-table furniture, with
the powdered Tea incloſed in a box, are ſet before the com-
pany, and the cups are then filled with hot water, and as much
of the powder as might lie on the point of a moderate-ſized
knife is taken out of the box, put into each cup, and then
ſtirred and mixed together with a curious denticulated inftru-
Kæmpfer, Amenit. Exot. p. 625. Hiſtory of Japan, Vol. II. App. p. 10. 16.
2 Ofbeck's Voyage to China, Vol. I. p. 299.
3 This is called koitsjaa, that is, thick Tea, to diſtinguiſh it from that made by
infuſion.
ment

( )
4949
ment till the liquor foams, in which ſtate it is preſented to the
company, and fipped while warm'. From what Du Halde
relates, this method is not peculiar to the Japaneſe, but is alſo
uſed in ſome provinces of China ?.
The common people, who have a coarſer Tea (Sect. VI. 111.)
boil it for ſome time in water, and make uſe of the liquor for
common drink. Early in the morning the kettle, filled with
water, is regularly hung over the fire for this purpoſe, and the
Tea is either put into the kettle incloſed in a bag, or, by means
of a baſket of a proper fize, preſſed to the bottom of the veſſel,
that there may not be any hindrance in drawing off the water.
The Bantsjaa - Tea (SECT. VI. i11.) only is uſed in this manner,
whoſe virtues, being more fixed, would not be ſo fully ex-
tracted by infufion.
And indeed Tea is the common beverage of all the labouring
people in China : one ſcarcely ever ſees them repreſented at
work of any kind, but the Tea pot and Tea cup appear as
their accompaniments. Reapers, threſhers, and all who work
out' of doors, as well as within, have theſe attendants 3.
To make Tea, and to ſerve it in a genteel and graceful man-
ner, is an accompliſhment, in which people of both ſexes in
Japan are inſtructed by maſters, in the ſame manner as Europeans
are in dancing, and other branches of polite education.
1 An inferior kind of Tea is infuſed, and drank in the Chineſe manner. Sect.
VI. II. and SECT. IX. I.
Hiſtory of China, Vol. IV. p. 22.
3 In public roads, and in all places of much reſort in Japan, and even in the midſt
of fields and frequented woods, Tea booths are erected ; as moſt travellers drink
ſcarcely any thing elſe upon the road. Kæmpfer's Hiſtory of Japan, by Scheuchzer,
Fol. Vol. II. p. 428.
H
SECTION

( 50 )
S E C ΤΙ Ο Ν
X.
SUCCE DAN E A.
CURIOSITY and intereſt would mutually induce the Euro-
peans to make the moſt diligent enquiries in order to diſcover
the real Tea fhrub, or a ſubſtitute in ſome other vegetable
moſt reſembling it, Simon Paulli, a celebrated phyſician and
botaniſt at Copenhagen, was the firſt who pretended to have
diſcovered the real Tea plant in Europe. By opening ſome
Tea leaves, he found them ſo much like thoſe of the Dutch
myrtle', (Flor. Su. 907.) that he obftinately maintained they
were productions of the ſame ſpecies of Tea ; though he was
afterwards refuted by ſeveral botaniſts in Europe, and by the
ſpecimens ſent to him, and to Dr. Mentzel of Berlin, from the
Eaſt-Indies, by Dr. Cleyer ”.
? Myrica Gale. Goule, Sweet Willow, or Dutch Myrtle. Hudſon's Fl. Angl.
p. 368. Linn. Syftem. Natur. Vol. III. p. 651. A plant of peculiar fragrance, found
in the North of England, Brabant, and other Northern countries. Simon de Molin-
griis was the firſt who oppoſed this opinion of Simon Paulli, by ſhewing the differ-
ence betwixt this ſpecies of myrtle and the oriental Tea. See alſo Wilh. Leyl. epiſt.
apud Sim. Paulli comment. &c.
Figures of the ſame were publiſhed in the Acta Haffnienſia, and German
Ephemerides, Dec. 11. Ann. IV.
Father
2

( 51 )
Father Labat next thought he had diſcovered the real Tea-
plant in Martinico', agreeing, he ſays, in all reſpects with the
China fort. He pretends alſo to have procured Tea ſeeds from
the Eaſt Indies, and to have raiſed the plant in America ; but, from
his own account, this ſuppoſed Tea appears to be only a ſpecies
of Lyfimachia, or what is called Weſt-India Tea”.
Many other pretended diſcoveries of the Oriental Tea-tree
have been related ; all which have proved erroneous, when pro-
perly enquired into. The genus of plant, called by Kæmpfer
Tſubakki?, has the neareſt reſemblance to it. The leaves of ſeveral
European herbs have been uſed at different times as ſubſtitutes
for Tea, either from ſome ſimilarity in the ſhape of the leaves,
or in the taſte and flavour; among theſe, two or three ſpecies of
* Nouveau Voyage aux Iles d l'Amerique, Paris, 1721, 12mo. 6 vol.
2 This ſhrub I have frequently met with in the Weſt-Indies.
3. Two ſpecimens of this plant are now in the phyſic garden at Upſal. About the
year 1755, they were brought over from China by M. Lagerſtrom, a director of the
Swediſh Eaſt-India Company, under the ſuppoſition of being Tea-plants, till they
appeared in bloſſom, when they proved to be this ſpecies of Tſubakki, called by
Linnæus, Camellia. Spec. Plant. p. 982. This celebrated Naturaliſt ſays, “That the
leaves of his Camellia are ſo like the true Tea, that they would deceive the moſt
ſkilful botaniſt; the only difference is, that they are a little broader. Amoenit.
Academ. Vol. VII. p. 251. See alſo Ellis's Directions for bringing over foreign
Plants, p. 28. A Camellia was brought in 1771 from China in good health ; the
leaves of this ſhrub end in a double obtuſe point (obtuſely emarginated) like thoſe
of the Tea tree, which makes them ftill more liable to be miſtaken for thoſe of the
latter. Kæmpfer obſerves, that the leaves of a ſpecies of Tſubakki are preſerved,
and mixed with Tea, to give it a fine flavour. Amenit. Exotic. p. 858. It is now
a common plant in the green-houſes about London.
Veronica
H 2

(52)
Veronica are particularly recommended', beſides the leaves of
fage , myrtle 3, betony 4, floes, agrimony, wild roſe“, and
many others? Whether any of theſe are really more falutary
or
Mich. Frid. Lochner, de novis Theæ et Coffea Succedaneis. Hall. 1717. 4to.
Veronica officinalis. Flor. Suec. p. 12. Veronica Chamædr. Fl. Suec. p. 18. Pechlin
Theophilus bibaculus, Franckfort. 1684. Francus, de Veronica vel Theezantem.
Coburg. 1690. 12mo. 1700. 12mo. Paris, fub titulo, le Thé de l'Europe. 1704 and
1707, 12mo.
Frid. Hoffmnan de infuſi Veronicæ efficacia præferenda herbæ Theæ,
Hall. an. 1694. 4to.
2 Fr. Afforty & Jof. de Tournefort ergo potus ex Salvia ſalubris, 1695. Wedel,
de Salvia, 4to. 1707. Jena. Paulini nobilis ſalvia Ang. Vindel. an. 1688. 8vo.
3 Simon Paulli de abuſu Theæ et Tabaci. Straſburg, 1665. Lond. 1746.
4 Botanical writers celebrate this herb for its many virtues ; hence aroſe the Italian
proverb, “ Vende la tonica, et compra la Betonica.”
5 In the year 1776, an act was paſſed for the more effectual prevention of the
manufacturing of aſh, elder, floe, and other leaves, in imitation of Tea ; and to
prevent frauds in the revenue of Exciſe in reſpect to Tea, 17 George III. chap. 29,
being an amendment of the act 4 George II. intituled, “ An Act to prevent Frauds
in the Revenue of Exciſe with reſpect to Starch, Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate. In
the Appendix, from Sir George Staunton's Embaſſy to China, this is particularly de-
tailed.
6. Joſeph Serer Lettera ſopra la bevanda del Caffé Europæo, Veron. An. 1730.
Roſe leaves are here ſubſtituted for thoſe of Tea. Godofred. Thomaſius Thea ex
Roſis in Cent 111. Nat. curioſor. n. 199. See alſo Cent. vij. obf. 15. by J. A.
Fiſcher.
7 See Neumann's Chemiſtry, by Lewis, p. 375. J. Adrian. Slevogt, De Thea
Romana et Silefiaca, an. 1721. Aignan, le prêtre Medecin, avec un Traité du
Caffé, et du Thé de France. Paris. an. 1696. 12mo, This author, whoſe name
is probably corrupted, prefers balm leaves to thoſe of the Aſiatic Tea.
M. Fr. Lockner, de novis et exoticis Thee et Cafe fuccedaneis Noriberg. 1717.
4to. Et in Eph. Nat. Cur. Cent. vj.
J. Franc. Nic. Faber, de Thea Helvetica, Bafil. 1715. 4to.
J. Georg. Siegeſbeck, de Theæ et Caffeæ ſuccedaneis in Kanoldiana collectione,
an. 1722. Jan.
Zanichelli

( 53 )
or not, is undetermined; and we now find, that from the
palace to the cottage every other ſubſtitute has yielded to the
genuine Afiatic Tea'
Zanichelli obzervazioni intorno all abuſodella Coffea ed alla vertute di innuovo
Te-Venegiano. Venez, 1755. 4to.
K. Collegii medici Rundgiorelſe om den miſbruk ſom Thee, och Caffe drickande
är unders kaſtot, ſamt anwiſning pa Swenka örter, at Brucka i ſtälle for Thee Stok-
holm, 1746. 4to.
Conf. Murray, appar. Medicam. Vol. IV. p. 232. & feq.
In ſome parts of Europe, however, Tea is yet a ſtranger. See Brydone's Tour,
through Sicily and Malta, Let, 6.
SECTION

( 54 )
SECTION
XI.
PRESERVING THE SEEDS FOR VEGETATION
Many attempts to introduce the Tea-tree into Europe
have proved unſucceſsful, owing to the bad ſtate of the ſeeds
when firſt procured, or to a want of judgement in preſerving them
long enough in a ſtate capable of vegetation. If this complaint
ariſe from the firſt cauſe, future precautions about ſuch feeds
will be in vain ; it is therefore neceſſary to procure freſh,
ſound, ripe ſeeds, white, plump, and moiſt internally.
Two methods of preſerving the ſeeds have put us in pof-
feffion of a few young plants of the true Tea-tree of China;
one is, by incloſing the ſeeds in bees wax, after they have been
well dried in the ſun ; and the other, by putting them, in-
cluded in their pods, or capſules, into very cloſe canniſters made
of tin and tutenague!.
But
I See Directions for bringing over ſeeds and plants from the Eaſt-Indies, by J.
Ellis, F. R. S. &c. in which particular directions are given, both to chooſe the
proper ſeeds, and to preſerve them in the beſt manner for vegetation. See alſo the
Naturaliſts and traveller's companion, containing inſtructions for diſcovering and
preſerving objects of natural hiſtory, Sect. III. We may obſerve here, that the beſt
method of bringing over the parts of flowers intire is to put them in bottles of ſpirit
of wine, good rum, firſt runnings, or brandy. In the directions, &c. above-mentioned
the learned naturaliſt has not recommended this eaſy inethod of preſerving the parts
of fructification ; but in a future edition, I am informed he purpoſes to do it.
Flowers of the Illicium Floridanum, or ſtarry anniſeed tree, publiſhed in the laſt
volume of Philoſophical Tranſactions (LX.) were ſent to him in this manner.
In

SNIO

Boxes for conveying Plants by Sea.
ISSUE
The Box with plaart shut down with the openings
at the ends and front left for fresh air.
Ile Cask for soning seeds with the
openings defended by Wire,
Jool
loo
Link
The Inside of the box shening the manner of securing the mots
of plats surrounded with carth & moſs tred with packthread
and fasten't arofs' crops with laths or packthread to keep them
strady
The Box with trirsions for soning
different seeds in carth & cut moss.

( 55 )
But neither of theſe methods have ſucceeded generally,
notwithſtanding the utmoſt care, both in getting freſh ſeeds,
and in ſecuring them in the moſt effectual manner. The beſt
method is to ſow the ripe feeds in good light earth, in boxes,
at leaving Canton; covering them with wire, to prevent rats
and other ſuch vermin coming to them. The boxes, plans of
which are annexed, ſhould not be expoſed to too much air, nor
to the ſpray of the ſea, if poſſible. The earth ſhould not be
fuffered to grow dry and hard, but a little freſh or rain water
may be ſprinkled over it now and then; and, when the feedling
plants appear, they ſhould be kept moiſt, and out of the burn-
ing ſun'. Moſt of the plants now in England were procured by
In a paper by John Sneyd, Eſq. inſerted in the Tranſactions of the Society for
the Encouragement of Arts, Vol. XVI. p. 265, a method of preſerving feeds is
related, which appears to have been highly ſucceſsful ; this is merely by packing up
feeds in abſorbent paper, and ſurrounding the ſame by raiſins, or brown moiſt
fugar; which, by experiment, ſeems to afford that genial moiſture requiſite to
preſerve the ſeeds in a ſtate fit for vegetation.
Thouin, in his directions to the unfortunate navigator Pèrouſe, recommends the
feeds to be placed in alternate layers of earth or fand, in tin boxes, which muſt be
cloſed up exactly, and placed in ſolid caſes, which ſhould be covered with waxed
cloth; the boxes ſhould be put in a part of the ſhip the leaſt acceſſible to moiſture,
and the moſt ſheltered from extreme heat or cold.” Vol. I. p. 278.
I The carrying of trees cannot be done, with any hope of ſucceſs, except in
boxes, wherein they may vegetate during the voyage. For this purpoſe it is
neceſſary to have a box forty inches long by twenty broad, and as much in depth,
with a dozen holes bored through the bottom, for the fuperabundant water to run
off. Its upper part muſt be compoſed of a triangular frame, upon which lattice
work of iron wire muſt be fitted, with glazed frames and window ſhutters, to keep
up a free circulation of air, encreaſe the warmth when neceſſary, and keep out the
cold.” Perouſe's Voyage, Vol. I. p. 283.
thefe

( 56 )
theſe means; and though many of the ſeedlings will die, yet by
this kind of management we may probably ſucceed in bringing
over the moſt curious vegetable productions of China, of which
they have an amazing treaſure, both in reſpect to uſe, ſhew, and
variety'. If young plants could be procured in China, they
might be ſent over in a growing ſtate in ſome of theſe boxes.
The young Tea-plants in the gardens about London thrive
very well in the green-houſes in winter, and ſome bear the
open air in ſummer. The leaves of many of them are from
one to three inches long, not without a fine deep verdure ;
and the young ſhoots are fucculent. It is therefore probable,
that in a few years many layers may be procured from them,
and the number of plants conſiderably increaſed thereby.
It may not be improper to obſerve here, that many exotic
vegetables, like human conſtitutions, require a certain period.
before they become naturalized to a change of climate ; many
plants, which on their firſt introduction would not bear our
winters without ſhelter, now endure our hardeſt froſts; the
beautiful magnolia, among ſeveral others, is a proof of this
* Another method has ſucceeded with ſome North American ſeeds, by putting
them into a box, not made too cloſe, upon alternate layers of moſs, in ſuch a man-
ner as to admit the ſeeds to vegetate, or ſhoot their ſmall tendrils into the moſs.
In the paſſage, the box may be hung up at the roof of the cabin ; and, when ar-
rived here, the ſeeds ſhould be put into pots of mold, with a little of the moſs alfo
about them, on which they had lain. This method has procured us feeds in a ſtate
fit for vegetation, which had often miſcarried under the preceding precautions ;
and therefore might be tried at leaſt with Tea and other oriental feeds. In order
to ſucceed more certainly, ſome of the Tea feeds, in whatever manner they may have
been preſerved, ſhould be fown when the veſſel arrives at St. Helena, and alſo after
paffing the tropic of Cancer, near the latitude of 30 degrees North.
obfervation

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obfervation ; and we have already taken notice (Sect. V.),
that the degree of cold at Pekin ſometimes exceeds ours.
We have hence reaſon to expect, that the Tea-tree may in a
few years be capable of bearing our climate, or at leaſt that of
our colonies ; at length thrive, as if indigenous to the ſoil;
and, were labour cheaper, become an article of export ', like
the common potatoe, for which we are indebted to America,
or Spain”. It is, however, better ſuited for the climates of
the
. The high price of labour in this country may prove the principal objection
to this proſpect. In China proviſions are very cheap. Ofbeck ſays, that a work-
man who lives upon plucking of Tea-leaves, will ſcarce be able to get more than
one penny a day, which is ſufficient to maintain him. Voyage to China, Vol. I.
p. 298.
2 The following extract from Gerard's Herbal, p. 780. ed. 1636. though
foreign to the ſubject of this Eſſay, is ſo curious, that it may not be deemed im-
proper to tranſcribe it. " Potatoes grow in India, Barbarie, Spaine, and other hot
regions, of which I planted diuers rootes (that I bought in the Exchange in London)
in my garden, where they flouriſhed untill winter, at which time they periſhed and
rotted.” At this date, he adds, “ they were roaſted in the aſhes ; fome, when
they be ſo roaſted, infuſe them, and fop them in wine ; and others, to give them
the greater grace in eating, do boile them with prunes, and ſo eate then. And
likewiſe others dreſſe them (being firſt roaſted) with oile, vinegar, and ſalt, every
man according to his own taſte and liking.”
“ Theſe rootes (he obſerves) may ferue as a ground or foundation wheron the
cunning confectioner, or ſugar-baker, may worke and frame many comfortable
delicate conferves, and reſtorative ſweete meates.
In 1664 J. Foſter publiſhed his “ England's Happyneſs increaſed by a Plantation
of Potatoes,” 4to.
Captain Hawkins is ſaid to have brought this root from Santa Fe, in New Spain,
A. D. 1565. Sir Walter Rawleigh foon after planted it on his lands in Ireland ; but,
on eating the apple, that it produced, which is nauſeous and unwholeſome, he had
nearly conſigned the whole crop to deſtruction. Luckily the ſpade diſcovered the
real potatoe, and the root became rapidly a favourite eatable. It continued, how-
ever, for a long time to be thought rather a ſpecies of dainty than of proviſion ;
I
22
nor,

( 58 )
the Southern parts of Europe, and America ; but hitherto
it has not been cultivated in an extenſive manner, in either of
theſe quarters of the world ; nor is it likely ever to be, whilſt it
can be procured from Aſia at the preſent reduced price. It
was introduced into Georgia about the year 1770. Hence the
ingenious author of Ouabi (Mrs. Morton) in her recent poem of
Beave-hill, in deſcribing the products of this province, intro-
duces the exotic of China :
6 Yet round theſe ſhores prolific plenty twines,
* Stores the thick field, and ſwells the cluſtering vines;
“ A thouſand groves their gloffy leaves unfold,
6 Where the rich orange rolls its ruddy gold,
“ China's green ſhrub, divine Magnolia's bloom,
• With mingling odours fling their high perfume.”
It is indeed probable that the North American ſummers, in
the fame latitude with Pekin, would ſuit this Tree better than
ours; for, in China and ſome parts of North America, the
heat in ſummer is fuch, that vegetables make quicker and more
early ſhoots, whereby they have time to acquire fufficient
ſtrength and firmneſs before the winter commences : but, in
England, the tender ſhoots are puſhed forth late, and, winter ſoon
after fucceeding, they often periſh, in a degree of cold much
leſs ſevere than at Pekin, or in colder latitudes of North
America.
nor,
till the cloſe of the 18th century, was it ſuppoſed capable of guarding the
country where it was foftered, from the attacks of famine.” Andrews's Hiſtory,
Vol. I. p. 408. Comp. Mocquet's Travels, p. 54.
Shakeſpeare, very early alſo in this century, mentions this root in the Merry
Wives of Windſor, one edition of which, in 4to. was printed in 161g. Vide Scene
III. Falſtaff
THE

( 59 )
THE
MEDICAL HISTORY
OF
Τ Ε Α.
PA RT II.
SECTION I.
As the cuſtom of drinking Tea is become general,
every perſon may be conſidered as a judge of its effects, at
leaſt ſo far as it concerns his own health ; but, as the conſtitu-
tions of mankind are various, the effects of this infuſion muſt
be different alſo, which is the reaſon that ſo many opinions
have prevailed upon the ſubject.
Many, who have once conceived a prejudice againſt it, ſuffer
it to influence their judgement too far, and condemn the cuf-
tom as univerſally pernicious. Others, who are no leſs biaſſed
I 2
on

(бо )
on the other extreme, would make their own private experience
a ſtandard for that of all, and aſcribe the moft extenfive virtues
to this infufion. This contrariety of opinion has been particu-
larly maintained among phyſicians'; which will ever be the caſe,
while mere fuppoſitions are placed in the room of experiments
and facts impartially related.
Some phyſicians, however, avoid both extremes ; who,
without commending it, or decrying it univerſally, admit its
uſe, while they are not inſenſible of the injuries it may pro-
duce. It requires no ſmall ſhare of fagacity to fix the limits
of good and harm in the preſent caſe : multitudes of all
ages,
conſtitutions, and complexions, drink it freely, during a long
life, without perceiving any ill effects. Others, again, foon
experience many inconveniences from drinking any conſiderable
quantity of this infuſion.
It is difficult to draw certain concluſions from experiments
made on this herb. The parts which ſeem to produce theſe
oppoſite effects are very fugitive. We become acquainted
chiefly with the groſſer parts by analyſis. I made the following .
experiments with conſiderable care ; but, I own, they inform us
not ſufficiently wherein conſiſts that grateful relaxing fedative
property, which proves to the generality of mankind fo refreſh-
ing; nor from whence it is, that others feel from the pleaſing
beverage ſo many diſagreeable effects. Accurate obſervation
would inſtruct us in this difficult inveſtigation, more than fimple
experiments on the ſubject itſelf.
Compare Joh. Ludov. Hannemane de potu calido in Miſcell. curiof. Simon
Paulli de abufu Theæ et Tabaci. Tiffot on the diſeaſes of literary and ſedentary
perſons, &c. with Waldſmick in Diſput, var, argum. &c.
EXPE-

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E X P E RI M E N T I.
I took an equal quantity of an infuſion of ſuperfine green
Tea, and of common bohea Tea, made equally ſtrong; and
alſo the ſame quantity of the liquor remaining after diſtillation
(Sect. III. 1.), and of fimple water; into each of which, con-
tained in feparate veſſels, I put two drachms of beef, that had
been killed about two days.
The beef, which was immerſed in the fimple water, became
putrid in forty-eight hours ; but the pieces in the two infuſions
of Tea, and in the liquor remaining after diſtillation, ſhewed
no ſigns of putrefaction, till after about ſeventy hours '.
EX P E RI M E N T II.
INTO ſtrong infuſions of every kind of green and bohea Tea
that I could procure, I put equal quantities of ſalt of iron
(fal martis), which immediately changed the ſeveral infuſions
into a deep purple colour?.
It
* See Percival's Experimental Effays, p. 119, et ſeq. wherein many ingenious ex-
periments and obſervations are related.
e In this experiment, four ounces of infufion were drawn from two drachms of
each kind of Tea, and one grain of fal martis added to the reſpective infuſions.
See

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It is evident from theſe experiments, that both green and
bohea Tea poſſeſs an antiſeptic (EXPERIMENT I.), and aſtrin-
gent power (EXPERIMENT II.), applied to the dead animal
fibre.
See Neumann's Chemiſtry by Lewis, page 377. Short, on the Nature and Properties
of Tea, p. 29. The firſt author I have met with, that tried this experiment, was
J. And. Hahn, who wrote in the year 1722. De herbæ exoticæ Theæ infuſo,
ejufque uſu et abuſu, Erford, 4to. Though it ſhould be premiſed, that Nic. de
Blegny, who publiſhed his work, intituled, Le bon uſage du Thé, &c. in'1680,
takes notice of the aſtringency of Tea, from which quality he deduces many of its
virtues. Vid. Act. Eruditor. V. vi. page 49. Ann. 1688.
SECTION

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SECTION II.
NEVE
EVERTHELESS, as I have often obſerved that drinking
Tea, particularly the moſt highly-flavoured fine green, proves
remarkably relaxing to many perſons of tender and delicate
conſtitutions, I was induced to proſecute my enquiries farther.
1. To this end I diſtilled half a pound of the beſt and
moſt fragrant green Tea with ſimple water', and drew off an
ounce of very odorous and pellucid water, free from oil, and
which on trial (Section I. EXPERIMENT II.) ſhewed no ſigns
of aſtringency.
2. That part of the liquor which remained after diſtillation,
was evaporated to the conſiſtence of an extract; it was ſlightly
odorous, but had a very bitter, ftyptic, or aſtringent taſte.
The quantity of the extract thus procured weighed about five
ounces and a half 2.
EXPERIMENT III.
a. Into the cavity of the abdomen, and cellular membrane of a
frog, about three drachms of the diſtilled odorous water
(No. 1.) were injected.
1 J. Andr. Hahn takes notice alſo of the odour of the water diſtilled from Tea..
2 The ſame author prepared an extract from this Tea, though in a lefs propor-
tion than my experiment afforded, or what Neumann relates from his.
In

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In twenty minutes, one hind leg of the frog appeared
much affected, and a general loſs of motion and ſenſibility
ſucceeded. The affection of the limb continued for four
'
hours, and the univerſal torpidity remained above nine hours;
after this the animal gradually recovered its former vigor.
b. In like manner ſome of the liquor remaining after the diſtil-
lation of the green Tea (No. 1.) was injected ; but this was
not productive of any ſenſible effect.
EXPERIMENT IV.
a. To the iſchatic nerves laid bare, and to the cavity of the
abdomen of a frog, I applied fome of the diſtilled odorous
water (No. 1. and EXPERIMENT III, 1.). In the ſpace of
half an hour, the hindermoſt extremities became altogether
paralytic and inſenſible ; and in about an hour afterwards the
frog died.
b. In like manner I applied the liquor remaining after diſtillation
(No. 1. and EXPERIMENT III. 2.) to another frog ; but no
ſedative or paralytic effect was obſervable.
1 Theæ infuſum, nervo muſculove ranæ admotum, vires motrices minuit,
perdit. Smith, Tentamen inaugurale de actione muſculari. Edinburgh, p. 46.
Exper. 36.
3. From

( 65 )
3. From theſe experiments the ſedative and relaxing effects
of Tea appear greatly to depend upon an odorous fragrant
principle, which abounds moft in green Tea, particularly that
which is moſt highly flavoured'. This ſeems farther confirmed
by the practice of the Chineſe, who avoid uſing this plant, till
it has been kept at leaſt twelve months, as they find when
recent it poſſeſſes a ſoporiferous and intoxicating quality.
(Part I. Sect. IX.)
Thus often under trees fupinely laid,
Whilft men enjoy the pleaſure of the ſhade,
Whilft thoſe their loving branches ſeem to ſpread
To ſcreen the ſun, they noxious atoms ſhed,
From which quick pains ariſe, and ſeize the head.
Near Helicon, and round the learned hill
Grow Trees, whoſe blofſoms with their odour kill
* Two drachms of this odorous water were given to a delicate perſon. He was
ſoon after affected with a nauſea, fickneſs, general lowneſs, and debility, which con-
tinued for ſome hours, which he obſerves uſually follows the uſe of ſuperfine
green Tea.
Smelling forcibly at the fame has occafioned ſimilar effects upon fome delicate
people. Dr Bļegny, who wrote in 1680, attributes conſiderable virtues to this
fragrant odour, which he recommends to be breathed into the lungs, where it acts as
a ſedative, according to his own relation, producing ſleep, and relieving pains of the
head. Agreeable to Counſellor De Blegny's experience, I know a lady, frequently
troubled with a nervous head-ach, who uſed to hold her head over a hot infuſion of
Tea, and thus receive the fragrant exhalation, which always affords her the moſt
inſtantaneous and effectual relief.
- Arboribus primum certis gravis umbra tributa eſt
Uſque adeo, capitis faciant ut fæpe dolores,
Si quis eas fubter jacuit proftratus in herbis.
Eft etiam in rnagnis Heliconis montibus arbos
Floris odore hominem tetro conſueta necare. LUCRETIUS, B. 6.
K
SECTION

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S E C T I O N III.
Waving, however, any attempts to fix with preciſion
the effects of Tea from theſe experiments alone, let us en-
deavour to collect from obſervation likewiſe, ſuch facts as may
enable us to judge what its effects are on the human frame,
and from thence draw the cleareft inferences we can, how far
it is falutary or otherwiſe.
The long and conſtant uſe of Tea, as a part of our diet,
makes us forget to enquire whether it is poſſeſſed of any medi-
cinal properties. We fhall endeavour to conſider it in both
refpects.
The generality of healthy perſons find themſelves not appa-
rently affected by the uſe of Tea : it ſeems to them a grateful
refreſhment, both fitting them for labour and refreſhing them
after it. There are inſtances of perſons who have drank it
from their infancy, to old age ; have led, at the ſame time,
active, if not laborious lives; and yet never felt any ill effects
from the conſtant uſe of it.
Where this has been the caſe, the ſubjects of both ſexes
were for the moſt part healthy, ſtrong, active, and temperate..
Amongſt the leſs hardy and robuft, we find complaints, which
are aſcribed to Tea, by the parties themſelves. Some com-
plain that after a Tea breakfaſt, they find themſelves rather
fluttered;

( 67 )
fluttered; their hands leſs ſteady in writing, or any other em-
ployment that requires an exact command of ſpirits. This pro-
bably foon goes off, and they feel no other injury from it.
Others again bear it well in the morning, but from drinking it
in the afternoon, find themſelves very eaſily agitated, and
affected with a kind of involuntary trembling.
There are many people who cannot bear to drink a ſingle
diſh of Tea, without being immediately fick and diſordered at
the ſtomach : To ſome it gives excruciating pain about that
part, attended with general tremours. But in general the moſt
tender and delicate conſtitutions are moſt affected by the free
uſe of Tea; being frequently attacked with pains in the ſtomach
and bowels ; ſpaſmodic affections; attended with a copious
diſcharge of limpid urine, and great agitation of ſpirits on the
leaft noiſe, hurry, or diſturbance.
K2
SECTION

( 68 )
S
E C T I ON
IV.
THERE is one circumſtance, however, that renders it
more difficult to inveſtigate the certain effects of Tea; which
is, the great unwillingneſs that moſt people ſhew, to giving us
a genuine account of their uneaſy ſenſations after the free uſe
of it; from a conſciouſneſs that it would be extremely impru-
dent to continue its uſe, after they are convinced from expe-
rience that it is injurious.
That it produces watchfulneſs in ſome conftitutions is moft
certain when drank at evening in conſiderable quantities.
Whether warm water, or any other aqueous liquor, would
have the ſame effect, is not certain.
That it enlivens, refreſhes, exhilarates, is likewiſe well
known. From all which circumſtances it would ſeem, that
Tea contains an active penetrating principle, ſpeedily exciting
the action of the nerves; in very irritable conſtitutions, to
ſuch a degree as to give very uneaſy ſenſations, and bring on
ſpaſmodic affections : in leſs irritable conſtitutions, it rather
gives pleaſure, and immediate ſatisfaction, though not without
occaſionally producing ſome tendency to diſagreeable tremours.
and agitation.
The

( 69 )
The finer the Tea, the more obvious are theſe effects. It
is perhaps for this, amongſt other reaſons, that the lower
claſſes of people, who can only procure the moſt common, are
in general the leaſt fufferers. I fay, in general, becauſe even
amongſt them there are many who actually fuffer much by
it: they drink it as long as it yields any taſte, and, to add to
its flavour, for the moſt part hot; and thus the quantity which
they take, and the degree of heat in which it is drank, conſpire
to produce in them, what the finer kinds of Tea effect in their
fuperiors.
It ought not, however, to paſs unobſerved, that in a multi-
tude of caſes the infufions of our own herbs, fage for in-
ftance, mint, baum, even roſemary, and valerian itſelf, will
fometimes produce fimilar effects, and leave that ſenſation of
emptineſs, agitation of ſpirits, flatulence, ſpaſmodic pains, and
other ſymptoms, that are met with in people, the moſt of all
others devoted to Tea.
Beſides the injuries, which the ſtomach fuftains, by, taking
the infuſion of Tea extremely hot; it is not improbable but
the teeth alſo are affected by it. Profeffor Kalm, in his
Travels into North America, obſerves, that ſuch of the inha-
bitants as took their Țea and food in general, in this ſtate,
were frequently liable to loſe half their teeth at the age of
twenty, without any hopes of getting new ones. This cannot
be attributed to the variations of weather in that clime, becauſe
the Indians who enjoy the fame air, but take their viands
almoſt cold, were to a great age poſſeſſed of fine white teeth ;
as

( 70 )
as were likewiſe the Europeans who firſt ſettled in America,
before the uſe of Tea became general. It was no leſs re-
markable, that the Indian women, who had accuſtomed them-
ſelves to drink this infufion after the European faſhion, had
likewiſe loſt their teeth prematurely, though they had for-
merly been quite ſound'. Kalm does not appear to ſuf-
ſpect any injury to the teeth from the ſugar uſed with the
Теа. .
I
Vol. I. p. 282. Ed. 2.
SECTION

( 71 )
SECTION
V.
Many, from a ſuppoſition that Tea was dried in India
on copper, have attributed its pernicious properties to this
metal; but we have already obſerved (Part I. S vill.), that, if
Tea were tinctured with the leaſt quantity of copper, it might
eaſily be detected by chemical experiments.
Some have attributed the injurious qualities of this faſhionable
exotic upon the ſtomach to the ſugar uſually drank with the
Tea; but I have had ſufficient opportunities of obſerving in
the Weſt Indies the good effects of drinking freely the juice of
the ſugar-cane, to obviate this objection. I have known feeble
emaciated children, afflicted with worms, tumefied" abdomen,
and a variety of diſeaſes, foon emerge from their complicated
ailments, by drinking large draughts of this ſweet liquor, and
become healthy and ſtrong'.
6 While
In ſome parts of Scotland the cornmon people give children large draughts of
fugar and water to deſtroy worms. See alſo: Boerhaav. Elem. Chemiae, Tom. II.
p. 160. Hiſtoriſch Verhaal. &c. inde Voorreeden Bezoar. London, 1715, 8vo.
Slare de Sacchar. et lapid. Van. Swieten Commen. v. V. p. 586. Duncan, in his
Avis Salutaire, frequently introduces ſugar as an agreeable poiſon, though he offers
no proof in ſupport of this epithet. Dr. Robertſon, in his Hiſtory of Charles V.
Vol. I. p. 401, 8vo. obferves, that “ ſome plants of the Sugar-cane were brought
from Afia; and the firſt attempt to cultivate them in Sicily was made about the
middle

( 72 )
46 While flows the juice mellifluent from the cane,
Grudge not, my friend, to let thy ſlaves, each morn,
* But chief the fick and young, at ſetting day,
“ Themſelves regale with oft-repeated draughts
“ Of tepid nectar, and make labour light."
That there is ſomething in the finer green Teas, that pro-
duces effects peculiar to itſelf, and not to be equalled by any
other ſubſtance we know, is, I believe, admitted by all who
have obſerved, either what paſſes in themſelves, or the accounts
that others give of their feelings, after a plentiful uſe of this
liquor. Nor are the finer kinds of bohea Teas incapable of the
like influence. They affect the nerves, produce tremblings,
and ſuch a ſtate of body for the time, as ſubjects it to be agi-
tated by the moſt trifling cauſes, ſuch as ſhutting a door too
haſtily, the ſudden entrance even of a ſervant, and other the
like cauſes.
middle of the 12th century. From thence they were tranſplanted into the ſouthern
provinces of Spain. From Spain they were carried to the Canary and Madeira Iſles,
and at length into the New World. Ludovico Guicciardini, in enumerating the
goods imported into Antwerp, about the year 1560, mentions the fugar which they
received from Spain and Portugal as a conſiderable article of import. He deſcribes
that as the product of the Madeira and Canary iſlands. Deſcritt. de Paeſi Baffi,
p. 180, 181. The ſugar-cane was either not introduced into the Weſt-Indies at that
time, or the cultivation of it was not ſo conſiderable as to furniſh an article in com-
merce. In the middle ages, though Sugar was not raiſed in ſuch quantities, or
employed for ſo many purpoſes, as to become one of the common neceſſaries of life,
it appears to have been a conſiderable article in the commerce of the Italian States."
It is, however, well aſcertained, that the Sugar Cane is indigenous to South America,
and the Weſt Indies. Moſeley on Sugar, p. 29.
Granger's Sugar Cane, 4to. p. 109. See alſo p. 9.
"Dulces bibebant ex arundine fuccos.
LUCAN.
Μελι καλαμινον το λεγομενον σακχάρι και
.
ARRIAN,
I know
3

( )
I know people of both ſexes, who are conſtantly ſeized with
great uneaſineſs, anxiety, and oppreſſion, as often as they take
a ſingle cup of Tea, who nevertheleſs, for the ſake of company,
drink feveral cups of warm water, mixed with ſugar and milk,
without the ſame inconvenience.
A phyſician, whoſe acquaintance I have long been favoured
with, and who, with ſome others, was preſent when the pre-
ceding experiments were made at the college of Edinburgh,
has a remarkable delicacy in feeling the effects of a ſmall quan-
tity of fine Tea. If drank in the forenoon, it affects his fto.
mach with an uneaſy ſenſation, which continues for ſeveral hours,
and entirely takes away his appetite for food at dinner; though
at other times, when he takes chocolate for breakfaſt, he ge-
nerally makes a very hearty meal at noon, and enjoys the moſt
perfect health. If he drink a ſingle diſh of tea in the afternoon,
it affects him in the fame manner, and deprives him of ſleep
for three or four hours through the ſucceeding night; yet he
can take a cup of warm water with ſugar and milk, without the
leaſt inconvenience.
It may be remarked that opium has nearly the ſame effect
upon him as Tea, but in a greater degree; for he informs me,
that when he once accidentally took a quantity of the ſolution
of opium, it had not the leaſt tendency to induce ſleep, but
produced a very diſagreeable uneaſineſs at his ftomach, ap-
proaching to nauſea. The late celebrated Profeſſor Whytt', of
Edinburgh, affords a ſtriking example how injurious the effects
of Tea may be upon conſtitutions, which I ſhall relate in his
* Whytt's Works, 4to. p. 642.
L
own

( 74 )
own words. " I once imagined Tea to be in a great meaſure
unjuſtly accuſed; and that it did not hurt the ſtomach more
than an equal quantity of warm water ; but experience has
ſince taught me the contrary. Strong Tea drunk in any con-
ſiderable quantity, in a morning, eſpecially if I eat little bread
with it, generally makes me fainter before dinner than if I had
taken no breakfaſt at all ; at the ſame time it quickens my pulſe,
and often affects me with a kind of giddineſs. Theſe bad effects
of Tea are moſt remarkable when my ſtomach is out of
order."
SECTION

( 75 )
S E C T I O N VI.
I
am informed likewiſe by a phyſician, of long and ex-
tenſive practice in the city, that he has known ſeveral inſtances
of a ſpitting of blood having been brought on, by breathing in
an air loaded with the fine duſt of Tea. It is cuſtomary for
thoſe who deal largely in this article to mix different kinds to-
gether, ſo as to ſuit the different palates of their cuſtomers.
This is generally performed in the back part of their ſhops,
ſeveral cheſts perhaps being mixed together at the ſame
time. Thoſe who are much employed in this work are at
length very often ſufferers by it; ſome are ſeized with ſudden
bleedings from the lungs or from the noſtrils ; and others at-
tacked with violent coughs, ending in conſumptions.
Theſe circumſtances are chiefly brought in fight to prove,
that, beſides a ſedative relaxing power, there exiſts in Tea an
active penetrating ſubſtance, which, in many conftitutions, can-
not fail of being productive of fingular effects.
An eminent Tea-broker, after having examined in one day
upwards of one hundred cheſts of Tea, only by ſmelling at
them forcibly, in order to diſtinguiſh their reſpective qualities,
was the next feized with a violent giddineſs, head-ach, univer-
fal
L 2

( 76 )
fal ſpaſms, and loſs of ſpeech and memory. By proper affift-
ance, the ſymptoms abated, but he did not totally recover. For,
though his ſpeech returned, and his memory in ſome degree,
yet he continued, with unequal ſteps, gradually loſing ſtrength,
till a partial paralyſis enſued, then a more general one, and at
length he died. Whether this was owing to the effluvia of
the Tea, may perhaps be doubted. Future accidents may pof-
fibly confirm the ſuſpicions to be juſt or otherwiſe.
SECTION

( 77 )
SE C T I ON VII.
An aſſiſtant to a Tea broker, had frequently for ſome
weeks complained of pain and giddineſs of his head, after ex-
amining and mixing different kinds of Tea : the giddineſs was
fometimes ſo conſiderable, as to render it neceſſary for a perſon
to attend him, in order to prevent any injury he might, ſuffer
from falling or other accident. He was bled in the arm freely,
but without permanent relief; his complaint returned as ſoon
as he was expoſed to his uſual employment. At length he was
adviſed to be electrified, and the ſhocks were directed to his
head. The next day his pain was diminiſhed, but the day after
cloſed the tragical ſcene. I ſaw him a few hours before he
died; he was inſenſible; the uſe of his limbs almoft loft, and
he funk very ſuddenly into a fatal apoplexy. Whether the
effluvia of the Tea, or electricity, was the cauſe of this event, is
doubtful. In either view the caſe is worthy of attention '.
A young man of a delicate conſtitution, had tried many pow-
erful medicines in vain, for a depreſſion of ſpirits, which he
1. From theſe inſtances of the deleterious effects of Tea, one might be led to fup-
poſe that the ſame unhappy conſequences would frequently attend thoſe who are :
employed in examining and mixing different kinds of Tea in China ; but there the
Teas are mixed under an open ſhed, through which the air has a free current, by
which the odour and the duſt are diffipated : but in London this buſineſs is uſually
done in a back room, confined on every ſide.
laboured

( 78 )
laboured under to a degree of melancholy, which rendered his
ſituation dangerous to himſelf and thoſe about him. I found
he drank Tea very plentifully, and therefore requeſted him to
ſubſtitute another kind of diet; which he complied with, and
afterwards gradually recovered his uſual health. Some weeks
after this, having a large preſent of fine green Tea ſent him,
he drank a conſiderable quantity of the infuſion on that and
the following day. This was ſucceeded by his former dejection
and melancholy, with loſs of memory, tremblings, a proneneſs
to great agitation from the moſt trifling circumſtances, and a
numerous train of nervous ailments. I ſaw him again, and he
immediately attributed his complaints to the Tea he had drank;
fince which he has carefully denied himſelf the ſame indulgence,
and now enjoys his former health.
I have known many other inſtances, where leſs degrees of
depreſſion, and other complaints depending upon a relaxed irri-
table habit, have attended delicate people for many years ; and
though they have had the advice of ſkilful phyſicians, yet in
vain have medicines been adminiſtered, till the patient has re-
frained from the infuſion of this fragrant exotic'.
· Van Swieten, in his Commentaries on Boerhaave's aphoriſms, ſpeaks of the
effects of Tea and Coffee in the following manner.
66 Vidi plurimos, his potibus
diu abuſos, adeo enervatum corpus habuiffe, ut vix languida membra traherent, ac
plures etiam apoplexia et paralyfi correptos fuiſſe." Tom. III. § 1060, p. 362,
de paralyfi.
وو
SECTION

( 79 )
S E C TI ON
VIII.
In treating of this ſubſtance, I would not be underſtood
to be either a partial advocate, or a paffionate accuſer. I have
often regretted that Tea ſhould poſſeſs any pernicious qualities,
as the pleaſure which ariſes from reflecting how many millions
of our fellow-creatures are enjoying at one hour the ſame
amuſing repaſt; the occaſions it furniſhes for agreeable conver-
fation; the innocent parties of both ſexes it daily draws toge-
ther, and entertains without the aid of ſpirituous liquors ;
would afford grateful ſenſations to a ſocial breaft. But juſtice
demands fomething more. It ſtands charged by many able
writers, by public opinion, partly derived from experience,
with being the cauſe of many diſorders; all that train of
diſtempers included under the name of NERVOUS are faid to
be, if not the offspring, at leaſt highly aggravated by the
uſe of Tea. To enumerate all theſe would be to tranſcribe
volumes. It is not impoſſible but the charges may be partly
Let us examine them with all poſſible candour.
The effect of drinking large quantities of any warm aqueous
liquor, according to all the experiments we are acquainted with,
would be, to enter ſpeedily into the courſe of circulation, and
paſs off as ſpeedily by urine or perfpiration, or the increaſe of
ſome of the ſecretions. Its effects on the ſolid parts of the
conftitution
true.

( 80 )
conftitution would be relaxing, and thereby enfeebling. If this
warm aqueous fluid were taken in conſiderable quantities, its
effects would be proportionable; and ſtill greater, if it were fub-
ftituted inſtead of nutriment.
That all infuſions of herbs may be conſidered in this light
feems not unreaſonable. The infuſion of Tea, nevertheleſs,
has theſe two particularities. It is not only poſſeſſed of a
ſedative quality (Sect. II. Exp. III. IV.), but alſo of a con-
ſiderable aftringency (Sect. II. Exp. II.); by which the relax-
ing power aſcribed to a mere aqueous fluid is in ſome meaſure
corrected. It is, on account of the latter, perhaps leſs injurious
than many other infuſions of herbs, which, beſides a very flight
aromatic flavour, have very little if any ftypticity, to prevent
their relaxing debilitating effects.
Tea, therefore, if not too fine, nor drank too hot, or in too
great quantities, is, perhaps, preferable to any other vegetable
infufion we know. And if we take into conſideration likewiſe
its known enlivening energy, it will appear that our attachment
to Tea is not merely from its being coſtly or faſhionable,
but from its fuperiority in taſte and effects to moſt other
vegetables.
Vide Trattato di Medicina preſervation : Scritto da Carlo Gianella. Veron.
1751. p. 112.
Simon Pauli, who took a pleaſure in oppoſing the uſe of Tea, in-
dulges himſelf with the irony of the following lines :
Drinet Wiin and warff,
Drinit Beer and verdarff,
Drinet Waater and ſtarf:
Or;
Drink Wine, and profit ;
Drink Beer, and grow thin ;
Drink Water, and die.
SECTION

( 81 )
SE CTION IX.
It may be of ſome uſe in our inquiries to conſider its
effects where it has been long and univerſally uſed.
Of Japan
we know little at preſent: of China we have more recent
accounts; from theſe it appears, that Tea of ſome kind, coarſer
or finer, is drank plentifully by all degrees of people; the
general proviſion of the lower ranks eſpecially is rice; their
beverage Tea. The fuperior claſſes of people drink Tea ; but
they likewiſe partake of animal food, and live freely.
Of their diſeaſes we know but little, nor what effects Tea
may have in this reſpect. They feldom or never bleed. The
late Dr. Arnot, of Canton, a gentleman who did his profeſſion
and his country honour, and was in the higheſt eſtimation with
the Chineſe, I am informed, was the firſt perſon who could
ever prevail upon any of the Chineſe to be blooded', be their
maladies what they might. It would appear from hence, that
inflammatory diſeaſes were not frequent among them ; other-
wiſe a nation, who ſeem fo fond of life as the Chineſe are re-
puted to be, would by ſome means or other have admitted of
this almoſt only remedy in ſuch caſes. May we infer from
hence, that inflammatory diſeaſes are leſs frequent in China,
See Du Halde's hiſtory of China, V. III. p. 362. He obſerves here, that bleed-
ing is not entirely unknown amongſt the Chineſe.
M
than

( 82 )
than in ſome other countries, and that one cauſe of this may be
the conſtant and liberal uſe of this infuſion ? Perhaps, if we take
a view of the ſtate of diſeaſes, as exactly deſcribed a century
ago, and compare it with what we may obſerve at preſent, we
may
have a collateral ſupport for this ſuggeſtion. If we conſider
the frequency of inflammatory diſeaſes in Sydenham's time, who
was both a conſummate judge of theſe diſeaſes, and deſcribed
them faithfully, I believe we ſhall find they were then much
more frequent than they are preſent; at leaſt, if any deference
is due to the obſervations of judicious perſons, who moſtly
agree, that genuine inflammatory diſeaſes are much more rare
at preſent, than they were at the time when Sydenham wrote.
It is true, this diſpofition, admitting it be fact, may ariſe from
various cauſes ; amongſt the reſt, it is not improbable, Tea may
have its ſhare.
SECTION

( 83 )
S E C ΤΙ ο Ν Χ.
BEFORE the uſe of Tea, the general breakfaſt in this
country conſiſted of more ſubſtantial aliment'; milk in various
ſhapes, ale and beer, with toaſt, cold meat, and other additions.
The like additions, with fack, and the moſt generous wines,
found their way amongſt the higher orders of mankind. And
one cannot fuppofe but that fuch a diet, and the uſual exercife
they took, would produce a very different ſtate of blood and
other animal juices, from that which Tea, a little milk or
cream, and bread and butter, affords,
It was not the breakfaſt only that ſeems to have contributed
its ſhare towards introducing a material alteration in the animal
fyſtem, but the ſubſequent regale likewife in the afternoon.
The late Owen Saluſbury Brereton, Eſq. a gentleman well known ainong the
learned, had in his poffeffion a MS. dated “ apud Eltham, menſe Jan. 22, Hen. viij.”
intituled, “ Articles deviſed by his Royal Highneſs (the title of Majeſty was not given
to our Kings till a reign or two after), with Advice of his Council, for the Eſtabliſh-
ment of good Order and Reformation of fundry Errors and Miſuſes in his Houſehold
and Chambers.” In p. 85, “ The queen's maids of honour to have a chet loaf, a
manchat, a gallon of ale, and a chine of beef, for their breakfaſts.” Compare the
Archäologia, publiſhed by the Society of Antiquaries of London, Vol. III. p. 157.
Hume's Hiſtory of England, Vol. IV. p. 499. Hiſtoria delle coſe occorſe nel regno
d'Inghilterra in materia del Duca di Notomberlan dopo la morte di Odvardo vi.
Venice, 1538.
Tea
M 2

( 84 )
Tea is a ſecond time brought before company; it is drank by
moſt people, and often in no very ſmall quantities. Before the
introduction of this exotic, it was not unuſual to entertain after-
noon gueſts in a very different manner ; jellies, tarts, ſweet-
meats ; nay, cold meat, wine, cyder, ſtrong ale, and even fpi-
rituous liquors under the title of cordials, were often brought
out on thefe occaſions, and perhaps taken to exceſs, much to
the injury of individuals.
This kind of repaſt would tend to keep up the natural in-
flammatory diatheſis, which was the reſult of vigour, and a pleni-
tude of rich blood, as well as favour diſeaſes originating from
ſuch cauſes. It ſeems not unreaſonable therefore to ſuppoſe,
that, as the diet of our anceſtors was more generous, their exer-
cifes more athletic, and their diſeaſes more generally the pro-
duce of a rich blood, than are obſervable in the preſent times,
thefe debilitating effects before-mentioned may in part be
attributed to the uſe of Tea, as no cauſe appears to be ſo general
and ſo probable.
SECTION

( 85 )
S E C T I ON
XI.
If theſe ſuggeſtions are admitted, they will affift us in
determining when and to whom the uſe of Tea is falutary, and
to whom it may be deemed injurious. Thoſe, for inſtance,
who either from a natural propenſity to generate a rich inflam-
matory blood, or from, exerciſe, or diet, or climate, or all to-
gether, are diſpoſed to be in this ſituation : to theſe the uſe of
Tea would ſeem rather beneficial, by relaxing the too rigid
folids, and diluting the coagulable lymph of the blood, as a very
ſenſible and ingenious author very juſtly ſtyles it".
There are idioſyncraſes, certain particularities, which are
objections to general rules. There are, for inſtance, men of
this temperament, ſtrong, healthy, vigorous, and with not only
the appearance, but the requiſites of firm health, to whom a
few diſhes of Tea would produce the agitations familiar to an
hyſteric woman ;- but this is by no means general : in common
they bear it well, it refreſhes them, they endure fatigue after
it, as well as after the moſt fubftantial viands. Nothing re-
freſhes them more than Tea, after laſting and vehement exer-
ciſe. To fuch it is undoubtedly wholeſome, and equal at leaſt,
if not preferable, to any other kind of regale now in uſe.
I
Philoſophical Tranſactions, Vol. LX. 1770. p. 368, & ſeq.
But

(
86 )
But, we conſider what may reaſonably be fuppoſed to hap-
pen to thoſe who are in the oppoſite extreme of health and
vigour; that is, the tender, delicate, enfeebled, whoſe folids are
debilitated, their blood thin and aqueous, the appetite loft or
depraved, without exerciſe, or exerciſing improperly; in ſhort,
where the diſpoſition of the whole frame is altogether oppoſite
to the inflammatory; the free and unreſtrained uſe of this in-
fuſion, and ſuch accompanyments, muſt unavoidably contribute
to ſink the remains of vital ſtrength ſtill lower.
Between theſe two extremes there are many gradations; and,
every thing elſe being alike, Tea will in general be found more
or leſs beneficial or injurious to individuals, in proportion as their
conſtitutions approach nearer to theſe oppoſite extremes.
To
defcend into all the particulars would require experience and
abilities, more than I can boaſt. Suffice it to ſay, that, except
as a medicine, or after great fatigue, large quantities are ſeldom
beneficial, nor ſhould it ever be drank very hot; and, as hath
been already mentioned, the finer Tea, the green eſpecially, is
more to be ſuſpected than the common or middling kinds.
SECTION

( 87 )
SECTION XII.
The experiments and obſervations hitherto related render
it evident, that Tea poffefſes a fragrant volatile principle, which
in general tends to relax and enfeeble the ſyſtem of delicate
perfons, particularly when it is drank hot, and in large quan-
tities. I have known many of this frame of conſtitution, who
have been perſuaded, on account of their health, to deny them-
ſelves this faſhionable infuſion, and received great benefit
(Sect. VII.). Others, who have found their health impaired
by this indulgence, are unhappily induced to continue it for
want of an agreeable fubftitute, eſpecially for breakfaſt.
But, if ſuch cannot wholly omit this favourite regale, they
may certainly take it with more ſafety, by boiling the Tea a
few minutes, in order to diſſipate this fragrant principle (Sect.
II. 1, and Exp. IV.) which is the moſt noxious ; and extract
the bitter, aſtringent, and moſt ftomachic part (Sect. II. 2, and.
Exp. III.) inſtead of preparing it in the uſual manner by infuſion.
An eminent phyſician in the city, frequently experiencing
the prejudicial effects of Tea by drinking it in the uſual form,
was induced, from reading a differtation upon this ſubject,
publiſhed ſome time ſince at Leyden', to try the infuſion pre-
Siftens Obſervationes ad vires Theæ pertinentes. Lugd. Batav. 1769.
pared

( 88 )
pared after another manner. He ordered the Tea to be infuſed
in hot water, which after a few hours he cauſed to be poured
off, ſtand over night, and to be made warm again in the morn-
ing for breakfaſt. By this means, he affures me, he can take,
without inconvenience, near double the quantity of Tea, which
formerly, when prepared in the uſual method, produced many
diſagreeable nervous complaints.
The ſame end is obtained by ſubſtituting the extract of Tea
(Sect. II. 2.) inſtead of the leaves. It may be uſed in the
form of Tea, by diffolving it in warm water ; and, as the fra-
grancy
of the Tea is in this caſe diffipated, the nervous relaxing
effects, which follow the drinking it in the uſual manner, would
be in great meaſure avoided. This extract has been imported
into Europe from China, in flat round dark-coloured cakes, not
exceeding a quarter of an ounce each in weight, ten grains of
which, diffolved in a fufficient quantity of water, might fuffice
one perſon for breakfaſt. It might alſo be made here without
much expence or trouble (See Sect. II. 2.).
It is remarkable, that in all the forms which Du Halde re-
lates, for adminiſtering Tea as a ſtomachic medicine among the
Chineſe, it is ordered to be boiled for ſome time, or prepared in
ſuch a manner, as to cauſe a diſſipation of its fragrant periſh-
able flavour; which practice, as it ſeems conſonant to experi-
ments here (Sect. II. Exp. III.), may probably have taken its
riſe in China, from long experience and repeated facts.
SECTION

( 89 )
S E C ΤΙ Ο Ν
XIII.
PERHAPS it will not be deemed foreign to an eſſay
upon this ſubject, to take a conciſe view of the manners
and diſpoſitions of the Chineſe, as we have done of their
diſeaſes. Thoſe who are beſt acquainted with human na-
ture ſeem to afcribe even to their food, and way of life, as
well as to their climate and education, certain propenſities
at leaſt to vice and virtue; and it may be of uſe to draw
what light we can in theſe refpects, from the character of a
people, who have uſed the infuſion of Tea for a long ſeries
of years,
They are in general deſcribed to be a people of moderate
ſtrength of body, not capable of much hard labour, rather
feeble when compared with the inhabitants of fome nations,
excelling in fome minute fabricks and manufactures, but exhi-
biting no proofs of elevated genius in architecture, either civil
or military. They are faid to be pufillanimous, cunning,
extremely libidinous, and remarkable for diſſimulation and
ſelfiſhneſs', effeminate, revengeful, and diſhoneſt”.
* See Anſon's Voyage round the World, 8vo. p. 366, and many later autha-
rities.
2 See likewiſe Du Halde's Hiſtory of China, Vol. II. p. 75, 130, et feq. Les
Lettres Curieuſes et Edifiantes des Jefuites.
N

( 90 )
It would be unjuſt to aſcribe all theſe qualities to their man-
ner of living: other cauſes have undoubtedly their ſhare :
but it may be ſuſpected, that the manner of life, or kind of
diet, that tends to debilitate, virtually contributes to the in-
creaſe of the meaner qualities. When force of body is want-
ing, cunning often ſupplies its place; and if not regulated
by other principles, it would diſcover its effects more uni-
verſally; and thus will take place whether the debility is natural,
or acquired by a diet that enfeebles the body. That there is a
probity, fortitude, and generoſity, in female minds, not inferior
to the like qualities poſſeſſed by the other ſex, is moſt certain ;
but that it is generally ſo may perhaps be doubted;
though both
Not equal, as their fex not equal feem'd;
For contemplation he and valour form’d,
For ſoftneſs fhe, and ſweet attractive grace".
Whether the preſent age exhibits as many inſtances of fu-
perior excellence as the preceding, is beyond my abilities to
determine : that it is tarniſhed more than fome others with
one vice at leaſt, is generally confeſſed ; and it may, perhaps,
be a problem not unworthy of confideration, whether the
general uſe of Tea may not gradually increaſe the diſpoſition,
For whatever tends to debilitate, feems for the moſt part to
augment corporeal ſenſibility. The ſame perſon, who in health
Milton's Paradiſe Loſt.
does

( 91 )
does not ſtart at the firing of a cannon, ſhall be extremely
diſconcerted when funk by diſeaſe to the border of effeminacy,
at the ſudden opening of a door. Defire is not always propor-
tioned to bodily ſtrength : it may ſometimes be ſtrongeſt when
the corporeal ſtrength is at the loweſt ebb; it is often found ſo ;
and therefore another reaſon occurs, why the general uſe of
Tea ought not to be conſidered as the moſt indifferent of all
ſubjects.
From what has been ſaid upon this ſubject, it will probably
be admitted, that children and very young perſons in ge-
neral ſhould be deterred from the uſe of this infuſion. It
weakens their ſtomachs, impairs the digeſtive powers, and
favours the generation of many diſeaſes. We ſeldom perceive
the rudiments of ſcrophulous diſeaſes ſo often any where as
in the weak feeble offspring of the inhabitants of towns, and
whoſe breakfaſt and ſupper often conſiſt of the weak runnings
of ordinary Tea, with its uſual appurtenances. It ought by no
means to be the common diet of boarding-ſchools ; if it be al-
lowed fometimes as a treat, the children ſhould at the ſame
time be informed, that the conſtant uſe of it would be injurious
to their health, ſtrength, and conftitution in general.
IN 2
SECTION

( 92 )
SECTION XIV.
Thus far I have chiefly endeavoured to trace the effects
of Tea as a part of our diet. In medicine it has at preſent but
very little reputation amongſt us. It is even ſcarcely ever re-
commended as a part of the furniture of a fick chamber; it is
ſeldom mentioned even as a gentle diaphoretic : in caſes, how-
ever, where it is neceſſary to dilute and relax, to promote the
thinner ſecretions, it promiſes at leaſt as much advantage as
moſt other infuſions. For, beſides its other effects, it ſeems to
contain ſomething ſedative in its compoſition (SECT. II. Exp.
III. IV.), not altogether unlike an opiate. Like this claſs of
medicines, it mitigates uneaſineſs, perhaps more than any
other merely aqueous infuſion : and, like very ſmall doſes of
opium, it ſometimes prevents reſt, and gives a temporary flutter
to the ſpirits.
Where, therefore, large quantities of the infuſion muſt be
taken, to produce or ſupport a conſiderable diaphoreſis, a de-
coction of Tea, or a ſtrong infufion, may be adminiſtered with
great propriety, particularly in inflammatory complaints ; the
ſedative power of Tea, aflifted by the diluting effects of warm
water, generally producing a diaphoreſis, without ſtimulating
the ſyſtem. The Chineſe moſt commonly give it as a medicine
in decoction, in a variety of diſeaſes; but if the infufion were
drawn
و

( 93 )
drawn from a large proportion of fine Tea, and ſoon poured off,
that the fineſt part may be procured, and drank warm, it would
ſeem preferable as an attenuant and relaxant.
I have more than once given fine green Tea in ſubſtance with
ſome diluting vehicle, and obſerved the fame effects nearly as
are produced from taking the infuſion. Thirty grains of this
kind of Tea powdered, taken three or four times at as many
hours interval, generally relaxes the ſolids, diminiſhes heat and
reſtleſſneſs, and induces perſpiration. Such a doſe as produces
a ſlight nauſea, which this quantity uſually does, more certainly
induces a perſpiration, and a mitigation of the fymptoms ac-
companying inflammatory complaints. If this doſe be doubled,
the nauſea and ſickneſs will be increaſed, and a diſagreeable
ſenſation or load is felt for ſome time about the region of the
ftomach, which uſually goes off with a laxative ftool.
SECTION

( 94 )
S E C T I ON
XV.
It is faid that in Japan and China the ſtone is a very
unuſual diſtemper, and the natives ſuppoſe that Tea has the
quality to prevent it'. So far as it ſoftens and meliorates the
water, which is very bad, it may certainly be of uſe: We
may alſo obſerve here, that every ſolvent is capable of taking up
a limited quantity only of the ſolvend, and, when fully fa-
turated with it, is incapable of ſuſpending it long; hence it is
plain, that the quantity of the ſtony matter carried off muſt be
greater when the urine is increaſed in quantity, and has not
been too long retained in the bladder : and therefore, as Tea is
a diuretic, it may in this view prove lithonthriptic.
Tea, we have already obſerved, contains an aſtringent anti-
ſeptic quality (Sect. I. Exp. I, II.) It likewiſe poſſeſſes no
inconſiderable degree of bitterneſs; and, as the uvæ urſi, and
other bitters, have mitigated fevere paroxyſms of the ſtone, may
not Tea prove ſerviceable alſo by its antacid quality ?
1 Vid. Alex. Rhod. Sommaire, &c. J. N. Pechlin. Obf. xxvii. de Remed. Arthr.
Prophylact. p. 276. Baglivius in doloribus calculoſis et podagricis eam ſpecialiter
commendavit, p. 117. Vogel. Mat. Med. Thee Folia. Sir G. Staunton, Vol. II.
p. 68, 69.
2 By long boiling, water is certainly freed from ſome of the earthy and ſaline
ſubſtances it may contain, and thereby rendered confiderably ſofter ; but it is by no
means altered in theſe reſpects by infuſing with Tea. See Percival's Experiments
and Obſervations on Water, p. 27 et 33
It

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It is an obſervation I have often had occaſion to make, that
people, after violent exerciſe, or coming off a journey much
fatigued, and affected with a ſenſe of general uneaſineſs, at-
tended with thirſt and great heat, by drinking a few cups of
warm Tea, have generally experienced immediate refreſhment.
It alſo proves a grateful diluent, and agreeable ſedative, after a
full meal, when the ſtomach is oppreſſed, the head pained, and
the pulſe beats high'; hence the Poet ſays,
“ The Muſe's friend, Tea, does our fancy aid,
Repreſs thoſe vapours which the head invade,
“ And keeps that palace of the foul ſerene,
“ Fit on her birth-day to falute a queen."
WALLER
1
This is particularly remarked, as one of the good effects of Téa, by, De Blegny,
who wrote in 1680, which he probably copied from Alex. Rhod. Sommaire des
divers Voyages, &c. printed in 1653. See alſo Chamberlayn on Coffee, Tea, and
Chocolate, p. 40. Le Compte's Memoirs and Obſervations, P. 227. Home's
Principia Medicinæ, p. 5. Cheynæi Tractatus, p. 89. Percival's Experimental
Eflays, p. 130. Tiffot on the Diſeaſes of Literary and Sedentary perſons, p. 145,
& feq. Dr. Kirkpatrick, in his notes upon this Work, relates the caſe of a Lawyer,
who had been troubled for ſome time with the gravel and ſtone, and taken many
medicines in vain; till at length he reſolved to try the effects of Tea, an account of
which is given by himſelf in the following words. " I had never uſed myſelf to
* Tea, ſo that the drink was new to me. I took a quarter of an ounce of fine bohea
“ Tea, and, pouring a quantity of boiling water upon it, fuffered the infuſion to
" ſtand till it grew cold. I then poured it off clear, and drank three cups of it in
<< the morning, at the diſtance of about an hour between each, two cups faſting,
one after breakfaſt, and a fourth two hours after dinner. The firſt day, the only
«s effect produced was a more plentiful diſcharge of urine ; but the ſecond day I
« voided in the morning twelve large fragments, a nucleus of the fize of a ſmall pea,
** with ſome gravel ; and what gave me more ſatisfaction was, that the uſe of the
** Tea kept my body open as in perfect health.”
SECTION

( 96 )
S E C ΤΙ Ο Ν
XVI.
I SHALL finiſh theſe remarks with ſome reflections on
this herb, conſidered in another light.
As luxury of every kind has augmented in proportion to the
increaſe of foreign ſuperfluities, it has contributed more or leſs
its ſhare towards the production of thoſe low nervous diſeaſes,
which are now ſo frequent. Amongſt theſe cauſes, exceſs in
ſpirituous liquors is one of the moſt conſiderable ; but the firſt
riſe of this pernicious cuſtom is often owing to the weakneſs
and debility of the ſyſtem, brought on by the daily habit of
drinking Tea'; the trembling hand ſeeks a temporary relief in
ſome cordial, in order to refreſh and excite again the enfeebled
fyftem ; whereby fuch almoſt by neceſſity fall into a habit of
intemperance, and frequently intail upon their offspring a va-
riety of diſtempers, which otherwiſe probably would not have
occurred.
Another bad conſequence reſulting from the univerſal cuſtom
of Tea-drinking, particularly affects the poor labouring people,
whoſe daily earnings are ſcanty enough to procure them the
neceffary conveniences of life, and wholeſome diet. Many
+ See Percival's Experimental Eſſays, p. 126. Duncan, in his Avis Salutaire,
takes occaſion to be merry upon the uſe and influence of Tea and hot liquors ;
whilſt he would not deprive voluptuous perfons of their idol, he would prevent it
from burning its adorers, as Moloch did. Methuſelah, he obſerves, who lived near
1000 years, was a water-drinker ; but, fince the time of Noah, the firſt wine-
drinker, the life of man is contracted, and diſeaſes augmented.
of

( 97 )
of theſe, too deſirous of vying with their fuperiors, and imi-
tating their luxuries, throw away their little earnings upon
this
foreign herb, and are thereby inconſiderately deprived of
the means to purchaſe proper wholeſome food for themſelves
and their families. In the words of Perſius we may here juftly
exclaim,
O curas hominum quantum eft in rebus inane!
I have known feveral miſerable families thus infatuated,
their emaciated children labouring under various ailments de-
pending upon indigeftion, debility, and relaxation. Some at
length have been ſo enfeebled, that their limbs have become
diftorted, their countenance pale, and a maraſmus has cloſed
the tragedy".
Theſe effects are not to be attributed ſo much to the
peculiar properties of this coſtly vegetable, as to the want
of proper food, which the expence of the former deprived
theſe poor people from procuring: I knew a family, con-
fiſting of a mother and ſeveral children, whoſe fondneſs for
Tea was fo great, that three times a day, as often as their
meals, which generally conſiſted of the ſame articles, they
regularly fent for Tea and ſugar, with a morſel of bread to
fupport nature ; by which practice, and the want of a due
quantity of nutritious food, they grew more enfeebled; thin,
emaciated habits and weak conftitutions characteriſed this
Vol. II. p. 43.
1 See Dr. Walker's excellent Remarks, in Memoirs of the Medical Society,
-
diſtreſſed

* ( 98 )
7
diftreffed family, till ſome of the children were removed from
this baneful nurſery, by which they acquired tolerable health.
My valuable friend, Dr. Walker, of Leeds, in Yorkſhire,
has noticed, in ſeveral parts of that extenſive and commercial
county, and particularly in Leeds'; that, “ ſince the more
plentiful introduction of Tea into the families of the induſtrious
poor, by the late reduction of its price, the Atrophia Lactan-
tium, or Tabes Nutricum, a ſpecies of decline, has made an
unuſually rapid progreſs. The difficulty with which animal food
is procured by the lower ranks of ſociety, in quantity fufficient
for daily nutriment, has led many of them to ſubſtitute, in the
place of more wholeſome proviſions, a cheap infuſion of this
foreign vegetable, whoſe grateful flavour (and perhaps narcotic
quality, which it poſſeſſes in a ſmall degree in common with
moſt other ever-greens) is found to create an appetite for
itſelf, in preference to all other kinds of aliment that the ſcanty
income of poverty allows theſe deluded objects to procure ;
though I am ſorry to have occafion to add, that the lowering
effects of tea-drinking lead too many of theſe to ſeek relief
from ſpirits, and other pernicious cordials, at the expence of
health, and the fure conſequences of penury and want.
* As this change, in the article of diet, has been very ge-
nerally made, eſpecially by the females, and the younger
branches of the families of the manufacturing poor, their
conftitutions have been rendered much leſs able to bear
evacuations of any fort, and particularly that of lactation. I
may, with great truth, aver, that more than two hundred
patients of this denomination have, within the laſt two years,
come

( 99
99 )
come under my notice: upon their application for relief, and
the conſequent enquiry which I have been led to make
reſpecting the nature of their diet, their almoſt invariable
reply has been, that they have chiefly depended upon Tea for
their ſupport, at the ſame time that they were permitting an
apparently healthy child to draw the whole of its nouriſhment
from them.
6. That it is debility, and an impoveriſhed ſtate of the whole
ſyſtem, ariſing from a deficiency in the due ſupply of proper
and ſufficiently . nutritious aliment, at a time when the con-
ftitution particularly requires it, in conſequence of the continual
waſte which the mother fuſtains from the fuckling of her infant,
which lay the foundation of this diſeaſe, and that the lungs are
but-ſecondarily or fymptomatically affected, is clearly evinced
from an attention to the ſymptoms.
“ The patient firſt complains of languor, and general weaknefs;
lofs of appetite; fatigue after exerciſe, though it be of the
gentleſt kind; wearifome pains in the back and limbs; foon
after which, fymptoms of general atrophy come on; the face,
in particular, grows thin, and is marked by a certain delicacy
of complexion ; paleneſs about the noſe; but with a fmall
degree of ſettled redneſs in the cheeks. In a ſhort time, if
the patient ſtill continues to give fuck, ſhe is ſeized with
tranfitory ſtitches in the fides, under the fternum, or in ſome
other part of the thorax ; accompanied with a ſhort dry cough,
and ſlight dyſpnæa, upon any muſcular exertion; the pulſe alſo
becomes frequent, but feldom ſo hard as in the inflammatory
ſtate of the genuine phthiſis pulmonalis ; morning ſweats next
make
02

( 100 )
make their appearance ; abſceſſes and ulcers are often formed
in the lungs ; pus mixed with mucus is expectorated; the
general weakneſs increaſes; the emaciated patient is unable
to ſupport an erect poſture; and at laſt dies literally ex-
hauſted."
An ingenious author obſerves, that as much ſuperfluous money
is expended on Tea and Sugar in this kingdom, as would main-
tain four millions more of ſubjects in bread'. And the author
of the Farmer's Letters calculates, that the entertainment of
fipping Tea coſts the poor each time as follows :
d.
3
The tea
The ſugar
The butter
The fuel and wear of the Tea equipage
z
1
2 2 2 를
​2.
When Tea is uſed twice a day, the annual expence amounts
to 71. 125. a head.
And the ſame judicious writer eſtimates
the bread, neceſſary for a labourer's family of five perſons, at
141. 155. od. per annum. By which it appears, that the
yearly expence of Tea, Sugar, &c. for two perſons, exceeds
that of the neceſſary article of bread, ſufficient for a family of
five perſons.
? Eſſays on Huſbandry, p. 166.
2 Vol. I. p. 202. and 299.
It

( 10 )
It appears alſo, from a moderate calculation, that twenty-
one millions of pounds of Tea' are annually imported into Eng-
land. In the beginning of the preſent century the annual
public ſales by the Eaſt-India Company did not much exceed
50,000 pounds weight, independently of what little might be
clandeſtinely imported. The Company's annual ſales about this
time, 1797, approach to twenty millions of pounds; being an
increaſe of four hundred fold in leſs than 100 years, and an-
flyers to the rate of more than a pound weight each in the
courſe of the year, for the individuals of all ranks, fexes, and
ages, throughout the Britiſh dominions in Europe and America”.
Since the year 1797, it is probable, that the import of Tea
has increaſed in a much greater ratio ; for the Eaſt-India Com-
pany, at their ſale in September 1798, put up 1,300,000
pounds of bohea ; 3,500,000 pounds of congou and campoi;
400,000 pounds of ſouchong and pekoe ; 600,000 pounds of
ſinglo and twankay; 400,000 of hyfon; hyſon ſkin 100,000;
making, in the whole, 6,300,000 pounds, the quantity ſold in
the autumnal quarterly fale : and it may be preſumed, from the
table annexed, (p. 1. Section IV.) and other documents, that at
leaſt 30,000,000 of pounds are annually imported into Europe
and America !
? If we include the quantity ſmuggled into this kingdom, the conſumption might
be calculated at half a million more.
Compare Sir George Staunton's Embaſſy, vol. I. p. 22.
21
FIN I S.

( 102 )
DIRECTIONS FOR THE PLATES.
Page 41
Green Tea, to front the title page.
Bohea Tea
Olea fragrans
Camellia Sefanqua
Boxes for conveying plants by ſea
43
C
46
55
E RR A T U M.
P. 41. 1. 10. for than that read as..



FOOT
THE CHARLOTTE SANATORIUM
CHARLOTTE, N. C.
Feb. 8th, 1915
Dr. H. A. Kelly
Baltimore Md.
My Dear Dr. Kelly:
Recently, I have had the pleasure of reading your book
on American Medical Botanists. It is needless to say how much
pleasure it has given me. I notice there
I notice there reference to Dr. Lettsom.
He has long been one of my favorites. Under separate cover I am
sending you Lettson's Natural History of the Tea Tree.
I trust you.
will accept it as a token of esteem from me.
My only hope is that
you have not already a copy.
As I told you in a former letter, I am
a graat grandson of Dr. Short- your old medical botanist friend.
Sincerely,
Harvey
Barret
1915 Park Drive.
HERBARIUM

CARA TRADH
Golw
WINS

MORE ARI)