diff options
| author | www-data <www-data@mail.pglaf.org> | 2026-01-19 16:25:10 -0800 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | www-data <www-data@mail.pglaf.org> | 2026-01-19 16:25:10 -0800 |
| commit | 0692f8bcddbf4bb6377865cee829f1c3343fcc85 (patch) | |
| tree | 6fcab1a34e7f755bc16760b8d7e941fe89348f6d | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 77741-0.txt | 2011 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 77741-h/77741-h.htm | 3673 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 77741-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 0 -> 411266 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
6 files changed, 5700 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/77741-0.txt b/77741-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..965d335 --- /dev/null +++ b/77741-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2011 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77741 *** + + + +Transcriber’s notes: + +The text of this e-book has largely been preserved in its original form +apart from correction of several typographic errors (listed at the end) +and substitution of the archaic ‘ſ’ (long s) with a standard ‘s’. The +pound currency unit is variably represented by the characters £ and l. +Archaic spellings, alternative spellings (Diascorides/Dioscorides), +and punctuation flaws have not been altered. Most paragraphs in the +original text commence with small caps, but not all. No attempt has +been made to standardise them, and in this plain-text version the small +caps are rendered in full capitals. Footnotes have been numbered +consecutively and positioned below the relevant paragraph. + +Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. Superscripted text is +indicated by a preceding caret mark, e.g. N^o. Footnotes have been +numbered consecutively and positioned below the relevant paragraphs. + + + + + A + + TREATISE + + CONCERNING THE + + PROPERTIES AND EFFECTS + + OF + + COFFEE. + + + + + A + + TREATISE + + CONCERNING THE + + PROPERTIES AND EFFECTS + + OF + + COFFEE. + + + THE FIFTH EDITION, + WITH CONSIDERABLE ADDITIONS. + + By BENJAMIN MOSELEY M. D. + + Physician to Chelsea Hospital, Member of the College + of Physicians of London, of the University of Leyden, + of the American Philosophical Society, &c. &c.; + Author of a Treatise on Tropical Diseases, Military + Operations, and the Climate of the West-Indies. + + + LONDON: + + PRINTED FOR J. SEWELL, NO. 32, CORNHILL. + + M.DCC.XCII. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +THE reception which four editions of this Treatise have met with, +has made it necessary to publish a fifth; which I now present to the +reader, with such additions, as I hope will be acceptable and useful[1]. + + [1] The first Edition was published in the beginning of 1785. + +I HAVE collected many authorities, to corroborate what I have advanced; +that, as my opinions have prejudices to contend with, they may not, +however, be objectionable on the ground of singularity, and be +considered as supported by no other testimony than my own. + +IN treating of the salutary advantages, which the public will derive, +individually, from the general use of Coffee, it is impossible not to +reflect also on the political benefits which will accrue to the Parent +State, by increasing its cultivation in her Colonies. + +TO the Colonists themselves the object is very extensive; and surely +the prosperity of so important a part of the empire, as our West Indian +Islands, demands the most liberal attention on the part of the nation. + +FROM the produce of our Plantations, that “magnificent property,” as +Mons. NECKER terms the French Colonies, “which only the superficial +and ignorant affect to undervalue,” this country receives great +additions to her revenue, and a total supply of one of the most useful +articles (perhaps now a necessary) of life. Yet, from the calamities +lately inflicted on some of them by the hand of Providence, and the +accumulated burthens which the public necessities have laid on them +all, many of the Planters are involved in ruin; and those who escape +must owe their deliverance to the bravest struggles of industrious +virtue. + +THE population of White Inhabitants, which is the great security of +the Islands, consists chiefly of those who cultivate the inferior +Staple Commodities, among which, Coffee is now the principal; and this +population has always been proportionable to the increase or decrease +of those Staples. Indigo may be instanced as an example: When Indigo +was encouraged in Jamaica, before that impolitic duty was laid on it, +which exterminated the cultivation of it in our Colonies, and gave it +to the French, there were considerably more White Inhabitants in that +Island than there are at present, though the Island now produces five +times the quantity of Sugar and Rum it did at that time. + +THE cultivation of Coffee requiring but little capital, is an +inducement for people of small fortunes to settle in the Islands. It is +a creditable refuge for the industrious man, who has been unfortunate +in Trade, and to those whose larger schemes in life have failed.--It is +an easy employment; the labour light, and many parts of it performed +by children. The situations and soil where it is carried on must be +dry, and of course healthy, to be advantageous. Coffee Plantations, in +particular, may be considered as a Nursery of useful Inhabitants for +the Colonies. + +THE soil best suited for Coffee is happily such as can be spared from +every other purpose. Large tracts of poor land, which would otherwise +lie waste and useless, may be rendered as profitable as the best, +without the mortality and casualties attendant on severe labour in hot +climates. + +THE numerous little families which live on Coffee Plantations, and are +dispersed in small settlements, in the interior parts of the Islands, +occasion the mountainous and woody lands to be cleared and opened; and +to be intersected with roads and easy communications. + +THUS the residents live in safety, and all sorts of property acquire +a proportionate value and security. The retreats of fugitive negroes +are laid open; plunder and depredation prevented; and conspiracies +for rebellion are deprived of their hiding-places.--And thus the +credit of the planter, and security of the merchant, stand on a +firm basis:--those commotions being prevented, which have so often +disturbed the tranquillity of the Islands, and occasioned the ruin of +many individuals abroad and at home, to the great defalcation of that +immense revenue, which these Islands pay to the Mother-Country[2]. + + [2] The duties and excises, upon a computation for the year 1781, + amount to about £. 1,344,312 sterling, annually, on the produce of + _Jamaica_ only. + +BESIDES, the importance of a numerous body of men, to form an +occasional militia, is evident, to any person acquainted with the +Colonies, who must know how little fatigue and exposure to the sun is +sufficient to destroy an unseasoned stranger. + +INHABITANTS are always ready in case of sudden emergency; and being +acquainted with local circumstances, and inured to the climate, can +perform services, which uninformed, raw, European troops cannot do; +and, were interest and attachment less operative considerations, +Colonial Inhabitants may be depended on;--many instances of which were +exhibited in the events of last war. + +THE firmness displayed by the militia of Jamaica, during the different +periods of Martial Law at that time, when left almost to defend +themselves, ought ever to be remembered to their honour. While many +of the troops that were raised here with so much difficulty, and sent +thither and maintained at so much cost, were perishing in hospitals, +the Island militia underwent the severest fatigues, with the greatest +alacrity; chiefly at their own, and, let me add, very heavy expence, +I was then Surgeon-General of the Island, and had the care of the +militia, and likewise the camps of the regulars, and witnessed the +facts I relate. + +THE truth is, that Sugar Plantations, though they are great sources of +wealth to their proprietors, as well as to government, do not employ a +sufficient number of white people for their internal security, against +the insurrections of the negroes. The manufacture is simple, and the +labour wholly carried on by slaves; and though the Deficiency Law of +Jamaica directs, that one white person shall be employed for every +thirty slaves, under a penalty of thirty pounds per annum for every +deficiency,--yet, this law is often defeated, or the fine submitted +to; as white servants are expensive, and a less number than that +proportion is sufficient for the purpose of making Sugar. + +THE cultivation of inferior Staple Commodities is therefore necessary +to the very existence of the Sugar Colonies; and I am persuaded will +prove to them more beneficial in many respects, than at present is +generally imagined.--Here, then, is an open and grateful field for +Colonial Patriotism; in which the _Amor Patriæ_ will neither find +opposition from envy, nor disappointment from ingratitude.--Here is +the occasion to demonstrate the love of country, and to perpetuate a +benefit to mankind, which will never be forgotten; and if those who, +from character and situation are entitled to attention, will come +forward, and point out to the Public the impositions it has suffered +from misrepresentations, and that the interests of the Sugar Colonies +are no other than the best interests of this Country, there will +never be wanting sufficient good sense in the Nation, to understand, +that a subject of the realm, exerting his industry at four thousand +miles distance, may be employed as beneficially to the State, as the +manufacturer at home, who lives by him; and is as much deserving the +protection of it, as the Country ’Squire, who leaves his fox-hounds, to +give a silent vote or two during the winter, and retires the remainder +of the year to his _Sabine Fields_ in sloth and ignorance. + +SIR NICHOLAS LAWS was the first person who planted Coffee in +Jamaica;--but dying three years afterwards, in 1731, he had not the +happiness to see the cultivation of it make any considerable progress. + +IN 1732, several of the Planters and Merchants, belonging to the +Island, became patrons of the undertaking; and convinced that, under +proper encouragement, it might be of importance to the Island, and +that Coffee might become a flourishing staple article of produce, they +subscribed the sum of 220l. 10s. towards defraying the charges of +soliciting an act of parliament for lowering the inland duty, upon the +importation of Coffee from Jamaica into Great Britain; which at that +time was 10l. sterling per cwt. + +The circumstance being but little known at present, and considering +what obligation the Island is under to their exertions, I am happy in +having an opportunity of inserting their names, as a proper tribute +to the memory of those benefactors to the Colony, and friends to the +Nation. + + +~LONDON~, _Anno 1732_. + + A List of the persons who subscribed and paid into the hands of + Mr. _Roger Drake and Co._ the several sums undermentioned, towards + defraying the charges of an application, for an Act of Parliament, to + encourage the planting of _Coffee_ in the Island of _Jamaica_. + + £. _s._ + John Ascough, Esq; 10 10 + Thomas Beckford, Esq; 10 10 + James Dawkins, Esq; 10 10 + Henry Dawkins, Esq; 10 10 + Mess. Drake, Pennant, and Long; 21 0 + Thomas Fish, Esq; 10 10 + Mr. James Fitter; 5 5 + Cope Freeman, Esq; 10 10 + John Gibbon, Esq; 10 10 + Mr. John Gregory; 5 5 + Capt. Joseph Hiscox; 10 10 + Mr. Henry Lang, and Co. 5 5 + James Lawes, Esq; 10 10 + John Lewis, Esq; 10 10 + Mrs. Susannah Lowe; 10 10 + Samuel Long, Esq; 10 10 + Charles Long, Esq; 10 10 + Mess. Mayleigh and Gale; 10 10 + Valent. Mumbee, Esq; 10 10 + Favele Peeke, Esq; 10 10 + ---- ---- 10 10 + Capt. George Wane; 5 5 + -------- + £.220 10 + +IN the same year, and in consequence of this solicitation, the _Act +5th Geo._ II. was passed, entitled, “An Act for encouraging the growth +of Coffee in the Plantations in _America_.”--The preamble recites, +that the soil and climate of Jamaica are particularly adapted for the +growth of this commodity; and the act itself reduces the inland duty +upon British Plantation Coffee, imported into Great Britain, from two +shillings to eighteen pence per pound:--And here it stood for many +years, producing a revenue of about 10,000l. per annum. A few years +ago, on the representation of the West Indian Planters, _Lord John +Cavendish_, the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, consented to the +very important reduction of one shilling more; thereby furnishing a +most useful lesson to all future financiers,--_the present duty of six +pence per pound actually producing nearly three times the sum that was +received when the duty was eighteen pence_: so true is the doctrine, +that heavy taxation defeats its own purpose. + +IT has been computed, that one acre of land will contain 1100 Coffee +plants, which will produce berries in eighteen months from the +sowing of the seed. The trees will continue bearing for seven or +eight years.--Each tree, after the first bearing, may produce, at +a medium, one and an half or two pounds weight, one with another; +and six or eight servants can manage ten or twelve acres, besides +cultivating provisions for themselves. Upon this ground of calculation, +it is apparent, that one acre of land, supposing the weather not +unfavourable, may yield annually from 1700 lb. to 2200 lb. weight, +which, when brought to market, may sell for 9l. 15s. to 12l. 15s. +sterling _net_. This, it is true, is but a small profit; for it is +little more than five farthings per pound, whereas the _duty alone is +six pence per pound_. If the duty was equalized to that upon Sugar, the +medium profits per acre would be about 40l. per annum. At present, the +_net_ profits upon this article, and upon Sugar in Jamaica, are nearly +equal per acre; that is, 10l. or 12l. sterling. + +IN the year 1752, the export of Coffee from Jamaica was rated at 60,000 +pounds weight. In 1775, it was 440,000 pounds.--Under the present duty +of six pence per pound, there is reason to expect, that the exports may +rather increase than diminish. But it is not likely to become a subject +of very extensive culture in our West Indian Islands, until even this +duty is lowered, or at least while _foreign_ Coffee is permitted +to enter into completion with it at the British market. Though the +Planters of Jamaica, after a multitude of experiments, and the most +laudable exertions, have discovered the art of cultivating, picking, +and curing the berries, so as to make their Coffee equal to the growth +of Arabia; some samples have been produced from that Island, before +the cultivation was so well understood as it is at present, which were +pronounced, by the London dealers, even superior to the best brought +from the East. + +“TWO of the samples were equal to the best Mocha Coffee, and two more +of them superior to any Coffee to be had at the grocers shops in +London, unless you will pay the price of _picked_ Coffee for it, which +is two shillings per pound more than for that which they call the best +Coffee. All the rest of the samples were far from bad Coffee, and very +little inferior, if at all, to what the grocers call _best_ Coffee[3].” + + [3] Mr. _Stephen Fuller_’s Letter to the Committee of Correspondence in + Jamaica, dated, London, 28th July, 1783. + +WHAT revolutions may change the nature of our commerce, were it +possible to foresee, it is not in my province to examine; but the +Legislature of England, as well as those of her Colonies, have had a +wise example before them, in the conduct of France, by her promoting +and protecting the growth of every thing, that could supply the place +of articles which Europe purchases in the East Indies. _Piementa_, or +_Pimento_ (_Myrtus Arborea Aromatica foliis laurinis_), or All-spice, +as it is commonly called, from having a flavour composed, as it +were, of cloves, cinnamon, juniper berries, nutmegs, and pepper, is +the peculiar spice of Jamaica[4]: and it equals in virtues, and is +more applicable to the general purposes of life, and luxury too, than +any spice that is brought from the East. The various uses into which +_Pimento_ is converted in Europe, are but little known to those who +raise it. One secret, at least, I am able to divulge to them, which is, +that its essential oil, coloured with _Alkanet Root_, to give it the +appearance of age, is sold all over Europe for the oil of cloves[5]. + + [4] From 12,000 to 15,000 bags of Pimento have been annually imported + into England from Jamaica: each bag contains about one hundred weight. + It pays a duty of about two pence per pound. + + [5] The principal and prevailing flavour of Pimento is like that of + cloves: its oil exactly resembles the oil of that spice, and sinks as + that does in water. The oil resides chiefly, like that of cloves, in + the shell, or cortical part. + +SIR HANS SLOANE, in the Phil. Trans. Abr. vol. II. p. 667. says, that +“_Piementa_ may deservedly be counted the best and most temperate, +mild, and innocent, of common spices, and fit to come into greater use, +and gain more ground, than it yet hath, of the East India commodities +of this kind; almost all of which it far surpasses, by promoting the +digestion of meat, attenuating tough humours, moderately heating, +strengthening the stomach, expelling wind, and doing those friendly +offices to the bowels, we generally expect from spices.” + +TO this inferiority of the dear-bought and far-fetched spices of +the East, I can bear ample testimony;--and it ought further to be +considered, that the spice in question, being the produce of one of +our own Colonies, and growing there in the greatest abundance, can be +afforded at a price that the poor of Great Britain may have all the +comforts of its excellent properties; which I hope to have leisure to +make sufficiently known to them hereafter. + +THE encouraging every article which increases the intercourse with our +Colonies, is increasing our commerce. The payment for all the staples +of the West Indies is made in our manufactures; the sale of which +must increase in proportion to the numbers that are employed in the +cultivation of what is bartered for them. Our West Indian Islands, +without draining us of specie or bullion, can supply us with many of +those very articles for which we are drained in other parts of the +world[6]. The quantity of shipping and seamen, necessarily employed in +carrying supplies thither, and transporting their commodities back to +Europe, must be very considerable. To these reflections it must also +be added, that the political disadvantage of not encouraging our own +Colonies is, that we must encourage those of other countries, which +have long supplied our markets, to the detriment of our revenue, and +the impoverishing our Colonies. + + [6] The India Company pay for the Mocha Coffee in specie. The original + cost is about 7l. sterling per cwt. + +HOW long our superiority in some branches of manufacture may continue +to be the source of wealth they are at present, is uncertain; but by +improving the produce of our own soil, and encouraging the consumption +at home, of such commodities as give employment to our own subjects +abroad, England will enrich her Colonies, and draw proportionate +advantages; secure their attachment, and establish a population there, +indispensable for the protection of those possessions, which are +productive of the most valuable and permanent commerce of the empire. + + LONDON, _Pall Mall_; + 30 January, 1792. + + + + +A + +TREATISE, &c. + + +IT is a generally received opinion, that the human frame is not +less influenced by diet than by climate; that its dispositions and +characteristics owe their originality as much to food, as those +diseases, evidently do, which are the legitimate and indisputable issue +of it. + +IF the preceding position be just, there cannot surely be a subject +more interesting to man, than the pursuit of that knowledge which may +instruct him to avoid what is hurtful to health, to select for his use +such things as tend to raise the value of his condition, and to carry +the enjoyments of life to their utmost improvement. + +WITH this idea, I submit to the public some observations which have +occurred to me, on the dietetic and medicinal properties and effects of +COFFEE. + +IN England, the use of this berry hitherto has been principally +confined to the occasional luxury of individuals; as such, it is +scarcely an object of public concern; but government, prudently +considering that this produce of our own West Indian Islands is raised +by our own countrymen, and paid for in our manufactures, has lately +reduced the duty on the importation of Plantation Coffee; which has +brought it within the reach of almost every description of people[7]: +and as it is not liable to any pernicious process in curing, and is +incapable of adulteration, the use of it will probably become greatly +extended;--as in other countries, it may diffuse itself among the +mass of the people, and make a considerable ingredient in their daily +sustenance. + + [7] Good Plantation Coffee, roasted, may now be bought in London for + two shillings and six pence per pound. In Paris the best Martinico + Coffee, roasted, may be bought for one shilling and four pence per + pound. + +THE plant, the berries, and the beverage made from them, commonly pass +under the same name. The Arabians, indeed, distinguish the trees and +the berries by the name _Buun_, _Bunna_, _Buna_, and _Ban_. + +THE beverage, of which we speak in particular, is called by the +Egyptians _El-cave_; by the Persians _Cahwa_, and _Coho_; by the +Turks _Chaube_, and _Cahveh_; by the Arabians _Cachua_, _Caoua_, and +_Cahouah_; from whence originate _Caphé_, _Café_, _Coffi_, _Coffee_, +and _Coffea_, appellations by which it is universally known in Europe. + +THESE names, from the original Arabic, acquire the pronunciation they +receive, by changing the _u_ into _f_, in the word _Cahouah_; which, +according to some writers, comes from a verb signifying to nauseate, or +to have no appetite: and is one of the names which the Arabians give to +wine, because it takes away the appetite, when drunk to excess. + +THUS _Cahouah_ they suppose is derived from the Hebrew קיי, or קי, or +קהי, which signify to have an aversion,or a dislike to a thing. But +_Golius_, _Meninski_, and _Castel_, say, that _Cahouah_ signifies +to give an appetite, _quod appetentiam cibi adducit_. In opposition +to both these opinions, there are others who assert, that _Cahouah_ +implies neither to give appetite, nor to take it away; and that +it is not derived from the above words, importing to have, or to +give distaste, but from קוי, which signifies to give vigour and +force,--_corroborare_, _roborare_, _confirmare_; and that _Cahouah_ in +Arabic means nothing more than to strengthen, and to give vigour. + +IT is not impossible, notwithstanding these opinions so plausibly +founded, but that this beverage might have its name from _Cufa_ or +_Cafa_, a city in Arabia Felix. + +THE Arabic _Ban_ (the Coffee berry) corresponds with our _Bean_, and is +probably its etymon. Perhaps the Greek Βύνη, “Barley steeped in water,” +Anglicè, _Malt_, may be traced from the Arabic _Buna_. + +NUMEROUS and absurd have been the writers on _Coffee_. I have omitted +to mention many; and of those I have not, I hope it will be understood, +that I have introduced them to illustrate opinions rather than +sanction them. + +THE botanical description of the _Coffee Plant_ has been already given +by several writers[8]; and as Sir Hans Sloane, in the Phil. Trans. N^o +208, p. 63., Dr. Browne, in his Natural History of Jamaica, and Mr. +Ellis, in 1774, have added to the number, it is unnecessary here to say +any thing on this part of the subject, or to treat of its cultivation; +but I thought it might not be uninteresting in this Essay to include +something of its history, which will shew it has been a topic of much +disquisition, and no less remarkable for the universality with which it +has been adopted by many regions of the East, than for the permanency, +after various persecutions, with which it has been retained; +notwithstanding the caprice of taste, the violence of tyranny, and the +austerity of religion. + + [8] _Bon. Alpin. De Plantis Ægypti_, cap. 16. + + _Bon vel Ban Arbor. J. Bauhin_, 422. + + _Euonymo similis Ægyptiaca, fructu baccis Lauri simili. C. Bauhin. + Pinax. Theat. Botanic._ 428. + + _Bon vel Ban ex cujus fructu Ægypti potum Coava conficiunt. Pluken. + Phytog._ 272. + + _Coffee frutex, ex cujus fructu fit potus. Raij Histor. Plant._ t. 2. + p. 1691. + + _Jasminum Arabicum cujus fructus Coffy dicuntur. Boerhaav._ Ind. P. 2. + p. 217. + + _Bon Arbor cum fructu suo Buna. Parkinson, Theatr. Botan._ 1622. + + _Jassaminum Arabicum, Lauri folio, cujus semen apud nos Café dicitur. + Jussieu, Act. Gall._ 1713, p. 388. t. 7. + + _Jasminum Arabicum, castaneæ folio, flore albo odoratissimo. Tilli + Catal. Plant. Hort. Pisan._ p. 87. t. 32. + + _Coffea Arabica, floribus quinquesidis dispermis. Linn. Spec. Plant._ + ed. 2. p. 245. + +THE first European who mentions Coffee, is in general understood to be +_Prosper Alpinus_, who went into Egypt in 1580, physician to a Venetian +Consul, and remained there three years. + +IN 1592 he published, in Venice, his History of the Plants of Egypt; +wherein he gives an account of a tree, the seeds of which, called +_Bon_, and _Ban_, were by decoction converted into a drink, much used +by the Egyptians and Arabs. The great virtues of this liquor he also +describes[9]. + + [9] De Plantis Ægypti, cap. 16. + +BUT I must observe that, in the year 1591, _P. Alpinus_, immediately +on his return, published his _Medicina Ægyptiorum_, in which he gave +nearly the same account of the tree as in the preceding, which was a +subsequent work; and here also he gave a very exact description of the +mode, used in Egypt, of preparing the drink called _Chaoua_, from the +seeds of this tree, called _Bon_, and also from their _capsules_. He +is also particular as to the different qualities of these two liquors, +and of the medicinal virtues of that, prepared from the seeds[10]. The +account given in this work has been overlooked by almost every writer +on Coffee. However, even with this correction of common error, I find +_Leonhart Rauwolff_, a German physician, who had traveled into the +East, has taken notice, though not in an accurate manner, of Coffee as +early as 1573. + + [10] De Medicina Ægyptiorum, Lib. IV. cap. 3. + +HE says, at Aleppo, “They have a very pleasant drink, called _Chaube_, +which is almost as black as ink. It is good for illness, chiefly that +of the stomach. It is made of a fruit called _Bunnu_, which in bigness, +shape, and colour, resembles a bay berry. It is surrounded with two +thin shells; and, as I was informed, is brought from the Indies. These +shells have within them two yellowish grains, in two distinct cells, +and agree in their virtue, figure, appearance, and name, with the +_Bunchum_ of _Avicenna_, and the _Bancha_ of _Rhasis_; therefore I +shall consider them to be the same, until I am better informed by the +learned.” + +OF this opinion was _Faustus Naironus Bainesius_, who wrote the first +treatise that was written expressly on Coffee. It was printed at +Rome in 1671, and intituled, _De Saluberrima Potione Cahu, seu Cafe, +nuncupata_. + +VELSCHIUS, in his treatise _De Vena Medinensi_, in 1674, says, that +the _Bunchum_ of the Arabians is not Coffee, but the _Narcaphthum_ of +_Diascorides_. + +IN this _Velschius_ is mistaken, and has no authority for the +supposition, whether the _Bunchum_ of _Avicenna_ be Coffee or not. + +THE Νάρκαφθον of _Diascorides_ is called by the Arabians _Nabach_; +what it is, is uncertain; many are the conjectures; but _Dioscorides_ +mentions its use only for external purposes. Lib. I. cap. 22. + +AVICENNA’s words respecting _Bunchum_ are: “It is brought from _Yemen_; +some say it is from the roots of _Amgailem_, which, when old (or +_shaken_), falls down. The best sort is cream-coloured, and of a light +grateful odour. The white and heavy (or _rank_), is not good. It is, +according to some, hot and dry in the first degree; and to others, it +is cold in the first degree. It strengthens the limbs, cleanses the +skin, and dries up the watery humours; gives an agreeable odour to the +body, prevents the hair from falling, and is good for the stomach.” +Lib. II. Tract. 2. cap. 91. + +THE _Ben_ of _Avicenna_ also has been supposed by some writers to be +Coffee. _Prosper Alpinus_ was of this opinion. But this is certainly an +error. + +AVICENNA says of _Ben_, “The seed is larger than the cicer, inclining +to whiteness, and has a soft unctuous pulp. It is hot in the third +degree, and dry in the second. It is mundificative, particularly the +pulp, and incites gross humours; with vinegar and water, it opens +obstructions of the viscera. Externally, it is good for eruptions; in +an emplaster, for all indurated abscesses, warts, &c.; with vinegar, +for ulcerations, excoriations, scald head, &c. It is bad for the +stomach, and causes nausea, and if taken with honey, excites vomiting +and purging.” Lib. II. Tract. 2. cap. 82. + +NOTWITHSTANDING _P. Alpinus’s_ two publications, it appears that Coffee +could have been but little known in Italy, when his countryman _Pietro +Della Valle_ was at Constantinople in 1615[11]. + + [11] “Hanno i Turchi un’ altra bevanda di color nero; e la state si + fà rinfrescativa, e l’inuerno al contrario, &c.--Ma senza queste + dilicature ancora, co’l solo e semplice _Cahue_, è pur grata al gusto, + e, come dicono, conferisce molto alla sanità; massimamente in aiutar la + degestione; corroborar lo stomaco, e reprimer le flussioni de’ catarri, + &c.--Quando io farò di ritorno ne porterò meco; e farò conoscere all’ + Italia questo semplice, che infin’ ad hora forse le è nuovo.” Viaggi di + _P. D. Valle_, Lettera 3. + +MONS. DU FOUR, who wrote on Coffee in 1685, says, the French knew +nothing of it until 1645; and that it had not been used in France until +about 1657. Mons. _Galland_ also says, that its use was not known in +France until Mons. _Thevenot_ returned from his first voyage to the +East in 1657, when he constantly drank it, and treated his friends +with it, at his house in Paris. + +MONS. LA ROQUE, who published his Journey into Arabia Felix in 1715, +confesses, that _Thevenot_ was the first that taught the French the use +of Coffee in 1657; but he contends, that his own father, having been +with Mons. _De la Haye_, the French ambassador at Constantinople, and +afterwards traveled in the Levant, did, when he returned to Marseilles +in 1644, drink Coffee every day; and brought with him not only Coffee, +but all the little implements used in Turkey in preparing it. He says +also, that there was a public Coffee-house opened at Marseilles in +1671, which was looked on as a great curiosity in France. + +HE says, Coffee had scarcely been seen in Paris before 1669; nor even +heard of until that year, except in the house of _Thevenot_, and by the +report of travellers. + +IN this year, _Solyman Aga_, Ambassador from _Mahomet_ the IVth came to +Paris; and it is to this embassy, _la Roque_, says, that the first use +of Coffee in Paris is to be attributed. + +THIS embassy, which had given the Parisians a general taste for +Coffee, and the method of making it, gave them also the idea of public +Coffee-houses; for, in 1672, one _Pascal_, an Armenian, sold it +publicly at the _Foire St. Germain_; and afterwards, in the same year, +opened a Coffee-house on the _Quai de l’Ecole_, which was the first +public Coffee-house ever known in Paris. + +COFFEE, however, was known in general to the English before it was to +the French or Italians; and was used in England before it was in France +or Italy. + +THE _Journal des Scavans_, 28th January, 1675, observes, “_les Anglais +ont connu le Café vingt ans plulôt que nous_:” and it appears, that +these journalists were considerably within the time, as far as relates +to its having been first noticed, by the travellers of the respective +countries. + +WILLIAM FINCH, an English merchant, employed in the service of the +East-India Company in 1607, says, “That the people in the Island of +_Socotora_ have, for their best entertainment, a China dish of _Coho_, +a black bitterish drink, made of a berry like a bay berry, brought +from _Mecca_, supped off hot; and it is reckoned good for the head and +stomach[12].” + + [12] Purchas, p. 419. + +BUT I am not certain whether _Biddulph’s_ account of the use of Coffee +in the East was not prior to _Finch’s_. In a letter from him at Aleppo, +which must have been soon after the death of Queen Elizabeth in 1603, +as he mentions that event as recent; he says, “The Turks have for +their most common drink _Coffa_, which is a black kind of drink, made +of a kind of pulse like peas, called _Coava_; which being ground in a +mill, and boiled in water, they drink it as hot as they can suffer it, +which they find to agree with them against their crudities, and feeding +on herbs, and raw meat. It is more wholesome than toothsome, for it +causeth a good concoction, and driveth away drowsiness[13].” + + [13] Ibid. p. 1340. See also p. 1351, where it appears that _Biddulph_ + was in the East in 1600. + +IT is remarkable, that none of the travellers to the East, of any +country, who have given the first accounts of Coffee, have ever +mentioned the circumstance on which all its virtues depend,--its +torrefaction. + +HAVING shewn that the first Coffee-house in Paris was opened in 1672, I +now observe, that the first Coffee-house in London was opened in 1652. + +MR. DANIEL EDWARDS, a Turkey merchant, when he returned from Smyrna to +London in 1652, brought over with him a servant, named _Pasqua Rossée_, +a Ragusian Greek. This man used to prepare Coffee for him every +morning, for his breakfast. The novelty of this new repast brought so +many people to Mr. _Edwards’s_ house, that he lost all the fore-part of +the day in entertaining and satisfying the curiosity of his visitors. +Thus situated, he thought of an expedient to rid himself of the +trouble, and to gratify his friends; which was, to suffer his servant +to make and sell Coffee publicly. In consequence of which, _Pasqua_ +opened an house in St. Michael’s Alley, Cornhill, which was the first +Coffee-house in London[14]. + + [14] On the spot, before the fire of 1666, where the Virginia + Coffee-house now stands. The first Coffee-house that was opened after + the fire was, what is now called _Garraway’s_. + +IN 1660 (12 Car. II. cap. 24.) there was a duty of four pence per +gallon laid on Coffee made and sold, to be paid by the maker; and in +1663 (15 Car. II. cap. 9. sect. 15.) all Coffee-houses were licensed at +the general Quarter Sessions of the Peace for the County in which they +were kept. + +THE following account is descriptive of the commotions and prejudices +which Coffee formerly had to contend with and conquer among the +Mahometans. Besides the similitude it bears to the ludicrous notions, +and contradictory opinions, concerning Coffee in later times, it may +not be unentertaining to those who are accustomed to reflect, how great +communities are often violently agitated by trifles; and that nations, +under weak or oppressive governments, as well as individuals, may be +seriously ridiculous, and equally subject to transitory delusion. It +will appear also, that Coffee, which after many struggles triumphed +over the scrutiny of physicians, had nearly sunk under the influence of +the _Alcoran_; but that the contest between the _Alcoran_ and Coffee +ended, as it were, in a coalition. + +“KHAIR BEG, Governor of _Mecca_, by appointment of the _Sultan_ of +Egypt, was unacquainted with Coffee, or of the manner of taking it. +As he was going out of the Mosque one day, after evening prayer, he +observed in a corner of it a company of people drinking Coffee, who +were to spend the night there in prayer, and was much offended at it. +He thought at first they had been drinking wine; nor was his surprize +much diminished after they had explained to him the use and virtues of +this liquor. On the contrary, after they had informed him how much it +was in use in _Mecca_, and what merriment passed at the public places +where it was sold, he was of opinion that Coffee was intoxicating, at +least that it conduced to things forbidden by the law. + +“FOR this reason, after having ordered these people to go out of the +Mosque, with an injunction never to meet there for the future upon +the like occasion, he next day convened a great assembly of Officers +of Justice, and Doctors of Law, together with Priests, and the most +eminent men of _Mecca_; to whom he communicated what he had observed +the night before in the Mosque, and what he was informed happened +frequently in the public Coffee-houses; adding, that he was resolved +to remedy this abuse, upon which he was desirous first to know their +opinions. + +“THE Doctors agreed that the public Coffee-houses wanted regulation, as +being contrary to the law of pure Mahometism; and declared, that, with +respect to Coffee, it was necessary to examine whether it was hurtful +either to body or mind; and concluded to take the advice of physicians. + +“THE Governor called in two Persians who were brothers, the most +celebrated physicians in _Mecca_: one of them even wrote against the +use of Coffee, jealous, perhaps, (says our author) lest the use of it +should spoil his practice; so they did not fail to declare, that Coffee +was cold and dry, and prejudicial to health. + +“A DOCTOR of the assembly replied, That BENGIAZLAH[15], an ancient +Arabian physician of great authority, had said, that these berries were +hot and dry, and consequently could not have the qualities just now +ascribed to them. + + [15] A celebrated physician of _Bagdat_. He died anno 1098. + +“THE two Persian physicians replied, That BENGIAZLAH was a perfect +stranger to the berries in question; and declared, that if Coffee was +reckoned among things indifferent, and free for every body to make use +of, yet it was apt to lead to things not allowed of; and the safest way +for true Mussulmen would be, to hold it unlawful. + +“THIS determination obtained all their suffrages; and several, either +out of prejudice or false zeal, did not fail to affirm that Coffee had +actually disturbed their brains. One of the assistants maintained, +that it intoxicated like wine, which set all the assembly a laughing; +because, in order to make a judgment of it, it was necessary to have +drunk wine, which is forbidden by the Mahometan religion. He was asked +whether he had ever drunk any wine? and he had the imprudence to answer +in the affirmative; which confession condemned him to the bastinado, +the punishment that is inflicted by the Mahometan law for this crime. + +“COFFEE was, however, solemnly condemned at _Mecca_, as a thing +forbidden by law, notwithstanding the _Mufti_ opposed the determination. + +“The lovers of Coffee thought the sentence would not hold water, as +the _Mufti_ did not sign it, and even determined to pay no regard to +it in private. However, one of them was surprized in the fact, and was +bastinadoed, and was afterwards led about the city on an ass. + +“BUT this rigour was not of long duration; for the _Sultan_ of Egypt, +far from approving of the indiscreet zeal of the Governor of _Mecca_, +was surprized that he should dare to condemn a thing so much in favour +at _Cairo_, the capital of his dominions, where there were Doctors of +much greater authority than those of _Mecca_, and who had not found any +thing in the use of Coffee contrary to the law. + +“The _Sultan_ ordered him therefore to revoke his prohibition, and +to employ his authority against the disorders only, if there were +any, committed in the Coffee-houses; adding, that because _it was +possible to abuse the very best things_, even the water of the fountain +ZEMZEM[16], in the Temple of MECCA, so much esteemed by all Mussulmen, +it was not for that reason necessary absolutely to forbid them. + + [16] The Mahometans say this is the spring that God caused to issue + forth in the Desart for _Agar_ and her son _Ishmael_, when _Abraham_ + sent them away. + +“THE Governor was displaced, and the two physicians who bore a great +part in the prohibition of Coffee, came to an unfortunate end. + +“AFTER the re-establishment of Coffee at _Mecca_, it was prohibited +again, and again re-established. + +“THE _Sultan_ of Egypt consulted his Doctors of the Law at Cairo +upon this point; who gave their opinions in writing, and proved by +substantial reasons, the fallacy of the condemnation of Coffee, and the +ignorance of those who passed it; which established the use of Coffee +at _Cairo_, upon a much stronger footing than ever. But, in the end, +this great city also met with much trouble upon the subject. For,-- + +“IN the year 1523, a scrupulous Doctor stated, that Coffee intoxicated +the head, and was prejudicial to health: and he had suspicions that it +was unlawful. But none of his brethren were of his opinion, because it +was obvious that Coffee had not those bad qualities he ascribed to +it; and therefore this gave no shock at all to a custom so universally +received. + +“BUT about ten years after, a preacher held forth so vehemently against +the use of Coffee, as a thing prohibited by law, that the mob fell upon +the Coffee-houses, broke the pots and dishes, and abused the company +they found there. + +“UPON this, there were two parties formed in the city; one of which +maintained that Coffee was prohibited by law; the other, that it was +not. But the Judge in Chief having convened an assembly of all the +Doctors, to have their opinions, they unanimously declared, that the +question had been already determined by their predecessors in favour of +Coffee; that they were all of the same sentiment; and that there was +nothing further necessary than only to restrain the extravagant heat +of the zealots, and the indiscretion of ignorant preachers. The Judge +who presided was of the same opinion; and immediately ordered all the +assembly to be served with Coffee, and took some himself; an example +which presently composed all controversies, and made Coffee more +fashionable at Cairo than before[17].” + + [17] An Arabian manuscript, N^o 944, by _Abdalcader_ of Medina. It is + in the great National Library at Paris; written about the year 1587. + +THE commotions however which were then excited by this beverage, were +not confined to Mecca and Cairo; for _Pichevili_, a Turkish historian, +says: + +“AT the time when the use of Coffee was most prevalent in +_Constantinople_, the _Imams_ and officers of the Mosques made a great +clamour, that they were deserted, whilst all the Coffee-houses were +continually crowded. On which the Dervises and Priests made a furious +attack on Coffee; not only affirming that it was unlawful, but that it +was a much greater sin to go to a Coffee-house than to a Tavern. + +“AFTER a great deal of noise and declamation, all the Priests united +to obtain a solemn condemnation of this liquor; and maintained that +Coffee roasted was a sort of coal; and that every thing which had the +least relation to coal was forbidden by law. Upon this they drew up a +question in form, and presented it to the _Mufti_, with a request that +he would determine it according to the duty of his office. The _Mufti_, +without giving himself the trouble of examining any difficulties, gave +a verdict according to the wish of the Priests, and pronounced that +Coffee was prohibited by the law of _Mahomet_. + +“ALL the Coffee-houses in _Constantinople_ were immediately shut up, +and the officers of the police ordered to prevent the drinking Coffee +in any manner whatever. + +“YET, notwithstanding the rigour that was employed in the execution of +this order, they could never prevent the drinking Coffee in private: +and _Amurath_ III. in whose time this prohibition took place, again +permitted the use of it, in private houses, and it grew more and more +into esteem. At last, the officers of the police, seeing there was no +remedy, were content, for a certain sum, to permit it to be sold in +private houses, shutting up the doors, or in the back shops. + +“THERE wanted but little encouragement to re-establish by degrees +the public Coffee-houses; and it happened that a new _Mufti_, less +scrupulous, or more wise, than his predecessor, declared solemnly, that +Coffee ought not to be looked upon as a coal; and that the liquor made +from it was not prohibited by the law. After this declaration, the +Zealots, Preachers, Doctors, and Lawyers, far from exclaiming against +Coffee, took it themselves; and their example was universally followed +by the whole Court and City.” + +COFFEE, though a native of _Arabia Felix_, is said to have been +converted into use in Africa and Persia, long before a beverage was +made of it by the Arabians. + +OF the first discovery of the properties of Coffee there is no +authentic account, that has come to the knowledge of European +enquirers. But as fiction in such cases generally supplies the place +of facts, it is impossible that so important an article as this in +question should be destitute of introductory anecdotes, on its first +appearance in the world. + +FAUSTUS NAIRO, a native of the Holy-land, before-mentioned, who was +Oriental Linguist in the College at Rome, and some other romantic +writers I have been under the necessity of reading, pretend, that the +extraordinary virtues of Coffee-berries were discovered in nearly the +following manner: + +IN the nation of _Yemen_, a keeper of goats was one night much +surprized that his herd would not go to sleep as usual, but jumped and +frisked about as if they had been infatuated. The next morning he went +to _Sciadli_, the Priest of the neighbouring Mosque, to intreat that he +would inform him of the cause of this wonderful change in the animals. +The priest desired the goatherd would conduct him to the pasture where +they had fed on the preceding day. When he came there, he found the +place covered with certain shrubs with berries on them, of which the +goats had eaten. These shrubs and berries had always been considered +among the wild and useless productions of the earth. The Priest, +however, having satisfied himself that these berries had effected the +alteration in the goats, gathered some, went home and boiled them in +water, and drank of the liquor. When night came, he perceived he could +not sleep, but began to dance and frisk about as the goats had done. +He reported these circumstances to the neighbouring Priests, who all +declared, that a liquor from these berries, properly prepared, would be +an excellent thing to keep the Dervises awake, when their duty obliged +them to pray after dinner. The experiment was tried, and continued +with the utmost success; and was also attended with great advantage +to their health. From the report of these Dervises, the use of Coffee +soon spread through other Asiatic nations; and _Sciadli_ was ever after +drunk as a toast, in a cup of Coffee, before any devotion was entered +on, among all the religious of the East. + +BUT, turning from this ludicrous tale to the Arabian manuscript +before-mentioned, translated by Mons. _Galland_, we find, that about +the middle of the fifteenth century, _Gemaleddin_, the _Mufti_ of Aden, +a city in Arabia Felix, travelling into Persia, learnt the use of +Coffee there, and on his return introduced it to his countrymen: who +had no sooner adopted the drinking of this beverage, than they entirely +neglected an herb which had been long in use among them, called _Cat_, +of which they made an infusion, and drank it in the manner in which we +now drink Tea. + +This herb, called by the Arabians _Cat_, is, I believe, the same as +our Tea; for it varies but little from the name which _Tea_ has always +borne in the Eastern countries, being called by the Chinese _Cha_ and +_The_; by the Japonnese and Indians, _Tchia_, _Tsia_, and _Cha_; and by +the Persians _Tzai_ and _Cha_. + +LEYL says, that _Cha_ is a Tartarian word; that the plant Tea, is +indigenous in Tartary, and is there, and in all the Eastern nations, +called _Cha_; and that the Chinese only, who live near the coast, and +traffic with Europeans, call it _The_. It is also supposed to have been +unknown in China, until the incursions of the Tartars. + +IT is from the preceding epoch, distinguished by _Gemaleddin_ the +_Mufti_, that any authentic account of the dietetic use of Coffee is +derived. Enthusiasm indeed has carried some absurd admirers of this +beverage so far into conjecture, as to trace marvellous stories of it +back to the remotest ages; and to suppose it the _Jus Nigrum_ of the +Lacedæmonians[18]; _Abigail’s_ cup to _David_, which saved her husband +_Nabal’s_ life[19]; and the _Nepenthe_[20], which _Helen_ received from +an Egyptian, and celebrated by _Homer_ as a soother of the mind, in the +extremest state of anger, grief, and misfortune[21]. + + [18] _Muraltus._ _Herbert’s_ Travels. _Sandy’s_ Travels. _Blunt’s_ + Voyage. + + [19] _Paschius_, an obscure writer at Leipsic, 1700. + + [20] _Pietro della Valle._ + + [21] “Φάρμακον, κακων ἐπίληθον ἁπάντων.” Odyss. Δ. + +FROM Aden it spread its influence to Mecca, Cairo, Damascus, and +Aleppo; and afterwards through all Arabia, and other parts of the +Ottoman Empire, and arrived at Constantinople, from Syria, in the reign +of _Solyman_ the Great, in the year 1554; introduced by two persons +whose names were _Schems_ and _Hekin_; one came from Damascus, the +other from Aleppo; each opened a public Coffee-house in that city; and +about a century afterwards, as I have already observed, it was adopted +at London and Paris. + +THE virtues of this chearful liquor, like moral virtues under +despotism, operated in Constantinople to its detriment;--by dispelling +the torpitude brought on by their vicious excesses, and recruiting +their spirits, sunk by depravity of their habits, it introduced a +disposition among the Turks to exercise the understanding;--a crime in +every government that tolerates nothing but silent obedience. + +RYCAUT says, that during the war in Candia, in the minority of +_Mahomet_ the IVth, when the Turkish affairs were in a critical +situation, “the _Visir Kupruli_ suppressed the Coffee-houses, though +he permitted the Taverns;” the former conducing to intellectual +recreation, and some speculations on the affairs of state, which the +_Visir_ thought would not bear examining. These were objections from +which the latter, as tending only to idleness and debauchery, was free. +This stupid edict appears to have had no other relative effect than to +diminish the revenue; for Coffee throve under this political, as well +as it did under the former religious, persecution. + +HOWEVER ridiculous it may appear at this time, Coffee had the same +folly to encounter soon after its introduction into England; and +experienced the same treatment under _Charles_ the IId, that it met +with in Turkey under an _Amurath_ and a _Mahomet_: for having been +found an encourager of social meetings, Coffee-houses were shut up by +proclamation, as seminaries of sedition[22]. + + [22] Anno 1675. + +THIS famous proclamation was dated 29th of December, 1675, and asserted +that, “Because in such houses, and by occasion of the meeting of +disaffected persons in them, divers false, malicious, and scandalous +reports were devised and spread abroad, to the defamation of his +_Majesty’s governments_ and to the disturbance of the quiet and peace +of the realm.” + +THE opinion of the Judges was taken on this point, who in their great +wisdom resolved, “That retailing of Coffee 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.” + +RAY observed, that the part of Arabia which produced Coffee in such +abundance, might truly be styled happy[23]; from whence many millions +of bushels of this valuable treasure were then annually exported +to Turkey, Barbary, and Europe[24].--In Constantinople alone, the +consumption is said to amount to more than what is expended for wine in +Paris. + + [23] The country of Yemen. + + [24] The Abbé _Raynal_ says, that twelve millions five hundred and + fifty thousand pounds weight of Coffee is annually exported from + Arabia Felix; which, at 14 sols per pound, brings into that country + 8,785,000 livres, 384,343l. 15s. sterling. The European Companies + purchase three millions five hundred thousand weight of this + commodity. + +IT was long after Coffee had been an article of commerce, that +Europeans were able to obtain, or cultivate, the plant; as the berry +was exported dry, and unfit for propagation. + +IT has been said, that a Frenchman, near _Dijon_ in France, was the +first person who made the experiment with success, about the year 1670: +the trees raised from the seeds he had sown produced berries, but +they were tasteless and insipid; and served for no other purpose than +curiosity. + +ACCORDING to _Boerhaave’s_ account, a Dutch Governor was the first +person who procured fresh berries from Mocha, and planted them in +_Batavia_; and in the year 1690 sent a plant from thence to Amsterdam; +which came to maturity, and produced those berries which have since +furnished all that is now cultivated in the West Indies. + +IN 1714 a plant, from the garden of Amsterdam, was sent by Mr. +_Pancras_, a Burgomaster, and Director of the Botanic Garden, as a +present to _Lewis_ the XIVth, which was placed in the garden at Marly. + +In 1718 the Dutch began to cultivate Coffee in Surinam; in 1721 the +French began to cultivate it at Cayenne; in 1727 at Martinico; and in +1728 the English began to cultivate it in Jamaica. + +M. FUSEE AUBLET, in his Observations on the Culture of Coffee, annexed +to the ingenious Mons. _Le Breton’s_ Paris translation of the third +edition of this Treatise, says that a Mons. _de Clieux_ carried the +first Coffee plant to Martinico in 1720; and that the French East-India +Company sent some plants to the Isle of Bourbon in 1717; and that one +plant only survived, which bore in 1720, and many were produced from it. + +THE first plant in Jamaica was introduced by Sir _Nicholas Laws_, +and planted at Townwell estate, now called Temple Hall, in Liguanea, +belonging to Mr. _Luttrell_.--How its propagation has been extended +since those periods, in the West Indies, is well known. + +SOME writers imagine that there are several sorts of Coffee[25]; but +the difference arises only from the soil, cultivation, curing, and +keeping, and not from any difference in the species. + + [25] _Geoffry_, among others, was mistaken in this point. + +IF the Coffee in our West-Indian Islands be planted in a dry soil, and +in a warm situation; if, after the trees have acquired a certain age, +the ripe berries are collected with care and cleanliness, which will +be small when dry, cream-coloured, and with a smooth polished surface, +like those which come from Arabia; and if they are kept a proper time +before they are used; this Coffee will have flavour and excellence +equal to the best that is imported from Mocha. + +BUT the time and labour necessary to produce Coffee of the best quality +have discouraged our Planters from raising it at much expence; because, +until lately, it has been subject to a precarious, or losing market. +Therefore quantity, and large coarse berries of a green dingy cast, +the produce of young trees, luxuriant soil, and little attention, has +turned to better account than quality; as this produce, though unfit +for the London market, has been bought up for the consumption of the +Northern parts of Europe[26]. + + [26] Mr. _Fuller_ observes in his letter, “I would recommend to the + Planters, not to covet the production of the large berries, the + smallest being deemed the best by our buyers here, and fetching + the most money; perhaps not absolutely from its being of the best + quality, but because it admits of being mixed with the Mocha Coffee, + and sold as such.” + +AFTER Coffee has received all the excellence it can from the Planter, +it is a matter of great consequence, that proper care be taken in +shipping it for Europe: it should not be put into parts of the vessel +where it may be injured by dampness, or by the effluvia of other +freight. Coffee-berries are remarkably disposed to imbibe exhalations +from other bodies, and thereby acquire an adventitious and disagreeable +flavour. Rum placed near to Coffee will in a short time so impregnate +the berries, as to injure their flavour. It is said, that a few bags of +pepper on board a ship from India, some years since, spoiled a whole +cargo of Coffee[27]. + + [27] _Miller._ + +THE French are more attentive in this respect than the English; and +indeed they omit nothing that can give their Coffee any advantage. +But if their Coffee be superior to ours, it is the effect of +more encouragement. The industry and genius of the French Coffee +Planters have been cherished; ours have been restricted by a duty, +which prevented the consumption of the article. Thus the spirit of +cultivation has been checked, improvement retarded, and consequently +the produce not brought to perfection. + +THE chemical analysis of Coffee evinces that it possesses a great +portion of mildly bitter, and lightly astringent gummous and resinous +extract[28]; a considerable quantity of oil[29]; a fixed salt[30]; and +a volatile salt[31].--These are its medicinal constituent principles. + + [28] _Newman_ obtained eight ounces from sixteen ounces of roasted + Coffee, by aqueous and spirituous menstruums. + + [29] _Bourdelin_ obtained six ounces six drams from two pounds and an + half of roasted Coffee: and _Houghton_, Phil. Trans. obtained two + ounces four drams two scruples from one pound of unroasted Coffee. + _Du Four_ obtained two ounces five drams. + + [30] _Le Fevre_, _Newman_, _Lemery_, _Bourdelin_, obtained nine drams + and an half from two pounds and an half of roasted Coffee. + + [31] _Floyer_, _Bourdelin_, obtained a volatile salt, that + effervesced strongly with spirit of salt. + +THE intention of torrefaction is not only to make it deliver those +principles, and make them soluble in water, but to give it a property +it does not possess in the natural state of the berry. + +BY the action of fire, its leguminous taste and the aqueous part of +its mucilage are destroyed; its saline properties are created, and +disengaged, and its oil is rendered empyreumatic.--From thence arises +the pungent smell, and exhilarating flavour, not found in its natural +state[32]. + + [32] There always prevailed a notion among the chemists, particularly + with _Paracelsus_ and his followers, that in the empyreumatic oils of + plants were many medicinal virtues undiscovered. The oil of Coffee, + in itself, is almost insipid. + +ANIMAL oils are changed by fire in the same manner in broiled meats, +and acquire that grateful odour so exciting to weak appetites. + +IMITATIONS of Coffee have been procured from roasted beans, peas, +wheat, and rye, with almonds; but the delicacy of the oil in Coffee, +which the fire, in roasting, converts into its peculiar empyreuma, is +not to be equalled. + +THE roasting of the berry to a proper degree, requires great nicety: +_Du Four_ justly remarks, that the virtue and agreeableness of the +drink depend on it, and that both are often injured in the ordinary +method. _Bernier_ says, when he was at _Cairo_, where it is so much +used, he was assured by the best judges, that there were only two +people in that great city, in the public way, who understood the +preparing it in perfection[33]. + + [33] _Bernier’s_ Letter to _Du Four_. + +IF it be under-done, its virtues will not be imparted, and in use it +will load and oppress the stomach:--If it be over-done, it will yield +a flat, burnt, and bitter taste, its virtues will be destroyed, and in +use it will heat the body, and act as an astringent[34]. + + [34] “Cetera bonitas Caovæ præcipuè dependet à curiosa et exquisita + tostione.” _Ray._ + +FOURTEEN pounds weight of raw Coffee is generally reduced, at the +public roasting houses in London, to eleven pounds by the roasting; +for which the dealer pays seven pence half-penny, at the rate of +five shillings for every hundred weight. In Paris, the same quantity +is reduced to ten pounds and an half. But the roasting ought to be +regulated by the age and quality of the Coffee, and by nicer rules +than the appearance of the fumes, and such as are usually practised: +therefore the reduction must consequently vary, and no exact standard +can be ascertained. Besides, by mixing different sorts of Coffee +together, that require different degrees of heat and roasting, Coffee +has seldom all the advantages it is capable of receiving, to make it +delicate, grateful, and pleasant. This indeed can be effected no way so +well as by people who have it roasted in their own houses, to their own +taste, and fresh as they want it for use. + +THE closer it is confined at the time of roasting, and till used, the +better will its volatile pungency, flavour, and virtues, be preserved. + +COARSE, rank, new Coffee, is meliorated by being kept after it is +roasted, before it is used. + +THE influence which Coffee, judiciously prepared, imparts to the +stomach, from its invigorating qualities, is strongly exemplified +by the immediate effect produced on taking it, when the stomach is +over-loaded with food, or nauseated with surfeit, or debilitated by +intemperance, or languid from inanition. + +TO constitutionally weak stomachs, it affords a pleasing sensation; it +accelerates the process of digestion, corrects crudities, and removes +the cholic, and flatulencies. + +BESIDES its effect on the gastric powers, it diffuses a genial warmth +that cherishes the animal spirits, and takes away the listlessness and +languor[35], which so greatly embitter the hours of nervous people, +after any deviation to excess, fatigue, or irregularity. + + [35] _Baglivi._ + +THE foundation of all the mischiefs of intemperance is laid in the +stomach; when that is injured, instead of preparing the food, that the +lacteals may carry into the constitution sweet and wholesome juices to +the support of health, it becomes the source of disease, and disperses +through the whole frame the cause of decay. + +FROM the warmth and efficacy of Coffee in attenuating the viscid +fluids, and increasing the vigour of the circulation, it has been used +with great success in some cases of fluor albus, and in the dropsy[36]; +and also in worm complaints[37];--and in those camatose, anasarcous, +and such other diseases as arise from unwholesome food, want of +exercise, weak fibres, and obtruded perspiration. + + [36] “C’est sans doute son fréquent usage qui garentit les Turcs de + l’hydropisie.” _Du Four_, p. 129. + + [37] _Anthelminticum_ audit, et hinc pueris sæpe confertur, copiosius + vero haustum, parvos eos reddit, deoque non facile his ordinandum. Si + quis aliquot Cyathos decocti saturatioris hauriat, vermes plerumque + e ventriculo in intestina descendere experitur; si mox purgatio + propinetur, invisi hi hospites hac methodo expelluntur. _Linnæi_, + Amœnitat. Academ. Vol. VI. p. 178. + +IN vertigo, lethargy, catarrh, and all disorders of the head from +obstruction in the capillaries, long experience has proved it to be a +powerful medicine[38]; and in certain cases of apoplexy, it has been +found serviceable even when given in glysters, where it has not been +convenient to convey its effects by the stomach. Mons. _Malebranche_ +restored a person from an apoplexy by repeated glysters of Coffee[39]. + + [38] “La tête est la partie de tout le corps sur laquelle le Caffé + produit de plus considérables effets; car par son usage ordinaire, on + prévient presque surement l’apoplexie, la paralysie, la lethargie, et + presque toutes les autres maladies soporeuses.” _De Bleguy_, p. 180. + + [39] Hist. de l’Acad. de Sciences, 1702. + +THERE are but few people who are not informed of its utility for the +head-ach; the steam sometimes is very useful to mitigate pains of the +head. + +In the West Indies, where the violent species of head-ach, such as +cephalæa, hemicrania, and clavus, are more frequent, and more severe +than in Europe, Coffee is often the only medicine that gives relief. +Opiates are sometimes used, but Coffee has an advantage that Opium does +not possess; it may be taken in all conditions of the stomach; and at +all times by women, who are most subject to these complaints; as it +dissipates those congestions and obstructions that are frequently the +cause of the disease, and which Opium is known to increase, when its +temporary relief is past[40]. + + [40] Ego cum Lugduni Batavorum studiis operam darem, per totum annum + Cephalæa miserè laboravi; et postquam potui copiose Teé, et præcipuè + quidem _Coffee_ quotidie sumendo assuevi, semper immunis ab ea vixi, + non tantúm sed ab omni alio incommodo, quamvis antea ita vixerim, + ut mortis haberet vices lenta quæ trahebatur mihi vita gementi, qui + per totum quinquennium cum longa morborum serie acriter conflictavi. + _Ray._ + + +FROM the stimulant and detergent properties of Coffee, it may be +used to an extent to be serviceable in all obstructions arising from +languid circulation. It assists the secretions, promotes the menses, +and mitigates the pains attendant on the sparing discharge of that +evacuation. + +In the West Indies, the chlorosis and obstructed menses are common +among laborious negro females, exposed to the effects of their own +carelessness, and the rigorous transitions of the climate; there +strong Coffee is often employed as a deobstruent; which, drank warm in +a morning fasting, and using exercise after it, has been productive +of many cures[41]. From its possessing these qualities, _Geoffrey_ +cautions pregnant women, and such as are subject to excessive +menstruation, to use it in moderation. + + [41] “Utuntur tamen ejus decocto ad roborandum ventriculum + frigidiorem, adjuvandamque concoctionem, et non minùs ad auferendas + a visceribus obstructiones; in tumoribusque hepatis lienifque + frigidis, et antiquis obstructionibus, feliciori cum successu + decoctum multos dies experiuntur. Quod etiam uterum maximè respicere + videtur, ipsum enim excalfacit, obstructionesque ab eo aufert, sic + enim in familiari usu est apud omnes Ægyptias, Arabasque mulieres, + ut semper, dum fluunt menses, ipsorum vacuationem, hujus decocti + ferventis multum paulatim sorbillantes, adjuvent. Ad promovendos + etiam, in quibus suppressi sunt, usus hujus decocti, purgato corpore + multis diebus, utilissimus est.” _P. Alpin._ Lib. de Plantis Ægypti, + cap. 16.----“Pellens est; qua ratione, non sine fructu, tanquam + emmenagogum, in menstruis suppressis adhibetur. _Linnæi_, Amœnitat. + Acad. Vol. VI. p. 179. + +THE industrious overseers of plantations, and other Europeans employed +in cultivation in the West Indies, who are exposed to the morning and +evening dews, find great support from a cup of Coffee before they go +into the field: it fortifies the stomach, and guards them against the +diseases incident to their way of life; especially in clearing lands; +or when their residence is in humid situations, or in the vicinity of +stagnant water. Those who are imprudently addicted to intemperance find +Coffee a benign restorer of the stomach, for that nausea, weakness, and +disorderly condition, which is brought on by drinking bad fermented +liquors, and new rum, to excess. + +IN continued and remitting fevers in hot climates, it frequently +happens, at the period when bark is indicated, that the stomach cannot +retain it.--This is an embarrassment of great importance, in which the +practitioner has an interval, only of a few hours, to decide on his +patient’s fate.--Bark in substance is required to answer the intention; +and here, as well as in many cases of intermittents, when every other +mode of administering bark has proved abortive, Coffee has been found +an agreeable and a successful vehicle. + +IN obstinate intermittents, where a course of bark has been long +continued, it seldom fails to increase those visceral obstructions +which are incidental to the disease itself. + +TO assist the bark in its operation, I have often used Coffee; and have +known instances where it has removed slight intermittents; and for +those obstructions, which the disease, or bark, or both, frequently +leave after them, and which patients are often obliged to suffer, +as the least evacuation brings on a return of fever, I have also +recommended Coffee, to make a considerable portion in the diet, with +advantage. + +COFFEE having the property of promoting perspiration[42], it allays +thirst and checks preternatural heat. + + [42] _Leewenhoek_, _Huxham_. + +Sir _John Chardin_, when in Persia[43], cured himself of a bloody flux +by drinking four cups of hot Coffee, and going to bed, and covering +himself well with bed clothes. But this cure was occasioned by the +perspiration it produced; though he attributed it to some specific +quality in the Coffee. + + [43] Anno 1671. + +THE great use of Coffee in France is supposed to have abated the +prevalency of the gravel.--In the French Colonies, where Coffee is +more used than in the English, as well as in Turkey, where it is the +principal beverage, not only the gravel, but the gout, those tormentors +of so many of the human race, are scarcely known[44]. + + [44] _Urinam_ copiose pellit, imprimis si aqua misceatur; quosdam + calculo obnoxios Halmiæ novimus, qui cyathum Coffeæ murrhinum vitro + aquæ frigidæ, libra una repleto, infundunt, idque horis consumunt + matutinis, qui unanimiter fatentur, quod vix aliud ipsis sit notum, + urinam et fabulum copiosius pellens. _Linnæi_, Amœnitat. Acad. Vol. + VI. p. 177. + +TAVERNIER says, the Persians are totally unacquainted with the gout +and gravel; and Mons. _Spon_, a celebrated Physician at Lyons, who had +travelled in the East, says, these diseases are rarely met with in the +Levant, which they attribute to the great use of Coffee in those parts +of the world. But climate, I apprehend, which the encomiasts of Coffee +will not admit, ought to be taken into the account. + +DU FOUR relates, as an extraordinary instance of the effects of Coffee +in the gout, the case of Mons. _Deverace_. He says, this gentleman was +attacked with the gout at twenty-five years of age, and had it severely +until he was upwards of fifty, with chalk stones in the joints of +his hands and feet; but for four years preceding, the account of his +case being given to _Du Four_, to lay before the publick, he had been +recommended the use of Coffee, which he adopted, and had no return of +the gout afterwards[45]. + + [45] “Elle est salutaire aux goutteux par l’expérience particulière + de nos goutteux, qui s’y sont habitués: car ils en tirent du moins + ce bénefice que leur accês sont moins fréquent et beaucoup plus + supportables.” _De Blegny_, p. 185. et 186. + +COFFEE has been found useful in quieting the tickling vexatious cough +that often accompanies the small pox[46], and other eruptive fevers.--A +dish of strong Coffee without milk or sugar, taken frequently in the +paroxysm of some asthmas, abates the fit; and I have often known it to +remove the fit entirely. Sir _John Floyer_, who had been afflicted with +the asthma from the seventeenth year of his age until he was upwards +fourscore, found no remedy in all his elaborate researches, until the +latter part of his life, when he obtained it by Coffee. + + [46] _Huxham._ + +PREPARED strong and clear, and sweetened agreeably with sugar-candy, +and diluted, while hot, with a great portion of boiling milk, it +becomes an highly nutritious and balsamic diet; proper in such hectic +and pulmonic complaints, where a milk diet is useful[47]; and is a +great restorative to constitutions emaciated by the gout and other +chronic disorders[48]. + + [47] “Elle est d’un effet merveilleux pour ceux qui ont la poitrine + naturellement foible, ou accidentellement affoiblie par le rheume, + par le toux inveterée, par une pulmonie naissante, et par ces autres + espèces de fluxions qui rendent la voix rauque, et qui causent + l’asthme et la courte haleine.” _De Blegny_, p. 189. + + [48] This is the best method of preparing _Milk Coffee_. It may be + sweetened with good Muscovada sugar, in costive habits, or where + sugar-candy cannot be had. + +NIEUHOFF, a German physician, in his account of the embassy from +Holland to China in 1675, first described the advantage of milk Coffee +in pulmonic complaints. + +Mons. _Monin_, an eminent physician of Grenoble, performed many +extraordinary cures with it among consumptive people, when a milk +diet, asses milk, and the air of Montpellier, had proved ineffectual. +He relates the following case of his wife; of whom, he says,--“she +had been in a consumption for sixteen years, and was at the point +of death lately with a peripneumony. The inflammation of the lungs +was removed by the ordinary methods in eight days; there remained a +very troublesome cough, an heat in the lungs, and quick pulse, with +a great dryness of the skin, which made me apprehend she would fall +again into her consumptive state. I prepared her by gentle purgatives +and aperient medicines, as her bowels were in a bad state, and her +spleen obstructed, and put her on a course of asses milk, which +she took regularly for a month, but without the least success; her +pulse remained the same, her cough was worse, she spit more, her +complexion was yellow, sometimes greenish; she complained of heats, +and oppressions of her breast, notwithstanding the exact regimen, and +gentle purgatives repeated every week. Finding that the asses milk was +useless, I again put her on a course of her former milk Coffee, of +which she took about a quart every day for six weeks, purging her every +ten or twelve days. This course was so favourable to her, that all the +symptoms before-mentioned ceased in the first eight days; her appetite +soon returned, and she grew more _en bon point_ than she had ever been +in her life.” + +LONG watching and intense study are wonderfully supported by it, and +without the ill consequences that succeed the suspension of rest and +sleep, when the nervous influence has nothing to sustain it. + +THEVENOT says, “When merchants in Turkey have any letters to write, +and intend to do it in the night-time, in the evening they take a dish +or two of Coffee, which is good to hinder vapours, head-ach, and to +take away sleepiness, &c.--In short, in the Turk’s opinion it is good +against all maladies, and certainly it hath at least as much virtue +as is attributed to tea; and as to its taste, by that time a man hath +drank of it twice, he is accustomed to it, and finds it no longer +unpleasant.” + +WE are told, that travellers in Eastern countries, and messengers +who are sent with dispatches, perform their tedious journies by the +alternate effects of Opium and Coffee;--and that the dervises and +religious zealots, in their abstemious devotions, support their vigils, +through their nocturnal ceremonies, by this antisoporific liquor. + +DU FOUR says, the poor people in Turkey use it through œconomy to save +victuals; as frequently two or three cups of Coffee is their whole +sustenance in the course of a day. + +BERNIER says, that the Turks, who frequently subsist a considerable +time upon Coffee only, look on it as an aliment that affords great +nourishment to the body: for which reason, during the rigid fast of the +_Ramadam_, or Turkish Lent, it is not only forbidden, but any person is +deemed to have violated the injunctions of the Prophet, that has had +even the smell of Coffee[49]. + + [49] Nous remarquerons, qu’ayant fait usage de cette boisson, nous + avons découvert qu’outre les qualités qu’on vient rapporter, elle a + celle de soutenir les forces contre l’inanition, en forte qu’étant + prise à jeun, on peut se passer plus long temps de nourriture, sans + en être incommodé. _Journ. des Sc._, 1716, p. 283. + +BACON says, Coffee “comforts the head and heart, and helps +digestion[50].” Dr. _Willis_ says, “being daily drank, it wonderfully +clears and enlightens each part of the soul, and disperses all the +clouds of every function[51].” The celebrated Dr. _Harvey_ used it +often. _Voltaire_ lived almost on it. He told me, nothing exhilarated +his spirits more than the smell of Coffee; for which reason he had, +what he used in the day, roasted in his chamber every morning, when +he lived at _Fernai_.--The learned and sedentary of every country +have recourse to it, to refresh the brain, oppressed by study and +contemplation[52]. + + [50] Cent. 8, Exp. 738. anno 1624.--_Bacon_ asserted this on the + authority of travellers, as Coffee was not then known in England. + + [51] Pharmaceut. Rat. P. 1. Anno 1674. Coffee was then used in England. + + [52] “Elle fortifie la mémoire et le jugement. Un aliment qui fortifie + puissamment toutes les actions naturelles.” _De Blegny_, p. 181, 184. + +AMONG the many valuable qualities of Coffee, that of its being an +antidote to the abuse of _Opium_ must not be considered as the least; +for as mankind is not content with the wonderful efficacy derived from +the prudent use of opium, the abuse of it is productive of many evils +that are only remediable by Coffee. + +THE diseases generally brought on by a continued course of excessive +doses of Opium, are either loss of appetite, stupor, debility, loss of +memory, melancholy, palsy, or dropsy:--and frequently the consequences +of the necessary and temporary use of common doses of laudanum, +are nausea, languor, giddiness of the head, cold sweats, head-ach, +hysterics, and tremor. + +VARIOUS have been the attempts of physicians and chemists to correct +their favourite Opium, and to improve and separate its useful from its +hurtful properties[53]; but their preparations have neither meliorated +the simple juice of the vegetable, as the great _Sydenham_ asserts, nor +have they taken away those properties to which its prejudicial effects +are attributed. + + [53] _Paracelsus_, _Helmont_, _Silvius_, and _Platerus._--The use of + Opium in the Lues Venerea is by no means a new discovery, as some + practitioners have lately thought. It has had its advocates and use, + like Guaiacum, and other diaphoretics. It was known to _Paracelsus_, + _Fernilius_, _Palmarius_, _Willis_, _Paulli_, &c. + +THERE never has been, as far as we know, any preparation or combination +with Opium, from the days of _Mithridates_ to the present, that could +be relied on, to counteract the ill effects of its first operations, in +many constitutions; or to prevent those disagreeable after-operations +so much complained of, in almost every subject and disease. + +SUCH a preparation would indeed be a large contribution to the Materia +Medica, and would make a considerable figure in the practice of physic. +But this may never be accomplished; it may not be in nature; the defect +may be the inherent imperfection of the vegetable, and inseparable from +it;--as in the moral world we find the brightest virtues may be shaded +with alloy:--if so, it will yet be some consolation, that we are able +to mitigate those ills which we cannot prevent. + +EVERY author who mentions Coffee, allows that it possesses singular +power in counteracting the hypnotic, or sleepy effects of Opium: this +is the only virtue assigned to it, in regard to Opium; as if the +influence which Coffee exerts on the system, to produce that effect, +could be directed to no purpose, when these contradictions were not +employed in opposition, to rob each other of their attributes. + +CONFIRMED by many observations, I believe that Coffee, besides being +the best corrector of Opium, is the best medicine to alleviate the +mischief it produces, that has yet been discovered, and that the +operations of common doses of Opium may be checked by it almost at +pleasure. + +THE heaviness, head-ach, giddiness, sickness, and nervous affections, +which attack the patient in the morning, who has taken an opiate at +night, are abated by a cup or two of strong Coffee. + +IN Military Hospitals in hot climates, recourse is often had to large +and repeated doses of Opium; from which I have frequently observed, +that the retention of the stomach of the patient has been greatly +injured; the secretion of urine impeded, or the bladder affected by +a paralysis:--even these effects have been subdued by a few cups of +strong Coffee. + +THE general opinion is erroneous, though of long standing, that the +_Turks_ use Coffee, exclusive of dietetic purposes, only against the +sleepy effects of Opium. + +The _Turks_, as well as the _Persians_ and _Indians_, take Opium as a +cordial[54], to invigorate them for the temporary enjoyment of amorous +pleasures, and to enable them to support fatigue, and to stimulate +their nerves to the exertions of courage and enterprize[55]. But when +the desired effects of this cordial are over, languor, lassitude, and +dejection of spirits succeed.--It is for these indispositions, that +Coffee is so medicinally necessary to the _Turks_, and they use it as +their principal remedy. + + [54] “Præstantissimum sit remedium cardiacum, unicum penè dixerim, + quod in natura hactenus est repertum.” _Sydenham._ + + [55] _Mandelslo’s_ Voyages and Travels into the East, Lib. I. + _Bellonius_, Lib. III. cap. 15. _Erastus_, Disp. de Sapor. et de + Narcot. _Georg. Andreæ_, Itiner. Ind. Lib. II. c. 9. _J. J. Saar._ + Itiner. Ind. p. 11. _Fogolius_ de Turcarum Nepenthe. _Sandy’s_ + Travels, Lib. I. p. 66. + +BUT while this unpleasing review of Opium is presented to our +contemplation, let us not forget the benefit which mankind derives from +that inestimable medicine. + +IF the _Silphium_ was held in veneration, stamped on coins, and +hung up in temples[56]; if the _Mallow_ was dignified with the name +of Sacred[57]; if a statue was erected to the _Lettuce_[58];--what +honours are not due to the POPPY, whose pure and unadulterated juice +possesses power to relax the whole force of animal spasm; to arrest the +determination of the fluids and vital energy on particular parts, which +often tends to the sudden dissolution of the frame; to relieve corporal +pain by tranquillity, and mental affliction by sleep[59]. These are +the unrivalled virtues of the POPPY, so highly distinguished by the +Creator, and whose excellence no human praise can reach. + + [56] _Plin. Hist. Nat._ Lib. XIX. c. 3. _Heschius_, Βάτἰς σίλφιον + silphion, _Spanheim_, de usu et præst. Numis. Dissert. 4. + + [57] By _Pythagoras_. + + [58] By _Augustus_. Several of the _Valerian_ family ennobled their + name with that of _Lactucinii_. _Plin._ + + [59] “Tam homini quam morbo conciliat.” _Paracel._ + +IT is not to be expected that Coffee should escape objections, when the +virtues of Opium could not secure that from censure and condemnation. +Among the furious enemies of Opium was Professor _Stahl_, of Hall in +Germany[60]; and among those of Coffee was _Simon Paulli_ of Rostock. +As the former could see nothing but the mischiefs of Opium, so the +latter was blind to the virtues of Coffee. But _Paulli_ founded his +prejudices against Coffee, as he had his prejudices against Tea, +Chocolate, and Sugar--not on experience, but on anecdotes, that had +been picked up by hasty travellers, which had no other foundation than +absurd report and conjecture[61]. Unacquainted with the real properties +of Coffee, his imagination supplied him with fictitious ones; and +classed with articles with which it has no more affinity than they have +analogy to each other[62], he assigned to it those qualities which +should affect the body, according to some theory of _Galen_ which had +misled him, to correspond with the account he had read of its supposed +effects on Sultan _Mahomet Casnin_, a despot of Persia; who, it is +said, from an excessive fondness of Coffee, had sotted away the vigour +of his constitution[63]. But chemistry and experience have brought the +subject into light, and _Paulli’s_ baseless fabric has vanished. + + [60] De Opij Impostura. + + [61] _Olearius_, _Martinius_, _Garranciers_, &c. + + [62] “Instar Rutæ, Agni Casti, Camphoræ, Theè, Coffee, Chocoladæ, et + similium omnis,” &c. _S. Paulli_, Quadrip. Botan. p. 396. + + [63] This story is related in the Travels of the Ambassadors from the + Duke of Holstein into _Muscovy_ and _Persia_, Lib. VI. It originated + from a complaint made against _Casnin_ by his wife. This lady was of + a different opinion from the Marquis _de Langle_, who, in his _Voyage + en Espagne_, says,--“Le Caffé égaye, exalte, électrife; à l’homme qui + a pris du Caffé en abondance, il ne manque plus qu’une femme, une + plume, et l’encre.” + +SUCH has been the fate of _Fernelius’s_ declamations against mercury; +such _Guy Patin’s_ against antimony; and such _James_ the First’s, and +the Abbot _Nissens’s_ nonsense against tobacco[64]. + + [64] The Abbot _Nissens_ maintained, that the Devil first brought + tobacco into Europe. + +I HAVE singled out _Simon Paulli_ from among the adversaries of Coffee, +for no other motive than to shew from what tales so learned a man +confesses he supports a notion, that Coffee (like Tea to the Chinese) +acted as a great drier to the _Persians_, and abated aphrodisiacal +warmth. This opinion has been since received, and propagated from him, +as he received and propagated it from its fabulous origin. The facts +have been refuted by Sir _Thomas Roe_, and many other travellers. + +Sir _Thomas Herbert_, who was in the East in 1626, tells us, that the +Persians themselves have a very different opinion of Coffee.--“They say +that Coffee comforts the brain, expels melancholy and sleep, purges +choler, lightens the spirits, and begets an excellent concoction; and +by custom becomes delicious. But all these virtues do not conciliate +their liking of it so much as the romantic notion, that it was first +invented and brewed by the Angel _Gabriel_, to restore _Mahomet’s_ +decayed moisture; which it did so effectually, that he never drank it +but he made nothing to unhorse forty men, and in his amours to rival +the fame of Hercules[65].” + + [65] Page 311. Ed. 3. Setting aside the hyperbolical part of this + Persian opinion, here is at least a tradition, that this liquor was + used in Arabia in the time of _Mahomet_, whose flight from _Mecca_ + was in the year 622. All the ancient nations who made much use of the + _Legumina_ in their diet, prepared many of them by torrefaction; and + it is most probable, that the Arabians were acquainted with the art + of preparing a liquor from the parched or roasted berries of a tree + that was indigenous among them, prior to its use in Egypt and Persia, + or in any of the neighbouring countries. + +MANY have been the dogmas concerning Coffee: some authors alledge that +it is _dry_, and therefore good for the gross and phlegmatic, but +hurtful to lean people; some contend that it is _cold_, and therefore +good for sanguine, bilious, and hot constitutions; others, that it is +_hot_, and therefore bad for the sanguine and bilious, but good for +cold constitutions. Some assure us, that it acts only as a _sedative_; +others, that it acts only as a _stimulant_. With such disputants there +is no entering the lists. Medical science disclaims their pretensions, +as creations of the imagination; and transfers their contest for +decision to a Synod of Turkish Priests. + +I AM aware that there are people who are decisively of opinion, that +Coffee is injurious “in thin habits and bilious temperaments, in +melancholic and hypochondriacal disorders, and to persons subject to +hæmorrhages.”--_Willis_, _Cheyne_, and others, as well as _Lewis_, who +conceived this notion to have been his own, were in some degree of this +opinion[66]. + + [66] Ab hac sorbitione abstinere debent biliosi, quibus præservida + sunt viscera, qui hæmorrhoidibus quibuscunque erysipelati sunt + obnoxii, melancholici, et hypochondriaci. _Geoffry_, De Vegetab. Tom. + II. sect. I. p. 437. + +IN habits subject to hæmorrhages, particularly those of the pulmonic +and uterine kind, the interdiction of Coffee is every where justly +admitted[67]. + + [67] Yet Dr. _Percival_ says, it is “powerfully sedative.” Vol. I. p. + 127. + +I WAS acquainted with a person at Leyden, when I was a student there, +who seldom drank much Coffee, or continued the use of it for several +days successively, without having an hæmorrhage from the nose. + +BUT the other exceptions, however they may have been taken up, and +asserted in England, where the confined use of Coffee has scarcely +afforded a fair opportunity to settle such a point, will be disputed +in countries where it is in general use. Let me add also, that the +result of my observations in those countries is evidence against the +exceptions; and it is confirmed by every information I have obtained +from medical people resident in Constantinople, and other parts of the +Turkish Empire. + +LET us examine this arbitrary restriction to the use of Coffee, and see +what justice there is in the principle on which it has been imposed; to +which, as to all arbitrary impositions, we shall discover no reason, I +believe, in submitting. + +IN regard to “thin habits,” where there is no disease, or +constitutional defect, I can say but little; knowing no theory that +militates against the prudent use of Coffee in the alimentary way; nor +why it should not be as harmless to such habits, as to those who are +formed with the greatest obesity and rotundity of figure. + +TRAVELLERS observe, that in Turkey, though the Mahometans and the +Greeks live in the same towns, they differ widely in their manner of +living; and in nothing more than in their drinks. The Turks, whose +principal drink is Coffee, and one of the articles with which every +Turk is obliged to furnish his wife, are fat, fresh, active, healthy, +and prolific. The Greeks, on the contrary, who drink but little Coffee, +and much wine, are dry, bilious, passionate, and indolent. + +IN “bilious temperaments,” facts and experience must determine. Bilious +temperaments are surely no where so common as in hot climates; and +in those very countries Coffee is certainly most used. There Coffee +is found to temper and soften the acrimony of the bile, and prepare +the stomach for purgatives, and suitable medicines. It is observed +in bilious habits, that the stomach receives nothing more agreeable +than Coffee, unless where there is febrile heat; and that the nausea +and inclination to vomit, which often accompany bilious complaints, +are taken away by Coffee. In the jaundice, and in obstructions of the +liver, it is sometimes used with great benefit. + +TO the opinion that Coffee is hurtful in “melancholic and +hypochondriacal disorders,” a multitude of opinions may be opposed; +and its well known power in removing visceral obstructions, and +exhilarating the spirits; which qualities have been attributed to +Coffee ever since the use of it was known[68]. + + [68] “Il remedie très efficacement dans les deux sexes, à toutes + les espéces d’indispositions qu’on attribuë aux vapeurs du foye, + de la ratte, et de la matrice, et par consequent aux maladies + hypocondriaques, et généralement à toutes les passions hysteriques,” + &c. _De Blegny_, p. 177. + +IF it be demanded, what general description of people should abstain +from the use of Coffee?--as it seems with some people to be necessary +for the rightly understanding its virtues to have something said +against it,--I must answer, that I know of none; yet I wish to be +understood, that I think animadverting on its properties and effects +may take place, without the writer’s being in the predicament of Mons. +_de la Closure_ at Perigueux, who ordered it for all his patients +because he liked it himself; or of Mons. _Barbarec_ at Montpellier, +who forbad it to his patients because it disagreed with him. These +physicians, like _Mahomet_, incurred the imputation of mixing their +inclinations with their prescriptions.--_Mahomet_ prohibited the use of +wine, because it disordered him, and brought on the epilepsy. + +EVERY reasonable person must know, that Coffee cannot be proper for all +constitutions, and at all times. The exceptions may be numerous; but I +should make a bad figure in the eyes of travellers, who have witnessed +absurdity enough on this subject, were I, in discussing the dietetic +regimen of a nation, to attempt to fix invariable rules for individuals. + +PEOPLE obnoxious to hæmorrhages, or possessing peculiar nervous +sensibility, or feverish irritability, should abstain from all +stimulating liquors; therefore from Coffee.--Those who, from their own +proper experience, find it does not agree with them, can hardly stand +in need of this injunction[69]. + + [69] “Je scay qu’il se trouve indifféremment entre les bilieux, les + fanguins, les pituiteux, et les melancholiques, des personnes à qui + il fait du bien, et d’autres à qui il fait du mal; c’est pourquoy + bien qu’il soit vray qu’il y aye peu d’alimens ny de medicamens si + généralement bon que le Caffé.” _De Blegny_, p. 105. + +IT is well known, that there are some habits which cannot endure any +thing that increases the sensibility of the nerves; and others that are +affected by particular stimulants. A cup of strong Coffee will cause +some people to have a tremor of the hand.--_Boyle_ says it acted as +an emetic with one person; _Galland_ was also an instance, where it +occasioned the same operation in a most violent manner. Others will be +heated, or be kept from sleeping by it. Tea, Champagne and Burgundy +wines, and many other things, will produce similar effects. It was on +this account that _Slare_, and some others, have confounded the excess +of nervous sensibility with the palsy, which depends on a privation +of sensibility, or motion;--against which nothing appears to be more +suitable than Coffee[70]. + + [70] “_Resolutio nervorum_--interdum tota corpora, interdum + partes infestar. Veteres Authores illud ἀποπληξιαν, hoc ῶαραλυσιν + nominaverunt.” _Cels._ Lib. III. cap. 27. + + “Privatio est sensus et motus, in toto corpore, vel parte quadam.” + _Aret._ Lib. I. cap. 7. + +A SUBJECT like Coffee, possessed of active principles and evident +operations, must necessarily be capable of misapplication and abuse; +and there must be particular habits which these operations disturb. +In some it causes an insupportable acidity in the stomach.--_Slare_ +says, he used Coffee in excess, and it affected his nerves[71]; but Dr. +_Fothergill_, who was a sensible man, and had read _Paul’s_ advice to +_Timothy_ respecting wine, and did not use Coffee in excess, though +he was of a very delicate habit, and could not use Tea, says, in his +letter to _Ellis_, that he drank Coffee “almost constantly many years, +without receiving any inconveniency from it.” + + [71] _Slare_, having instanced himself as one with whom Coffee did + not agree, has misled many people; and as this circumstance is + sometimes quoted to justify objections against Coffee, I beg leave + to relate his account of it in his own words:--“Nor do I decry and + condemn Coffee, though it proved very prejudicial to my own health, + and brought paralytic affections upon me. I confess, in my younger + days I ignorantly used it _in too great excess_; as many daily do + make use of this, and other Indian drinks. Though I have quite + abandoned it for above thirty years, and soon recovered the good tone + of my nerves, which continue steady to this day; yet I must own, + Coffee to some people is of good use, when taken in just proportion, + &c.” “It is true that they (Indian drinks) do not agree with all + constitutions; with some, only one of these entertaining liquids, + as Green Tea; and with others, all of them disagree.”--This candid + relation of _Slare’s_, requires no comment. + +DE LA CLOSURE says, that Mons. _Ferrana_, Dean of the Faculty at +Limoges, took Coffee every night to make him sleep. The celebrated +Mons. _Colbert_ drank Coffee to keep him awake, through his great +pressure of business; and by that means so habituated himself to live +without rest, that at length he could not sleep when he wanted. + +BUT the history of particular cases serves only to prove, that mankind +are not all organized alike; and that the sympathy of one, and +antipathy of another, are amply provided for in that infinite variety +which pervades all nature, and with which the earth is blessed in +the vegetable creation.--Were it not so, physic would acquire but +little aid from the toils of philosophy, when philosophy had no other +incitement to labour, than barren speculation. + +IT has long been a custom with many people among us, to add mustard to +their Coffee: mustard or aromatics may with great propriety be added, +in flatulent, languid, and scorbutic constitutions; and particularly by +invalids, and in such cases where warmth or stimulus is required. + +THE Eastern nations add either cloves, cinnamon, cardamoms, +cummin-seed, or essence of amber, &c. but neither milk or sugar. Milk +and sugar without the aromatics, are generally used with it in Europe, +America, and the West India Islands, except when taken immediately +after dinner; then the method of the French is often followed, and the +milk is omitted. + +COFFEE is most grateful to the stomach, as well as to the palate, with +the addition of cream, and sweetened with sugar-candy. The sugar-candy +should be reduced to a gross powder, to facilitate its dissolving. + +A SMALL cup or two of Coffee, immediately after dinner, promotes +digestion. + +HOWEVER, Coffee after dinner, in general, is to be considered as +a luxury; and its effects are then most pleasant where temperance +has been observed, and leguminous food and light wines have chiefly +composed the repast. + +WITH a draught of water previously drunk, according to the Eastern +custom, Coffee is serviceable to those who are of a costive habit. + +COFFEE is not proper where there has been long sitting after dinner, +when heavy meals of animal food have been made, and much Portugal wine, +has been drunk; and never should be used after dinner, nor at any other +time, by those who intend to return to the bottle, and drink wine +immediately upon it. + +THUS far the properties and medicinal effects of Coffee, after +torrefaction, have been considered; and as the beverage made from it +contains all the essential virtues of the berry, which united are most +proper for dietetic purposes, I have not entered into any discussion +of its component parts separately, nor of the distilled water, syrup, +oil, and other simple preparations which have been made from the berry; +for I do not believe, that these preparations possess any properties +deserving particular notice; but that we are indebted to the virtues we +derive from Coffee, to the total derangement of its natural state, by +the process it undergoes in roasting at the fire.--And therefore the +fabulous story of the first discovery of its effects, does not merit +the least attention. + +THE mode of preparing this beverage for common use differs in different +countries, principally as to the additions made to it.--But though that +is generally understood, and that taste, constitution, the quality of +the Coffee, and the quantity intended to be drunk, must be consulted, +in regard to the proportion of Coffee to the water in making it--yet +there is one material point, the importance of which is not well +understood, and which admits of no deviation. + +THE preservation of the virtues of Coffee, particularly when it is of +a fine quality, and exempt from rankness, as has been said, depends on +carefully confining it after it has been roasted; and not powdering it +until the time of using it, that the volatile and æthereal principles, +generated by the fire, may not escape. But all this will signify +nothing, and the best materials will be useless, unless the following +important admonition is strictly attended to; which is, that after the +liquor is made,--_it should be bright and clear, and entirely exempt +from the least cloudiness or foul appearance, from a suspension of any +of the particles of the substance of the Coffee_. + +THERE is scarcely any vegetable infusion or decoction, whose effects +differ from its gross origin more than that of which we are speaking. +Coffee taken in substance causes oppression at the stomach, heat, +nausea, and indigestion: consequently a continued use of a preparation +of it, in which any quantity of its substance is contained, besides +being disgusting to the palate, must tend to produce the same +indispositions. The residuum of the roasted berry, after its virtues +are extracted from it, is little more than an earthy calx, and must +therefore be injurious. + +THE want of attention to this circumstance, I make no doubt, has been +the cause of many of the complaints against Coffee, and of the aversion +which some people have to it; and it is from this consideration that +Coffee should not be prepared with milk instead of water, nor should +the milk be added to it on the fire, as is sometimes the case, for +oeconomical dietetic purposes, where only a small quantity of Coffee +is used, as the tenacity of the milk impedes the precipitation of +the grounds, which is necessary for the purity of the liquor, and +therefore neither the milk nor the sugar should be added, until after +it is made with water in the usual way, and the clarification of it is +completed[72].--The milk should be hot when added to the liquor of the +Coffee, which should also be hot, or both should be heated together, in +this mode of using Coffee as an article of sustenance. + + [72] It is not to Coffee alone that this reflexion is confined; + every article we use as a diluter, demands the same attention. + Malt liquors, particular small beer, which in this respect is much + neglected, ought always to be carefully fined. The fæculent matter + entangled by the mucilage of the malt, is hurtful to digestion, and + detrimental to health. + +THE Persians roast the membrane which envelopes the seed, and use +it together with the seed itself, in their manner of preparing the +infusion, and it is said to be a considerable improvement. The people +of fashion among the Turks and Persians make a delicate drink from the +capsules only, which is cooling and refreshing; particularly in summer +time. This was much extolled by the French travellers, who saw no other +Coffee used at the houses of the great. This is called by the French, +_Café à la Sultane_. + +THE Turks, Arabians, Persians, and Egyptians, drink Coffee all day +long, in small cups, supping it up by a little at a time, as hot as +they can bear it; and what is prepared from three or four ounces among +them, is considered as a moderate quantity for one person in a day. In +the Dutch, French, and English Colonies, it is the daily breakfast and +evening repast. + +IF a knowledge of the principles of Coffee, founded on examination and +various experiments, added to observations made on the extensive and +indiscriminate use of it, cannot authorize us to attribute to it any +particular quality unfriendly to the human frame;--if the unerring +test of experience has confirmed its utility, in many countries, not +exclusively productive of those inconveniencies, habits, and diseases, +for which its peculiar properties seem most applicable;--let those +properties be duly considered; and let us reflect on the state of our +atmosphere; the food and modes of life of the inhabitants,--and the +chronical infirmities which derive their origin from these sources, and +it will be evident what salutary effects might be expected from the +general dietetic use of Coffee in Great Britain. + +BUT this important object cannot be accomplished while England frowns +on West Indian agriculture and commerce. + +WITH legislative consideration and encouragement, good Coffee would +be produced in our West Indian Islands in such abundance, that, +as in France, it might be afforded here at a price to render it a +cheap substitute for those enervating teas and beverages, which the +inferior classes of people adopt from necessity, and which produce the +pernicious habit of dram-drinking. + +THE increased consumption of the article, for reasons already urged, +would benefit the State;--and the poor would be supplied with an +wholesome ingredient for improving their diet; which, if we extend +our views remote from the Metropolis, will be found such as would +admit of much addition and melioration, without any suspicion of the +interposition of Providence in their favour, or endangering the SALUS +POPULI on the score of superfluity and luxury. + + +FINIS. + + + + +Spelling corrections: + + accceptable → acceptable + suprized → surprized + pubic → public + metioned → mentioned + prejudical → prejudicial + disaagreeable → disagreeable + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77741 *** diff --git a/77741-h/77741-h.htm b/77741-h/77741-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bd42d5a --- /dev/null +++ b/77741-h/77741-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3673 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> + <title> + A Treatise Concerning the Properties and Effects of Coffee | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; + line-height: 1.3em; + text-indent:1em; +} + +h1,h2 { + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +.x-ebookmaker h2 {page-break-before: always;} +.x-ebookmaker h2 {page-break-after: avoid;} + +h1 span.t1 { + display: block; + font-size: 60%; + font-weight: normal; + line-height: 1.5em; +} + +h1 span.t2 { + display: block; + font-size: 110%; + margin-top: 0.6em; + margin-left: 0.6em; + margin-bottom: 0.8em; + letter-spacing: 0.6em; +} + +h1 span.t3 { + display: block; + font-size: 40%; + font-weight: normal; + letter-spacing: 0.3em; + word-spacing: 0.5em; + margin-left: 0.3em +} + +h1 span.t4 { + display: block; + font-size: 65%; + font-weight: normal; + letter-spacing: 0.1em; + word-spacing: 0.2em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-left: 0.1em; +} + +h2 span.title { + display: block; + font-size: 120%; + font-weight: bold; + letter-spacing: 0.4em; + padding-top: 1em; +} + +div.halftitle { + text-align: center; + margin-top: 2em; +} + +div.titlepage { + text-align: center; + page-break-before: always; + page-break-after: always; + margin-top: 5em; +} + +div.tp1 { + display: block; + font-size: 100%; + line-height: 1.5em; + letter-spacing: 0.3em; + word-spacing: 0.5em; +} + +div.tp2 { + display: block; + font-size: 90%; + line-height: 1.5em; + letter-spacing: 0.3em; + word-spacing: 0.5em; +} + +div.tp3 { + display: block; + font-size: 120%; + letter-spacing: 0.2em; + word-spacing: 0.3em; + margin-top: 4em; + margin-bottom: 0.5em; + margin-left: 0.2em; +} + +div.tp4 { + display: block; + font-size: 95%; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: -1em; + margin-left: 2em; + margin-right: 2em; + margin-bottom: 4em; + word-spacing: 0.2em; +} + +div.tp5 { + display: block; + font-size: 80%; + letter-spacing: 0.5em; + margin-left: 0.1em; + margin-top: 4em; + margin-bottom: 1.5em; +} + +div.tp6 { + display: block; + font-size: 60%; + letter-spacing: 0.1em; + word-spacing: 0.5em; + margin-bottom: 1.5em; +} + +div.tp7 { + display: block; + font-size: 40%; +} + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + +div.container { /* use with following for centred block of left-aligned text */ + text-align: center; +} + +blockquote { + margin-top: 0; + margin-bottom: 0; + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.ti0 { + text-indent: 0em; +} + +.ti-1 { + text-indent: -1em; +} + + +/* Horizontal rules */ +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +hr.chap { + width: 65%; + margin-left: 17.5%; + margin-right: 17.5%; +} + +.x-ebookmaker hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} + +hr.full { + width: 95%; + margin-left: 2.5%; + margin-right: 2.5%; + height: 2px; + background-color: black; +} + +hr.r30a { + width: 30%; + margin-left: 35%; + margin-right: 35%; + margin-top: 4em; + margin-bottom: 1em; +} + +hr.r30 { + width: 30%; + margin-left: 35%; + margin-right: 35%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; +} + + +/* Tables */ +table { + display: inline-table; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + font-size: 95%; + border-collapse: collapse; +} + +table.autotable { border-collapse: collapse; } +table.autotable td { padding: 3px 5px 3px 5px; } + +.tal {text-align: left;} +.tar {text-align: right;} +.tac {text-align: center;} + +.bt { + border-style: solid none none none; + border-width: thin; +} + +.mt1em { + margin-top: 1em; +} + +.mt3em { + margin-top: 3em; +} + +.mtb1em { + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; +} + +.mtb15em { + margin-top: 1.5em; + margin-bottom: 1.5em; +} + +.fs70 {font-size: 70%;} + +.fs80 {font-size: 80%;} + +.fs95 {font-size: 95%;} + +.fs120 {font-size: 120%;} + +.fs180 {font-size: 180%;} + +.smcap { + font-variant: small-caps; +} + +.lowercase { + text-transform: lowercase; +} + +.fb { + font-weight: bold; +} + +.gesperrt { + letter-spacing: 0.2em; + margin-right: -0.2em; +} + +em.gesperrt { + font-style: normal; +} + +.x-ebookmaker em.gesperrt { + margin-left: 0em; + margin-right: 0em; +} + +.ls03em { + letter-spacing: .3em; +} + +.ls04em { + letter-spacing: .4em; +} + +.ws03em { + word-spacing: 0.3em; +} + +sup { + vertical-align: baseline; + font-size: 80%; + position: relative; + top: -0.4em; +} + +.x-ebookmaker sup { + font-size: 75%; + vertical-align: top; + line-height: 0.8; +} + + +/* Dropcaps */ +p.dropcap { + text-indent: 0em; +} + +p.dropcap:first-letter { + float: left; + margin: 0.16em 0.1em 0 0; + padding:0; + line-height: 0.7em; + font-size: 250%; +} + + +/* Page numbering and hyperlinks */ +.pagenum { + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: 11px; + font-weight: normal; + font-style: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-align: right; + text-indent: 0em; + color: #585858; +} + +span[title].pagenum:after { + content: attr(title); +} + +a[name] { + position:absolute; /* Fix Opera bug */ +} + +a:link { + color: black; + text-decoration: underline; +} + +a:link:hover { + background: aqua; +} + + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnotes { + margin-top: 4em; + border: dashed 1px; + padding-bottom: 2em; +} + +.footnote p { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + font-size: 0.9em; + text-indent: 0em; +} + +.footnote .label { + position: absolute; + right: 84%; + text-align: right; + font-size: 0.9em; +} + +.label:hover { + background: aqua; +} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: baseline; + position: relative; + top: -0.5em; + margin-left: 0.05em; + font-size: 0.8em; + font-weight: normal; + font-style: normal; + white-space: nowrap; + text-decoration: none; +} + + +/* Transcriber's notes */ +.transnote { + background-color: #F2F2F2; + color: black; + font-size:smaller; + padding:0.5em; + margin-bottom:5em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; +} + + + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77741 ***</div> + +<div class="transnote"> +<p class="ti0"><b><a id="Transcribers_notes"></a>Transcriber’s notes</b>:</p> + +<p class="ti0">The text of this e-book has largely been preserved in its original +form apart from correction of several typographic errors (<a href="#Spelling_corrections">listed</a> at the +end) and substitution of the archaic ‘ſ’ (long s) with a standard ‘s’. +The pound currency unit is variably represented by the characters £ and +l. Archaic spellings, alternative spellings (Diascorides/Dioscorides), +and punctuation flaws have not been altered. Most paragraphs commence +with small caps, but not all, and no attempt has been made to +standardise them. Footnotes have been numbered consecutively and +moved to the end. Hyperlinks to a page or footnote are indicated by a +black underline and coloured highlighting when the cursor hovers over +them.</p> +</div> + + +<hr class="r30 x-ebookmaker-drop" > + +<div class="halftitle"> +<div class="fs80">A</div> + +<div class="fs180 mtb1em fb">T R E A T I S E</div> + +<div class="fs70 ls03em ws03em">CONCERNING THE</div> + +<div class="fs120 mtb15em ws03em">PROPERTIES AND EFFECTS</div> + +<div class="fs70">OF</div> + +<div class="fs180 mtb1em fb">C O F F E E</div> +</div> + +<hr class="r30 x-ebookmaker-drop" > + +<hr class="full x-ebookmaker-drop" > + +<div class="titlepage"> +<h1> +<span class="t1">A</span> + +<span class="t2">TREATISE</span> + +<span class="t3">CONCERNING THE</span> + +<span class="t4">PROPERTIES <span class="lowercase smcap">AND</span> EFFECTS</span> + +<span class="t3">OF</span> + +<span class="t2">COFFEE</span> +</h1> + +<hr class="r30a x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="tp1">THE FIFTH EDITION,</div> + +<div class="tp2">WITH CONSIDERABLE ADDITIONS.</div> +<hr class="r30 x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="tp3">By BENJAMIN MOSELEY M.D.</div> + +<div class="tp4">Physician to Chelsea Hospital, Member of the College +of Physicians of London, of the University of Leyden, +of the American Philosophical Society, &c. &c.; +Author of a Treatise on Tropical Diseases, Military +Operations, and the Climate of the West-Indies.</div> + +<hr class="r30 x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="tp5">LONDON:</div> + +<div class="tp6">PRINTED FOR J. SEWELL, NO. 32, CORNHILL.</div> + +<div class="tp7">M.DCC.XCII.</div> +</div> + + +<hr class="full x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_i">i</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="PREFACE"> + PREFACE. + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="ti0 dropcap"><span class="smcap">The</span> reception which four editions +of this Treatise have met +with, has made it necessary to publish +a fifth; which I now present to the +reader, with such additions, as I hope +will be acceptable and useful<a id="FNanchor_1_1" href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">1</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">I have</span> collected many authorities, +to corroborate what I have advanced; +that, as my opinions have prejudices +to contend with, they may not, however, +be objectionable on the ground +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_ii">ii</span>of singularity, and be considered as +supported by no other testimony than +my own.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> treating of the salutary advantages, +which the public will derive, +individually, from the general use of +Coffee, it is impossible not to reflect +also on the political benefits which +will accrue to the Parent State, by increasing +its cultivation in her Colonies.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">To</span> the Colonists themselves the +object is very extensive; and surely +the prosperity of so important a part +of the empire, as our West Indian +Islands, demands the most liberal attention +on the part of the nation.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_iii">iii</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">From</span> the produce of our Plantations, +that “magnificent property,” as +Mons. <span class="smcap">Necker</span> terms the French Colonies, +“which only the superficial and +ignorant affect to undervalue,” this +country receives great additions to her +revenue, and a total supply of one of +the most useful articles (perhaps now a +necessary) of life. Yet, from the calamities +lately inflicted on some of +them by the hand of Providence, and +the accumulated burthens which the +public necessities have laid on them all, +many of the Planters are involved in +ruin; and those who escape must owe +their deliverance to the bravest struggles +of industrious virtue.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_iv">iv</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> population of White Inhabitants, +which is the great security of +the Islands, consists chiefly of those +who cultivate the inferior Staple Commodities, +among which, Coffee is now +the principal; and this population has +always been proportionable to the increase +or decrease of those Staples. Indigo +may be instanced as an example: +When Indigo was encouraged in Jamaica, +before that impolitic duty was laid +on it, which exterminated the cultivation +of it in our Colonies, and gave it to +the French, there were considerably +more White Inhabitants in that Island +than there are at present, though the +Island now produces five times the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_v">v</span>quantity of Sugar and Rum it did at +that time.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> cultivation of Coffee requiring +but little capital, is an inducement for +people of small fortunes to settle in +the Islands. It is a creditable refuge + for the industrious man, who has +been unfortunate in Trade, and to +those whose larger schemes in life have +failed.—It is an easy employment; +the labour light, and many parts of +it performed by children. The situations +and soil where it is carried on +must be dry, and of course healthy, +to be advantageous. Coffee Plantations, +in particular, may be considered +as a Nursery of useful Inhabitants +for the Colonies.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_vi">vi</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> soil best suited for Coffee is +happily such as can be spared from +every other purpose. Large tracts of +poor land, which would otherwise lie +waste and useless, may be rendered as +profitable as the best, without the mortality +and casualties attendant on severe +labour in hot climates.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> numerous little families which +live on Coffee Plantations, and are +dispersed in small settlements, in the +interior parts of the Islands, occasion +the mountainous and woody lands to +be cleared and opened; and to be intersected +with roads and easy communications.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_vii">vii</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Thus</span> the residents live in safety, +and all sorts of property acquire a +proportionate value and security. The +retreats of fugitive negroes are laid +open; plunder and depredation prevented; +and conspiracies for rebellion +are deprived of their hiding-places.—And +thus the credit of the planter, +and security of the merchant, stand +on a firm basis:—those commotions +being prevented, which have so often +disturbed the tranquillity of the Islands, +and occasioned the ruin of many individuals +abroad and at home, to the +great defalcation of that immense revenue, +which these Islands pay to the +Mother-Country<a id="FNanchor_2_2" href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">2</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_viii">viii</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Besides</span>, the importance of a numerous +body of men, to form an occasional +militia, is evident, to any +person acquainted with the Colonies, +who must know how little fatigue and +exposure to the sun is sufficient to +destroy an unseasoned stranger.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Inhabitants</span> are always ready in +case of sudden emergency; and being +acquainted with local circumstances, +and inured to the climate, can perform +services, which uninformed, raw, European +troops cannot do; and, were interest +and attachment less operative considerations, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_ix">ix</span>Colonial Inhabitants may +be depended on;—many instances of +which were exhibited in the events of +last war.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> firmness displayed by the militia +of Jamaica, during the different periods +of Martial Law at that time, +when left almost to defend themselves, +ought ever to be remembered to their +honour. While many of the troops +that were raised here with so much +difficulty, and sent thither and maintained +at so much cost, were perishing +in hospitals, the Island militia underwent +the severest fatigues, with the +greatest alacrity; chiefly at their own, +and, let me add, very heavy expence, +I was then Surgeon-General of the +Island, and had the care of the militia, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_x">x</span>and likewise the camps of the +regulars, and witnessed the facts I +relate.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> truth is, that Sugar Plantations, +though they are great sources of +wealth to their proprietors, as well as +to government, do not employ a sufficient +number of white people for +their internal security, against the insurrections +of the negroes. The manufacture +is simple, and the labour +wholly carried on by slaves; and +though the Deficiency Law of Jamaica +directs, that one white person shall +be employed for every thirty slaves, +under a penalty of thirty pounds per +annum for every deficiency,—yet, +this law is often defeated, or the fine +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xi">xi</span>submitted to; as white servants are +expensive, and a less number than that +proportion is sufficient for the purpose +of making Sugar.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> cultivation of inferior Staple +Commodities is therefore necessary to +the very existence of the Sugar Colonies; +and I am persuaded will prove +to them more beneficial in many respects, +than at present is generally imagined.—Here, +then, is an open and +grateful field for Colonial Patriotism; +in which the <i>Amor Patriæ</i> will neither +find opposition from envy, nor disappointment +from ingratitude.—Here is +the occasion to demonstrate the love of +country, and to perpetuate a benefit +to mankind, which will never be forgotten; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xii">xii</span>and if those who, from character +and situation are entitled to attention, +will come forward, and point +out to the Public the impositions it has +suffered from misrepresentations, and +that the interests of the Sugar Colonies +are no other than the best interests of +this Country, there will never be +wanting sufficient good sense in the +Nation, to understand, that a subject +of the realm, exerting his industry at +four thousand miles distance, may be +employed as beneficially to the State, +as the manufacturer at home, who +lives by him; and is as much deserving +the protection of it, as the Country +’Squire, who leaves his fox-hounds, to +give a silent vote or two during the +winter, and retires the remainder of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xiii">xiii</span>the year to his <i>Sabine Fields</i> in sloth +and ignorance.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sir Nicholas Laws</span> was the first +person who planted Coffee in Jamaica;—but +dying three years afterwards, in +1731, he had not the happiness to see +the cultivation of it make any considerable +progress.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> 1732, several of the Planters +and Merchants, belonging to the Island, +became patrons of the undertaking; +and convinced that, under proper encouragement, +it might be of importance +to the Island, and that Coffee +might become a flourishing staple article +of produce, they subscribed the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xiv">xiv</span>sum of 220l. 10s. towards defraying +the charges of soliciting an act of +parliament for lowering the inland +duty, upon the importation of Coffee +from Jamaica into Great Britain; which +at that time was 10l. sterling per cwt.</p> + +<p>The circumstance being but little +known at present, and considering what +obligation the Island is under to their +exertions, I am happy in having an opportunity +of inserting their names, as a +proper tribute to the memory of those +benefactors to the Colony, and friends +to the Nation.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xv">xv</span></p> + + +<p class="tac mt1em"><em class="gesperrt">LONDON</em>, <i>Anno 1732</i>.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="ti-1 fs95">A List of the persons who subscribed and paid into +the hands of Mr. <i>Roger Drake and Co.</i> the several +sums undermentioned, towards defraying the +charges of an application, for an Act of Parliament, +to encourage the planting of <i>Coffee</i> in the +Island of <i>Jamaica</i>.</p> +</blockquote> + +<div class="container"> +<table class="autotable"> +<tr> +<td class="tal"> +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>£.</div> +</td> +<td class="tac"> +<div><i>s.</i></div> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tal"> +John Ascough, Esq; +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tal"> +Thomas Beckford, Esq; +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tal"> +James Dawkins, Esq; +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tal"> +Henry Dawkins, Esq; +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tal"> +Mess. Drake, Pennant, and Long; +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>21</div> +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>0</div> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tal"> +Thomas Fish, Esq; +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tal"> +Mr. James Fitter; +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>5</div> +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>5</div> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tal"> +Cope Freeman, Esq; +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tal"> +John Gibbon, Esq; +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tal"> +Mr. John Gregory; +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>5</div> +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>5</div> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tal"> +Capt. Joseph Hiscox; +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tal"> +Mr. Henry Lang, and Co. +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>5</div> +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>5</div> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tal"> +James Lawes, Esq; +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tal"> +John Lewis, Esq; +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tal"> +Mrs. Susannah Lowe; +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tal"> +Samuel Long, Esq; +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tal"> +Charles Long, Esq; +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tal"> +Mess. Mayleigh and Gale; +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tal"> +Valent. Mumbee, Esq; +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tal"> +Favele Peeke, Esq; +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tal"> +──────── +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tal"> +Capt. George Wane; +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>5</div> +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>5</div> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tal"> + +</td> +<td class="tar bt" colspan="2"> + +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tal"> + +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>£.220</div> +</td> +<td class="tar"> +<div>10</div> +</td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> + + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xvi">xvi</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> the same year, and in consequence +of this solicitation, the <i>Act 5th +Geo.</i> II. was passed, entitled, “An +Act for encouraging the growth of +Coffee in the Plantations in <i>America</i>.”—The +preamble recites, that the soil +and climate of Jamaica are particularly +adapted for the growth of this +commodity; and the act itself reduces +the inland duty upon British Plantation +Coffee, imported into Great Britain, +from two shillings to eighteen pence +per pound:—And here it stood +for many years, producing a revenue +of about 10,000l. per annum. +A few years ago, on the representation +of the West Indian Planters, +<i>Lord John Cavendish</i>, the then +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xvii">xvii</span>Chancellor of the Exchequer, consented +to the very important reduction +of one shilling more; thereby furnishing +a most useful lesson to all future +financiers,—<i>the present duty of six +pence per pound actually producing +nearly three times the sum that was +received when the duty was eighteen +pence</i>: so true is the doctrine, that +heavy taxation defeats its own purpose.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> has been computed, that one acre +of land will contain 1100 Coffee +plants, which will produce berries in +eighteen months from the sowing of +the seed. The trees will continue +bearing for seven or eight years.—Each +tree, after the first bearing, may +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xviii">xviii</span>produce, at a medium, one and an +half or two pounds weight, one with +another; and six or eight servants can +manage ten or twelve acres, besides +cultivating provisions for themselves. +Upon this ground of calculation, it +is apparent, that one acre of land, +supposing the weather not unfavourable, +may yield annually from 1700 +lb. to 2200 lb. weight, which, when +brought to market, may sell for +9l. 15s. to 12l. 15s. sterling <i>net</i>. +This, it is true, is but a small profit; +for it is little more than five farthings +per pound, whereas the <i>duty alone is +six pence per pound</i>. If the duty was +equalized to that upon Sugar, the medium +profits per acre would be about +40l. per annum. At present, the <i>net</i> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xix">xix</span>profits upon this article, and upon +Sugar in Jamaica, are nearly equal per +acre; that is, 10l. or 12l. sterling.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> the year 1752, the export of +Coffee from Jamaica was rated at +60,000 pounds weight. In 1775, it +was 440,000 pounds.—Under the +present duty of six pence per pound, +there is reason to expect, that the exports +may rather increase than diminish. +But it is not likely to become a +subject of very extensive culture in +our West Indian Islands, until even +this duty is lowered, or at least while +<i>foreign</i> Coffee is permitted to enter +into completion with it at the British +market. Though the Planters of Jamaica, +after a multitude of experiments, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xx">xx</span>and the most laudable exertions, +have discovered the art of cultivating, +picking, and curing the berries, so as to +make their Coffee equal to the growth +of Arabia; some samples have been +produced from that Island, before the +cultivation was so well understood as it +is at present, which were pronounced, +by the London dealers, even superior +to the best brought from the East.</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Two</span> of the samples were equal +to the best Mocha Coffee, and two +more of them superior to any Coffee +to be had at the grocers shops in +London, unless you will pay the +price of <i>picked</i> Coffee for it, which +is two shillings per pound more than +for that which they call the best +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xxi">xxi</span>Coffee. All the rest of the samples +were far from bad Coffee, and very +little inferior, if at all, to what the +grocers call <i>best</i> Coffee<a id="FNanchor_3_3" href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">3</a>.”</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">What</span> revolutions may change the +nature of our commerce, were it possible +to foresee, it is not in my province +to examine; but the Legislature of +England, as well as those of her Colonies, +have had a wise example before +them, in the conduct of France, by +her promoting and protecting the +growth of every thing, that could supply +the place of articles which Europe +purchases in the East Indies. +<i>Piementa</i>, or <i>Pimento</i> (<i>Myrtus Arborea +Aromatica foliis laurinis</i>), or All-spice, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xxii">xxii</span>as it is commonly called, from having +a flavour composed, as it were, of +cloves, cinnamon, juniper berries, +nutmegs, and pepper, is the peculiar +spice of Jamaica<a id="FNanchor_4_4" href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">4</a>: and it equals in +virtues, and is more applicable to the +general purposes of life, and luxury +too, than any spice that is brought +from the East. The various uses +into which <i>Pimento</i> is converted in +Europe, are but little known to those +who raise it. One secret, at least, I +am able to divulge to them, which is, +that its essential oil, coloured with +<i>Alkanet Root</i>, to give it the appearance of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xxiii">xxiii</span>age, is sold all over Europe for the oil +of cloves<a id="FNanchor_5_5" href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">5</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sir Hans Sloane</span>, in the Phil. +Trans. Abr. vol. II. p. 667. says, +that “<i>Piementa</i> may deservedly be +counted the best and most temperate, +mild, and innocent, of common spices, +and fit to come into greater use, and +gain more ground, than it yet hath, +of the East India commodities of this +kind; almost all of which it far surpasses, +by promoting the digestion of +meat, attenuating tough humours, +moderately heating, strengthening the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xxiv">xxiv</span>stomach, expelling wind, and doing +those friendly offices to the bowels, we +generally expect from spices.”</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">To</span> this inferiority of the dear-bought +and far-fetched spices of the +East, I can bear ample testimony;—and +it ought further to be considered, +that the spice in question, being the +produce of one of our own Colonies, +and growing there in the greatest +abundance, can be afforded at a price +that the poor of Great Britain may +have all the comforts of its excellent +properties; which I hope to have leisure +to make sufficiently known to +them hereafter.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xxv">xxv</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> encouraging every article which +increases the intercourse with our Colonies, +is increasing our commerce. +The payment for all the staples of the +West Indies is made in our manufactures; +the sale of which must increase +in proportion to the numbers that are +employed in the cultivation of what +is bartered for them. Our West Indian +Islands, without draining us of +specie or bullion, can supply us with +many of those very articles for which +we are drained in other parts of the +world<a id="FNanchor_6_6" href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">6</a>. The quantity of shipping +and seamen, necessarily employed in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xxvi">xxvi</span>carrying supplies thither, and transporting +their commodities back to Europe, +must be very considerable. To +these reflections it must also be added, +that the political disadvantage of not +encouraging our own Colonies is, that +we must encourage those of other +countries, which have long supplied +our markets, to the detriment of our +revenue, and the impoverishing our +Colonies.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">How</span> long our superiority in some +branches of manufacture may continue +to be the source of wealth they are at +present, is uncertain; but by improving +the produce of our own soil, and encouraging +the consumption at home, +of such commodities as give employment +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xxvii">xxvii</span>to our own subjects abroad, +England will enrich her Colonies, and +draw proportionate advantages; secure +their attachment, and establish a population +there, indispensable for the protection +of those possessions, which are +productive of the most valuable and +permanent commerce of the empire.</p> + +<p > + <span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>Pall Mall</i>;<br> + 30 January, 1792. +</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">1</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="A"> + <span class="fs80">A</span> + <span class="title">TREATISE, &c.</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="ti0 dropcap"><span class="smcap">It</span> is a generally received opinion, that the +human frame is not less influenced by +diet than by climate; that its dispositions +and characteristics owe their originality as +much to food, as those diseases, evidently do, +which are the legitimate and indisputable +issue of it.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">If</span> the preceding position be just, there +cannot surely be a subject more interesting to +man, than the pursuit of that knowledge +which may instruct him to avoid what is +hurtful to health, to select for his use such +things as tend to raise the value of his condition, +and to carry the enjoyments of life +to their utmost improvement.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">2</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">With</span> this idea, I submit to the public +some observations which have occurred to me, +on the dietetic and medicinal properties and +effects of <span class="smcap">Coffee</span>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> England, the use of this berry hitherto +has been principally confined to the occasional +luxury of individuals; as such, it is scarcely +an object of public concern; but government, +prudently considering that this produce of +our own West Indian Islands is raised by our +own countrymen, and paid for in our manufactures, +has lately reduced the duty on +the importation of Plantation Coffee; which +has brought it within the reach of almost +every description of people<a id="FNanchor_7_7" href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">7</a>: and as it is +not liable to any pernicious process in curing, +and is incapable of adulteration, the +use of it will probably become greatly extended;—as +in other countries, it may diffuse +itself among the mass of the people, and +make a considerable ingredient in their daily +sustenance.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">3</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> plant, the berries, and the beverage +made from them, commonly pass under the +same name. The Arabians, indeed, distinguish +the trees and the berries by the name +<i>Buun</i>, <i>Bunna</i>, <i>Buna</i>, and <i>Ban</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> beverage, of which we speak in +particular, is called by the Egyptians <i>El-cave</i>; +by the Persians <i>Cahwa</i>, and <i>Coho</i>; +by the Turks <i>Chaube</i>, and <i>Cahveh</i>; by the +Arabians <i>Cachua</i>, <i>Caoua</i>, and <i>Cahouah</i>; from +whence originate <i>Caphé</i>, <i>Café</i>, <i>Coffi</i>, <i>Coffee</i>, +and <i>Coffea</i>, appellations by which it is universally +known in Europe.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">These</span> names, from the original Arabic, +acquire the pronunciation they receive, by +changing the <i>u</i> into <i>f</i>, in the word <i>Cahouah</i>; +which, according to some writers, comes from +a verb signifying to nauseate, or to have no +appetite: and is one of the names which the +Arabians give to wine, because it takes away +the appetite, when drunk to excess.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Thus</span> <i>Cahouah</i> they suppose is derived +from the Hebrew קיי, or קי, or קהי, which +signify to have an aversion, or a dislike to a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">4</span>thing. But <i>Golius</i>, <i>Meninski</i>, and <i>Castel</i>, +say, that <i>Cahouah</i> signifies to give an appetite, +<i>quod appetentiam cibi adducit</i>. In opposition +to both these opinions, there are others +who assert, that <i>Cahouah</i> implies neither to +give appetite, nor to take it away; and that it +is not derived from the above words, importing +to have, or to give distaste, but from קוי, +which signifies to give vigour and force,—<i>corroborare</i>, +<i>roborare</i>, <i>confirmare</i>; and that +<i>Cahouah</i> in Arabic means nothing more than +to strengthen, and to give vigour.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> is not impossible, notwithstanding these +opinions so plausibly founded, but that this +beverage might have its name from <i>Cufa</i> or +<i>Cafa</i>, a city in Arabia Felix.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Arabic <i>Ban</i> (the Coffee berry) corresponds +with our <i>Bean</i>, and is probably its +etymon. Perhaps the Greek Βύνη, “Barley +steeped in water,” Anglicè, <i>Malt</i>, may be +traced from the Arabic <i>Buna</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Numerous</span> and absurd have been the writers +on <i>Coffee</i>. I have omitted to mention +many; and of those I have not, I hope it will +be understood, that I have introduced them +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">5</span>to illustrate opinions rather than sanction +them.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> botanical description of the <i>Coffee +Plant</i> has been already given by several writers<a id="FNanchor_8_8" href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">8</a>; +and as Sir Hans Sloane, in the Phil. +Trans. N<sup>o</sup> 208, p. 63., Dr. Browne, in his +Natural History of Jamaica, and Mr. Ellis, +in 1774, have added to the number, it is +unnecessary here to say any thing on this +part of the subject, or to treat of its cultivation; +but I thought it might not be uninteresting +in this Essay to include something +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">6</span>of its history, which will shew it has been +a topic of much disquisition, and no less +remarkable for the universality with which +it has been adopted by many regions of the +East, than for the permanency, after various +persecutions, with which it has been +retained; notwithstanding the caprice of +taste, the violence of tyranny, and the austerity +of religion.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> first European who mentions Coffee, +is in general understood to be <i>Prosper Alpinus</i>, +who went into Egypt in 1580, physician +to a Venetian Consul, and remained +there three years.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> 1592 he published, in Venice, his History +of the Plants of Egypt; wherein he +gives an account of a tree, the seeds of +which, called <i>Bon</i>, and <i>Ban</i>, were by decoction +converted into a drink, much used +by the Egyptians and Arabs. The great +virtues of this liquor he also describes<a id="FNanchor_9_9" href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">9</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">But</span> I must observe that, in the year 1591, +<i>P. Alpinus</i>, immediately on his return, published +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">7</span>his <i>Medicina Ægyptiorum</i>, in which +he gave nearly the same account of the tree +as in the preceding, which was a subsequent +work; and here also he gave a very exact +description of the mode, used in Egypt, of +preparing the drink called <i>Chaoua</i>, from the +seeds of this tree, called <i>Bon</i>, and also from +their <i>capsules</i>. He is also particular as to the +different qualities of these two liquors, and +of the medicinal virtues of that, prepared +from the seeds<a id="FNanchor_10_10" href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">10</a>. The account given in this +work has been overlooked by almost every +writer on Coffee. However, even with this +correction of common error, I find <i>Leonhart +Rauwolff</i>, a German physician, who had traveled +into the East, has taken notice, though +not in an accurate manner, of Coffee as early +as 1573.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">He</span> says, at Aleppo, “They have a very +pleasant drink, called <i>Chaube</i>, which is almost +as black as ink. It is good for illness, chiefly +that of the stomach. It is made of a fruit called +<i>Bunnu</i>, which in bigness, shape, and colour, +resembles a bay berry. It is surrounded with +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">8</span>two thin shells; and, as I was informed, is +brought from the Indies. These shells have +within them two yellowish grains, in two +distinct cells, and agree in their virtue, figure, +appearance, and name, with the <i>Bunchum</i> of +<i>Avicenna</i>, and the <i>Bancha</i> of <i>Rhasis</i>; therefore +I shall consider them to be the same, +until I am better informed by the learned.”</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Of</span> this opinion was <i>Faustus Naironus +Bainesius</i>, who wrote the first treatise that +was written expressly on Coffee. It was +printed at Rome in 1671, and intituled, <i>De +Saluberrima Potione Cahu, seu Cafe, nuncupata</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Velschius</span>, in his treatise <i>De Vena Medinensi</i>, +in 1674, says, that the <i>Bunchum</i> of +the Arabians is not Coffee, but the <i>Narcaphthum</i> +of <i>Diascorides</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> this <i>Velschius</i> is mistaken, and has no +authority for the supposition, whether the +<i>Bunchum</i> of <i>Avicenna</i> be Coffee or not.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Νάρκαφθον of <i>Diascorides</i> is called by +the Arabians <i>Nabach</i>; what it is, is uncertain; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">9</span>many are the conjectures; but <i>Dioscorides</i> +mentions its use only for external purposes. +Lib. I. cap. 22.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Avicenna</span>’s words respecting <i>Bunchum</i> are: +“It is brought from <i>Yemen</i>; some say it is +from the roots of <i>Amgailem</i>, which, when +old (or <i>shaken</i>), falls down. The best sort is +cream-coloured, and of a light grateful odour. +The white and heavy (or <i>rank</i>), is not good. +It is, according to some, hot and dry in the +first degree; and to others, it is cold in the +first degree. It strengthens the limbs, cleanses +the skin, and dries up the watery humours; +gives an agreeable odour to the body, prevents +the hair from falling, and is good for +the stomach.” Lib. II. Tract. 2. cap. 91.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> <i>Ben</i> of <i>Avicenna</i> also has been supposed +by some writers to be Coffee. <i>Prosper +Alpinus</i> was of this opinion. But this is certainly +an error.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Avicenna</span> says of <i>Ben</i>, “The seed is larger +than the cicer, inclining to whiteness, and +has a soft unctuous pulp. It is hot in the +third degree, and dry in the second. It is mundificative, +particularly the pulp, and incites +gross humours; with vinegar and water, it +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">10</span>opens obstructions of the viscera. Externally, +it is good for eruptions; in an emplaster, +for all indurated abscesses, warts, &c.; with vinegar, +for ulcerations, excoriations, scald head, +&c. It is bad for the stomach, and causes nausea, +and if taken with honey, excites vomiting +and purging.” Lib. II. Tract. 2. cap. 82.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Notwithstanding</span> <i>P. Alpinus’s</i> two +publications, it appears that Coffee could have +been but little known in Italy, when his +countryman <i>Pietro Della Valle</i> was at Constantinople +in 1615<a id="FNanchor_11_11" href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">11</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mons. Du Four</span>, who wrote on Coffee in +1685, says, the French knew nothing of it +until 1645; and that it had not been used in +France until about 1657. Mons. <i>Galland</i> also +says, that its use was not known in France until +Mons. <i>Thevenot</i> returned from his first voyage +to the East in 1657, when he constantly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">11</span>drank it, and treated his friends with it, at +his house in Paris.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mons. la Roque</span>, who published his +Journey into Arabia Felix in 1715, confesses, +that <i>Thevenot</i> was the first that taught the +French the use of Coffee in 1657; but he +contends, that his own father, having been +with Mons. <i>De la Haye</i>, the French ambassador +at Constantinople, and afterwards traveled +in the Levant, did, when he returned +to Marseilles in 1644, drink Coffee every day; +and brought with him not only Coffee, but +all the little implements used in Turkey in preparing +it. He says also, that there was a public +Coffee-house opened at Marseilles in 1671, +which was looked on as a great curiosity in +France.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">He</span> says, Coffee had scarcely been seen in +Paris before 1669; nor even heard of until +that year, except in the house of <i>Thevenot</i>, +and by the report of travellers.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> this year, <i>Solyman Aga</i>, Ambassador +from <i>Mahomet</i> the IVth came to Paris; and +it is to this embassy, <i>la Roque</i>, says, that the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">12</span>first use of Coffee in Paris is to be attributed.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">This</span> embassy, which had given the Parisians +a general taste for Coffee, and the method +of making it, gave them also the idea +of public Coffee-houses; for, in 1672, one +<i>Pascal</i>, an Armenian, sold it publicly at +the <i>Foire St. Germain</i>; and afterwards, in +the same year, opened a Coffee-house on the +<i>Quai de l’Ecole</i>, which was the first public +Coffee-house ever known in Paris.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Coffee</span>, however, was known in general +to the English before it was to the French or +Italians; and was used in England before +it was in France or Italy.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> <i>Journal des Scavans</i>, 28th January, +1675, observes, “<i>les Anglais ont connu le +Café vingt ans plulôt que nous</i>:” and it appears, +that these journalists were considerably +within the time, as far as relates to its having +been first noticed, by the travellers of the +respective countries.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">William Finch</span>, an English merchant, employed +in the service of the East-India Company +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">13</span>in 1607, says, “That the people in +the Island of <i>Socotora</i> have, for their best entertainment, +a China dish of <i>Coho</i>, a black +bitterish drink, made of a berry like a bay +berry, brought from <i>Mecca</i>, supped off hot; +and it is reckoned good for the head and +stomach<a id="FNanchor_12_12" href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">12</a>.”</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">But</span> I am not certain whether <i>Biddulph’s</i> +account of the use of Coffee in the East was +not prior to <i>Finch’s</i>. In a letter from him +at Aleppo, which must have been soon after +the death of Queen Elizabeth in 1603, as +he mentions that event as recent; he says, +“The Turks have for their most common +drink <i>Coffa</i>, which is a black kind of drink, +made of a kind of pulse like peas, called +<i>Coava</i>; which being ground in a mill, and +boiled in water, they drink it as hot as they +can suffer it, which they find to agree with +them against their crudities, and feeding on +herbs, and raw meat. It is more wholesome +than toothsome, for it causeth a good +concoction, and driveth away drowsiness<a id="FNanchor_13_13" href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">13</a>.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">14</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> is remarkable, that none of the travellers +to the East, of any country, who +have given the first accounts of Coffee, have +ever mentioned the circumstance on which all +its virtues depend,—its torrefaction.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Having</span> shewn that the first Coffee-house +in Paris was opened in 1672, I now observe, +that the first Coffee-house in London was +opened in 1652.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Daniel Edwards</span>, a Turkey merchant, +when he returned from Smyrna to +London in 1652, brought over with him a servant, +named <i>Pasqua Rossée</i>, a Ragusian Greek. +This man used to prepare Coffee for him +every morning, for his breakfast. The novelty +of this new repast brought so many +people to Mr. <i>Edwards’s</i> house, that he lost +all the fore-part of the day in entertaining +and satisfying the curiosity of his visitors. +Thus situated, he thought of an expedient to +rid himself of the trouble, and to gratify +his friends; which was, to suffer his servant +to make and sell Coffee publicly. In +consequence of which, <i>Pasqua</i> opened an +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">15</span>house in St. Michael’s Alley, Cornhill, +which was the first Coffee-house in London<a id="FNanchor_14_14" href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">14</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> 1660 (12 Car. II. cap. 24.) there was +a duty of four pence per gallon laid on +Coffee made and sold, to be paid by the +maker; and in 1663 (15 Car. II. cap. 9. sect. +15.) all Coffee-houses were licensed at the +general Quarter Sessions of the Peace for the +County in which they were kept.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> following account is descriptive of +the commotions and prejudices which Coffee +formerly had to contend with and conquer +among the Mahometans. Besides the similitude +it bears to the ludicrous notions, and +contradictory opinions, concerning Coffee in +later times, it may not be unentertaining to +those who are accustomed to reflect, how +great communities are often violently agitated +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">16</span>by trifles; and that nations, under weak +or oppressive governments, as well as individuals, +may be seriously ridiculous, and +equally subject to transitory delusion. It will +appear also, that Coffee, which after many +struggles triumphed over the scrutiny of +physicians, had nearly sunk under the influence +of the <i>Alcoran</i>; but that the contest +between the <i>Alcoran</i> and Coffee ended, as it +were, in a coalition.</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Khair Beg</span>, Governor of <i>Mecca</i>, by +appointment of the <i>Sultan</i> of Egypt, was +unacquainted with Coffee, or of the manner +of taking it. As he was going out of the +Mosque one day, after evening prayer, he +observed in a corner of it a company of people +drinking Coffee, who were to spend the +night there in prayer, and was much offended +at it. He thought at first they had +been drinking wine; nor was his surprize +much diminished after they had explained to +him the use and virtues of this liquor. On +the contrary, after they had informed him +how much it was in use in <i>Mecca</i>, and what +merriment passed at the public places where +it was sold, he was of opinion that Coffee +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">17</span>was intoxicating, at least that it conduced to +things forbidden by the law.</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">For</span> this reason, after having ordered +these people to go out of the Mosque, with +an injunction never to meet there for the future +upon the like occasion, he next day convened +a great assembly of Officers of Justice, +and Doctors of Law, together with Priests, +and the most eminent men of <i>Mecca</i>; to +whom he communicated what he had observed +the night before in the Mosque, and +what he was informed happened frequently +in the public Coffee-houses; adding, that +he was resolved to remedy this abuse, upon +which he was desirous first to know their +opinions.</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">The</span> Doctors agreed that the public +Coffee-houses wanted regulation, as being +contrary to the law of pure Mahometism; +and declared, that, with respect to Coffee, it +was necessary to examine whether it was +hurtful either to body or mind; and concluded +to take the advice of physicians.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">18</span></p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">The</span> Governor called in two Persians +who were brothers, the most celebrated physicians +in <i>Mecca</i>: one of them even wrote +against the use of Coffee, jealous, perhaps, +(says our author) lest the use of it should +spoil his practice; so they did not fail to +declare, that Coffee was cold and dry, and +prejudicial to health.</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">A Doctor</span> of the assembly replied, +That <span class="smcap">Bengiazlah</span>⁠<a id="FNanchor_15_15" href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">15</a>, an ancient Arabian +physician of great authority, had said, that +these berries were hot and dry, and consequently +could not have the qualities just now +ascribed to them.</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">The</span> two Persian physicians replied, That +<span class="smcap">Bengiazlah</span> was a perfect stranger to the +berries in question; and declared, that if +Coffee was reckoned among things indifferent, +and free for every body to make use of, yet +it was apt to lead to things not allowed of; +and the safest way for true Mussulmen would +be, to hold it unlawful.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">19</span></p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">This</span> determination obtained all their +suffrages; and several, either out of prejudice +or false zeal, did not fail to affirm that +Coffee had actually disturbed their brains. +One of the assistants maintained, that it intoxicated +like wine, which set all the assembly +a laughing; because, in order to make a +judgment of it, it was necessary to have +drunk wine, which is forbidden by the Mahometan +religion. He was asked whether +he had ever drunk any wine? and he had the +imprudence to answer in the affirmative; +which confession condemned him to the +bastinado, the punishment that is inflicted by +the Mahometan law for this crime.</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Coffee</span> was, however, solemnly condemned +at <i>Mecca</i>, as a thing forbidden by +law, notwithstanding the <i>Mufti</i> opposed the +determination.</p> + +<p>“The lovers of Coffee thought the sentence +would not hold water, as the <i>Mufti</i> +did not sign it, and even determined to pay +no regard to it in private. However, one of +them was surprized in the fact, and was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">20</span>bastinadoed, and was afterwards led about +the city on an ass.</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">But</span> this rigour was not of long duration; +for the <i>Sultan</i> of Egypt, far from approving +of the indiscreet zeal of the Governor +of <i>Mecca</i>, was surprized that he should +dare to condemn a thing so much in favour +at <i>Cairo</i>, the capital of his dominions, where +there were Doctors of much greater authority +than those of <i>Mecca</i>, and who had not +found any thing in the use of Coffee contrary +to the law.</p> + +<p>“The <i>Sultan</i> ordered him therefore to revoke +his prohibition, and to employ his authority +against the disorders only, if there +were any, committed in the Coffee-houses; +adding, that because <i>it was possible to abuse +the very best things</i>, even the water of the fountain +<span class="smcap">Zemzem</span>⁠<a id="FNanchor_16_16" href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">16</a>, in the Temple of <span class="smcap">Mecca</span>, +so much esteemed by all Mussulmen, it was +not for that reason necessary absolutely to +forbid them.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">21</span></p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">The</span> Governor was displaced, and the +two physicians who bore a great part in the +prohibition of Coffee, came to an unfortunate +end.</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">After</span> the re-establishment of Coffee +at <i>Mecca</i>, it was prohibited again, and again +re-established.</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">The</span> <i>Sultan</i> of Egypt consulted his +Doctors of the Law at Cairo upon this point; +who gave their opinions in writing, and proved +by substantial reasons, the fallacy of the condemnation +of Coffee, and the ignorance of +those who passed it; which established the +use of Coffee at <i>Cairo</i>, upon a much stronger +footing than ever. But, in the end, this +great city also met with much trouble upon +the subject. For,—</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">In</span> the year 1523, a scrupulous Doctor +stated, that Coffee intoxicated the head, and +was prejudicial to health: and he had suspicions +that it was unlawful. But none of his +brethren were of his opinion, because it was +obvious that Coffee had not those bad qualities +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">22</span>he ascribed to it; and therefore this gave +no shock at all to a custom so universally +received.</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">But</span> about ten years after, a preacher +held forth so vehemently against the use of +Coffee, as a thing prohibited by law, that the +mob fell upon the Coffee-houses, broke the +pots and dishes, and abused the company +they found there.</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Upon</span> this, there were two parties formed +in the city; one of which maintained that +Coffee was prohibited by law; the other, +that it was not. But the Judge in Chief +having convened an assembly of all the +Doctors, to have their opinions, they +unanimously declared, that the question had +been already determined by their predecessors +in favour of Coffee; that they were all of +the same sentiment; and that there was nothing +further necessary than only to restrain +the extravagant heat of the zealots, and the +indiscretion of ignorant preachers. The +Judge who presided was of the same opinion; +and immediately ordered all the assembly +to be served with Coffee, and took some +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">23</span>himself; an example which presently composed +all controversies, and made Coffee more +fashionable at Cairo than before<a id="FNanchor_17_17" href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">17</a>.”</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> commotions however which were +then excited by this beverage, were not confined +to Mecca and Cairo; for <i>Pichevili</i>, +a Turkish historian, says:</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">At</span> the time when the use of Coffee was +most prevalent in <i>Constantinople</i>, the <i>Imams</i> +and officers of the Mosques made a great clamour, +that they were deserted, whilst all +the Coffee-houses were continually crowded. +On which the Dervises and Priests made a +furious attack on Coffee; not only affirming +that it was unlawful, but that it was a much +greater sin to go to a Coffee-house than to a +Tavern.</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">After</span> a great deal of noise and declamation, +all the Priests united to obtain a solemn +condemnation of this liquor; and +maintained that Coffee roasted was a sort of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">24</span>coal; and that every thing which had the +least relation to coal was forbidden by law. +Upon this they drew up a question in +form, and presented it to the <i>Mufti</i>, with a +request that he would determine it according +to the duty of his office. The <i>Mufti</i>, +without giving himself the trouble of examining +any difficulties, gave a verdict +according to the wish of the Priests, and +pronounced that Coffee was prohibited by the +law of <i>Mahomet</i>.</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">All</span> the Coffee-houses in <i>Constantinople</i> +were immediately shut up, and the officers +of the police ordered to prevent the drinking +Coffee in any manner whatever.</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Yet</span>, notwithstanding the rigour that +was employed in the execution of this order, +they could never prevent the drinking Coffee +in private: and <i>Amurath</i> III. in whose time +this prohibition took place, again permitted +the use of it, in private houses, and it grew +more and more into esteem. At last, the +officers of the police, seeing there was no +remedy, were content, for a certain sum, to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">25</span>permit it to be sold in private houses, shutting +up the doors, or in the back shops.</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">There</span> wanted but little encouragement +to re-establish by degrees the public Coffee-houses; +and it happened that a new <i>Mufti</i>, +less scrupulous, or more wise, than his predecessor, +declared solemnly, that Coffee ought +not to be looked upon as a coal; and that the +liquor made from it was not prohibited by the +law. After this declaration, the Zealots, +Preachers, Doctors, and Lawyers, far from +exclaiming against Coffee, took it themselves; +and their example was universally +followed by the whole Court and City.”</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Coffee</span>, though a native of <i>Arabia Felix</i>, +is said to have been converted into use in +Africa and Persia, long before a beverage was +made of it by the Arabians.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Of</span> the first discovery of the properties of +Coffee there is no authentic account, that has +come to the knowledge of European enquirers. +But as fiction in such cases generally supplies +the place of facts, it is impossible that so +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">26</span>important an article as this in question should +be destitute of introductory anecdotes, on its +first appearance in the world.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Faustus Nairo</span>, a native of the Holy-land, +before-mentioned, who was Oriental +Linguist in the College at Rome, and +some other romantic writers I have been +under the necessity of reading, pretend, that +the extraordinary virtues of Coffee-berries +were discovered in nearly the following manner:</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> the nation of <i>Yemen</i>, a keeper +of goats was one night much surprized +that his herd would not go to sleep as usual, +but jumped and frisked about as if they had +been infatuated. The next morning he went to +<i>Sciadli</i>, the Priest of the neighbouring Mosque, +to intreat that he would inform him of the +cause of this wonderful change in the animals. +The priest desired the goatherd would conduct +him to the pasture where they had fed on the +preceding day. When he came there, he +found the place covered with certain shrubs +with berries on them, of which the goats had +eaten. These shrubs and berries had always +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">27</span>been considered among the wild and useless +productions of the earth. The Priest, however, +having satisfied himself that these berries +had effected the alteration in the goats, gathered +some, went home and boiled them in water, +and drank of the liquor. When night came, +he perceived he could not sleep, but began to +dance and frisk about as the goats had done. +He reported these circumstances to the neighbouring +Priests, who all declared, that a +liquor from these berries, properly prepared, +would be an excellent thing to keep the +Dervises awake, when their duty obliged +them to pray after dinner. The experiment +was tried, and continued with the utmost +success; and was also attended with great +advantage to their health. From the report +of these Dervises, the use of Coffee soon +spread through other Asiatic nations; and +<i>Sciadli</i> was ever after drunk as a toast, in a +cup of Coffee, before any devotion was entered +on, among all the religious of the +East.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">But</span>, turning from this ludicrous tale to +the Arabian manuscript before-mentioned, +translated by Mons. <i>Galland</i>, we find, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">28</span>that about the middle of the fifteenth century, +<i>Gemaleddin</i>, the <i>Mufti</i> of Aden, a city +in Arabia Felix, travelling into Persia, learnt +the use of Coffee there, and on his return introduced +it to his countrymen: who had no +sooner adopted the drinking of this beverage, +than they entirely neglected an herb which +had been long in use among them, called <i>Cat</i>, +of which they made an infusion, and drank +it in the manner in which we now drink Tea.</p> + +<p>This herb, called by the Arabians <i>Cat</i>, +is, I believe, the same as our Tea; for +it varies but little from the name which <i>Tea</i> +has always borne in the Eastern countries, +being called by the Chinese <i>Cha</i> and <i>The</i>; by +the Japonnese and Indians, <i>Tchia</i>, <i>Tsia</i>, and +<i>Cha</i>; and by the Persians <i>Tzai</i> and <i>Cha</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Leyl</span> says, that <i>Cha</i> is a Tartarian +word; that the plant Tea, is indigenous in +Tartary, and is there, and in all the Eastern +nations, called <i>Cha</i>; and that the Chinese +only, who live near the coast, and traffic +with Europeans, call it <i>The</i>. It is also supposed +to have been unknown in China, until +the incursions of the Tartars.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">29</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> is from the preceding epoch, distinguished +by <i>Gemaleddin</i> the <i>Mufti</i>, that any +authentic account of the dietetic use of +Coffee is derived. Enthusiasm indeed has +carried some absurd admirers of this beverage +so far into conjecture, as to trace marvellous +stories of it back to the remotest ages; and +to suppose it the <i>Jus Nigrum</i> of the Lacedæmonians<a id="FNanchor_18_18" href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">18</a>; +<i>Abigail’s</i> cup to <i>David</i>, which +saved her husband <i>Nabal’s</i> life<a id="FNanchor_19_19" href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">19</a>; and the +<i>Nepenthe</i>⁠<a id="FNanchor_20_20" href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">20</a>, which <i>Helen</i> received from an +Egyptian, and celebrated by <i>Homer</i> as a +soother of the mind, in the extremest state +of anger, grief, and misfortune<a id="FNanchor_21_21" href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">21</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">From</span> Aden it spread its influence to Mecca, +Cairo, Damascus, and Aleppo; and afterwards +through all Arabia, and other parts of +the Ottoman Empire, and arrived at Constantinople, +from Syria, in the reign of +<i>Solyman</i> the Great, in the year 1554; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">30</span>introduced by two persons whose names were +<i>Schems</i> and <i>Hekin</i>; one came from Damascus, +the other from Aleppo; each opened a +public Coffee-house in that city; and about +a century afterwards, as I have already +observed, it was adopted at London and +Paris.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> virtues of this chearful liquor, like +moral virtues under despotism, operated in +Constantinople to its detriment;—by dispelling +the torpitude brought on by their vicious +excesses, and recruiting their spirits, sunk by +depravity of their habits, it introduced a +disposition among the Turks to exercise the +understanding;—a crime in every government +that tolerates nothing but silent obedience.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Rycaut</span> says, that during the war in +Candia, in the minority of <i>Mahomet</i> the +IVth, when the Turkish affairs were in a +critical situation, “the <i>Visir Kupruli</i> suppressed +the Coffee-houses, though he permitted +the Taverns;” the former conducing to +intellectual recreation, and some speculations +on the affairs of state, which the <i>Visir</i> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">31</span>thought would not bear examining. These +were objections from which the latter, as tending +only to idleness and debauchery, was free. +This stupid edict appears to have had no other +relative effect than to diminish the revenue; for +Coffee throve under this political, as well as it +did under the former religious, persecution.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">However</span> ridiculous it may appear at this +time, Coffee had the same folly to encounter +soon after its introduction into England; +and experienced the same treatment under +<i>Charles</i> the IId, that it met with in Turkey +under an <i>Amurath</i> and a <i>Mahomet</i>: +for having been found an encourager of +social meetings, Coffee-houses were shut up +by proclamation, as seminaries of sedition<a id="FNanchor_22_22" href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">22</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">This</span> famous proclamation was dated 29th +of December, 1675, and asserted that, “Because +in such houses, and by occasion of the +meeting of disaffected persons in them, divers +false, malicious, and scandalous reports were +devised and spread abroad, to the defamation +of his <i>Majesty’s governments</i> and to the disturbance +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">32</span>of the quiet and peace of the +realm.”</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> opinion of the Judges was taken on +this point, who in their great wisdom resolved, +“That retailing of Coffee might be an +innocent trade; but as it was used to nourish +sedition, spread lies, and scandalize <i>great men</i>, +it might also be a common nuisance.”</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ray</span> observed, that the part of Arabia +which produced Coffee in such abundance, +might truly be styled happy<a id="FNanchor_23_23" href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">23</a>; from whence +many millions of bushels of this valuable +treasure were then annually exported to Turkey, +Barbary, and Europe<a id="FNanchor_24_24" href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">24</a>.—In Constantinople +alone, the consumption is said to +amount to more than what is expended for +wine in Paris.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">33</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> was long after Coffee had been an +article of commerce, that Europeans were +able to obtain, or cultivate, the plant; as +the berry was exported dry, and unfit for +propagation.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> has been said, that a Frenchman, near +<i>Dijon</i> in France, was the first person who +made the experiment with success, about the +year 1670: the trees raised from the seeds he +had sown produced berries, but they were +tasteless and insipid; and served for no other +purpose than curiosity.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">According</span> to <i>Boerhaave’s</i> account, a +Dutch Governor was the first person who +procured fresh berries from Mocha, and +planted them in <i>Batavia</i>; and in the year +1690 sent a plant from thence to Amsterdam; +which came to maturity, and produced +those berries which have since furnished all +that is now cultivated in the West Indies.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> 1714 a plant, from the garden of +Amsterdam, was sent by Mr. <i>Pancras</i>, a +Burgomaster, and Director of the Botanic +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">34</span>Garden, as a present to <i>Lewis</i> the XIVth, +which was placed in the garden at Marly.</p> + +<p>In 1718 the Dutch began to cultivate +Coffee in Surinam; in 1721 the French +began to cultivate it at Cayenne; in 1727 at +Martinico; and in 1728 the English began +to cultivate it in Jamaica.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">M. Fusee Aublet</span>, in his Observations +on the Culture of Coffee, annexed to the +ingenious Mons. <i>Le Breton’s</i> Paris translation +of the third edition of this Treatise, says +that a Mons. <i>de Clieux</i> carried the first Coffee +plant to Martinico in 1720; and that the +French East-India Company sent some plants +to the Isle of Bourbon in 1717; and that one +plant only survived, which bore in 1720, +and many were produced from it.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> first plant in Jamaica was introduced +by Sir <i>Nicholas Laws</i>, and planted at +Townwell estate, now called Temple Hall, +in Liguanea, belonging to Mr. <i>Luttrell</i>.—How +its propagation has been extended since +those periods, in the West Indies, is well +known.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">35</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Some</span> writers imagine that there are several +sorts of Coffee<a id="FNanchor_25_25" href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">25</a>; but the difference arises +only from the soil, cultivation, curing, and +keeping, and not from any difference in the +species.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">If</span> the Coffee in our West-Indian Islands +be planted in a dry soil, and in a warm situation; +if, after the trees have acquired a certain +age, the ripe berries are collected with +care and cleanliness, which will be small +when dry, cream-coloured, and with a +smooth polished surface, like those which +come from Arabia; and if they are kept a +proper time before they are used; this Coffee +will have flavour and excellence equal to the +best that is imported from Mocha.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">But</span> the time and labour necessary to +produce Coffee of the best quality have discouraged +our Planters from raising it at much +expence; because, until lately, it has been +subject to a precarious, or losing market. +Therefore quantity, and large coarse berries +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">36</span>of a green dingy cast, the produce of young +trees, luxuriant soil, and little attention, has +turned to better account than quality; +as this produce, though unfit for the +London market, has been bought up for +the consumption of the Northern parts of +Europe<a id="FNanchor_26_26" href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">26</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">After</span> Coffee has received all the excellence +it can from the Planter, it is a matter +of great consequence, that proper care be +taken in shipping it for Europe: it should +not be put into parts of the vessel where it +may be injured by dampness, or by the +effluvia of other freight. Coffee-berries are +remarkably disposed to imbibe exhalations +from other bodies, and thereby acquire an +adventitious and disagreeable flavour. Rum +placed near to Coffee will in a short time so +impregnate the berries, as to injure their +flavour. It is said, that a few bags of pepper +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">37</span>on board a ship from India, some years since, +spoiled a whole cargo of Coffee<a id="FNanchor_27_27" href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">27</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> French are more attentive in this +respect than the English; and indeed they +omit nothing that can give their Coffee any +advantage. But if their Coffee be superior +to ours, it is the effect of more encouragement. +The industry and genius of the +French Coffee Planters have been cherished; +ours have been restricted by a duty, which +prevented the consumption of the article. +Thus the spirit of cultivation has been +checked, improvement retarded, and consequently +the produce not brought to perfection.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> chemical analysis of Coffee evinces +that it possesses a great portion of mildly +bitter, and lightly astringent gummous and +resinous extract<a id="FNanchor_28_28" href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">28</a>; a considerable quantity of +oil<a id="FNanchor_29_29" href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">29</a>; a fixed salt<a id="FNanchor_30_30" href="#Footnote_30_30" class="fnanchor">30</a>; +and a volatile salt<a id="FNanchor_31_31" href="#Footnote_31_31" class="fnanchor">31</a>.—These +are its medicinal constituent principles.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">38</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> intention of torrefaction is not only +to make it deliver those principles, and make +them soluble in water, but to give it a property +it does not possess in the natural state of +the berry.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">By</span> the action of fire, its leguminous taste +and the aqueous part of its mucilage are destroyed; +its saline properties are created, and +disengaged, and its oil is rendered empyreumatic.—From +thence arises the pungent +smell, and exhilarating flavour, not found +in its natural state<a id="FNanchor_32_32" href="#Footnote_32_32" class="fnanchor">32</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">39</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Animal</span> oils are changed by fire in the +same manner in broiled meats, and acquire +that grateful odour so exciting to weak +appetites.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Imitations</span> of Coffee have been procured +from roasted beans, peas, wheat, and rye, +with almonds; but the delicacy of the oil in +Coffee, which the fire, in roasting, converts +into its peculiar empyreuma, is not to be +equalled.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> roasting of the berry to a proper +degree, requires great nicety: <i>Du Four</i> +justly remarks, that the virtue and agreeableness +of the drink depend on it, and +that both are often injured in the ordinary +method. <i>Bernier</i> says, when he was at <i>Cairo</i>, +where it is so much used, he was assured +by the best judges, that there were only two +people in that great city, in the public +way, who understood the preparing it in +perfection<a id="FNanchor_33_33" href="#Footnote_33_33" class="fnanchor">33</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">40</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">If</span> it be under-done, its virtues will not be +imparted, and in use it will load and oppress +the stomach:—If it be over-done, it will +yield a flat, burnt, and bitter taste, its virtues +will be destroyed, and in use it will +heat the body, and act as an astringent<a id="FNanchor_34_34" href="#Footnote_34_34" class="fnanchor">34</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Fourteen</span> pounds weight of raw Coffee +is generally reduced, at the public roasting +houses in London, to eleven pounds by the +roasting; for which the dealer pays seven +pence half-penny, at the rate of five shillings +for every hundred weight. In Paris, +the same quantity is reduced to ten pounds +and an half. But the roasting ought to +be regulated by the age and quality of the +Coffee, and by nicer rules than the appearance +of the fumes, and such as are usually practised: +therefore the reduction must consequently +vary, and no exact standard can be ascertained. +Besides, by mixing different sorts of +Coffee together, that require different degrees +of heat and roasting, Coffee has seldom all +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">41</span>the advantages it is capable of receiving, to +make it delicate, grateful, and pleasant. +This indeed can be effected no way so well as +by people who have it roasted in their own +houses, to their own taste, and fresh as they +want it for use.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> closer it is confined at the time of +roasting, and till used, the better will its +volatile pungency, flavour, and virtues, be +preserved.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Coarse</span>, rank, new Coffee, is meliorated by +being kept after it is roasted, before it is +used.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> influence which Coffee, judiciously +prepared, imparts to the stomach, from its invigorating +qualities, is strongly exemplified by +the immediate effect produced on taking it, +when the stomach is over-loaded with food, +or nauseated with surfeit, or debilitated by +intemperance, or languid from inanition.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">To</span> constitutionally weak stomachs, it +affords a pleasing sensation; it accelerates +the process of digestion, corrects crudities, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">42</span>and removes the cholic, and flatulencies.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Besides</span> its effect on the gastric powers, it +diffuses a genial warmth that cherishes the +animal spirits, and takes away the listlessness +and languor<a id="FNanchor_35_35" href="#Footnote_35_35" class="fnanchor">35</a>, which so greatly embitter the +hours of nervous people, after any deviation +to excess, fatigue, or irregularity.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> foundation of all the mischiefs of +intemperance is laid in the stomach; when +that is injured, instead of preparing the food, +that the lacteals may carry into the constitution +sweet and wholesome juices to the +support of health, it becomes the source of +disease, and disperses through the whole +frame the cause of decay.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">From</span> the warmth and efficacy of Coffee +in attenuating the viscid fluids, and increasing +the vigour of the circulation, it has been used +with great success in some cases of fluor +albus, and in the dropsy<a id="FNanchor_36_36" href="#Footnote_36_36" class="fnanchor">36</a>; and also in worm +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">43</span>complaints<a id="FNanchor_37_37" href="#Footnote_37_37" class="fnanchor">37</a>;—and in those camatose, anasarcous, +and such other diseases as arise from +unwholesome food, want of exercise, weak +fibres, and obtruded perspiration.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> vertigo, lethargy, catarrh, and all +disorders of the head from obstruction in +the capillaries, long experience has proved it +to be a powerful medicine<a id="FNanchor_38_38" href="#Footnote_38_38" class="fnanchor">38</a>; and in certain +cases of apoplexy, it has been found serviceable +even when given in glysters, where it +has not been convenient to convey its effects +by the stomach. Mons. <i>Malebranche</i> restored +a person from an apoplexy by repeated +glysters of Coffee<a id="FNanchor_39_39" href="#Footnote_39_39" class="fnanchor">39</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">44</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">There</span> are but few people who are not +informed of its utility for the head-ach; the +steam sometimes is very useful to mitigate +pains of the head.</p> + +<p>In the West Indies, where the violent +species of head-ach, such as cephalæa, +hemicrania, and clavus, are more frequent, +and more severe than in Europe, +Coffee is often the only medicine that gives +relief. Opiates are sometimes used, but +Coffee has an advantage that Opium does not +possess; it may be taken in all conditions of +the stomach; and at all times by women, +who are most subject to these complaints; as +it dissipates those congestions and obstructions +that are frequently the cause of the +disease, and which Opium is known to increase, +when its temporary relief is past<a id="FNanchor_40_40" href="#Footnote_40_40" class="fnanchor">40</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">45</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">From</span> the stimulant and detergent properties +of Coffee, it may be used to an extent to +be serviceable in all obstructions arising from +languid circulation. It assists the secretions, +promotes the menses, and mitigates the pains +attendant on the sparing discharge of that +evacuation.</p> + +<p>In the West Indies, the chlorosis and +obstructed menses are common among +laborious negro females, exposed to the +effects of their own carelessness, and the +rigorous transitions of the climate; there +strong Coffee is often employed as a deobstruent; +which, drank warm in a morning +fasting, and using exercise after it, has been +productive of many cures<a id="FNanchor_41_41" href="#Footnote_41_41" class="fnanchor">41</a>. From its possessing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">46</span>these qualities, <i>Geoffrey</i> cautions pregnant +women, and such as are subject to +excessive menstruation, to use it in moderation.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> industrious overseers of plantations, +and other Europeans employed in cultivation +in the West Indies, who are exposed to the +morning and evening dews, find great support +from a cup of Coffee before they go into +the field: it fortifies the stomach, and guards +them against the diseases incident to their +way of life; especially in clearing lands; +or when their residence is in humid situations, +or in the vicinity of stagnant water. Those +who are imprudently addicted to intemperance +find Coffee a benign restorer of the +stomach, for that nausea, weakness, and +disorderly condition, which is brought on by +drinking bad fermented liquors, and new rum, +to excess.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> continued and remitting fevers in hot +climates, it frequently happens, at the period +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">47</span>when bark is indicated, that the stomach +cannot retain it.—This is an embarrassment +of great importance, in which the practitioner +has an interval, only of a few hours, +to decide on his patient’s fate.—Bark in substance +is required to answer the intention; +and here, as well as in many cases of intermittents, +when every other mode of administering +bark has proved abortive, Coffee +has been found an agreeable and a successful +vehicle.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> obstinate intermittents, where a course +of bark has been long continued, it seldom +fails to increase those visceral obstructions +which are incidental to the disease itself.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">To</span> assist the bark in its operation, I have +often used Coffee; and have known instances +where it has removed slight intermittents; +and for those obstructions, which the disease, +or bark, or both, frequently leave after them, +and which patients are often obliged to suffer, +as the least evacuation brings on a return of +fever, I have also recommended Coffee, to +make a considerable portion in the diet, with +advantage.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">48</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Coffee</span> having the property of promoting +perspiration<a id="FNanchor_42_42" href="#Footnote_42_42" class="fnanchor">42</a>, it allays thirst and checks +preternatural heat.</p> + +<p>Sir <i>John Chardin</i>, when in Persia<a id="FNanchor_43_43" href="#Footnote_43_43" class="fnanchor">43</a>, cured +himself of a bloody flux by drinking four +cups of hot Coffee, and going to bed, and +covering himself well with bed clothes. But +this cure was occasioned by the perspiration +it produced; though he attributed it to some +specific quality in the Coffee.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> great use of Coffee in France is supposed +to have abated the prevalency of the +gravel.—In the French Colonies, where +Coffee is more used than in the English, +as well as in Turkey, where it is the principal +beverage, not only the gravel, but the +gout, those tormentors of so many of the +human race, are scarcely known<a id="FNanchor_44_44" href="#Footnote_44_44" class="fnanchor">44</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">49</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Tavernier</span> says, the Persians are totally +unacquainted with the gout and gravel; and +Mons. <i>Spon</i>, a celebrated Physician at Lyons, +who had travelled in the East, says, these +diseases are rarely met with in the Levant, +which they attribute to the great use of +Coffee in those parts of the world. But +climate, I apprehend, which the encomiasts +of Coffee will not admit, ought to be taken +into the account.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Du Four</span> relates, as an extraordinary instance +of the effects of Coffee in the gout, +the case of Mons. <i>Deverace</i>. He says, this +gentleman was attacked with the gout at +twenty-five years of age, and had it severely +until he was upwards of fifty, with chalk +stones in the joints of his hands and feet; +but for four years preceding, the account of +his case being given to <i>Du Four</i>, to lay before +the publick, he had been recommended the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">50</span>use of Coffee, which he adopted, and had +no return of the gout afterwards<a id="FNanchor_45_45" href="#Footnote_45_45" class="fnanchor">45</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Coffee</span> has been found useful in quieting +the tickling vexatious cough that often accompanies +the small pox<a id="FNanchor_46_46" href="#Footnote_46_46" class="fnanchor">46</a>, and other eruptive +fevers.—A dish of strong Coffee without +milk or sugar, taken frequently in the +paroxysm of some asthmas, abates the fit; +and I have often known it to remove the +fit entirely. Sir <i>John Floyer</i>, who had been +afflicted with the asthma from the seventeenth +year of his age until he was upwards +fourscore, found no remedy in all his elaborate +researches, until the latter part of his +life, when he obtained it by Coffee.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Prepared</span> strong and clear, and sweetened +agreeably with sugar-candy, and diluted, +while hot, with a great portion of boiling +milk, it becomes an highly nutritious and +balsamic diet; proper in such hectic and +pulmonic complaints, where a milk diet is +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">51</span>useful<a id="FNanchor_47_47" href="#Footnote_47_47" class="fnanchor">47</a>; and is a great restorative to constitutions +emaciated by the gout and other +chronic disorders<a id="FNanchor_48_48" href="#Footnote_48_48" class="fnanchor">48</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Nieuhoff</span>, a German physician, in his account +of the embassy from Holland to China +in 1675, first described the advantage of milk +Coffee in pulmonic complaints.</p> + +<p>Mons. <i>Monin</i>, an eminent physician of +Grenoble, performed many extraordinary +cures with it among consumptive people, +when a milk diet, asses milk, and the air of +Montpellier, had proved ineffectual. He relates +the following case of his wife; of whom, +he says,—“she had been in a consumption for +sixteen years, and was at the point of death +lately with a peripneumony. The inflammation +of the lungs was removed by the +ordinary methods in eight days; there remained +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">52</span>a very troublesome cough, an heat in +the lungs, and quick pulse, with a great dryness +of the skin, which made me apprehend +she would fall again into her consumptive +state. I prepared her by gentle purgatives and +aperient medicines, as her bowels were in a +bad state, and her spleen obstructed, and put +her on a course of asses milk, which she +took regularly for a month, but without the +least success; her pulse remained the same, +her cough was worse, she spit more, her +complexion was yellow, sometimes greenish; +she complained of heats, and oppressions of +her breast, notwithstanding the exact regimen, +and gentle purgatives repeated every week. +Finding that the asses milk was useless, I +again put her on a course of her former +milk Coffee, of which she took about a quart +every day for six weeks, purging her every ten +or twelve days. This course was so favourable +to her, that all the symptoms before-mentioned +ceased in the first eight days; her +appetite soon returned, and she grew more +<i>en bon point</i> than she had ever been in her +life.”</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Long</span> watching and intense study are +wonderfully supported by it, and without +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">53</span>the ill consequences that succeed the suspension +of rest and sleep, when the nervous +influence has nothing to sustain it.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Thevenot</span> says, “When merchants in +Turkey have any letters to write, and intend +to do it in the night-time, in the evening +they take a dish or two of Coffee, which is +good to hinder vapours, head-ach, and to take +away sleepiness, &c.—In short, in the Turk’s +opinion it is good against all maladies, and +certainly it hath at least as much virtue as is +attributed to tea; and as to its taste, by that +time a man hath drank of it twice, he is +accustomed to it, and finds it no longer unpleasant.”</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">We</span> are told, that travellers in Eastern +countries, and messengers who are sent with +dispatches, perform their tedious journies by +the alternate effects of Opium and Coffee;—and +that the dervises and religious zealots, in +their abstemious devotions, support their +vigils, through their nocturnal ceremonies, +by this antisoporific liquor.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">54</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Du Four</span> says, the poor people in Turkey +use it through œconomy to save victuals; as +frequently two or three cups of Coffee +is their whole sustenance in the course of a +day.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Bernier</span> says, that the Turks, who +frequently subsist a considerable time upon +Coffee only, look on it as an aliment +that affords great nourishment to the body: +for which reason, during the rigid fast of the +<i>Ramadam</i>, or Turkish Lent, it is not only +forbidden, but any person is deemed to have +violated the injunctions of the Prophet, that +has had even the smell of Coffee<a id="FNanchor_49_49" href="#Footnote_49_49" class="fnanchor">49</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Bacon</span> says, Coffee “comforts the head +and heart, and helps digestion<a id="FNanchor_50_50" href="#Footnote_50_50" class="fnanchor">50</a>.” Dr. <i>Willis</i> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">55</span>says, “being daily drank, it wonderfully +clears and enlightens each part of the soul, +and disperses all the clouds of every function<a id="FNanchor_51_51" href="#Footnote_51_51" class="fnanchor">51</a>.” +The celebrated Dr. <i>Harvey</i> used +it often. <i>Voltaire</i> lived almost on it. He +told me, nothing exhilarated his spirits more +than the smell of Coffee; for which reason +he had, what he used in the day, roasted in his +chamber every morning, when he lived at +<i>Fernai</i>.—The learned and sedentary of every +country have recourse to it, to refresh the +brain, oppressed by study and contemplation<a id="FNanchor_52_52" href="#Footnote_52_52" class="fnanchor">52</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Among</span> the many valuable qualities of +Coffee, that of its being an antidote to the +abuse of <i>Opium</i> must not be considered as +the least; for as mankind is not content with +the wonderful efficacy derived from the prudent +use of opium, the abuse of it is productive +of many evils that are only remediable +by Coffee.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">56</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> diseases generally brought on by a +continued course of excessive doses of Opium, +are either loss of appetite, stupor, debility, +loss of memory, melancholy, palsy, or +dropsy:—and frequently the consequences of +the necessary and temporary use of common +doses of laudanum, are nausea, languor, giddiness +of the head, cold sweats, head-ach, +hysterics, and tremor.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Various</span> have been the attempts of physicians +and chemists to correct their favourite +Opium, and to improve and separate its +useful from its hurtful properties<a id="FNanchor_53_53" href="#Footnote_53_53" class="fnanchor">53</a>; but their +preparations have neither meliorated the simple +juice of the vegetable, as the great <i>Sydenham</i> +asserts, nor have they taken away +those properties to which its prejudicial effects +are attributed.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">There</span> never has been, as far as we know, +any preparation or combination with Opium, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">57</span>from the days of <i>Mithridates</i> to the present, +that could be relied on, to counteract +the ill effects of its first operations, in +many constitutions; or to prevent those disagreeable +after-operations so much complained +of, in almost every subject and disease.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Such</span> a preparation would indeed be a +large contribution to the Materia Medica, +and would make a considerable figure in the +practice of physic. But this may never be +accomplished; it may not be in nature; the +defect may be the inherent imperfection of +the vegetable, and inseparable from it;—as +in the moral world we find the brightest +virtues may be shaded with alloy:—if so, +it will yet be some consolation, that we are +able to mitigate those ills which we cannot +prevent.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Every</span> author who mentions Coffee, +allows that it possesses singular power in +counteracting the hypnotic, or sleepy effects +of Opium: this is the only virtue assigned +to it, in regard to Opium; as if the influence +which Coffee exerts on the system, to +produce that effect, could be directed to no +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">58</span>purpose, when these contradictions were not +employed in opposition, to rob each other of +their attributes.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Confirmed</span> by many observations, I believe +that Coffee, besides being the best corrector +of Opium, is the best medicine to +alleviate the mischief it produces, that has +yet been discovered, and that the operations +of common doses of Opium may be checked +by it almost at pleasure.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> heaviness, head-ach, giddiness, sickness, +and nervous affections, which attack +the patient in the morning, who has taken +an opiate at night, are abated by a cup or +two of strong Coffee.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> Military Hospitals in hot climates, +recourse is often had to large and repeated +doses of Opium; from which I have frequently +observed, that the retention of the +stomach of the patient has been greatly injured; +the secretion of urine impeded, or +the bladder affected by a paralysis:—even +these effects have been subdued by a few +cups of strong Coffee.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">59</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> general opinion is erroneous, though +of long standing, that the <i>Turks</i> use Coffee, +exclusive of dietetic purposes, only against +the sleepy effects of Opium.</p> + +<p>The <i>Turks</i>, as well as the <i>Persians</i> and <i>Indians</i>, +take Opium as a cordial<a id="FNanchor_54_54" href="#Footnote_54_54" class="fnanchor">54</a>, to invigorate +them for the temporary enjoyment of amorous +pleasures, and to enable them to support fatigue, +and to stimulate their nerves to the exertions +of courage and enterprize<a id="FNanchor_55_55" href="#Footnote_55_55" class="fnanchor">55</a>. But when +the desired effects of this cordial are over, languor, +lassitude, and dejection of spirits succeed.—It +is for these indispositions, that +Coffee is so medicinally necessary to the +<i>Turks</i>, and they use it as their principal remedy.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">60</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">But</span> while this unpleasing review of +Opium is presented to our contemplation, +let us not forget the benefit which mankind +derives from that inestimable medicine.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">If</span> the <i>Silphium</i> was held in veneration, +stamped on coins, and hung up in temples<a id="FNanchor_56_56" href="#Footnote_56_56" class="fnanchor">56</a>; +if the <i>Mallow</i> was dignified with the +name of Sacred<a id="FNanchor_57_57" href="#Footnote_57_57" class="fnanchor">57</a>; if a statue was erected to +the <i>Lettuce</i><a id="FNanchor_58_58" href="#Footnote_58_58" class="fnanchor">58</a>;—what honours are not due to +the <span class="smcap">Poppy</span>, whose pure and unadulterated juice +possesses power to relax the whole force of +animal spasm; to arrest the determination of +the fluids and vital energy on particular +parts, which often tends to the sudden dissolution +of the frame; to relieve corporal pain +by tranquillity, and mental affliction by +sleep<a id="FNanchor_59_59" href="#Footnote_59_59" class="fnanchor">59</a>. These are the unrivalled virtues of +the <span class="smcap">Poppy</span>, so highly distinguished by the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">61</span>Creator, and whose excellence no human +praise can reach.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> is not to be expected that Coffee should +escape objections, when the virtues of Opium +could not secure that from censure and condemnation. +Among the furious enemies of +Opium was Professor <i>Stahl</i>, of Hall in +Germany<a id="FNanchor_60_60" href="#Footnote_60_60" class="fnanchor">60</a>; and among those of Coffee +was <i>Simon Paulli</i> of Rostock. As the +former could see nothing but the mischiefs +of Opium, so the latter was blind to the +virtues of Coffee. But <i>Paulli</i> founded his +prejudices against Coffee, as he had his prejudices +against Tea, Chocolate, and Sugar—not +on experience, but on anecdotes, that +had been picked up by hasty travellers, which +had no other foundation than absurd report +and conjecture<a id="FNanchor_61_61" href="#Footnote_61_61" class="fnanchor">61</a>. Unacquainted with the +real properties of Coffee, his imagination +supplied him with fictitious ones; and classed +with articles with which it has no more +affinity than they have analogy to each +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">62</span>other<a id="FNanchor_62_62" href="#Footnote_62_62" class="fnanchor">62</a>, he assigned to it those qualities +which should affect the body, according to +some theory of <i>Galen</i> which had misled him, +to correspond with the account he had read +of its supposed effects on Sultan <i>Mahomet +Casnin</i>, a despot of Persia; who, it is said, +from an excessive fondness of Coffee, had +sotted away the vigour of his constitution<a id="FNanchor_63_63" href="#Footnote_63_63" class="fnanchor">63</a>. +But chemistry and experience have brought +the subject into light, and <i>Paulli’s</i> baseless +fabric has vanished.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Such</span> has been the fate of <i>Fernelius’s</i> +declamations against mercury; such <i>Guy +Patin’s</i> against antimony; and such <i>James</i> +the First’s, and the Abbot <i>Nissens’s</i> nonsense +against tobacco<a id="FNanchor_64_64" href="#Footnote_64_64" class="fnanchor">64</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">63</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">I have</span> singled out <i>Simon Paulli</i> from +among the adversaries of Coffee, for no other +motive than to shew from what tales so +learned a man confesses he supports a notion, +that Coffee (like Tea to the Chinese) acted +as a great drier to the <i>Persians</i>, and abated +aphrodisiacal warmth. This opinion has +been since received, and propagated from +him, as he received and propagated it from +its fabulous origin. The facts have been +refuted by Sir <i>Thomas Roe</i>, and many +other travellers.</p> + +<p>Sir <i>Thomas Herbert</i>, who was in the +East in 1626, tells us, that the Persians +themselves have a very different opinion +of Coffee.—“They say that Coffee +comforts the brain, expels melancholy and +sleep, purges choler, lightens the spirits, +and begets an excellent concoction; and by +custom becomes delicious. But all these +virtues do not conciliate their liking of it so +much as the romantic notion, that it was +first invented and brewed by the Angel <i>Gabriel</i>, +to restore <i>Mahomet’s</i> decayed moisture; +which it did so effectually, that he never +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">64</span>drank it but he made nothing to unhorse +forty men, and in his amours to rival the +fame of Hercules<a id="FNanchor_65_65" href="#Footnote_65_65" class="fnanchor">65</a>.”</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Many</span> have been the dogmas concerning +Coffee: some authors alledge that it is <i>dry</i>, and +therefore good for the gross and phlegmatic, +but hurtful to lean people; some contend +that it is <i>cold</i>, and therefore good for sanguine, +bilious, and hot constitutions; others, +that it is <i>hot</i>, and therefore bad for the sanguine +and bilious, but good for cold constitutions. +Some assure us, that it acts only as +a <i>sedative</i>; others, that it acts only as a +<i>stimulant</i>. With such disputants there is no +entering the lists. Medical science disclaims +their pretensions, as creations of the imagination; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">65</span>and transfers their contest for decision +to a Synod of Turkish Priests.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">I am</span> aware that there are people who are +decisively of opinion, that Coffee is injurious +“in thin habits and bilious temperaments, +in melancholic and hypochondriacal disorders, +and to persons subject to hæmorrhages.”—<i>Willis</i>, +<i>Cheyne</i>, and others, as well as <i>Lewis</i>, +who conceived this notion to have been his +own, were in some degree of this opinion<a id="FNanchor_66_66" href="#Footnote_66_66" class="fnanchor">66</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> habits subject to hæmorrhages, particularly +those of the pulmonic and uterine +kind, the interdiction of Coffee is every +where justly admitted<a id="FNanchor_67_67" href="#Footnote_67_67" class="fnanchor">67</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">I was</span> acquainted with a person at Leyden, +when I was a student there, who seldom +drank much Coffee, or continued the use of it +for several days successively, without having +an hæmorrhage from the nose.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">66</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">But</span> the other exceptions, however they +may have been taken up, and asserted in +England, where the confined use of Coffee +has scarcely afforded a fair opportunity to +settle such a point, will be disputed in countries +where it is in general use. Let me add +also, that the result of my observations in +those countries is evidence against the exceptions; +and it is confirmed by every information +I have obtained from medical people +resident in Constantinople, and other parts +of the Turkish Empire.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Let</span> us examine this arbitrary restriction +to the use of Coffee, and see what justice +there is in the principle on which it has been +imposed; to which, as to all arbitrary impositions, +we shall discover no reason, I believe, +in submitting.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> regard to “thin habits,” where there +is no disease, or constitutional defect, I can +say but little; knowing no theory that militates +against the prudent use of Coffee in the +alimentary way; nor why it should not be +as harmless to such habits, as to those who +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">67</span>are formed with the greatest obesity and +rotundity of figure.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Travellers</span> observe, that in Turkey, +though the Mahometans and the Greeks live +in the same towns, they differ widely in their +manner of living; and in nothing more than +in their drinks. The Turks, whose principal +drink is Coffee, and one of the articles +with which every Turk is obliged to furnish +his wife, are fat, fresh, active, healthy, and +prolific. The Greeks, on the contrary, who +drink but little Coffee, and much wine, are +dry, bilious, passionate, and indolent.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> “bilious temperaments,” facts and +experience must determine. Bilious temperaments +are surely no where so common as +in hot climates; and in those very countries +Coffee is certainly most used. There Coffee +is found to temper and soften the acrimony +of the bile, and prepare the stomach for +purgatives, and suitable medicines. It +is observed in bilious habits, that the +stomach receives nothing more agreeable +than Coffee, unless where there is febrile +heat; and that the nausea and inclination +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">68</span>to vomit, which often accompany bilious +complaints, are taken away by Coffee. In +the jaundice, and in obstructions of the liver, +it is sometimes used with great benefit.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">To</span> the opinion that Coffee is hurtful +in “melancholic and hypochondriacal disorders,” +a multitude of opinions may be +opposed; and its well known power in removing +visceral obstructions, and exhilarating +the spirits; which qualities have been attributed +to Coffee ever since the use of it was +known<a id="FNanchor_68_68" href="#Footnote_68_68" class="fnanchor">68</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">If</span> it be demanded, what general description +of people should abstain from the use of +Coffee?—as it seems with some people to be +necessary for the rightly understanding its +virtues to have something said against it,—I +must answer, that I know of none; yet I +wish to be understood, that I think animadverting +on its properties and effects may take +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">69</span>place, without the writer’s being in the predicament +of Mons. <i>de la Closure</i> at Perigueux, +who ordered it for all his patients because he +liked it himself; or of Mons. <i>Barbarec</i> at +Montpellier, who forbad it to his patients +because it disagreed with him. These physicians, +like <i>Mahomet</i>, incurred the imputation +of mixing their inclinations with their +prescriptions.—<i>Mahomet</i> prohibited the use +of wine, because it disordered him, and +brought on the epilepsy.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Every</span> reasonable person must know, that +Coffee cannot be proper for all constitutions, +and at all times. The exceptions may be +numerous; but I should make a bad figure in +the eyes of travellers, who have witnessed +absurdity enough on this subject, were I, in +discussing the dietetic regimen of a nation, to +attempt to fix invariable rules for individuals.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">People</span> obnoxious to hæmorrhages, or +possessing peculiar nervous sensibility, or feverish +irritability, should abstain from all stimulating +liquors; therefore from Coffee.—Those +who, from their own proper experience, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">70</span>find it does not agree with them, can +hardly stand in need of this injunction<a id="FNanchor_69_69" href="#Footnote_69_69" class="fnanchor">69</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> is well known, that there are some +habits which cannot endure any thing that +increases the sensibility of the nerves; and +others that are affected by particular stimulants. +A cup of strong Coffee will cause +some people to have a tremor of the hand.—<i>Boyle</i> +says it acted as an emetic with one +person; <i>Galland</i> was also an instance, +where it occasioned the same operation in a +most violent manner. Others will be heated, +or be kept from sleeping by it. Tea, Champagne +and Burgundy wines, and many other +things, will produce similar effects. It was +on this account that <i>Slare</i>, and some others, +have confounded the excess of nervous sensibility +with the palsy, which depends on a +privation of sensibility, or motion;—against +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">71</span>which nothing appears to be more suitable +than Coffee<a id="FNanchor_70_70" href="#Footnote_70_70" class="fnanchor">70</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">A subject</span> like Coffee, possessed of active +principles and evident operations, must necessarily +be capable of misapplication and abuse; +and there must be particular habits which +these operations disturb. In some it causes an +insupportable acidity in the stomach.—<i>Slare</i> +says, he used Coffee in excess, and it affected +his nerves<a id="FNanchor_71_71" href="#Footnote_71_71" class="fnanchor">71</a>; but Dr. <i>Fothergill</i>, who was a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">72</span>sensible man, and had read <i>Paul’s</i> advice to +<i>Timothy</i> respecting wine, and did not use Coffee +in excess, though he was of a very delicate +habit, and could not use Tea, says, in +his letter to <i>Ellis</i>, that he drank Coffee “almost +constantly many years, without receiving +any inconveniency from it.”</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">De la Closure</span> says, that Mons. <i>Ferrana</i>, +Dean of the Faculty at Limoges, took Coffee +every night to make him sleep. The celebrated +Mons. <i>Colbert</i> drank Coffee to keep him +awake, through his great pressure of business; +and by that means so habituated himself +to live without rest, that at length he +could not sleep when he wanted.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">But</span> the history of particular cases serves only +to prove, that mankind are not all organized +alike; and that the sympathy of one, and +antipathy of another, are amply provided for +in that infinite variety which pervades all nature, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">73</span>and with which the earth is blessed in +the vegetable creation.—Were it not so, physic +would acquire but little aid from the toils of +philosophy, when philosophy had no other incitement +to labour, than barren speculation.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> has long been a custom with many +people among us, to add mustard to their +Coffee: mustard or aromatics may with +great propriety be added, in flatulent, languid, +and scorbutic constitutions; and particularly +by invalids, and in such cases where +warmth or stimulus is required.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Eastern nations add either cloves, +cinnamon, cardamoms, cummin-seed, or +essence of amber, &c. but neither milk or +sugar. Milk and sugar without the aromatics, +are generally used with it in Europe, +America, and the West India Islands, except +when taken immediately after dinner; then +the method of the French is often followed, +and the milk is omitted.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Coffee</span> is most grateful to the stomach, as +well as to the palate, with the addition of +cream, and sweetened with sugar-candy. The +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">74</span>sugar-candy should be reduced to a gross powder, +to facilitate its dissolving.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">A small</span> cup or two of Coffee, immediately +after dinner, promotes digestion.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">However</span>, Coffee after dinner, in general, +is to be considered as a luxury; and its effects +are then most pleasant where temperance has +been observed, and leguminous food and light +wines have chiefly composed the repast.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">With</span> a draught of water previously drunk, +according to the Eastern custom, Coffee is +serviceable to those who are of a costive +habit.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Coffee</span> is not proper where there has been +long sitting after dinner, when heavy meals of +animal food have been made, and much Portugal +wine, has been drunk; and never should +be used after dinner, nor at any other time, +by those who intend to return to the bottle, +and drink wine immediately upon it.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Thus</span> far the properties and medicinal +effects of Coffee, after torrefaction, have been +considered; and as the beverage made from it +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">75</span>contains all the essential virtues of the berry, +which united are most proper for dietetic purposes, +I have not entered into any discussion of +its component parts separately, nor of the distilled +water, syrup, oil, and other simple preparations +which have been made from the berry; +for I do not believe, that these preparations +possess any properties deserving particular +notice; but that we are indebted to the +virtues we derive from Coffee, to the total +derangement of its natural state, by the process +it undergoes in roasting at the fire.—And +therefore the fabulous story of the first +discovery of its effects, does not merit the +least attention.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> mode of preparing this beverage for +common use differs in different countries, +principally as to the additions made to it.—But +though that is generally understood, +and that taste, constitution, the quality of +the Coffee, and the quantity intended to be +drunk, must be consulted, in regard to the +proportion of Coffee to the water in making +it—yet there is one material point, the importance +of which is not well understood, +and which admits of no deviation.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">76</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> preservation of the virtues of Coffee, +particularly when it is of a fine quality, and +exempt from rankness, as has been said, depends +on carefully confining it after it has +been roasted; and not powdering it until the +time of using it, that the volatile and æthereal +principles, generated by the fire, may +not escape. But all this will signify nothing, +and the best materials will be useless, unless +the following important admonition is strictly +attended to; which is, that after the liquor +is made,—<i>it should be bright and clear, and +entirely exempt from the least cloudiness or foul +appearance, from a suspension of any of the +particles of the substance of the Coffee</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">There</span> is scarcely any vegetable infusion +or decoction, whose effects differ from its +gross origin more than that of which we +are speaking. Coffee taken in substance +causes oppression at the stomach, heat, +nausea, and indigestion: consequently a continued +use of a preparation of it, in which +any quantity of its substance is contained, +besides being disgusting to the palate, must +tend to produce the same indispositions. The +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">77</span>residuum of the roasted berry, after its virtues +are extracted from it, is little more +than an earthy calx, and must therefore be +injurious.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> want of attention to this circumstance, +I make no doubt, has been the cause +of many of the complaints against Coffee, +and of the aversion which some people have +to it; and it is from this consideration that +Coffee should not be prepared with milk instead +of water, nor should the milk be added +to it on the fire, as is sometimes the case, for +oeconomical dietetic purposes, where only a +small quantity of Coffee is used, as the tenacity +of the milk impedes the precipitation of +the grounds, which is necessary for the purity +of the liquor, and therefore neither the milk +nor the sugar should be added, until after it is +made with water in the usual way, and the +clarification of it is completed<a id="FNanchor_72_72" href="#Footnote_72_72" class="fnanchor">72</a>.—The milk +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">78</span>should be hot when added to the liquor of +the Coffee, which should also be hot, or both +should be heated together, in this mode of +using Coffee as an article of sustenance.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Persians roast the membrane which +envelopes the seed, and use it together with +the seed itself, in their manner of preparing +the infusion, and it is said to be a considerable +improvement. The people of fashion among +the Turks and Persians make a delicate drink +from the capsules only, which is cooling and +refreshing; particularly in summer time. +This was much extolled by the French travellers, +who saw no other Coffee used at the +houses of the great. This is called by the +French, <i>Café à la Sultane</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Turks, Arabians, Persians, and +Egyptians, drink Coffee all day long, in +small cups, supping it up by a little at a time, +as hot as they can bear it; and what is prepared +from three or four ounces among +them, is considered as a moderate quantity +for one person in a day. In the Dutch, +French, and English Colonies, it is the daily +breakfast and evening repast.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">79</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">If</span> a knowledge of the principles of Coffee, +founded on examination and various experiments, +added to observations made on the +extensive and indiscriminate use of it, cannot +authorize us to attribute to it any particular +quality unfriendly to the human +frame;—if the unerring test of experience +has confirmed its utility, in many countries, +not exclusively productive of those inconveniencies, +habits, and diseases, for which its +peculiar properties seem most applicable;—let +those properties be duly considered; and +let us reflect on the state of our atmosphere; +the food and modes of life of the inhabitants,—and +the chronical infirmities which +derive their origin from these sources, and it +will be evident what salutary effects might be +expected from the general dietetic use of Coffee +in Great Britain.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">But</span> this important object cannot be accomplished +while England frowns on West +Indian agriculture and commerce.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">With</span> legislative consideration and encouragement, +good Coffee would be produced in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">80</span>our West Indian Islands in such abundance, +that, as in France, it might be afforded here +at a price to render it a cheap substitute for +those enervating teas and beverages, which the +inferior classes of people adopt from necessity, +and which produce the pernicious habit of +dram-drinking.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> increased consumption of the article, +for reasons already urged, would benefit the +State;—and the poor would be supplied with +an wholesome ingredient for improving their +diet; which, if we extend our views remote +from the Metropolis, will be found such as +would admit of much addition and melioration, +without any suspicion of the interposition +of Providence in their favour, or endangering +the <span class="lowercase smcap">SALUS POPULI</span> on the score of +superfluity and luxury.</p> + + +<p class="tac ls04em mt3em">FINIS.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"> +<p class="tac fb">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_1_1" href="#FNanchor_1_1" class="label">1</a> +The first Edition was published in the beginning +of 1785.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_2_2" href="#FNanchor_2_2" class="label">2</a> +The duties and excises, upon a computation +for the year 1781, amount to about +£. 1,344,312 sterling, annually, on the produce +of <i>Jamaica</i> only.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_3_3" href="#FNanchor_3_3" class="label">3</a> +Mr. <i>Stephen Fuller</i>’s Letter to the Committee +of Correspondence in Jamaica, dated, London, 28th +July, 1783.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_4_4" href="#FNanchor_4_4" class="label">4</a> +From 12,000 to 15,000 bags of Pimento +have been annually imported into England from +Jamaica: each bag contains about one hundred +weight. It pays a duty of about two pence per +pound.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_5_5" href="#FNanchor_5_5" class="label">5</a> +The principal and prevailing flavour of Pimento +is like that of cloves: its oil exactly resembles +the oil of that spice, and sinks as that does in +water. The oil resides chiefly, like that of cloves, +in the shell, or cortical part.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_6_6" href="#FNanchor_6_6" class="label">6</a> +The India Company pay for the Mocha Coffee +in specie. The original cost is about 7l. sterling +per cwt.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_7_7" href="#FNanchor_7_7" class="label">7</a> +Good Plantation Coffee, roasted, may now be bought +in London for two shillings and six pence per pound. In +Paris the best Martinico Coffee, roasted, may be bought +for one shilling and four pence per pound.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_8_8" href="#FNanchor_8_8" class="label">8</a> +<i>Bon. Alpin. De Plantis Ægypti</i>, cap. 16.</p> + +<p><i>Bon vel Ban Arbor. J. Bauhin</i>, 422.</p> + +<p><i>Euonymo similis Ægyptiaca, fructu baccis Lauri simili. +C. Bauhin. Pinax. Theat. Botanic.</i> 428.</p> + +<p><i>Bon vel Ban ex cujus fructu Ægypti potum Coava conficiunt. +Pluken. Phytog.</i> 272.</p> + +<p><i>Coffee frutex, ex cujus fructu fit potus. Raij Histor. Plant.</i> +t. 2. p. 1691.</p> + +<p><i>Jasminum Arabicum cujus fructus Coffy dicuntur. Boerhaav.</i> +Ind. P. 2. p. 217.</p> + +<p><i>Bon Arbor cum fructu suo Buna. Parkinson, Theatr. Botan.</i> +1622.</p> + +<p><i>Jassaminum Arabicum, Lauri folio, cujus semen apud nos Café +dicitur. Jussieu, Act. Gall.</i> 1713, p. 388. t. 7.</p> + +<p><i>Jasminum Arabicum, castaneæ folio, flore albo odoratissimo. +Tilli Catal. Plant. Hort. Pisan.</i> p. 87. t. 32.</p> + +<p><i>Coffea Arabica, floribus quinquesidis dispermis. Linn. Spec. +Plant.</i> ed. 2. p. 245.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_9_9" href="#FNanchor_9_9" class="label">9</a> +De Plantis Ægypti, cap. 16.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_10_10" href="#FNanchor_10_10" class="label">10</a> +De Medicina Ægyptiorum, Lib. IV. cap. 3.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_11_11" href="#FNanchor_11_11" class="label">11</a> +“Hanno i Turchi un’ altra bevanda di color nero; +e la state si fà rinfrescativa, e l’inuerno al contrario, &c.—Ma +senza queste dilicature ancora, co’l solo e semplice +<i>Cahue</i>, è pur grata al gusto, e, come dicono, conferisce +molto alla sanità; massimamente in aiutar la degestione; +corroborar lo stomaco, e reprimer le flussioni de’ catarri, +&c.—Quando io farò di ritorno ne porterò meco; e farò +conoscere all’ Italia questo semplice, che infin’ ad hora forse +le è nuovo.” Viaggi di <i>P. D. Valle</i>, Lettera 3.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_12_12" href="#FNanchor_12_12" class="label">12</a> +Purchas, p. 419.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_13_13" href="#FNanchor_13_13" class="label">13</a> +Ibid. p. 1340. See also p. 1351, where it appears +that <i>Biddulph</i> was in the East in 1600.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_14_14" href="#FNanchor_14_14" class="label">14</a> +On the spot, before the fire of 1666, where the +Virginia Coffee-house now stands. The first Coffee-house +that was opened after the fire was, what is now called +<i>Garraway’s</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_15_15" href="#FNanchor_15_15" class="label">15</a> +A celebrated physician of <i>Bagdat</i>. He died anno +1098.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_16_16" href="#FNanchor_16_16" class="label">16</a> +The Mahometans say this is the spring that God +caused to issue forth in the Desart for <i>Agar</i> and her son +<i>Ishmael</i>, when <i>Abraham</i> sent them away.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_17_17" href="#FNanchor_17_17" class="label">17</a> +An Arabian manuscript, N<sup>o</sup> 944, by <i>Abdalcader</i> of +Medina. It is in the great National Library at Paris; +written about the year 1587.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_18_18" href="#FNanchor_18_18" class="label">18</a> +<i>Muraltus.</i> <i>Herbert’s</i> Travels. <i>Sandy’s</i> Travels. <i>Blunt’s</i> +Voyage.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_19_19" href="#FNanchor_19_19" class="label">19</a> +<i>Paschius</i>, an obscure writer at Leipsic, 1700.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_20_20" href="#FNanchor_20_20" class="label">20</a> +<i>Pietro della Valle.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_21_21" href="#FNanchor_21_21" class="label">21</a> +“Φάρμακον, κακων ἐπίληθον ἁπάντων.” Odyss. Δ.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_22_22" href="#FNanchor_22_22" class="label">22</a> +Anno 1675.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_23_23" href="#FNanchor_23_23" class="label">23</a> +The country of Yemen.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_24_24" href="#FNanchor_24_24" class="label">24</a> +The Abbé <i>Raynal</i> says, that twelve millions five hundred +and fifty thousand pounds weight of Coffee is +annually exported from Arabia Felix; which, at 14 sols +per pound, brings into that country 8,785,000 livres, +384,343l. 15s. sterling. The European Companies purchase +three millions five hundred thousand weight of this +commodity.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_25_25" href="#FNanchor_25_25" class="label">25</a> +<i>Geoffry</i>, among others, was mistaken in this point.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_26_26" href="#FNanchor_26_26" class="label">26</a> +Mr. <i>Fuller</i> observes in his letter, “I would recommend +to the Planters, not to covet the production of the +large berries, the smallest being deemed the best by our +buyers here, and fetching the most money; perhaps not +absolutely from its being of the best quality, but because it +admits of being mixed with the Mocha Coffee, and sold as +such.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_27_27" href="#FNanchor_27_27" class="label">27</a> +<i>Miller.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_28_28" href="#FNanchor_28_28" class="label">28</a> +<i>Newman</i> obtained eight ounces from sixteen ounces of +roasted Coffee, by aqueous and spirituous menstruums.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_29_29" href="#FNanchor_29_29" class="label">29</a> +<i>Bourdelin</i> obtained six ounces six drams from two +pounds and an half of roasted Coffee: and <i>Houghton</i>, Phil. +Trans. obtained two ounces four drams two scruples from +one pound of unroasted Coffee. <i>Du Four</i> obtained two +ounces five drams.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_30_30" href="#FNanchor_30_30" class="label">30</a> +<i>Le Fevre</i>, <i>Newman</i>, <i>Lemery</i>, <i>Bourdelin</i>, obtained nine +drams and an half from two pounds and an half of roasted +Coffee.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_31_31" href="#FNanchor_31_31" class="label">31</a> +<i>Floyer</i>, <i>Bourdelin</i>, obtained a volatile salt, that effervesced +strongly with spirit of salt.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_32_32" href="#FNanchor_32_32" class="label">32</a> +There always prevailed a notion among the chemists, +particularly with <i>Paracelsus</i> and his followers, that in the +empyreumatic oils of plants were many medicinal virtues +undiscovered. The oil of Coffee, in itself, is almost +insipid.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_33_33" href="#FNanchor_33_33" class="label">33</a> +<i>Bernier’s</i> Letter to <i>Du Four</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_34_34" href="#FNanchor_34_34" class="label">34</a> +“Cetera bonitas Caovæ præcipuè dependet à curiosa +et exquisita tostione.” <i>Ray.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_35_35" href="#FNanchor_35_35" class="label">35</a> +<i>Baglivi.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_36_36" href="#FNanchor_36_36" class="label">36</a> +“C’est sans doute son fréquent usage qui garentit les +Turcs de l’hydropisie.” <i>Du Four</i>, p. 129.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_37_37" href="#FNanchor_37_37" class="label">37</a> +<i>Anthelminticum</i> audit, et hinc pueris sæpe confertur, +copiosius vero haustum, parvos eos reddit, deoque non +facile his ordinandum. Si quis aliquot Cyathos decocti +saturatioris hauriat, vermes plerumque e ventriculo in +intestina descendere experitur; si mox purgatio propinetur, +invisi hi hospites hac methodo expelluntur. <i>Linnæi</i>, +Amœnitat. Academ. Vol. VI. p. 178.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_38_38" href="#FNanchor_38_38" class="label">38</a> +“La tête est la partie de tout le corps sur laquelle le +Caffé produit de plus considérables effets; car par son +usage ordinaire, on prévient presque surement l’apoplexie, +la paralysie, la lethargie, et presque toutes les autres +maladies soporeuses.” <i>De Bleguy</i>, p. 180.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_39_39" href="#FNanchor_39_39" class="label">39</a> +Hist. de l’Acad. de Sciences, 1702.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_40_40" href="#FNanchor_40_40" class="label">40</a> +Ego cum Lugduni Batavorum studiis operam darem, +per totum annum Cephalæa miserè laboravi; et postquam +potui copiose Teé, et præcipuè quidem <i>Coffee</i> quotidie +sumendo assuevi, semper immunis ab ea vixi, non tantúm +sed ab omni alio incommodo, quamvis antea ita vixerim, ut +mortis haberet vices lenta quæ trahebatur mihi vita gementi, +qui per totum quinquennium cum longa morborum +serie acriter conflictavi. <i>Ray.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_41_41" href="#FNanchor_41_41" class="label">41</a> +“Utuntur tamen ejus decocto ad roborandum ventriculum +frigidiorem, adjuvandamque concoctionem, et non +minùs ad auferendas a visceribus obstructiones; in tumoribusque +hepatis lienifque frigidis, et antiquis obstructionibus, +feliciori cum successu decoctum multos dies experiuntur. +Quod etiam uterum maximè respicere videtur, +ipsum enim excalfacit, obstructionesque ab eo aufert, sic +enim in familiari usu est apud omnes Ægyptias, Arabasque +mulieres, ut semper, dum fluunt menses, ipsorum +vacuationem, hujus decocti ferventis multum paulatim +sorbillantes, adjuvent. Ad promovendos etiam, in quibus +suppressi sunt, usus hujus decocti, purgato corpore +multis diebus, utilissimus est.” <i>P. Alpin.</i> Lib. de Plantis +Ægypti, cap. 16.—“Pellens est; qua ratione, non sine +fructu, tanquam emmenagogum, in menstruis suppressis +adhibetur. <i>Linnæi</i>, Amœnitat. Acad. Vol. VI. p. 179.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_42_42" href="#FNanchor_42_42" class="label">42</a> +<i>Leewenhoek</i>, <i>Huxham</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_43_43" href="#FNanchor_43_43" class="label">43</a> +Anno 1671.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_44_44" href="#FNanchor_44_44" class="label">44</a> +<i>Urinam</i> copiose pellit, imprimis si aqua misceatur; +quosdam calculo obnoxios Halmiæ novimus, qui cyathum +Coffeæ murrhinum vitro aquæ frigidæ, libra una repleto, +infundunt, idque horis consumunt matutinis, qui unanimiter +fatentur, quod vix aliud ipsis sit notum, urinam et +fabulum copiosius pellens. <i>Linnæi</i>, Amœnitat. Acad. +Vol. VI. p. 177.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_45_45" href="#FNanchor_45_45" class="label">45</a> +“Elle est salutaire aux goutteux par l’expérience particulière +de nos goutteux, qui s’y sont habitués: car ils en +tirent du moins ce bénefice que leur accês sont moins fréquent +et beaucoup plus supportables.” <i>De Blegny</i>, p. +185. et 186.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_46_46" href="#FNanchor_46_46" class="label">46</a> +<i>Huxham.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_47_47" href="#FNanchor_47_47" class="label">47</a> +“Elle est d’un effet merveilleux pour ceux qui ont +la poitrine naturellement foible, ou accidentellement +affoiblie par le rheume, par le toux inveterée, par une +pulmonie naissante, et par ces autres espèces de fluxions +qui rendent la voix rauque, et qui causent l’asthme et la +courte haleine.” <i>De Blegny</i>, p. 189.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_48_48" href="#FNanchor_48_48" class="label">48</a> +This is the best method of preparing <i>Milk Coffee</i>. It +may be sweetened with good Muscovada sugar, in costive +habits, or where sugar-candy cannot be had.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_49_49" href="#FNanchor_49_49" class="label">49</a> +Nous remarquerons, qu’ayant fait usage de cette +boisson, nous avons découvert qu’outre les qualités qu’on +vient rapporter, elle a celle de soutenir les forces contre +l’inanition, en forte qu’étant prise à jeun, on peut se passer +plus long temps de nourriture, sans en être incommodé. +<i>Journ. des Sc.</i>, 1716, p. 283.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_50_50" href="#FNanchor_50_50" class="label">50</a> +Cent. 8, Exp. 738. anno 1624.—<i>Bacon</i> asserted this +on the authority of travellers, as Coffee was not then +known in England.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_51_51" href="#FNanchor_51_51" class="label">51</a> +Pharmaceut. Rat. P. 1. Anno 1674. Coffee was +then used in England.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_52_52" href="#FNanchor_52_52" class="label">52</a> +“Elle fortifie la mémoire et le jugement. Un aliment +qui fortifie puissamment toutes les actions naturelles.” +<i>De Blegny</i>, p. 181, 184.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_53_53" href="#FNanchor_53_53" class="label">53</a> +<i>Paracelsus</i>, <i>Helmont</i>, <i>Silvius</i>, and <i>Platerus.</i>—The use +of Opium in the Lues Venerea is by no means a new discovery, +as some practitioners have lately thought. It has +had its advocates and use, like Guaiacum, and other +diaphoretics. It was known to <i>Paracelsus</i>, <i>Fernilius</i>, <i>Palmarius</i>, +<i>Willis</i>, <i>Paulli</i>, &c.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_54_54" href="#FNanchor_54_54" class="label">54</a> +“Præstantissimum sit remedium cardiacum, unicum +penè dixerim, quod in natura hactenus est repertum.” +<i>Sydenham.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_55_55" href="#FNanchor_55_55" class="label">55</a> +<i>Mandelslo’s</i> Voyages and Travels into the East, +Lib. I. <i>Bellonius</i>, Lib. III. cap. 15. <i>Erastus</i>, Disp. +de Sapor. et de Narcot. <i>Georg. Andreæ</i>, Itiner. Ind. +Lib. II. c. 9. <i>J. J. Saar.</i> Itiner. Ind. p. 11. <i>Fogolius</i> +de Turcarum Nepenthe. <i>Sandy’s</i> Travels, Lib. I. +p. 66.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_56_56" href="#FNanchor_56_56" class="label">56</a> +<i>Plin. Hist. Nat.</i> Lib. XIX. c. 3. <i>Heschius</i>, Βάτἰς σίλφιον silphion, +<i>Spanheim</i>, de usu et præst. Numis. Dissert. 4.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_57_57" href="#FNanchor_57_57" class="label">57</a> +By <i>Pythagoras</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_58_58" href="#FNanchor_58_58" class="label">58</a> +By <i>Augustus</i>. Several of the <i>Valerian</i> family ennobled +their name with that of <i>Lactucinii</i>. <i>Plin.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_59_59" href="#FNanchor_59_59" class="label">59</a> +“Tam homini quam morbo conciliat.” <i>Paracel.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_60_60" href="#FNanchor_60_60" class="label">60</a> +De Opij Impostura.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_61_61" href="#FNanchor_61_61" class="label">61</a> +<i>Olearius</i>, <i>Martinius</i>, <i>Garranciers</i>, &c.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_62_62" href="#FNanchor_62_62" class="label">62</a> +“Instar Rutæ, Agni Casti, Camphoræ, Theè, Coffee, +Chocoladæ, et similium omnis,” &c. <i>S. Paulli</i>, Quadrip. +Botan. p. 396.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_63_63" href="#FNanchor_63_63" class="label">63</a> +This story is related in the Travels of the Ambassadors +from the Duke of Holstein into <i>Muscovy</i> and <i>Persia</i>, +Lib. VI. It originated from a complaint made against +<i>Casnin</i> by his wife. This lady was of a different opinion +from the Marquis <i>de Langle</i>, who, in his <i>Voyage en Espagne</i>, +says,—“Le Caffé égaye, exalte, électrife; à l’homme qui +a pris du Caffé en abondance, il ne manque plus qu’une +femme, une plume, et l’encre.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_64_64" href="#FNanchor_64_64" class="label">64</a> +The Abbot <i>Nissens</i> maintained, that the Devil first +brought tobacco into Europe.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_65_65" href="#FNanchor_65_65" class="label">65</a> +Page 311. Ed. 3. Setting aside the hyperbolical +part of this Persian opinion, here is at least a tradition, +that this liquor was used in Arabia in the time of <i>Mahomet</i>, +whose flight from <i>Mecca</i> was in the year 622. All the ancient +nations who made much use of the <i>Legumina</i> in their diet, +prepared many of them by torrefaction; and it is most +probable, that the Arabians were acquainted with the art +of preparing a liquor from the parched or roasted berries +of a tree that was indigenous among them, prior to +its use in Egypt and Persia, or in any of the neighbouring +countries.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_66_66" href="#FNanchor_66_66" class="label">66</a> +Ab hac sorbitione abstinere debent biliosi, quibus præservida +sunt viscera, qui hæmorrhoidibus quibuscunque +erysipelati sunt obnoxii, melancholici, et hypochondriaci. +<i>Geoffry</i>, De Vegetab. Tom. II. sect. I. p. 437.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_67_67" href="#FNanchor_67_67" class="label">67</a> +Yet Dr. <i>Percival</i> says, it is “powerfully sedative.” +Vol. I. p. 127.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_68_68" href="#FNanchor_68_68" class="label">68</a> +“Il remedie très efficacement dans les deux sexes, +à toutes les espéces d’indispositions qu’on attribuë aux +vapeurs du foye, de la ratte, et de la matrice, et par consequent +aux maladies hypocondriaques, et généralement à +toutes les passions hysteriques,” &c. <i>De Blegny</i>, p. 177.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_69_69" href="#FNanchor_69_69" class="label">69</a> +“Je scay qu’il se trouve indifféremment entre les +bilieux, les fanguins, les pituiteux, et les melancholiques, +des personnes à qui il fait du bien, et d’autres à qui il fait +du mal; c’est pourquoy bien qu’il soit vray qu’il y aye peu +d’alimens ny de medicamens si généralement bon que le +Caffé.” <i>De Blegny</i>, p. 105.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_70_70" href="#FNanchor_70_70" class="label">70</a> +“<i>Resolutio nervorum</i>—interdum tota corpora, interdum +partes infestar. Veteres Authores illud ἀποπληξιαν, +hoc ῶαραλυσιν nominaverunt.” <i>Cels.</i> Lib. III. cap. 27.</p> + +<p>“Privatio est sensus et motus, in toto corpore, vel parte +quadam.” <i>Aret.</i> Lib. I. cap. 7. +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_71_71" href="#FNanchor_71_71" class="label">71</a> +<i>Slare</i>, having instanced himself as one with whom +Coffee did not agree, has misled many people; and as +this circumstance is sometimes quoted to justify objections +against Coffee, I beg leave to relate his account of it in +his own words:—“Nor do I decry and condemn Coffee, +though it proved very prejudicial to my own health, and +brought paralytic affections upon me. I confess, in my +younger days I ignorantly used it <i>in too great excess</i>; as +many daily do make use of this, and other Indian drinks. +Though I have quite abandoned it for above thirty years, +and soon recovered the good tone of my nerves, which +continue steady to this day; yet I must own, Coffee to +some people is of good use, when taken in just proportion, +&c.” “It is true that they (Indian drinks) do not +agree with all constitutions; with some, only one of these +entertaining liquids, as Green Tea; and with others, all +of them disagree.”—This candid relation of <i>Slare’s</i>, requires +no comment.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_72_72" href="#FNanchor_72_72" class="label">72</a> +It is not to Coffee alone that this reflexion is confined; +every article we use as a diluter, demands the +same attention. Malt liquors, particular small beer, +which in this respect is much neglected, ought always to +be carefully fined. The fæculent matter entangled by +the mucilage of the malt, is hurtful to digestion, and +detrimental to health.</p></div> +</div> + +<div class="transnote mt3em"> +<a id="Spelling_corrections"></a> +<p class="ti0">Return to <a href="#Transcribers_notes">transcriber’s notes</a></p> +<p class="ti0"><b>Spelling corrections</b>:<br> +accceptable → acceptable<br> +suprized → surprized<br> +pubic → public<br> +metioned → mentioned<br> +prejudical → prejudicial<br> +disaagreeable → disagreeable <br> +</p> +</div> + + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77741 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/77741-h/images/cover.jpg b/77741-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c750d5c --- /dev/null +++ b/77741-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6c72794 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This book, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ac49ac6 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for eBook #77741 +(https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/77741) |
