The VIRTUES of
COFFEE, CHOCOLETTE, and THEE or TEA,
Experimentally known in this our Climate.
Of COFFEE.
HE Nature, Places and Manner of its Growth, and what it is, I ſhall not inſiſt upon to acquaint you, as being too tedious, and for that it hath been already by ſeveral ſet forth; but I have Obſervcd, that in thoſe Parts where they drink it at all times, as at Meals and otherwiſe, the Inhabitants are not ſubject to the Stone, Scurvey, Gout, Dropſie, nor many other Diſeaſes which are incident to us here; it being moderately warm, attenuating and dry, ſo that many crudities and crude Humors by the common uſe of this Drink are very much Corrected. And I find by Experience, that it hath taken alſo its good Effects in theſe our parts and Climate; for it being drank at any time, dryeth up moiſt and wateriſh Humors, expelleth Wind, moderately binding and cleanſing, it helpeth thoſe that have the Dropſie by its drying quality, and is moſt excellent againſt that common Diſtemper: For by the conſtant drinking thereof it Cured a Learned Biſhop of this Kingdom, who had been before left off as Incurable by ſome of the moſt ableſt Phyſicians of England, (by drinking thereof, as he was adviſed, with Sugar—candy;) it ſtrengthneth much the Liver, helpeth the Jaundies, it's good againſt the Corruption of the Blood, it refreſheth the Heart and vitals, it helpeth Swooning, palpitation and weakneſs of the Heart, and dizzineſs in the Head, it ſtrengthneth the Stomach, helpeth the want of Appetite, Concoction, and pains in the Stomach; in the Brain it helpeth all cold, moiſt and drowſie diſtempers, as the Lethargy, Apoplexy, &c. the Steam is good for Rheums in the Eyes, and for pains and noiſe in the Ears, or dulneſs of Hearing; it's good againſt all moiſt Rheums, if the matter or Phlegm be thick, then ſweeten it with Sugar-candy; it's good againſt Hypochondriack Winds, and the pains of the Spleen; it purgeth by Urine, (a good Drink for thoſe that are troubled with the Stone in the Reins or the Bladder;) it's experimentally good to prevent Miſcarriage; it's good againſt the Gout, Sciatica, and for all Rheums and rheumatick Pains in the whole Body. Are any Surfeited with Drunkenneſs or Gluttony? let this be their common Drink. Do any eat much Fruit? let them drink much of this; in the Spring time when Humors do increaſe make good uſe of this: As to the time of drinking it, at any time of the Day, unleſs within two or three Hours before going to Bed, for it hinders Sleep, but its Operation will not laſt above two or three Hours; you may not fear any hurt by the due and moderate Uſe of it.
Of CHOCOLETTE.
IT'S a great Cordial both for Aged people, Middle-aged and Young; it nouriſheth the Child in the Womb; it's a great Corroborator, and it doth not only warm and comfort the Coats of the Stomach, but it doth nouriſh and reſtore Nature where it is debilitated and depraved; it is Hot and Moiſt in the ſecond Degree, and by that Heat which is Moderate it doth in an Extraordinary manner help Digeſtion by its warm and ſtrengthning Quality; if a Man or Woman hath eat a full Meal, and are out of order for want of Digeſtion, let them take a Cup or two of this, and it ſhall by that Digeſtive faculty which is inherent in it carry it off without any more trouble. It hath been by the uſe of a Gentleman well experienced both in Phyſick and Chirurgery moſt admirable for inward Bruiſes, being given in place of Mummie, Sperma-ceti, Iriſh-Slate, &c. who was by the taking of it himſelf ſimply, as uſually prepared in ordinary Houſes, Cured, when having two of his Ribs broken, being at the ſame time above Fifty Years of age; and further he ſaith, that the Virtues of the ſame Nut is a moſt Sovereign Medicine or rather Diet for all kind of Weak and Decayed Bodies, of what Age or Sex ſoever; it hath many other Virtues which for brevities ſake are omitted. For any man that doth Travel upon the Road, (as ſuch there are that cannot eat in the morning,) let them but drink a Diſh or two of this, and they Travel by the ſtrength of it many Miles. All whic things are ſufficiently known, and can be proved by many who now live in the City of London, to their own Experience, for above theſe Thirty Years.
Of THEE, or TEA.
IT'S an Herb that groweth in China and Japonia, it is moderately Hot and binding; this wholſome Herb preſerveth in perfect Health till very Old age, it maketh the Body active and luſty, it helpeth Headach and heavineſs thereof, Lippitude, Diſtillatious, and difficulty of Breathing, weakneſs of the Ventricle, pains of the Bowels, Laſſitude, it is alſo good for the Stone, and for any ſharp Rheums whatſoever.
