by _Marcus Aurelius Severinus_. But I proceed in the History of _Tea_, which is possessed of admirable Qualities; since, according to _Rhodius_, "It relieves the Head, prevents Vapours, and is a Specific against the _Hemicrania_; since, when he was afflicted with this, or any other Disorder of the Head, he was, by drinking _Tea_, immediately relieved. It also prevents Sleep, corroborates the Stomach, purges the Kidnies from Stones and Gravel; and, according to _Varenius_, is of singular Efficacy in removing the Uneasiness arising from previous Surfeits, and all pituitous Disorders." _Olearius_ also affirms, that it is possessed of constrictive and astringent Quality, and is highly salutary to the Stomach, Lungs, Liver, Blood, and all the human _Viscera_, which it deterges and corroborates; that it expels the Stone, removes Head-achs, and dries up all superfluous and redundant Homours, which occasion Laziness and Drowsiness. _Johannes Albertus von Mandelslo_ informs us, that the Water impregnated with _Tea_, is not only much admired by the _Indians_, but also highly esteemed by the _Dutch_, who frequently use it for evacuating Phlegm, corroborating the Stomach, heating and strengthening all the _Viscera_; and that he was convinced, that by drinking three Times a-day, large Quantities of _Tea_, which is of an astringent Quality, he was freed from a violent Uneasiness and _Diarrhœa_ at _Surat_. _Gulielmus Leyl_ asserts, that it corroborates the Stomach, and assists its concoctive Powers, heats the Members, and removes all excrementitious Humours, which it expels by Urine, or in some other Manner; that it removes the Gravel and Gout, as he experienced in himself, when Governor of the Camp of _Danisburg_, in the Island of _Cormandel_, in the _East Indies_; that he was racked with the Gout upon his Return into _Europe_; that _Tea_ removes Intoxication, renders Men active in transacting Business, and prevents Sleep. Though I do not in the least doubt of the Truth of these Assertions, yet I shall prove, that the true _Myrtle_, is possessed of the same, and other excellent Qualities; since it not only seems to be, but really is, a Species of _Tea_. If, therefore, the Leaves of the _Danish_ and _German_ Myrtle, called _Chamelæagnus_, vary much among themselves, and greatly resemble _Tea_, may we not conclude, that the Leaves of _Tea_, the _Myrtle_, and the _Chamelæagnus_, also agree in Virtues and Qualities. This is what I now intend to evince. _Hippocrates_, therefore, in order to shew the Efficacy of the _Myrtle_ in curing and removing Diseases, in _Lib. de Superfætat, Sect. 3._ tells us, that when the Mouth of the _Uterus_ is præternaturally constricted, it is opened by a Suffumigation, for which Purpose, among other Things, he orders green _Myrtle_ Leaves contused. He prescribes them green, and not dry, because the former most abound with Sulphur and volatile Parts; whereas the latter contain little