A Treatise on Tobacco, Tea, Coffee, and ChocolatePaulli, Simon
History
A Treatise on Tobacco, Tea, Coffee, and Chocolate
Paulli, Simon
Chocolate -- Early works to 1800; Coffee -- Early works to 1800; Tea -- Early works to 1800; Tobacco -- Early works to 1800
But, as _Antonius Colmeri de Lodesma_ has given a distinct Account of
_Chocolate_, and the Method of preparing it, the Reader may expect that
I should say something of the Use and Method of preparing the Water of
_Chavva_; and this I shall the more willingly do, because no Physician,
or Botanist, so far as I know, has expresly, but only accidentally,
and imperfectly, given the History of the _Chavva_. But I would advise
Physicians to order the Use, not only of _Chocolate_, but also of the
_Chavva_, very sparingly; though both Liquors are highly commended
by the high and learned, as well as the low and illiterate Part of
Mankind: For _Hieronymus Benzo_, who, according to _Dalechampius, Lib.
18. Histor. General. Plant._ calls it, "A Wash rather fit for Hogs,
than a Liquor proper for human Creatures." _Benzo_, after residing
above an Year in the Province of _Nicariquan_, in _America_, had, all
the while, a mortal Aversion to this Liquor; till, falling short of
Wine, he learned to imitate the Natives, that he might not be under a
Necessity of drinking Water perpetually. This Liquor, by its somewhat
bitter Taste, refreshes and refrigerates the Body, without intoxicating
those who use it. This is the principal and dearest Commodity of those
Countries; nor do the _Indians_, who use it, esteem any thing more
highly, according to _Clusius, Lib. 2. Exot. Cap. 29._ and _Anonym.
Auctar._ in _Dodon_. I must own I should, with _Benzo_, have preferred
pure Water to this unnatural Mixture, which, as well as _Coffee_,
and _Tea_, the _Europeans_ may very well want, without any Loss of
Health: And it were to be wished, that the excessive Demands for all
these, did not excite People of sordid Tempers, to adulterate them,
with Substances of heterogeneous Parts, and such as are unfriendly to
Nature. This, as I have before mentioned, with respect to _Tobacco_,
is the Reason why, in our Age, we are seized with Disorders, the
Names of which are not so much as mentioned in the Writings of the
Antients. Hence _Bartholin_ thinks, "That Aromatics and Spices, which
are no less the Causes of Wars in _Europe_, than of Commotions in the
Body, ought to be prohibited; since the Purposes of Life and Health
will be far better answered, by cleansing the Blood now and then with
the Leaves of the _Coluthea_, Water-Cresses, or _Fumitory_. We are
also to chuse an Antidote for common Use; but not the _Theriaca_, of
which the Emperor _Antoninus_ took the Bulk of a Bean every Morning,
nor the _Mithridate_; for these are injurious by their Heat, and
consequently improper for us. But we are to use _Conserve of Roses_,
_Rob._ of _Elder_, Electuaries of _Marygolds_, the _Morus Norvegica_,
and other indigenous Plants, whose Qualities are best suited to our
Temperaments and Constitutions." But the Use of the Herb _Tea_, if it
could be brought fresh and recent from _China_ into _Europe_, would
be more tolerable than that of _Chocolate_, and _Coffee_, which is of
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