in former Times, the Inhabitants of _Iceland_ and _Norway_, when they used a simple Regimen, and were Strangers to foreign Luxury, enjoyed good Health to an incredible Age; whereas, their Posterity are not only weaker, but hardly live beyond the thirtieth, fortieth, or fiftieth Year of their Age: So that the _Lyric_ Poet seems to have made a just Prophecy of our own Generation, in the following Lines: _Damnosa quid non imminuit dies? Ætas Parentum pejor avis; tulit. Nos nequiores, mox daturos Progeniem Vitiosorem._ _Europeans_ then must have their Constitutions impaired, and their Strength exhausted, by living like the Inhabitants of _Asia_, _Africa_, and _America_; especially since _Macrobius_, in _Lib. 7, Saturnal. Cap. 4._ shews, that the most simple Aliments are the most salutary, and easily digested. Besides, _Socrates_ ordered his Pupils to abstain from such Meats and Drinks as created an Appetite after Hunger and Thirst were satisfied. But, according to the _Chinese_, _Tea_ produces an Appetite after Hunger and Thirst are satisfied; therefore the drinking of it is to be abstained from. The same holds true with respect to _Chocolate_, and _Coffee_. But I return to the _Chinese_, who are accustomed to Water-drinking, and a frugal Life. Hence, their Physicians, whom _Martinius_, in the Preface of his _Atlas Sinicus_, seems to prefer to those of _Europe_, no doubt, enjoin them the Use of _Tea_, in order to prevent the Generation of excrementitious Humours; or, when generated, to carry them off by Stool, or Urine; for, it is certain, from what has hitherto been said, that _Tea_ is moderately heating, bitter, drying, and astringent. If it should, for these Reasons, be said, that _Tea_ is justly to be commended for a Weakness of the Stomach, I answer with _Celsus_, in _Lib. 1. Cap. 8._ "Our Countrymen ought not to be believed, who, when indisposed, covet Wine, or Water, and instead of charging their own Luxury, lay the Fault on the Stomach, which has no Share in it." This Passage is equally applicable to _Tea_, _Coffee_, and _Chocolate_, and seems to insinuate, that such Persons, in order to satiate their Thirst, falsly accuse their Stomachs. If this were more carefully adverted to by the Patrons of the _Chinese_ Delicacies, and especially those who look upon _Tea_ as a _Panacea_, they would use it more sparingly, especially in a bad State of Health; because _Celsus_, in _Chap. 3._ of the same Book, tells us, "That Changes ought to be gradually and slowly made; since that to which the Patient is not accustomed, proves, hurtful, whether it be soft, or hard". But the _Chinese_ Method of using _Tea_, is not agreeable to the Custom of the _Europeans_, and therefore hurtful to them.