Hence the _Germans_, _Saxons_, and Inhabitants of other Nations, in the _Baltick_ Sea, being neither accustomed to much Wine, nor to dilute it with Water, are generally seized with malignant Fevers, when they go into _France_, or _Italy_; because every fixed Substance fixes such as is volatile; whereas, such as is volatile, resolves that which is fixed. Hence the thick and fœculent Blood of the _Germans_, consisting of saline, sulphureous, fixed, and volatile Parts, and being changed by the Regimen of _France_, and the Heat of the Sun, is subtilized by the _Tartar_ and _Sulphur_ of the _French_ Wine, especially in such _Germans_ as took great Care of their Health, when in their own Country; and in those who enjoyed good Health, their Blood is not only subtilized, but also ferments, undergoes an Ebullition, and is despumated. Hence arise Spots of different Colours, produced by the Blood variously corrupted. But these I have considered more fully in my _Digressio de Febribus Malignis_. This Doctrine is warmly inculcated by _Hippocrates_, who, in _Lib. de Fract. Senectut. §. 6._ tells us, "That the Age and Constitution of one Person, differ widely from those of another." But this Assertion, how true soever, is but little adverted to by most of the _Europeans_. But I think it incumbent upon me, for the Reasons now alledged, to warn them against the Abuse of _Tea_; especially since we find, that this Herb does, by no means, answer the Encomiums bestowed upon it by the _Chinese_ and _Japonese_. I own _Tea_ is of a more drying Quality than many _European_ Herbs; but, for this very Reason, the constant Use of it is so far from procuring Longevity, especially in Persons of a middling Age, that it rather accelerates old Age; which, according to _Macrobius_, in _Lib. 7. Saturn. Cap. 11._ is, "an Exhaustion and Dissipation of the vital Liquor, by Length of Time; for old Age is dry, for Want of natural Moisture, and sometimes moist through a Redundance of peccant Humours, produced by Coldness of Constitution." Since then _Tea_, by Means of the Sulphur it contains, is of a more heating and drying Nature than _Ginger_, _Cinnamon_, _Pepper_, _Cubebs_, _Cardamomis_, or _Arabian Castus_; hence, it necessarily follows, that it is injurious to old Persons, and such as are of a dry Constitution, and loose Texture of the solid Parts. On account of this dry Constitution, and natural _Marasmus_ of old People, which no Art can prevent, they become thirsty, and more addicted to tippling, than in their younger Years: Hence arises the _German_ Proverb, _If a young Man knew the Pleasure of drinking in old Age, he would be saving in his younger Years._