DRINKERS OF COFFEE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6072, 8 January 1898, Page 7

DRINKERS OF COFFEE.

A New York doctor says his observation has shown beyond question that chronic coffee poisoning is much more common than is generally supposed. The symptoms are usually confounded with alcoholic disturbance, he says, because coffee dyspepsia bears a striking resemblance to alcoholic dyspepsia. There is the same disgust for food, morning expectoration of mucus, and marked anorexia. This disgust for food increases in severe cases until the patient •can only take coffee or bread soaked in coffee. Nausea follows, and the patient becomes emaciated. Insomnia is a marked symptom, or, if sleep occurs occurs, terrifying dreams detract from its benefit. Trembling of the entire body, especially of the lips and tongue, is noticeable. Even the cramps in the limbs which accompany alcoholic poisoning frequently occur. An effort on the part of the confirmed coffee drinker to boconie a total abstainer is almost similar in result to that which follows the abandonment of alcoholic liquors. For the time the nervous system is wrenched. An inebriate asylum never contained more pitiable suffering than that of the " reforming " coffee drunkard, who has indulged in his favourite beverage to excess. The discovery regarding coffee drinking explains why a person who suddenly abandons alcoholic drinks is always advisod to take strong coffee. It is a noticeable fact that almost every "reformed drunkard" is a confirmed drinker of coffee in its strongest form. Often a man takes a " cocktail" to freshen his appetite for breakfast. This object is attained because alcohol stimulates the stomach. After a heavy dinner the same man will drink a cup of black coffee as an "aid to digestion." The effect of cocktail and coffee is the same. One stimulates the stomach to activity before eating, the other urges it to greater rapidity of action to dispose of the food and drink with whioh it has been overloaded. Every person who has indulged in liquor not too wisely, and in too great amount, knows that nothing will woo back the fleeing senses like a cup of strong coffee. Is it because of that old medical theory that one poison is an antidote for another?