LECTURE ON COFFEE AND TEA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1029, 2 April 1884, Page 5

LECTURE ON COFFEE AND TEA.

Qufte lately a lecture on "Coffee and Tea " was delivered by Dr G. V. Poore, at Parke's museum, Margaret street, Cavendish-square, London. The chair was occupied by Sir Henry Thompson, who introduced the lecturer as one of the highest authorities on the subject before them. There was a large attendance. The lecturer entered into the full details concerning the structure, growth, cultivation, and chemical analysis of the two plants in question. Drawing a comparison between tea and coffee, he said both contained the same alkaloid, and the effect produced on the human system was in both cases similar. The lecturer, who described tea as " the tobacco of women," ascribed its ill effects to the presence of much astringent matter, and this was one of the chief causes of dyspepsia. Coffee was a stimulant which would prove a good substitute for spirits, and as such its use should be urged by those who we* trying to reclaim the drunkard. Since 1854, the consumption of tea in the United Kingdom has increased from 21b per head, to an average \

of 41b 9oz ; but the consumption of coffee however, had in the same period decreased from an average of 111 b 6oz, to 15oz each person, and that was due, he thought, to a mistaken policy on the part of the Government in allowing coffee to be adulterated by chicory and dandelion.