THE "BLESSED BEVERAGE."

Waikato Independent, Volume II, Issue 132, 21 September 1905, Page 5

THE "BLESSED BEVERAGE."

It cannot bo too widely known (writes the Lancet) that not only is theine the most essential constituent of tea, but also that it is almost as quickly solude in hot water as is sugar. The making of the infusion is therefore complete in a few minutes, and only tea so prepared is the " blessed beverage." The abuse of tea, like the abuse of anything else, is, of course, reprehensible, and the guilty person deserves all the unpleasant symptoms which excessive tea-drink-ing or the drinking of strong, stowed tea sooner or later brings in its train. The use of plenty of milk with tea is a wise precaution, and must be regarded as a sound physiological proceeding, since the proteids of milk destroy astringency, and probably prevent the otherwise injurious action of tannin on the mucous membrane of the stomach. In the intestinal juice the proteids arc separated, and the tannin probably combines with the sodium salt. The immoderate drinking of tea is an unquestionable evil, but, on the whole, we arc inclined to think that the evils of tea-drinking have been exaggerated. The real diiliculity is to c-Jiivince people that a lightly drawn infusion gives them their money's worth.