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Brewing and Distillation (Resemble much in their effects)

Resemble much in their effects the sweet kind of apples, but have more of a laxative quality, and greater tendency to flatulence.

Cherries often produces wakefulness, is a point that can. not be denied; but if used in moderation, and accompanied with the additions just now mentioned, it does not sensibly discover any hurtful effects, but greatly refreshes one who is fatigued, and abates a pain of the head. It ought always Are in general a wholesome fruit, when perfectly to be made of a moderate degree of strength; for fresh, but not otherwise.

Plums Are nourishing, but are apt to produce flatulence.

If eaten fresh, and before they are ripe, especially in large quantities, they occasion colics, and other complaints of the bowels.

Peaches Are of a nourishing quality, and they abound in juice; they are serviceable in bilious complaints.

Apricots Are more pulpy than peaches, but are apt to ferment, and produce acidities in weak stomachs. Gooseberries and Currants, When ripe, are similar in their qualities to cherries, and when used in a green state they are agreeably cooling.

Strawberries Are an agreeable, cooling aliment.

Cucumbers Are cooling, and agreeable to the palate in hot weather; but to prevent them from proving hurt- | ful to the stomach, the juice ought to be squeezed out after they are sliced, and vinegar, pepper and salt afterwards added.

Tea.

By some, the use of this exotic is condemned in terms the most vehement and unqualified, whilst others have either asserted its innocence, or gone so far as to ascribe to it salubrious, and even extraordinary, virtues. The truth seems to lie between these two extremes; there is however an essential difference in the effects of green tea and of black, or of bohea; the former of which is much more apt to affect the nerves than the latter, more especially when drunk without cream, and likewise without bread and butter. That, taken in a large quantity, or at a later hour than usual, tea if too weak it certainly relaxes the stomach. As it has an astringent taste, which seems not very consistent with a relaxing power, there is ground for ascribing this effect not so much to the herb itself as to the hot water, which not being impregnated with a sufficient quantity of tea, to correct its own emollient tendency, produces a relaxation, unjustly imputed to some noxious quality of the plant. But tea, like every other commodity, is liable to damage, and when this happens, it may produce effects not necessarily connected with its original qualities.

Coffee.

It is allowed that coffee promotes digestion, and exhilarates the animal spirits; besides which, various other qualities are ascribed to it, such as dispelling flatulency, removing dizziness of the head, attenuating viscid humors, increasing the circulation of the blood, and consequently perspiration; with a great many persons, even if not taken strong, it affects the nerves, occasions wakefulness, and tremor of the hands; though in some phlegmatic constitutions it is apt to produce sleep. Indeed, it is to persons of that habit that coffee is best accommodated; for to people of a thin and dry habit of body it seems to be especially injurious. Turkey coffee is greatly preferable in flavor to that of the West Indies. Drunk, only in the quantity of one dish, after dinner, to promote digestion, it answers best without either sugar or milk; but if taken at other times, it should have both; or rather in place of the latter, cream, which not only improves the beverage, but tends to mitigate the effect of coffee upon the nerves.

Chocolate Is a nutritive and wholesome composition, if taken in a small quantity, and not repeated too often; but is sometimes hurtful to the stomach of those with whom a vegetable diet disagrees.

BREWING and DISTILLATION.