I think I have now sufficiently proved, that as _Tobacco_ is of a narcotic Quality, and its Fumes penetrate intimately into the Brain, so, of course, Smoaking must be more prejudicial than Snuffing. But, if People will still obstinately indulge themselves in the Use of this noxious Plant, all I can do farther, is to warn them of their Danger.
I Have hitherto strenuously endeavoured to preserve the Health of the _Europeans_, by discarding and exploding the Abuse of _Tobacco_: But if any one should ask my Sentiments of _Tea_, which some Years ago began to be imported from _Asia_, and the _Eastern_ Countries, and which has Qualities quite contrary to _Tobacco_, since it prevents Sleep, and therefore is by some Authors highly commended as an excellent Cephalic, and very grateful to the _Viscera_, subservient to Nutrition: I answer, that no satisfactory Reply can be made, till we know the Genus and Species of _Tea_, and to what Species of _European_ Herbs it may be referred or compared; for _Tobacco_ is by us called the _Peruvian Hyosciamius_, but we give no Name of any of our Plants to _Tea_: Nay, it is not known, whether _Tea_ is what the _Greeks_ call Ποα, an Herb, or Θαμνίσκιον, a Shrub, which Words, according to _Ruellius_, _Morantha_, and others, are so confounded by _Dioscorides_, _Theophrastus_, and other Botanists, as to occasion great Disputes among the Learned. But the Authors, who have most faithfully collected whatever has been wrote upon _Tea_, either in the _Spanish_, _French_, _Latin_, _English_, or _Dutch_ Languages, are _Nicolaus Tulpius_, and _Nicolaus Trigautius_, from the Works of whom I shall enquire,
_1st_, Of what Kind and Species the Herb _Tea_ is?
_2d_, Whether _Tea_ is only the Produce of _Asia_, and whether it is ever found in _Europe_, or not? And,
_3d_, Which of the _European_ Herbs may be most properly used in its Stead.
_Tulpius_, then, speaks in the following Manner: "In the _East Indies_ nothing is more common than drinking the Decoction of an Herb, which the _Chinese_ call _Thee_, and the _Japonese_, _Tchia_. As my Accounts of this Plant were received from the best and most impartial Authors, I shall willingly hand them down to Posterity. The Herb _Tea_, therefore, has long acuminated Leaves crenated about the Edges. Its Roots are fibrous, and divided into very small Shreds. It grows not only in _China_ and _Japan_, but also in _Chiam_, only the Leaves of the _Chinese Tea_ are of a blackish green Colour: Whereas the _Japonese Tea_ is of a fainter Colour, and more grateful Taste. Hence it also happens, that the _Tchia_ of the _Japonese_, is far more esteemed than the _Thee_ of the _Chinese_; since one Pound of the former is frequently sold at an Hundred _Libræ_; for it is in these Parts of the World believed, that nothing is more salutary and beneficial than this Herb, whether for protracting Life to extreme old Age, or for preventing the Attacks of Diseases. It not only renders the Body vigorous and active, and prevents the Stone, to which none of the Inhabitants are for this Reason subject, but also removes Head-achs, Stuffings of the Head, Inflammations, and Distillations of the Eyes, a Difficulty of Breathing, Weakness of the Stomach, Gripes of the Intestines, and Weariness. It also so effectually prevents Sleep, that those who drink it at Night, can sit up, without feeling the least Inclination to sleep: for it is moderately heating, and by constricting the Mouth of the Stomach, hinders the Ascent of those Vapours which are necessary to procure Sleep; so that, by its Means, nothing hinders or interrupts those who intend to read or write all Night.