THE DRINK QUESTION. 215
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE DRINK QUESTION.
Not liquor drinking, but the ordinary drinking habits
of the people. There are those who tell us that ** man is
not naturally a drinking animal," but that he drinks every-
thing that can in any manner contribute to the pleasures
of appetite is too often painfully conspicuous. The ques-
tions has he any right to do this, and does the system
require inordinate drinking, not only at meals, but at
frequent intervals during the day, as well as the injurious
results of such habits, are rarely considered. The highly
seasoned foods accompanying a mixed diet inflames the
stomach and blood, creating a morbid thirst which water
fails to relieve, and often increases the general discomfort.
Hot drinks — tea, coffee and other stimulants, most of
them adulterated — are then added to the menu and
enriched with heat producers — cream and sugar. The
door is now open to admit other guests, and mineral waters,
temperance (? ) beverages, beer and wine appear on the
table — for health's sake, doubtless. Indulgence in these
often creates a desire that leads to the saloon, tobacco
and opium on the one hand, and on the other resulting in
the introduction of scores of alcoholic and other stimulants
conspicuous upon the dressing tables of hosts of nerve-
shattered women.
2l6 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
Tea contains theine and tannin, the latter being a
powerful astringent, and when tea is indulged in to excess
the skin is actually "tanned," both inside and outside,
and in some cases resembles leather. Theine is a poison
alkaloid similar to the deadly drug, cocaine. Coffee
contains caffein, a substance similar to theine, and also
tannin. Tea and coffee are both often adulterated and
they are no more necessary than wine or whisky. But a
table is rarely complete without " the cup that cheers but
not inebriates." Never was there a more misleading
statement, and it is quite evident that these "cups"
possess some power aside from that of merely quenching
thirst, or whence arises the fascination surrounding the
tea and coffee pot } Facts are well established that these
drinks are to a certain degree intoxicating, and that there
is a "tea disease" and "tea delirium " affecting those
who indulge to excess. A host of diseases are also men-
tioned by the highest medical authorities as originating
in tea drinking. Popular Science News, for October,
1895, says: "It is claimed that at least ten per cent of
the patients at the chief dispensary of Boston suffer from
^ea drunkenness.^^ Has any one numbered them in the
Jiigher walks of life ? And what can be said of children
whose delicate bodies are permeated with stimulants before
their birth, and later their natural food daily seasoned
with them? Statistics show that this indulgence by
parents produces scores of diseases and increases the
death rate among infants and children.
The man who takes his morning dram to brace himself
for his daily toil is no less logical than the other man or
woman who takes tea or coffee for a similar purpose.
Thousands of women never do a day's work except on the
THE DRINK QUESTION. 217
Page 86
Presented as published in 1896. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
CHAPTER XVIII.
Not liquor drinking, but the ordinary drinking habits of the people. There are those who tell us that ** man is not naturally a drinking animal," but that he drinks everything that can in any manner contribute to the pleasures of appetite is too often painfully conspicuous. The questions has he any right to do this, and does the system require inordinate drinking, not only at meals, but at frequent intervals during the day, as well as the injurious results of such habits, are rarely considered. The highly seasoned foods accompanying a mixed diet inflames the stomach and blood, creating a morbid thirst which water fails to relieve, and often increases the general discomfort. Hot drinks — tea, coffee and other stimulants, most of them adulterated — are then added to the menu and enriched with heat producers — cream and sugar. The door is now open to admit other guests, and mineral waters, temperance (? ) beverages, beer and wine appear on the table — for health's sake, doubtless. Indulgence in these often creates a desire that leads to the saloon, tobacco and opium on the one hand, and on the other resulting in the introduction of scores of alcoholic and other stimulants conspicuous upon the dressing tables of hosts of nerveshattered women.
Tea contains theine and tannin, the latter being a powerful astringent, and when tea is indulged in to excess the skin is actually "tanned," both inside and outside, and in some cases resembles leather. Theine is a poison alkaloid similar to the deadly drug, cocaine. Coffee contains caffein, a substance similar to theine, and also tannin. Tea and coffee are both often adulterated and they are no more necessary than wine or whisky. But a table is rarely complete without " the cup that cheers but not inebriates." Never was there a more misleading statement, and it is quite evident that these "cups" possess some power aside from that of merely quenching thirst, or whence arises the fascination surrounding the tea and coffee pot } Facts are well established that these drinks are to a certain degree intoxicating, and that there is a "tea disease" and "tea delirium " affecting those who indulge to excess. A host of diseases are also mentioned by the highest medical authorities as originating in tea drinking. Popular Science News, for October, 1895, says: "It is claimed that at least ten per cent of the patients at the chief dispensary of Boston suffer from tea drunkenness." Has any one numbered them in the Jiigher walks of life ? And what can be said of children whose delicate bodies are permeated with stimulants before their birth, and later their natural food daily seasoned with them? Statistics show that this indulgence by parents produces scores of diseases and increases the death rate among infants and children.
The man who takes his morning dram to brace himself for his daily toil is no less logical than the other man or woman who takes tea or coffee for a similar purpose. Thousands of women never do a day's work except on the