Water is the natural beverage of man; but being no longer in a state of nature, that which was at first destined to assuage his thirst, is not found to be in accordance with his changed habit,—his altered mode of life consequent upon civilization. To the water a small quantity of wine may be advantageously added, producing a tonic and slightly stimulating drink, suitable to such stomachs as may stand in need of it as an adjunct to digestion.
Pure wine is not suitable for ordinary beverage, but will rather excite thirst than allay it, and at the same time may induce irritation, or even inflammation of the stomach. Those only who use a great deal of exercise in the open air can tolerate pure wine with impunity.
Many of the white wines produce a diuretic effect, and are less apt to induce corpulence than the red wines.
Champagne is certainly most agreeable to the palate, and on account of its stimulating effect, even when taken in small quantity, is much in vogue; yet it is not suited to such as have a tendency to make fat. A young lady under my care, who was enormously fat, acknowledged that she lived exclusively on pastry and sweetmeats, and drank nothing but champagne. A change both of food and beverage effected a speedy cure. In some cases this wine gives rise to indigestion, owing to the large amount of free carbonic acid gas which it contains, acting injuriously upon the nerves which are distributed to the stomach.
A strong infusion of tea is one of those beverages having a tendency to oppose the formation of fat; it is nevertheless nutritious, inasmuch as it prevents the disintegration of tissue. Moreover, its action on the nervous system is exhilarating. On account of these properties it is much used in England by all classes. A weak infusion of tea, with a superabundance of milk and sugar, is, on the other hand, highly conducive to the formation of fat, and therefore should be avoided.
The beneficial effects of tea and coffee are due to substances heretofore named "theine" and "caffeine," according to the source whence they were obtained. These substances are now known to be identical, although derived from plants of entirely different families. An infusion of coffee produces effects similar to those induced by tea. If weak, it is favourable to the development of corpulence; but if strong, it acts as a powerful stimulant upon the nervous system, and assists digestion. A very strong infusion of coffee, more particularly when taken upon an empty stomach, is powerfully anti-obesic in its effects.
It has been alleged that coffee must be nutritious, because labourers are enabled to support life upon a small amount of solid food when supplied with an abundance of coffee. Now the fact is, that coffee has all the properties of tea, and, like it, prevents waste of tissue, thereby economizing food to the utmost, and enabling the labourer to do a large amount of bodily work with a comparatively slight expenditure of the organized tissues of the living body.
W. C. CHEWETT & CO., PRINTERS, KING STREET EAST, TORONTO.