SECTION XVI.
I shall finish these remarks with some reflections on this herb, considered in another light.
As luxury of every kind has augmented in proportion to the increase of foreign superfluities, it has contributed more or less its share towards the production of those low nervous diseases, which are now so frequent. Amongst these causes, excess in spirituous liquors is one of the most considerable; but the first rise of this pernicious custom is often owing to the weakness and debility of the system, brought on by the daily habit of drinking Tea[100]; the trembling hand seeks a temporary relief in some cordial, in order to refresh and excite again the enfeebled system; whereby such almost by necessity fall into a habit of intemperance, and frequently intail upon their offspring a variety of distempers, which otherwise probably would not have occurred.
Another bad consequence resulting from the universal custom of Tea-drinking, particularly affects the poor labouring people, whose daily earnings are scanty enough to procure them the necessary conveniences of life, and wholesome diet. Many of these, too desirous of vying with their superiors, and imitating their luxuries, throw away their little earnings upon this foreign herb, and are thereby inconsiderately deprived of the means to purchase proper wholesome food for themselves and their families. In the words of Persius we may here justly exclaim,
O curas hominum quantum est in rebus inane!
I have known several miserable families thus infatuated, their emaciated children labouring under various ailments depending upon indigestion, debility, and relaxation. Some at length have been so enfeebled, that their limbs have become distorted, their countenance pale, and a marasmus has closed the tragedy[101].