The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-04-28

sumed daily by threc,iourths of the hu.
man race, and must, therefore, DO most
important articles Of diet. We can, in
this article, only briefly alludet to their ac-
ton as stlmulants.
Much as these substances differ In OPP
pearance, odor, and taste, they contain
but ono common principle upon which
their active properties depend. This
principle is called RteiRe or caffeine. Il Is
o crystalline body, soluablc in hot water
and containing nitrogen. It thus ap'
proacEes moro nearly 10 animal tissues in
composition than alcohol, which is mere
llydrOcarbon. The action of theme upon
the human body is that OF nerve stimu-
liant, and, secondarily, q stimulant 10 tho
heart; and 1t differs from alcohol again,
inasmuch rs this stimulant effect Is not
followed by any depression. It also
increases the exhalation of carbonic
acid from the lungs (Which alcohol limin.
ishcs), thus increasing the activity of the
oxidation or combustion going on in the
body, and Is, therefore, q useful drink
during exposure to cold, while its action
upon the skin renders ii also n grateful
drink in hot climates. aHa
1t is perhaps significant fact that cot.
fec is derived from the same natural order
Of plants (the CinchondceG) as quinine and
tea from an order (the Canclldceo) closely
allied to,it. During the Antarctic Expe.
dition it was much preferred by the men
TO spirits, and it is daily coming into
more extensive use both in Algeria and
India. According to DIR. Parkcs, the
best authority on military hygiene, tea
and coffee arc most important articles of
diet 10 soldiers during active service;
they can endure much greater fatigue I'M
der their use than when taking spirits,
and are more cheerful, and better able 10
resist the banelul influences Of the poison-
Gus eXhalations from marshes. -....s
Since infusions Of tea and coffee contain
IN astriDgent substance, tunnac acid,
which has tic property Of precipitating
albhminolls matters, they are not taken
advantageously with meals ut which
meat is eaten An aromatic oil, peculiar
to each plant, is the cause Of their differ
ences in flavor. The oil to which lea owes
It's peculiar aroma Is a most powerful
stimuIant. Green ten contains four.flths
per cent, black tea three.iifths. Tie, Chi
ncse rarely use tea. until it Is q year old.
Green tea Is prepared from fresh leaves,
which arc quickly dried over q fire; hence
Its larger percentage OF volatile oil. Black
tea is prepared from leaves which are
dried slowly after long exposure TO air.
Ammonia, which is most commonly
used in the form Of sal-VOlatilc, IS q stimu.
liant in two ways. lis pungent vapor up
piled TO the nose will sometimes rouse q
person from .inscnsibility; orit applied to
the skin, and evaporation prevented by II
piece OF oil.silk or glass placed over il,
blister is readily produced: this Is Its local
or irritNnt action. II taken in
tcrnally, II acts in the same way rs bran.
dy, but not so powerfully, and It's effect
does not Inst for so long q time.
Mustard las long been in use US q con.
dinent on account oil It's supposed stimu.
liant action on tho stomach: 1t, however,
has been lately shown TO have no effect In
increasing the secretion Of that organ, but
1t cxCitcs some irritation, which causes
sense oil hunger and larger amount Of
food to be taken. Mustard also, 10 doubt,
stimulates the muscular. action Of the
stomach, and in this way aids digestion.
Curries act in much tho same manner.
They arc taken In large quantities In In.
dia o'eXcite tho languid appctites com.
mon In hot climates, and often act injuri-
ously on the European by inducing him 10
take moro animal food than he can prop.
erlv lirpst