The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-06-02

1t must be admitted that the abuse of
tea and coffee may be attended by serious
injuries to the human organism. The
pernicious effect of the active principle
of coffee caffeine, which is identical
with theme, the active principle of tea
on certain animals is well shown in an
elaborate paper by DR. Leven. He found
that one to ten centigrammes of caffeine
acted as fatal poison when given to
frogs, first quickening the action of the
heart and the respiratory organs, and
then inducing a tetanic state. To guinea
pigs fifteen to twenty cenugra mines
proved fatal, first increasing the action
of the heart, which in one instance was
so rapid that the pulsation could not be
counted, and then followed the PARALYSIS
Of that organ. The same results were
obtained with rabbits One oramme
given to dog did not prove poisonous,
it increased the activity of the heart and
the respiratory and secretory organs, but
after three or four hours the symptoms
disappeared. NJ. Leven, in short, es-
tablished as the result of his experiments
that the active principle of coffee acts
first on the heart, and quickens the cir
culatiOn and respiration, and that in the
second place it increases the tension of
the blood-vessels-an effect, it will be
noticed, precisely the opposite of that of
alcohol, which diminishes the tension of
the vessels. 1t irritates the nervous cen
tiers, the brain and spinal cord, and also
the nerves themselves. 1t excites the
nerve-cells," says NJ. Leven, "not only
NV re ctir ,1oti off 81
ton, but also by Especial excitant action
due to the caffeine itself" The results
Of M. Levens physiological experiments
correspond precisely with the symptoms
which have been observed to occur in
consequence of excessive indulgence in
tea or coffee. Coffee contains seventeen
per cent. of caffeine, and it is reckoned
that in the quantity daily consumed by
an ordinary Partisan there is enough to
poison five guinea pigs! NJ. Leven
quotes the case of young medical man
who suffered from coffee intoxication.
For six months he had taken five or six
cups of coffee daily. He experienced vio-
lent palpitations, trembling in the arms,
cramps in the legs, convulsive cough,
and permanent contraction of the pupils.
When he discontinued the use of coffee
these symptoms disappeared. l have
again and again had occasion to observe
the characteristic symptoms which the
abuse of tea and coffee produce. The
most common are distressing persistent
palpitations, an irritable, excited state
of the nervous system, sense. of
dread of impending calamity, throb-
bings in the head and sometimes an ap-
proach TO giddiness, inability to sleep,
obstinate dyspepsia-only to be relieved
by abstaining from its cause. | believe
it is the experience of most hospital
physicians that very large proportion
of the cases Of dyspepsia which crowd
the out-patient rooms of the London hos.
pitfalls are induced by the constant large
consumption of tea by the poor The |
disturbing effect of abuse of tea on the
action of the heart was not likely to es-
cape the notice of so acute an observer
as DR.. Stokes, of Dublin, and in his work
on diseases of the heart he calls atten-
ton to the following among other cases
A gentleman of great intellectual attain
ments had been in the habit of passing a |
great part of the night in literary and |
scientific labors; during the evening and |
through the night he was in the habit os
drinking largely of tea, without any
thought of its doing him harm. At
length he became subject to paroXysms
of quick and vehement action of the
heart, accompanied by intense distress
and depression, with painful sense of
impending death. He became greatly
depressed in spirits, and believed he
should die in one of these dreadful
paroxysms. On examination, after the
paroxysm had passed off his heart was
found to be perfectly sound. But a very
curious affection of the nervous system
became permanent. He found the great.
est difficulty in walking on level ground;
he had an irresistible feeling that he
should slip and fall and on one occasion,
wishing to visit friend who lived near
him, after many Intellectual attempts to
walk ON the level, he actually proceeded
to his friends house on all.fours
have already alluded to an antago-