The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1881-05-26

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other physical injury than slight
degree of fatigue and a little loss of
flesh"
The mental exhilaration, physical
activity, and wakefulness it causes,
explain the fondness for it which has
been shown by so many men of sci
ence, poets, scholars, and others de-
voted to thinking. It has, indeed,
been called "the intellectual beverage"
1t supported the old age Of Vol
taire, and enabled Fontenelle to pass
his hundred years.
The action Of coffee is directed
chiefly to the nervous system. 1t pro-
duces warming, cordial impression
on the stomach, quickly followed by a
ditfused, agreeable nervous excitement.
which extends itself to the cerebral
functions, giving rise to increased
vlgor of imagination and intellect,
without any subsequent confusion or
stupor, such as are characteristic of
narcotics.
Coffee contains essential principles
of nutrition far exceeding in import
ance its exhiliarating properties, and
is one of the most desirable articles
for sustaining the system in certain
prostrating diseases; as compared with
the nutrition to be derived from the
best of soups, coffee has decidedly the
advantage, and to be preferred in
many instances.
Liebig says: "We shall never know
how men were first led to the use of
coffee, but that we may consider the
article so remarkable for its action on
the brain and the substance of the
organs of motion, and as an element
OF food for organs as yet unknown.
which are destined to convert the
blood into nervous substance, and
thus recruit the energy and the nerv-
Gus moving and thinking faculties. "
The medicinal effects of coffee are
very great. In intermittent fever |
have used it with the happiest effect
in cutting short the attack, and if
properly managed is better in many
cases than the sulphate Of quinine.
In that low state of intermittent, as
found on the banks of the Mississippi
River and other malarial districts,
accompanied with enlarged spleen and
torpid liver, when judiciously admins
tered it is one of the surest Of reme-
dies. In these cases it should be given
in decoction made with four ounces of
well roasted and ground coffee, boiled
in quart (16 ounces) of water in
covered vessel, down to half pint a
ounces), and two table-spoonfuls
given hot every two hours, commene-
ing six hours before the expected at
tack, and keeping the patient well
covered in bed.
1t has been found that in typhus
fever coffee increases the elimination
of urea, and 50 far purifies the blood
without increasing the destructive
metamorphosis of tissue, and that it
lessons coma and low delirium.
In yellow fever, from long expert
ence, | consider coffee as my chief
reliance, after other necessary rene
dies have been administered; it re-
strains tissue change, and thus be-
comes conservator of force, in that
state in which the nervous system
tends to collapse, because the blood
has become impure; it sustains the
nervous power until the depuration
and reorganization of the blood are
accomplished, and has the advantage
over other stimulants in inducing no
injurious secondary effects.
In spasmodic asthma its utility is
well established, whooping cough,
stupor, lethargy, etc.
In the hysterical attacks OF some
females, for which the physician can
form no diagnosis or cause for the
peculiar and eccentric symptoms man
ifested; a screaming, crying, staring,
kicking patient, with no coherent an
swer for the medical adviser, at the
same time with an evident tendency
to act the prosecuted saint-give her
cup Of well made, strong, black
coffee, she became quiet, revives.
smiles benignly, as if she had swal-
lowed a panacea that had suddenly
delivered her from the clutches of the
imps of Satan and waited her from all
the miseries Of a condemned and tor
tured spirit to the Elysian fields of
Hours.
We have used it as a remedy in
Group, diphtheria, nephritis, chronic
diarrhea, etc. Ia poisoning from
opium it is well known as the best
remedy, and always on hand.
Hayne says: ''That III case OF vio-
lent spasmodic disease, attended with
short breath, palpitatlon OF heart, and
a pulse so much increased in fire.
quency that it could scarcely be
counted, immediate relief was obtained
from a cup of coffee, after the most
powerful antispasmodlcs had been
used in vain for several hours" etc.
After d hearty meal cup OF coffee
will relieve that sense of oppression so
apt to be experienced, and enable the
stomach to perform its offices with
comparative facility.
In fact, coffee carried healing on its
wings. 1t is opposed to malaria, to
all noxious vapors; as disinfectant it
has wonderful powers; as an instan-
taneous deodorizer it has no equal;
for the sick room, the fetid odOrs
arising from cutaneous eXhalations
are Immediately neutralized by simply
passing a chatting dish with burning
coffee grains through the room.
1t may be urged that an article pos
sessing such powers and capacity for
such energetic action must be injuri-
Gus as an article of diet Of habitual
employment and not without delete
rious properties; but [ have never no.
ticed any corresponding nervous de-
rangement after its effects have dis
appeared, as is seen in narcotics and
other stimulants. The action i'm
parted to the nerves Is natural and
healthy, and | most positively deny
that the habitual use Of the article is
injurious.