The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-09-28
THE VIRTUES OF COFFEE.
Its Exhilarating Effect Upon the
system and Benefits i'm a
Medicinal Way.

1t Is getting to be the fashion now
for people to say that coffee is inju-
rious to health and many are giving
it up regretfully. Perhaps coffee is
very injurious in some cases, but of
all beverages it is commended that it
is the least injurious. Coffee
drinkers are generally cheerful,
strong and persevering. The emf
nent DR.. Book, of Leipsic, says:
"The nervousness and peevishness
of the times are chiefly attributable
to tea and coffee" He says that
"the digestive organs of confirmed
coffee drinkers 6re in a state of
chronic arrangement, which reacts
on the brain, producing fretful and
lachrymose moods" 81 cannot
agree" says Dr. Henry Segur, of
Paris, that the nervousness and
peevIshness of the present time are
to be attributed to the use of coffee.
Ii people are more nervous or in
worse humor now than formerly, we
may find other causes arising from
the customs and habits of society
much more likely to produce such a
state of things than the use of this
particular article of diet"
Let us examine the effects of coffee
on the economy. Taken in modera-
ton it is mental and bodily stimu-
liant of the most agreeable nature and,
followed by no harmful reaction, it
produces contentment of mind, al
lays hunger and bodily weakness,
increases the incentive and capacity
for work, makes man forget his mis-
fortunes and enables those who use
it to remain long time without
food or sleep, to endure unusual
fatigue and preserve their cheerful
ness and cOntentment. Jomand
says: Gan infusion made with ten
ounces of coffee enables me to live
without other food for five consecu-
tive days without lessening my Or
binary occupations and to use more
and more prolonged muscular exer-
else than L was accustomed to with
out any other physical injury than
slight degree of fatigue and a little
loss of flesh"
The mental exhilaration, physical
activity and weakfulness it causes
explains the fondness for it which
has been shown by 80 many men of
science, poets, scholars and others
devoted to thinking. 1t has, indeed,
been called the intellectual beverage.
1t supported the old age of Voltaire
and enabled Fontenell to pass his
hundred years.
The action of coffee is directed
chiefly to the nervous sistem. 1t
produces warming, cordial impress
sion on the stomach, quickly follow
ed by diffused, agreeable and ner-
vOus excitement, which extends it.
self to the cerebral functions, giving
rise to increased vigor of imagina-
ton and intellect, without any SUBJ
seQuent confusion or stupor, such as
are characteristic of narcotics. Cof-
fee contains essential principles of
nutrition far exceeding in impor-
lance its exhilarating properties aud
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 had de-
cidedly the advantage and is to be
preferred in many instances. The
medicinal effects of coffee are very
great. In intermittent fever it has
been used by eminent physicians,
with the happiest effect, in cutting
short the attack, and If properly
managed is better in many cases
than the snlphate of quinine. In
militant, as found on the
banks of the Mississippi river and
other malarial districts, accompanied
with enlarged spleen and torpid
liver, when judiciously administered
it is one of the surest remedies. In
yellow fever it has been used
by physicians, and with some it is
their main reliance after other neces-
sary remedies have been admins
tered; it retains tissue change, and
thus becomes q conservator of force
in that state in which the nervous
system tends to collapse, because the
blood has become impure; it sus-
tains 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, as in
whooping cough, stupor, lethargy
and such troubles. In hysterical at
tacks, for which in many cases ply
stefan can form no diagnosis, coffee |
is great help.
Coffee is opposed to malaria, to all
noxious vapors. AS a disinfectant |
it has wonderful powers. AS an ill.,
Simultaneous deodorizer it has no
equal for the sickroom, as all exhala-
tiOns are Immediately neutralIzed |
by simply passing chafing-dish
with burning coffee grains through
the room. 1t may be urged that an
article possessing such powers and
capacity Tor such energetic action
must be injurious as an article of
diet of habitual enjoyment, and not
without deleterious properties; but
no corresponding nervous disar-
rangements have been observed after
its effects have disappeared, as are
seen in narcotics and other stimu-
lants. The action impaired to the
nerves is natural and healthy. Habit
ual coffee drinkers generally enjoy
good health. Some OF the oldest
people have used coffee from earliest
infancy without feeling any depress-
ing action, such as is produced by
alcoholic stimulants.