The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-12-22
THE VIRTUES OF COFFEE.
Its Exhiiarating Effects Upon the System
and Benefits I'm n Medicinal Way.

and Benefits I'm ~ Medicinal Way.
1t is getting TO be the fashion now for
people to say that coffee is injurious to
health and many persons are giving it
up regretfully. Perhaps coffee is very
injurious in some cases, but OF all
beverages it is contended that is the least
injurious. Coffee-drinkers are general
ly cheerful, strong and persevering.
The eminent DR.. Book, of Leipsic, says:
"The nervousness and peevishness of
the times are chiefly attributable to tea
and coffee" He says that "the digest
i've organs of confirmed coffee-drinkers
are in state of chronic arrangement,
which reacts on the brain, produces
fretful and lachrymose Moods" 81
cannot agree" says DIR. Henry Segur,
of Paris, "that the nervousness and
peevishness of the present times are to
be attributed to the use of coffee If
people are more nervous or in worse
humor than formerly, we may find 9TH
er 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 moderation
it is mental and bodily stimulant of
most agreeable nature, and, followed by
no harmful reaction, it produces con-
tentment of mind, allays hunger and
bodily weakness, increases the incentive
and capacity for work, makes man for
get his misfortunes, and enables those
who use it to remain long time with
out food or sleep, to endure unusual ia
tigue and preserve their cheerfulness
and contentment. Jomand says: "An
infusion made with ten ounces of coffee
enables me to live without other food
for five consecutive days without lessen
ing my ordinary occupations and to use
more and more prolonged muscular ex-
ercise than was accustomed to without
any other physical injury than a slight
degree of fatigue and little loss of
flesh"
The mental exhilaration, physical ac-
tivity and wakefulness it causes explains
the fondness for it which has been
shown by so many men OF science. poets,
scholars and others devoted to thinking.
1t has, indeed, been called the intellec-
tual beverage. 1t supported the old
to pass his hundred years.
The action of coffee is directed chief
ly to the nervous system. 1t produces a
warming, cordial impression on the
stomach, quickly followed by diffused
agreeable and nervous excitement,
which extends itself to the cerebral
functions, giving rise to increased vigor
of imagination and intellect, without any
subsequent confusion or stupor, such as
are characteristic of narcotics. Coffee
contains essential principles of nutri
ton far exceeding ia importance its ex-
hilarating properties and is one of the
most DESTROYS 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 is to
b 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 bet
ter III many cases than the sulphate of
quinine. In that low state of intermit
tent, as found on the banks of the Mis-
sissippi river and other malarial dis
tricts, accompanied with enlarged spleen
and torpid liver, when judidiously adj
ministered it is one of the surest Nme-
dies. In yellow fever it has been used
by physicians, and with some it is their
main reliance after other necessary re-
needles have been administered; it re-
tains tissue change, and thus becomes
conservator of force in that state in
which the nervous system tends to col
lapse, because the blood has become i'm
pure; it sustains the nervous power I'M
til the duration and reorganization of
the blood are accomplished, and has the
advantage over other stimulants in in
ducing no injurious secondary effects.
In spasmodic asthma its utility is well
established, rs i'll whooping cough, stu
por, lethargy and such troubles. In hys-
terical attacks, for which in many cases
physician can form no diagnosis, cof-
fee is a great help.
Coffee is opposed to malaria, to all
noxious vapors. AS a disinfectant it
has wonderful powers. As an instan
taneous deodorizer it has no equal for
the sick room, as all exhalations are inn
medlately neutraliZed by simply passing
a chafing-dish with burning coffee grains
through the room. 1t may he urged
that an article possessing such powers
and capacity for such energetic action
must be injurious as an article of diet
of habitual employment, and not with
out deleterious properties; but no cor
responding nervous arrangements have
been observed after its effects had dis
appeared, as are seen in narcotics and
other stimulants. The action impaired
to the nerves is natural and healthy
Habitual coffee drinkers generally en-
Joy good health. Some of the oldest
people have used coffee from earliest in
fancy without feeling any depressing
reaction, such as is produced by alcoho-
lie stimulants.
Dhuleep Singh.
Dhuleep Singh. who seeks an eiec-