The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-03
THE AFRICAN KoLAs NUT.
A Rival Of Tea and CofEse and . Substitute
for Tonnes.

A Rival Of Tes and Coffee and Substitute
for Tonics.
Public Opinion: A paper by Mr.. T.
Christy was read at q meeting Of the Bal.
loon society, st. James hall. on the Afri-
can Kola nut, concerning which many re-
markable statements have recently been
published. The kola nut is held in great re-
spect by the natives Of the western coast Of
Africa ON account of its wonderful stimu-
lating and sustaining powers. Tho nut il
ground into q fine powder and carried
about the person during long journeys, when
often the only sustenance consists of =
s'chew'' Of this kola. Thanks to it, many
have been able to stsve OF thirst and hun
ger, while others declare that after
q severe days work Of marching, nothing
20 revives the system - . kols nut. Az q
basis for beverage the analysis published
chemically defined and crystallizable. Eoia
takes precedence over tea, coffee and COCOA,
while, owing to the almost entire absence OF
tannin from it, it does not injure or impair
the digestive organs. The stimulating tonic
and sustaining powers Of kola are mostly
due to the caffeine, OF which 1t contains over
ton, nervous or bilious headaches will,
the lecturer remarked, hail with satisfaction
q beverage which they can drink % a sub
stitute for tea, coffee or COCOA. Tho leo
turer pointed ont the advantages Of this
nut to sportsmen, athletes. brain-workers
their powers Of endurance. From the ac-
counts given kola ID likely TO prove not only
q great rival to tea and coffee, but also q
substitute for the ordinary run Of tonics
and stimulants. Planters In the tropics
having low-lyinR. marshy lands will md
tho kola tree q profitable product, yielding
90 II does, at full maturity, about : hum
sring and fruitinR take place simultane-
ously twice Q year,. 20 that there IL pre-
sentsd the curious SIGHT Of tree bearing
fruit and flower ct the Same moment.
An interesting letter was read at tns Paris
Academy of Medicine recently on the action
for walkers, and especially for the army.
DR.. Heckel Of Aarseilles, the writer OF the
letter, argues that7ths fruit Of the kola
plant should be used - part Of the soldiers'
rations, inasmuch a. it enables men to
make long marches without q correspond
support Of hls statement and especially
mentions . test made during maneuyre
Of the Sixth army CO p.
The British Medical Journal says: "A
good deal Of exaggeration 10 observable Just
now in statements afloat concerning the
AOA6 NUT WHICH Q2S IoOoUtly Oeo0 0tEf4Ce10g
. good deal Of attention. Europeans who
have lived in Africa aRree in ascribing to Il
wonderful sustaining properties during IA
tigue and abstinence from food. The kols
nut il used in Africa % IN infusion and
chewed. The native pofters use it constantly
and prize it highly; and e. they are class
OF men who can do very severe work ON
comparatively little food, their powers Of
endurance have beon attributed by foreiun-
srs to the k0la nut. Its active principles
and it, action are, however, the eama a
those Of tea or coffee, and 10 already know
to what extent and in what ciroumstancss
these are capable Of acting q refreohinQ
stimulants after fatigue, or during ex-
ertion and abstinence from food. The
observations with kols nut made by Sur
geon Firth ON British soldiers bear ont
this view. He found that IL ID in NO sense q
food; that it does not eject the output Of
nitrogen from the body, and that taken.
continuously during times Of sxertion OF
fasting it possesses some power, but mot
very marked, Of Warding Oh the sense Of
hunger and fatigue. Its action in miQraine
and In alcoholic craving depends entirely
On the ealsine vhioh IL contains, while its
good eAects in dyssutsry are mo- doubt due
to TIE tsnnin. II IL alss employed - .
puri0sr Of water, but - are many other
munila9inous seeds, TO which it h In NO
way mpsr1er In this seapeet. In short, the
1esa mutt etmply ono a the many sources
fre0 veioo the benAA Hsee obtains the
1ttnulatieG 81 gelsaahiAg e1ects Of eat
fetne. 40 ~ tn1eo1netioa oAers nothing
new sssew - daseeeae q sherapsuties."