The St. Johns herald., 1891-01-08
COFFEE INE8RIETY.
Effects of the "Cup Which Cheers" When
 Used in Excess.


 Remarking that the 'cup which cheers" has been So long believed to be the most fitting substitute for the one which ''inebriates," a writer in the Lon- don Standard remarks that it is "a little alarming to find that pr. Mcndel, of Berlin, has come to a contrary conclu- sion. So far from believing that two pence of the pound of tea or coffee will reduce the drink bill,' the researches of this eminent physiologist go far to prove that by permitting the poorer classes to buy more of these stimulants the cheapness will cOndUce to the spread of what he has described as coffee inebriety,' form of fintoxication which very frequently leads to the more alarming, but not actually more danger ous, form produced by alcohol.
 FThe studies upon which he founds these conclusions were madein all parts of Germany, but more particularly upon women of the working population in and about the great gun factories of Essen. Here wages are high and employment constant, so that the mechanics wives have no difficulty in buying as much of their favorite stimulant as they desire. This takes the shape of coffee. The quantities many of them consume are enormous. Large numbers of women use on an average a pound per week, and some of the men drink considerably more, besides supplementing it at odd times with beer and wine. The result is a widespread form of neurosls to which Dr. Mendel has ventured to ap- ply the name of 'inebricty.' It is true form of it; approaching in both kind and degree to delirium tremens, for the whole nervous system IS de- ranged, if not utterly ruined. To the gayety produced by indulgence pro- found depression of spirits succeeds, coupled with frequent headaches and sleeplessness which in time assumes the character of an almost incurable in- somnia, distressing complaint in it. self, and naturally the advance guard of a host of other evils.
 ''For brief space it is relieved by another strong dose of coffee. But as soon as the effects of this die away the symptoms return with increased vehe- mence. The muscles become weak and trembling and the hands shake when at rest in a manner reSem bling the semi paralysis of a confirmed drunkard, whose nervous system has been shat tered to it's center An increasing aver sion to labor and any steady work is noticed. The hearts action becomes rapid and irregular, and palpitation, with heavy feeling in the precordial region, makes it's appearance. Last of all comes dyspepsia of the most persist ent character and of an extreme nerv- ous type, rendering the life of the cof- i fee tippler burden to himself and to all around him. In many cases acute rosacea is common, showing that the l skin and the entire system of which it forms so important part have been 1 poisoned, and, as in the case of alcO- holism, are incapable of performing the functions proper to them. S
 ''In the course of his studies Dr. Men- del found very few instances in which the confirmed coffee drunkard was ever cured. The symptoms constantly grow worse, and are only to be relieved by large quantities of the beverage the abuse of which has caused them. In this way the victims go from bad to worse. For though well aware of the mischief being wrought they suffer so severely that they are afraid to abandon ths habit lest death should end thc agony they experience. After begin ming with the agreeable infusion of the roasted berries they are driven, in their search for something more powerful, to nh, orD operates for time in tho direction de- sired, soon loses its efficacy, and has to be swallowed in greater and greater quantities, the evil influence of the cof- fee being, of course, heightened by the alcohol used to extract it's essential in- gradients. When brandy is taken only temporary relief follows, though not in- frequently the intoxication produced by the latter is eagerly welcomed in order to deaden the anguish caused by the in- ordinate indulgence in the former.
 ''The last stage of this peculiar dis ease shows itself in the sallow face and chilly hands and feet of the victims, coupled with an expression of dread and agony which settles over the counte- nance--a form of mclancholia, alter mated by hysteria, only to be tempo rarily relieved by repeated applications to the coffee pot or to a strong tincture formed by sleeping the crushed berries in spirits of wine. Meantime, the diseased state of the body is demon ] stratcd by the acute inflammation which is apt to suporvene at any moment. A bruise, cut, a prick or a sting, which in a healthy person would scarcely be noticed, is tho starting point for infam- nation of an erysipelatous character, so that it seldom happens that the coffee inebriate is longived."