Some observations on the medicinal and dietetic properties of green tea : and particularly on the controlling influence it exerts over irritation of the brain / by W. Newnham.

  • Newnham, W. (William), 1790-1865.
Date:
1827
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Some observations on the medicinal and dietetic properties of green tea : and particularly on the controlling influence it exerts over irritation of the brain / by W. Newnham. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    when he remembers^ that the falling of an apple was the first link in the chain of the doctrine of gravitation^ and all its magnificent results_, with many other elucidations of the same principle^ which might be mentioned, he will surely not despise any of the associations of human in¬ tellect. Thus it is with the substance, which forms the object of the following observations. Vulgar prejudice meets our notice in two very different shapes:—the first, in which a cup of green tea is recommended as a sovereign remedy for head¬ ache ,*—the second, in which it is accused of ex¬ erting a noxious influence upon the animal ma¬ chine, particularly upon the nervous system, and giving rise to unconquerable wakefulness. And when we recollect the philosopher's experiment upon green tea, and the unfavourable conclusions which he drew, from finding that the hair of a pig’s tail was separated by immersion in an in¬ fusion of this plant,—forgetting to repeat the experiment upon simple warm water at the same temperature;—we may surely view these com¬ mon opinions with benevolent compassion at least, even if we prove them to be false. But the simple truth will probably be found to con¬ sist in this, viz. that in one particular state of the system, green tea produces a salutaryy while