The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 03, No. 15, January, 1859 by Various
page 95 of 318 (29%)
page 95 of 318 (29%)
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though less copious on the tea days, was more nitrogenized, and
nitrogen also was taken in as theine. Yet, in spite of this, the quantity thrown off in twenty-four hours was nearly a _gramme_ less than on the water days. Still more strikingly is this shown in the days of complete fast, when pure spring-water is seen to cause a greater loss of nitrogen than infusion of tea, in spite of the supply of nitrogen contained in the latter. The difference also is seen to exist in spite of an increased amount of bodily exercise." As final deductions from these experiments, there result, first, "that, when the diet is sufficient, the body _is_ more likely to gain weight when tea is taken than when not"; second, "that, when the diet is _insufficient_, tea _limits_ very much _the loss of weight_ thereby entailed." A set of experiments made by Dr. Lehmann are parallel with these. They exhibit the effects of coffee on the excretion of phosphorus, chloride of sodium, (common salt,) and nitrogen. If less full than Dr. Böcker's, they appear to be equally accurate, and more complete in showing the separate actions of the several constituents of coffee. It would be tedious to the general reader to follow them in detail, and we shall avail ourselves of the brief _resumé_ of Dr. Chambers. "First,--Coffee produces on the organism two chief effects, which it is very difficult to connect together,--namely, the raising the activity of the vascular and nervous systems, and protracting remarkably the decomposition of the tissues. Second,--that it is the reciprocal modifications of the specific actions of the empyreumatic oil and cafeine contained in the bean which call forth the stimulant effects of coffee, and therefore those peculiarities of it which possess |
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